Supplements & Drugs

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To optimize recovery from operations, Dr. Funk recommends the following regimen of supplements and drugs to her patients, where Operation 1 is the nipple delay procedure, Operation 2 is the mastectomy, and Operation 3 is the implant exchange.
To enhance wound healing (for each operation):
A) Vitamin C: 1000mg tablets; one tablet once daily for one week before and one week after surgery.
B) Multi-Vitamin: one tablet once daily for one week before and one week after surgery.
C) Zinc: 50 mg; one tablet once daily for one week before and one week after surgery.
To reduce the risk of infection (Operations 2 and 3):
D) Bactroban ointment: Applied twice a day beginning 3 days prior to surgery x 7 days.
E) Hibiclens shower: Hibiclens soap applied to upper torso and abdomen – left on for 5 minutes, then rinsed. Applied once a day for 3 days prior to surgery.
F) Keflex: 250mg (antibiotic); one tablet 4x a day for 7 days, beginning with 2 doses the day of the operation.
To reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (for each operation):
G) Emend: 40mg; one tablet by mouth the night before surgery
To reduce postoperative swelling and bruising (for each operation):
H) Arnika Forte (Arnica and Bromelain): two capsules daily x 7 days, beginning one day prior to surgery.
To help eliminate anesthesia from the system (for each operation):
I) Exchem: 10 drops in water or directly in the mouth twice daily, beginning the day before surgery and continuing for one week after surgery.
J) Lymphomyosot: 10 drops in water or directly in the mouth twice daily, beginning the day before surgery and continuing for one week after surgery.
To minimize scarring (after Operation 3):
K) BioCorneum: Rubbed into scars twice a day for 12 weeks – begin after the third operation once steri strips are removed.
Medications to be taken as needed for comfort:
  • Percocet (Operations 2 and 3): 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain
  • Colace: 250mg twice a day
  • MiraLax: One tablespoon diluted in 8oz water once a day
  • Ativan: 1mg every 8 hours as needed for muscle spasm
  • Zofran: 8mg oral dissolving tablet placed on tongue every 6 hours as needed for nausea
I generally hate taking medications and was never even good about taking a multivitamin until I started trying to get pregnant, but I want to do everything I possibly can to recover from these surgeries as fast as humanly possible. So my kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy right now and I'm choking down what feels like dozens of pills each morning and night. Like with my acupuncture treatments, it can't hurt and it might help - plus it helps me feel that there is something I can do to help myself besides just waiting for time to work its magic.

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