Music for Hysterectomy & Alzheimer Patients
This past week, a dear friend of mine experienced a surgery that she was not
looking forward to. (But then, who does look forward to surgery?) She had
known for some time that she needed to have some large fibroid tumors removed,
but did not think she would need a complete hysterectomy until a month before
she had it.
We talked many times about how she would use music before, during and after
the surgery, but she had no idea how glad she would be that she had it ready
to go when she arrived at the hospital that morning. My friend had carefully
chosen Handel’s “Watermusic Suite” to have playing through headphones during
the surgery, but almost as soon as she arrived, things began to go awry.
During the wait to be called back for getting into a gown and getting the IV
started, she began listening to her chosen music. When she was finally called
in, thee staff wouldn’t allow any family members to go with her although all
she was doing was changing clothes and she was clearly scared beyond what she
expected.
They finally did let her sister and me go back but then informed her that they
couldn’t find any of her pre-surgery blood work and would have to do it all
again! She turned up her music and stuck out her arm for a repeat of the
procedure she dreads so much. Shortly after that, a nurse came in telling her
that they had found the blood work from three days before. My friend almost
started crying but instead looked at us and pressed repeat on the CD Walkman.
Then the anesthesiologist arrived. She was a woman in her forties at most, and
was “all business.” There was no smile, no “how are you doing?” nothing. She
even began to berate my friend when informed that someone had donated blood
for her, saying that she was sure they wouldn’t use it unless it had been
typed for an exact match. My friend said “but O+ is the universal donor for
other + types and the doctor glared and said “I know that!!!” It was like a
scene from a bad soap opera but my friend remained steadfast now with her
trusty CD player mostly obliterating the conversation that her sister and I
were having with this physician. Finally, the surgeon entered the room and she
was as kind as could be. Soon, my friend was wheeled away and the OR staff
assured us they would change the CD to the recovery music once the surgery was
finished. This, they did. We never expected these kinks in the process, but my
friend has said that the music made such a difference in being able to
tolerate these difficulties and that in the recovery room, she was able to
recognize the music she had chosen. The familiarity provided comfort and
reassurance to her that words could not have provided. Studies continue to
come out that document this anecdotal report. Please remember this when you or
a friend needs surgery. It is so easy and so worthwhile.
My "Music for Surgery
" audio tapes are intended to help prepare you mentally, emotionally and
spiritually for surgery. They work well for the preop, operative and postop
periods of your surgical experience. You won't believe the results!
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The power of music to make a difference in the lives of Alzheimer’s patients
is a well-documented phenomenon. It is, of course, a quality of life
intervention. It is not going to stop the progression of the disease nor will
it slow it down. What music does is to bring the individual an opportunity to
experience pleasure and a sense of familiarity and competence when most
opportunities for this are rapidly fading. It also provides an opportunity for
interaction with family members and friends.
Researchers
have observed people standing up from their chairs or wheelchairs and asking
someone to dance when certain familiar songs are played. In the hospital where
I work we routinely have the nurses and aides get people up dancing to “In the
Mood,” “Pretty Baby,” “School Days” and “The Hokey-Pokey.” Oftentimes these
same patients would not want to take any exercise at all or interact with
another human. Familiar music is the magical intervention that gets them up
smiling and moving about, no matter how slowly. We also know from researchers
that the mere act of smiling causes the release of endorphins and other
feel-good chemicals.
For about 30 minutes after the music therapy session, the patients often eat
better, are less combative and interact better with staff and fellow patients
or family members. The power of music to make a difference in the lives of
Alzheimer’s patients is a well-documented phenomenon. It is, of course, a
quality of life intervention. It is not going to stop the progression of the
disease nor will it slow it down.
What music does is to bring the individual an opportunity to experience
pleasure and a sense of familiarity and competence when most opportunities for
this are rapidly fading. It also provides an opportunity for interaction with
family members and friends. Some researchers have observed people standing up
from their chairs or wheelchairs and asking someone to dance when certain
familiar songs are played. In the hospital where I work we routinely have the
nurses and aides get people up dancing to “In the Mood,” “Pretty Baby,”
“School Days” and “The Hokey-Pokey.” Oftentimes these same patients would not
want to take any exercise at all or interact with another human.
Familiar music is the magical intervention that gets them up smiling and
moving about, no matter how slowly. We also know from researchers that the
mere act of smiling causes the release of endorphins and other feel-good
chemicals. For about 30 minutes after the music therapy session, the patients
often eat better, are less combative and interact better with staff and fellow
patients or family members. As always, live music is preferable to recorded
music, but it is easy enough just to sing one-on-one with your family member
or loved one.
Favorites here are “You Are My Sunshine,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and “Amazing
Grace.” As always, live music is preferable to recorded music, but it is easy
enough just to sing one-on-one with your family member or loved one. Favorites
here are “You Are My Sunshine,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and “Amazing Grace.”
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Is There
Any Music that can Actually Cool You Down?
Yes, the nation if not the world is in the midst of a heat wave. I was at an
outdoor wedding today and with a tent, fans, bottles of water and a swimming
pool nearby, we were all still roasting, sweating, panting, and
red-faced...until the music started!
At that moment, I totally forgot about the temperature or the weather. I heard
the sounds of a beautiful string orchestra playing just a few feed away and it
simply transported me to another place where cool breezes were blowing and
waves were lapping the shore. Amazing!
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Alice
Alice H. Cash, Ph.D., LCSW
www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com
www.DrCashPrefers.com
