INPUT ARTICLE: Article: After the surgery, you won't be able to eat anything crunchy or chewy. You'll also probably not be in the mood to go grocery shopping. Prepare by purchasing plenty of soft food before your surgery. You'll need to have enough to last you for at least 24 hours. However, you'll probably want enough for several days while the swelling goes down. You can begin to introduce other foods when you feel that you can tolerate them. Avoid anything that could get caught in the wound until the wound is healed. Puree things like smoothies or soups in a blender. Strain through a filter before consuming to make sure there are no seeds or herbs that will get caught in the wound. Stay away from spicy foods. They can irritate the wound. Choose plenty of cold foods. They'll feel soothing after the surgery. Some foods that are great for after oral surgery are: Yogurt (frozen or non-frozen) Apple sauce Brothy soups (without any chunks) Mashed potatoes Scrambled eggs Hummus Congee Pudding Ice cream You should not plan to drive after the surgery. Plan for a friend to take you home when the surgery is finished. Even if you don't undergo general anesthesia, you will likely feel too woozy from the surgery to drive. If you usually take public transportation, you may not need someone to accompany you. However, you may still want a buddy. They can make sure you're comfortable on the trip home. Don't plan to walk or bike home yourself. If you live a short distance from the dentist's office, arrange for a cab or a friend to pick you up. You'll need about 48 hours for the swelling to go down. However, the entire recovery can take several weeks. Plan for at least two days that you'll be able to stay home from work. Let your boss know that you're having surgery and you may need to take off a few additional days if your recovery is slower than average. Avoid all strenuous physical activity for a few days after the surgery. This may mean arranging for childcare or a pet sitter during your recovery. You may need friends or family to take care of chores for a day or two. Consider whether you'll need someone to do things like take the garbage out, water the garden, or shovel snow from your sidewalk. Both of these things can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Your dentist may give you a supply of gauze and a prescription for pain relievers. However, it's always good to be prepared with your own. Buy sterilized gauze pads that are safe to put in your mouth. Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation. Choose a pain reliever that doesn't contain caffeine. Caffeine should be avoided while recovering from surgery. You can also keep teabags on hand. They can help control bleeding. Soak one in warm water and then squeeze it dry. Hold it on the wound for 20-30 minutes. You may be resting for a while after the surgery. Create a cozy space in your home where you'll be able to rest comfortably. You should have plenty of pillows and blankets, as well as entertainment. Take out books from the library, or download some books on tape to listen to while you recover. Choose movies or TV shows that you'll want to watch while you're resting. Have them ready to go so you won't have to worry after the surgery. Recovering at home can feel boring and even lonely sometimes. Before the surgery, line up visiting times with friends and family. Let them know you'll want visitors, and schedule times when they can come by. Let your friends know you may be a little bit out of it, but that you'll still be grateful for their company. Don't plan to do too much with your visitors. Simply watching a movie or listening to music together are relaxing ways to enjoy each others company.

SUMMARY: Stock up on soft foods. Arrange transportation. Arrange for time off. Purchase gauze and pain relievers. Prepare for down time. Ask friends to come over.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many women dread the arrival of their period and think of it as something they have to suffer through. During your menstrual cycle, the actual hormones in your brain change and can affect your mood, but you can also consciously change the way you think about your period. It can be empowering to think of your period as a symbol of your womanhood and as natural part of your life. Your first period, called menarche, is often celebrated as a young girl's entrance into womanhood. When you realize that your period can be something that is celebrated, you might stop dreading its arrival and cope with it. Tracking your menstrual cycle will not only give you a heads-up when your period is due, but it can also help you know when you are fertile and can get pregnant. Getting your period unexpectedly can leave you feeling unprepared and stressed. You can keep track of the day your period starts and end with a calendar, in a journal, or with an app for your mobile devices. There are several apps, such as Strawberry Pal or Clue, that can help you track your period and set reminders for when your next cycle is about to start. Remember that during your first year, periods are often unpredictable and come at random. They can also skip. This is completely normal. However, after the first year, your period should begin to follow a more regular pattern and be easier to track. Menstrual cycles vary between women. They can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days, and your period may last two to seven days. Your period may be regular and occur at the same time each month, or it may be irregular. Keeping track of your period is very important when you are sexually active. It helps you to determine when you are the most fertile, which is important to know whether you want to avoid pregnancy or when you want to become pregnant. Keep an extra tampon, panty liner, or pad in your purse, backpack, and car. This way, if you get your period and you do not have access to other feminine products you are still protected. This is especially important if your periods are irregular and you are not able to accurately predict when your next period will begin. You should also keep a dollar in quarters with you, just in case you are caught off guard and need to purchase a pad/tampon. It's a good idea to keep a few extra feminine hygiene products with you so you can offer one to another woman if she needs one. During ovulation, which happens 12 to 16 days before your period begins, your body is preparing for a potential pregnancy. Your body releases two different hormones, progesterone and estrogen, which tell your body that it should prepare for pregnancy. Your metabolism speeds up during this time so you'll need to eat more calories than you usually do. Eat plenty of iron-rich foods to help offset the iron that you'll lose right before and during your period. Meat, beans, lentils, eggs, and dark leafy greens are all good sources of iron. You should continue to eat iron-rich foods during your period. This can help to relieve some period symptoms, like fatigue and cramping. Vitamin C can improve your body's absorption of iron. Try to eat foods rich in Vitamin C, such as oranges, peppers, and kale, as well.

SUMMARY:
Reframe your mindset about your period. Keep track of your period. Keep feminine hygiene products with you at all times. Eat iron-rich foods.