Best Questions to Ask Before Any Surgery

These are some of the best questions I have asked before any of my surgeries to ensure that I have the best outcome as possible. Always ask these questions during your consult or at least a few weeks before the surgery. Do not wait until the day of the surgery to ask these questions as the surgeon may be more reluctant to try to answer everything.

• Walk me through the surgery day. What should I expect pre and post-surgery?

• Is my surgery a difficult fix? Easy fix?

• How often have patients come back to you with complications/issues post-surgery?

• When will I get to speak with you next pre-surgery and post-surgery?

• How long should my surgery take? Length of stay in the hospital (total)?

• What types of complications could occur?

• Is there anything I absolutely not do post-surgery?

• Anything to minimize scarring?

• What items are best recommended for my house to ensure best recovery?

• How often have you had to do a blood transfusion? How much blood have people lost during the surgery?

• How are you closing up my incision? What types of sutures? Band aids

• What happens if I have any allergic reaction to anything?

• Can you prescribe me benedryl for the morphine itchiness?

• Tell me the methods you will use during my surgery.

• Will you use a bladder catheter? Can I opt out of the bladder catheter? Alternatives to bladder catheter?

• How long should I expect my recovery to take? When should I start feeling like myself again?

• Can I get a number to contact if I start experiencing emergency symptoms? What types of symptoms would not be normal post-surgery?

• How much pain should I expect to be in knowing it varies from person to person post-surgery, 1 week out, 2 weeks out? At one point, would I know that something is wrong?

• How do you recommend I deal with nausea and constipation in the recovery phase? Can you give me zofran, scolopmine patch, stool softeners, and laxatives?

• Tell me about your pain management system. What are the pain medications that you prescribe immediately after post-surgery and in the next weeks to come?

• When can I start sleeping on my side?

• When can I start driving?

• When can I start leaning over to pick things up?

• When can I start being sexually active again?

• When can I get a handicap sticker?

• When will I start physical therapy?

• Do you do nerve blocks for pain management?

• Can I take an anti-anxiety med before intake? (Valium, ativan)