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)
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