Have you or a family member ever had
surgery? If so, you know how scary it can be. It doesn't seem to
matter what body part is being worked on or how good the doctor
is-the idea of having someone cut into us or a loved one would
make anyone nervous. Like a lot of other things in life, the best
thing you can do for yourself is to get as much information (and
chocolate!) as possible.
- Exactly what is going to happen? What is the procedure and who is going to do what? If you are getting an implant, what does it look like?
- Where will this be done? Some procedures can be done on an outpatient basis from a same-day center or doctor's office.
- What sort of anesthesia will I have? Asleep or awake? If asleep, will I have a breathing tube, catheter or something else to help with bodily functions during the operation?
- How long will I be in the hospital, if at all?
- How far in advance do I need to be at the hospital? Will I have to stay overnight the day before surgery?
- What kind of 'follow-up' will there be, if any? How many follow-up visits? Medications? Will I need any sort of outpatient therapy (physical, occupational, etc)? If so, where will this be done-at home or an office?
- What can I expect after the surgery? Will there be pain, and how much? Are there any complications I should look out for? Dietary changes?
- How do I need to adjust? Do I need to make any modifications to my home (wheelchair ramps, braces, the makeshift bed my friends made for me after my wreck, etc)? Do I need to have someone stay with me or can I be home alone? Will I need to use any special equipment such as a wheelchair, walker or cane? How will I bathe or use the toilet?
- How long will it be before I can get back to my regular activities? When can I return to work? When can I do specific things such as cook, clean the house, have sex, drive or climb stairs? Will I be able to carry things or care for my children and pets? What things will I be able to do, and what things will I need to have done for me?
And
finally, there's the question we all hate-
- What are the costs and how will they be paid? What is and isn't covered by insurance? What is the breakdown (doctor's fees, hospital, etc)? Do I have to have it all upfront or I you pay over time? Procedures such as joint replacements tend to ask the doctor's fees to be paid up front, if for no other reason than that they have to buy the implant they'll be using!
There may be more, depending
on the procedure.
Hopefully I've given you an
idea of what questions you should ask before you or a loved one has
surgery. As I said before, one of the best ways to gain peace of mind
is to nail down the questions going around in your head and get some
real information. Good luck.
You're on your own with the chocolate.
I think I saw a vending machine in the waiting room.
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