|
Quick Questions for Your Doctor
Take this list of questions with you when you go to your doctor or surgeon to discuss your surgery:
- What operation are you recommending?
- Why do I need the operation?
- Are there alternatives to surgery?
- What are the benefits of having the operation?
- What are the risks of having the operation?
- What if I don't have this operation?
- Where can I get a second opinion?
- What is your training and experience to do this kind of surgery?
- Where will the operation be done?
- Will I have to stay overnight in the hospital?
- What kind of anesthesia will I need? General, local?
- Will the anesthesia be affected by any medications or OTC items I may be taking? Ask your doctor to write down what items will conflict with the surgery and when items should stop being taken. For instance if you take a blood thinner like Warfarin (Coumadin) you will likely need to stop taking it 3 to 5 days before any major surgery.
- Will I need any drugs before surgery, such a anti-biotics to prevent infection? post surgery?
- When will I need to stop eating solid foods?
- D I need to take any pre surgery medical tests?
- How long will it take me to recover?
- What will be my limitations during post sugery/recovery?
- How much will the operation cost?
- Can you please mark the part of my body you will operate on?
- Can you discuss with my primary physcian my health and medicines I am taking and how it may affect my surgery?
|
increase font size