Planning for a Medical Procedure: Questions

If, for any reason, you find yourself contemplating surgery, it is probably a good idea to come up with a list of questions for your doctor. Have them written down and reference your list so that you don’t forget anything. Hopefully you have a doctor who actually takes the time to hear and fully answer your questions. And take notes when you get the answers! Trust me, you will not remember much of anything after being bombarded by all of the information. Having it documented will be crucial.

There may be specific questions to ask related to your particular circumstances, but here are some generic questions to get you started.

1. Ensure you fully understand your diagnosis.

2. Are there any alternative options to surgery? If so, what are they and what are the pros and cons to picking each of the options (including surgery)?

3. What exactly would the surgery actually entail?

4. What are the goals of the surgery? How will it markedly improve your life quality?

5. How many times has your doctor performed this surgery? What is their success rate?

6. What are the risks of the surgery?

7. How long is the recovery? More specifically, how long is the hospital stay, how long will you be out of work, and how long do restrictions on strength and mobility last?

8. Will you need assistance post-surgery? If so, what kind of assistance and for how long?

9. What pain killers or other medications will you be given post-surgery?

10. What kind of restrictions will you have post-surgery?

11. Will any hardware be put in during surgery? What are risks there? Can any of it be removed later, if it causes discomfort or pain?

12. What restrictions on your life would you have after completely healing from the surgery, compared to without the surgery?

13. What are the health concerns or impacts for the future, both with and without surgery?

It’s definitely not an easy decision to make, especially if there are other options you feel like you should try first. Make sure you talk it over with people whose opinions and advice are important to you and consider seeking out people you know who have similar procedure to ask their thoughts.