As you prepare for your surgical procedure you’ll find that meeting and discussing the details with your doctor will make you more comfortable as the date approaches. Jot down the queries that come to your mind as you think of them so that you can thoroughly discuss them with your surgical team. Your physician will provide you with a list of instructions to follow in preparation for your surgery. Let’s review some of the most important questions to ask your physician at your pre-surgical meeting.
- You may want to discuss why your doctor is recommending the type of surgery that you will be undergoing. The professionals at londonsurgicalgroup.co.uk suggest that you enquire about the anaesthesia that will be used, how long the surgery will take, and the time it will take you to recover from your procedure. At this point you should enquire about their experience with this surgery and what outcome they envision after they perform the surgery.
- Ask about when you should stop eating and drinking before your surgery. Most hospitals require you to cease all food intake at least six hours prior to surgery; you may continue to drink water but clarify with your doctor when that should stop as well.
- Be sure to discuss the risks of the surgery and any side effects that you may experience once the procedure has been completed. The professionals at londonsurgicalgroup.co.uk recommend that you enquire about programmes that will help you to get back into good physical condition once the surgery is over. You must proceed at your own pace and follow your doctor’s orders for exercising and lifting or doing household chores.
- If you are allergic to any medications be sure to inform the doctor of these and ask about your choices for anaesthesia. You may also want to enquire about the level of pain you can expect after your hernia surgery and if pain medication will be prescribed for you.
- You should ask about the length of time you will be required to stay at the hospital to recover and any limitations regarding returning to work. Once you have the timeframe for your recovery period you can arrange for a family member or friend to help you at home especially if you are restricted from lifting or doing regular household chores.
- Be sure to ask about the size of the incision that the hernia surgery will leave and how you should take care of it post surgery. You must take good care of your incision as well as your general health so that your body will have ample time to heal and repair itself from the surgery. At this point in the discussion you should also ask about your follow-up visits to the doctor so that the progress of your healing can be checked.
- Lastly, you should ask about the charges and whether your medical insurance cover will take care of the expenses.
