Before heading to the operating room, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Any surgery can be scary to think about. However, if you have everything in order and you’ve asked all of the right questions before the day arrives, then you will be more prepared.
Research
Your doctor might not answer all of your questions, and you might not think of all of the questions you have while in the office. When you are home, do a little research about the procedure. Find out what will be done and what the possible side effects are of the surgery. There are also some videos online that you can view so that you have a better idea of exactly where the doctor will cut and what will take place.
Ask Questions
This is an important thing to do before surgery because if you don’t ask something, you won’t know what to expect. Don’t just ask your doctor because the doctor is more likely to give you medical answers. If you have friends who have had the same surgery, then talk to them about what happened and the recovery process. If there is anything you need to know, then a friend is more likely to give you details that the doctor might not reveal.
Another Opinion
Before having the surgery done, especially if it is major surgery, consider a second opinion. You won’t hurt the doctor’s feelings, and you might find that there is another option besides surgery. There are some insurance companies that require a second opinion before having surgery done in case there was something wrong with any tests that were run or if surgery might not be necessary at the time.
Prepare Physically
There are ways that you can prepare your body physically before the day of surgery so that the recovery time might be easier and not as long. Drink plenty of water, and try to cut back on drinks that have a lot of sugar in them. Walk as much as possible, and get other forms of exercise into your daily routine so that the blood flow to your heart and other areas of the body is in the best condition possible.
Be Aware Of Your Options
When you are going in for any type of surgery, medical or cosmetic, it is good to know your options in case any aspect of the surgery was not handled the way it should have been. Attorney Joseph M. Todd recommends at least knowing of a good lawyer who handles medical cases before a surgery. You don’t know what kind of condition you could be in after and need to have all your bases covered if heaven forbid something should happen.
Some surgeries have very little risk involved, but there are some that have the potential to alter things about your daily life. Talk to your doctor about your fears, and discuss your concerns with the surgical team the day of the procedure. Become knowledgeable about the procedure. Take the time needed to recover so that you can be back to yourself as soon as possible.
About the Author:
Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.
