Whether it’s you, your child or your significant other undergoing surgery or a procedure, these tend to be the most stressful of medical appointments. Often the unknown is what ends up worrying us the most. Therefore, just like with other medical issues, asking questions and getting as much information as possible helps to ease some of those worries. That is why part five of this series is devoted to what questions to ask for surgeries and procedures. 

What to Ask During the Consultation/First Appointment  

In that first appointment, you’ll want to ask your doctor as much as you can about the surgery or procedure. While there will be situation-specific questions, here are some general questions to consider asking. 

• What are the benefits of this surgery/procedure?
• What are the risks of it? 
• How long does it typically last? 
• Is anesthesia required? If yes, what type? 
• Will a biopsy or any other lab work be conducted? How long will it take to get the results? 
• How long is the recovery period? 
• What foods should be avoided pre-surgery and when should that be started? 
• What activities and foods should be avoided post-surgery? For how long? 
• What post-op infection or other warning signs should I look for?
• Is it outpatient? If not, how long of a hospital stay is required?
• Do I need to schedule a post-op appointment now? Sometimes this is done when scheduling the surgery and sometimes it’s done on the day of the surgery. 
• If applicable, is this a surgery or procedure that I/my child might need done again someday? 
• Do you have an online portal or MyChart that shows labs and allows me to send messages?

This is a good start to create a list of questions prior to a procedure or surgery. But, be sure to also consider anything that’s specific to the surgery/procedure or medical condition. 

What to Ask the Morning of the Surgery

Ideally, you want to have asked most of your questions at the initial appointments, but sometimes it makes more sense to ask the day of the surgery/procedure. A few questions you might need to ask then are:

• Where is the waiting room where my family can wait? 
• When can they see me, or when can I see my child post procedure/surgery?
• How long will it take for the effects of the anesthesia to start wearing off? 
• If staying overnight, how long will it take for me/my child to be transferred from the surgical area to a room? 
• How do I schedule a post-op appointment? If not done prior, as mentioned above. 
• Who do I call once I go home if there are signs of infection or other post-surgery warning signs? 

If it’s your appointment and you need anesthesia, you will likely feel groggy and possibly not even remember talking with the surgeon after the appointment. So, it’s important to ask anything pre-surgery if it’s your appointment or make sure your loved ones know in advance what to ask on your behalf. 

What to Ask During Your Post-Op Appointment

Now that the hard part is done – the actual surgery or procedure itself – hopefully you are getting relief! Here are a few things to potentially ask in your or your child’s post-op appointment. 

• If you or your child is still experiencing any pain, whether at the incision site or from what was causing the need for surgery, ask if that is normal. 
• Are any additional tests, procedures or surgeries needed? This is important to ask if still dealing with any issues or symptoms or if it was a test type procedure like a MRI. 
• If biopsies were conducted, the procedure was a test or labs were taken during the surgery, be sure to inquire about the results and what they mean.

I hope this list of potential questions helps you get answers that put your mind at least a little at ease before you head into a surgery or procedure. Up next in part six of the series, out in January, “Questions to Ask About Labs.”