8 September 2020
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

Anytime you hear the words, "you need surgery," your heart likely begins to race and your blood pressure increases. It is scary going into the unknown and worse when it is your life on the line. Uncovering the unknown is a large step in helping reduce that stress, so it is important to know how to prepare for an appointment with a neurosurgeon.

Disclose Everything

When you visit with your neurosurgeon for the first time, you want to make sure you disclose everything to them. The first bit of information that is vital for your surgeon is heart health for you and your family members. You want to make sure that any heart problems you know of are disclosed because the flow of blood to your heart will affect the surgery. In addition to your health history, you will want to bring a list of the medications you are taking. Your surgeon will want to know the name of the medication, the amount you are taking, and what you are taking it for, even if the medication is over the counter, prescribed, or herbal.

Ask Questions

It is okay to admit that you do not know everything and that you are afraid. There are a few questions that you want to ask your surgeon. Make sure you are comfortable with the answers he or she gives you.

1. Ask About Experience

You want your surgeon to feel comfortable with your surgery and experienced enough to handle any complications that may arise. When you are talking to your surgeon for the first time, ask him or her how many times they have performed the surgery, what the success rate is, and how they handle complications. A good surgeon should be willing to give you patients that have released permission to help put your mind at ease.

2. What the Surgery Entails

This should be something every surgeon goes over with you from the beginning. You want to know what the surgery will be for, the methods that will be used, and the follow-up that will be necessary. What may not be generally covered but that is very good information is wound care, pain management, and normal side effects/risks to expect. Finally, make sure the surgeon informs you and your family about how long the surgery is expected to take.

3. Recovery

Recovery is often the hardest part of the surgery, so be sure to ask in-depth questions about the recovery process. The first thing you will want to know is how long you can expect to remain in the hospital following the surgery or if your surgery will be considered out-patient. Very rarely is neurosurgery viewed as out-patient, so ask about what your room setup will be like, when visitors are allowed, and what to bring to the hospital. This will also be the time ask if you can have a room to yourself if possible. Finally, find out about how long it will take for you to return to regular activities and how long, on average, it takes to return to full function.

4. Stopping Medication

Finally, you want to make sure you know how long before your surgery you will need to stop taking medication. Some drugs, such as aspirin, will need to be stopped at least a week prior to your surgery to prevent complications, while other drugs or supplements can be continued until the day before your surgery. In addition, you will want to find out when you need to stop eating and if you also have to stop drinking clear liquids as well.

Surgery is a scary and expensive venture, but it is often necessary to save a life. Making sure you know what to expect will help ease the anxiety, but having a good support system and a second opinion on the procedure is always a good idea.

To learn more, contact a neurosurgeon.