When You Need Surgery: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you have a surgery scheduled, you may have a lot of questions about what’s involved. To help ease your mind, write your questions down and bring the list to your next doctor’s appointment. You may want to include the following questions:

• What are the risks of having the operation?
• What are the risks of not having it?
• How much will the procedure cost?
• How can I prepare? Do I need to stop taking any medicines or herbal supplements beforehand?
• How will I feel after the procedure?
• Will I need to stay in the hospital?
• How soon can my family visit afterward?
• Will I need to take any medicine while I recover?
• Should I change what I eat or drink afterward?
• Do I need to limit any activities for a while after the operation?
• How long will it take me to recover?