The following is a list of good and informative questions to ask your doctor. Of course, customize this list to your particular needs. Add to the list if you have other questions. Don’t be afraid to print out this list and bring it with you to your appointment!

Take a notepad with you to each doctor appointment. Write down your questions. Write down your doctor's responses. You may need to refer to your notes later. The HysterSisters, also, suggest taking a friend or spouse with you to your appointments to help you "hear" and remember!

Questions About Your Surgery

• Am I a candidate for minimally invasive surgery?
• How many surgeries like this for my diagnosis do you do each month?
• What percent are minimally invasive surgeries? What percent are open incision?
• Would you recommend a laparoscopic surgery for me? If no, "Why not?"
• Will the doctor make a bladder tack? What is a bladder tack? (If you have incontinence, this is the time to bring it up as this is the best time for bladder and/or rectum repair) How long will surgery take?
• Exactly what will be removed? Uterus, ovaries, tubes, cervix, appendix? (How will these organs be removed? Through open abdominal incision? Through the vagina? With the help of a laparoscope?)
• Will I need any preparation before surgery? (enema, stool softener, liquid diet, etc)
• I take certain meds regularly (list your meds, including over-the-counter meds and supplements), will I be allowed to take these to the hospital with me?
• What kind of anesthesia will I have?

Questions About Your Recovery

• How long will I be in the hospital?
• How long will I be on bed rest?
• Will a pathology report be done of all the organs removed? I do want one done.
• How long for the results of the pathology report to come in? (If cancer is suspected, when will I begin cancer treatments and what options are there?)
• If I'm taking BC pills or HRT, do I stop taking them prior to surgery? If so, how long before?
• What medication will I be on for pain in the hospital and when I am home?
• Will the doctor use a tummy binder on me? Will I need one?
• If my ovaries are being removed, when will I start hormones (HRT)? Most important: will the doctor help me to adjust if needed or should I see my family doctor to help with this?
• If I am keeping my ovaries, how will I know if they are working post-op? if they shut down temporarily and I experience hot flashes, how long will I endure menopause symptoms before the ovaries kick back in?
• When will I be able to resume driving?
• How long will I be off work?
• Will I be able to lift my baby? If not, how much can I lift safely at 4 weeks, at 6 weeks?
• When can I return to the gym? When can I return to horseback riding, biking, running?
• I've heard that there is a problem with gas after surgery and have been told that over-the-counter medicines such as Gas-X can help. Is it OK if I take some along to the hospital with me?
• What are the restrictions for any sort of sexual activity after surgery? Is external stimulation allowed and if so, how soon? When can intercourse be resumed?

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:rest:[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I'm so sleepy but just can't sleep. Surgery went well. I was to go in at 9:30am but didn't get in till 11:30, first thing I said was I have to poop! :lol: Doctor came and talk to and thank God my family too, cause I didn't remember what he said. He had to take the right ovary and part of the left. This wasn't planned, but I guess the right was filled with "I can't think of the name of it or spelling? As well as the cervix and uterus. I have the pump for pain, I can press it every 6 mintues. This will be take ..... [Read more of this discussion]


Wishing the Best in Surgery and Recovery to [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=147090]NotYet[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=279248]keirasix[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=290334]Dr_grill[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=294140]Louisianawoman[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=294253]RunnerQueen[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u=294519]Lexiloo62[/url], [url=http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/member.php?u= ..... [Read more of this discussion]


:friend: just scheduled my surgery today. I've been doing a lot of reading, but still have some questions. Will I need a tummy pillow? I'm guessing yes since I have a big lap dog. What about a tummy binder for support, is that necessary for a LSH? Keeping my ovaries, but the doc said the cervix is my option. I've read that it can be a deterrent to prolapse, but I've also read it can cause mini periods if they don't get all of the uterus cells. Thoughts? ..... [Read more of this discussion]


Will they let me use ear plugs and an eye mask at the hospital? Dr. said I would be there for 4 days.....I want to at least try for the best sleep possible. Thanks! Rescheduled for March 2012 ..... [Read more of this discussion]


looking forward to my night out with my friends before my surgery wed. I realize how important friends could be at this time and what a great support system they can be as well as family!!!:training: ..... [Read more of this discussion]


Hi Ladies, I am a 38 year old mother of 1 child and wife. Since June I have been feeling tired all the time; no energy or desire on most days to even leave the house. Brief surgical history 10 years ago tubal ligation after I had my daughter, suffered an abusive divorce and at that young age said no more babies if they can't have a father and no more men; well God sent me my husband who loves my daughter as his own ; she even started calling him Dad on her own at age 3; A Dad is someone that cares and is present even after you've notified the ..... [Read more of this discussion]


I recently started with vaginal Valium-baclofen twice daily fr pelvic sasm while we wait for the surgery. Anyone else used the or similar and what did you think? Pain has been so bad, I don't know how I'm going to take 6 more weeks of agony, but things seem a lot better nice te medication. I also haven't been intimate, or anything else since the last flare up 5 days ago. Considering the pain and bleeding has been 3-4 days a week, even after ablation, I feel like a new woman not having any symptoms for almost 36 whole hours! ..... [Read more of this discussion]


[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT]My heart goes out to all of you. We just made the decision to have a hysterectomy this week. I have known this was possible for a few years and it became more of a reality this January after seeing a different ob/gyn. I wrote a post in the introduction forum but here are some brief details. Latest ultrasounds (one done by a fertility doc) showed a fibroid the size of a baseball (DH description) and potential adeno. For other reasons fertility is not an option for us so after lots of praying and meditating we mad ..... [Read more of this discussion]


[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR][/FONT Hi Sisters, I was hoping your guys could tell me what your prep was like before checking in to the hospital. I think mine consists of enemas , douche and a nasty drink to finish the job. Did any of you do the drink? Did you finish drinking it? If not, was it an issue. I only drank 1/2 of mine for a colonosopy and it did the job. Thanks, flip-flop:friend::friend: ..... [Read more of this discussion]


I'm new to the site, so I'm not sure this the best place to post this question. My TAH is scheduled for 2-15-2012 Can anyone help me determine how different a c-section will be from a TAH? I've had 7 c-sections. How long will I be in the hospital? Does someone need to stay in the hospital with me? Thanks!! ..... [Read more of this discussion]



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