I know it has been a while since I have been to this site....and while I still need to maintain my distance from getting overly involved at this time, I wanted to give you all an update.
Helen is right with your questions to ask....I just experienced this last week. I had been dealing with the kidney and ear infection and was really feeling rotten a week or more after gtting treatment. I went to a new pcp (I feel like my old one just didn't want to deal with me anymore)and when he tapped me on my back, like they do when checking for kidney infections, I actually fell out of my chair. He immediately sent me for an ultrasound which showed a lot of gallstones and what may be tumors on my kidneys. I was shipped via ambulance down to a hospital in Green Bay where they were going to do surgery....well they thought they were going to do surgery...and I was not going to stand up for myself and say no....because I needed pain relief...but then I remembered my life as it is now and how I got that way and I asked....do I have to have surgery now? The answer of course was no. My answer was...I'm out of here. This happened on Thursday and I was scheduled to fly down to Chicago on Tuesday. I brought with me my ultrasound reports and have given them to my doctors. It may help these doctors move a little quicker...here's hoping. But I suggested to my internist that when they do my surgery they just remove the gallbladder so it doesn't cause me any problems after I have had my surgery and he agreed!!!! I had suggested that to the doctors in Milwaukee years ago....I hadn't ever had any gallbladder problems but didn't want to risk developing them once they did a surgery that actually worked...well they wouldn't hear of it. Of course then you have to look at the fact that they never did a surgery that worked either. (Oh yea...the weather report says its supposed to snow this weekend...I'm crying here)
I am in Chicago now...going home this afternoon. I hope I get home before the weather does. I have to fly down here again next Tuesday. They are going to put in a spinal pain block. I was told that the first one probably would not work for more than a few days...so they will schedule me to come back two weeks later for a second one and then two weeks later for a permanent working one. I am on totally new pain medications...am losing the fentanyl patch. That can cause respiratory depression which I have been having signs of...but the pain doctors felt that the patches were not as beneficial as the medicine they were going to give me would be...in combination with the block. I will be on oxycontin 20mg 2-3 times a day and then oxy1r 5mg 1-2 every 4 hours for breakthrough pain. Any comments? I am a bit leery of the block...but the anesthesiologist was quite sure it would work.
I have gone back and read some of the postings and would like to say a few things. KIMMI, don't write off the great doctors Redan and Reich. There are ways of getting to Pennsylvania. Don't put yourself in a position where you end up like me. The other comment is to say thank you to everyone that wrote with your best wishes. I am still very overwhelmed with my life right now...wanting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. But my taking time away is good for me. I will be with you all in my prayers.
-- Karla >Are you facing surgery? You are not alone. Millions of Americans have >surgery each year. Most operations are not emergencies. This means you >have time to ask your surgeon questions about the operation and time to >decide whether to have it, and if so, when and where. The information >presented here does not apply to emergency surgery. > >The most important questions to ask about elective surgery are why the >procedure is necessary for you and what alternatives there are to >surgery. If you do not need to have the operation, then you can avoid >any risks that might result. All surgeries and alternative treatments >have risks and benefits. They are only worth doing if the benefits are >greater than the risks. > >Your primary care doctor, that is, your regular doctor, may be the one >who suggests that you have surgery and may recommend a surgeon. You may >want to identify another independent surgeon to get a second opinion. >Check to see if your health insurance will pay for the operation and the >second opinion. If you are eligible for Medicare, it will pay for a >second opinion. You should discuss your insurance questions with your >health insurance company or your employee benefits office. > >Questions To Ask The Doctor Or Health Professional > >Following are questions to ask your primary care doctor and surgeon >before you have surgery, and the reasons for asking them. The answers >to these questions will help you be informed and help you make the best >decision. > >Your doctors should welcome questions. If you do not understand the >answers, ask the doctors to explain them clearly. Patients who are well >informed about their treatment tend to be more satisfied with the >outcome or results of their treatment. > >What Operation Are You Recommending? > >Ask your surgeon to explain the surgical procedure. For example, if >something is going to be repaired or removed, find out why it is >necessary to do so. Your surgeon can draw a picture or a diagram and >explain to you the steps involved in the procedure. > >Are there different ways of doing the operation? One way may require >more extensive surgery than another. Ask why your surgeon wants to do >the operation one way over another. > >Why Do I Need The Operation? > >There are many reasons to have surgery. Some operations can relieve or >prevent pain. Others can reduce a symptom of a problem or improve some >body function. Some surgeries are performed to diagnose a problem. >Surgery also can save your life. Your surgeon will tell you the purpose >of the procedure. Make sure you understand how the proposed operation >fits in with the diagnosis of your medical condition. > >Are There Alternatives To Surgery? > >Sometimes, surgery is not the only answer to a medical problem. >Medicines or other nonsurgical treatments, such as a change in diet or >special exercises, might help you just as well or more. Ask your >surgeon or primary care doctor about the benefits and risks of these >other choices. You need to know as much as possible about these >benefits and risks to make the best decision. > >One alternative may be "watchful waiting," in which your doctor and you >check to see if your problem gets better or worse. If it gets worse, >you may need surgery right away. If it gets better, you may be able to >postpone surgery, perhaps indefinitely. > >What Are The Benefits Of Having The Operation? > >Ask your surgeon what you will gain by having the operation. For >example, a hip replacement may mean that you can walk again with ease. > >Ask how long the benefits are likely to last. For some procedures, it >is not unusual for the benefits to last for a short time only. There >might be a need for a second operation at a later date. For other >procedures, the benefits may last a lifetime. > >When finding out about the benefits of the operation, be realistic. >Sometimes patients expect too much and are disappointed with the >outcome, or results. Ask your doctor if there is any published >information about the outcomes of the procedure. > >What Are The Risks Of Having The Operation? > >All operations carry some risk. This is why you need to weigh the >benefits of the operation against the risks of complications or side >effects. > >Complications can occur around the time of the operation. Complications >are unplanned events, such as infection, too much bleeding, reaction to >anesthesia, or accidental injury. Some people have an increased risk of >complications because of other medical conditions. > >In addition, there may be side effects after the operation. For the >most part, side effects can be anticipated. For example, your surgeon >knows that there will be swelling and some soreness at the site of the >operation. > >Ask your surgeon about the possible complications and side effects of >the operation. There is almost always some pain with surgery. Ask how >much there will be and what the doctors and nurses will do to reduce the >pain. Controlling the pain will help you be more comfortable while you >heal, get well faster, and improve the results of your operation. > >What If I Don't Have This Operation? > >Based on what you learn about the benefits and risks of the operation, >you might decide not to have it. Ask your surgeon what you will gain -- >or lose -- by not having the operation now. Could you be in more pain? >Could your condition get worse? Could the problem go away? > >Where Can I Get A Second Opinion? > >Getting a second opinion from another doctor is a very good way to make >sure having the operation is the best alternative for you. Many health >insurance plans require patients to get a second opinion before they >have certain non-emergency operations. If your plan does not require a >second opinion, you may still ask to have one. Check with your >insurance company to see if it will pay for a second opinion. If you >get one, make sure to get your records from the first doctor so that the >second one does not have to repeat tests. > >What Has Been Your Experience In Doing The Operation? > >One way to reduce the risks of surgery is to choose a surgeon who has >been thoroughly trained to do the procedure and has plenty of experience >doing it. You can ask your surgeon about his or her recent record of >successes and complications with this procedure. If it is more >comfortable for you, you can discuss the topic of surgeons' >qualifications with your regular or primary care doctor. > >Where Will The Operation Be Done? > >Most surgeons practice at one or two local hospitals. Find out where >your operation will be performed. Have many of the operations you are >thinking about having been done in this hospital? Some operations have >higher success rates if they are done in hospitals that do many of those >procedures. Ask your doctor about the success rate at this hospital. If >the hospital has a low success rate for the operation in question, you >should ask to have it at another hospital. > >Until recently, most surgery was performed on an inpatient basis and >patients stayed in the hospital for one or more days. Today, a lot of >surgery is done on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office, a special >surgical center, or a day surgery unit of a hospital. Outpatient >surgery is less expensive because you do not have to pay for staying in >a hospital room. > >Ask whether your operation will be done in the hospital or in an >outpatient setting. If your doctor recommends inpatient surgery for a >procedure that is usually done as outpatient surgery, or just the >opposite, recommends outpatient surgery that is usually done as >inpatient surgery, ask why. You want to be in the right place for your >operation. > >What Kind Of Anesthesia Will I Need? > >Anesthesia is used so that surgery can be performed without unnecessary >pain. Your surgeon can tell you whether the operation calls for local, >regional, or general anesthesia, and why this form of anesthesia is >recommended for your procedure. > >a.. Local anesthesia numbs only a part of your body for a short period >of time, for example, a tooth and the surrounding gum. Not all >procedures done with local anesthesia are painless. > >a.. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger portion of your body, for >example, the lower part of your body for a few hours. In most cases, >you will be awake with regional anesthesia. > >a.. General anesthesia numbs your entire body for the entire time of >the surgery. You will be unconscious if you have general anesthesia. > >Anesthesia is quite safe for most patients and is usually administered >by a specialized physician (anesthesiologist) or nurse anesthetist. Both >are highly skilled and have been specially trained to give anesthesia. > >If you decide to have an operation, ask to meet with the person who will >give you anesthesia. Find out what his or her qualifications are. Ask >what the side effects and risks of having anesthesia are in your case. >Be sure to tell him or her what medical problems you have including >allergies and any medications you have been taking, since they may >affect your response to the anesthesia. > >How Long Will It Take Me To Recover? > >Your surgeon can tell you how you might feel and what you will be able >to do or not do the first few days, weeks, or months after surgery. Ask >how long you will be in the hospital. Find out what kind of supplies, >equipment, and any other help you will need when you go home. Knowing >what to expect can help you cope better with recovery. > >Ask when you can start regular exercise again and go back to work. You >do not want to do anything that will slow down the recovery process. >Lifting a 10-pound bag of potatoes may not seem to be "too much" a week >after your operation, but it could be. You should follow your surgeon's >advice to make sure you recover fully as soon as possible. > >How Much Will The Operation Cost? > >Health insurance coverage for surgery can vary, and there may be some >costs you will have to pay. Before you have the operation, call your >insurance company to find out how much of these costs it will pay and >how much you will have to pay yourself. > >Ask what your surgeon's fee is and what it covers. Surgical fees often >also include several visits after the operation. You also will be >billed by the hospital for inpatient or outpatient care and by the >anesthesiologist and others providing care related to your operation. > >Surgeons' Qualifications > >You will want to know that your surgeon is experienced and qualified to >perform the operation. Many surgeons have taken special training and >passed exams given by a national board of surgeons. Ask if your surgeon >is "board certified" in surgery. Some surgeons also have the letters >F.A.C.S. after their name. This means they are Fellows of the American >College of Surgeons and have passed another review by surgeons of their >surgical practices. > >Source: "Be Informed: Questions To Ask Your Doctor Before You Have >Surgery," Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, January 1995. > >http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/showAllLfts.asp?lftname=AHC >R088&cid=HT > >[ NOTE: The Url for this web site is sooo terribly long...so I simply >cut and pasted the article here so that you could read this excellent >information. > >If you want to go to this web site, you will have to enter the Url onto >the address-line of your computer monitor ( screen ).]