Knowing what to expect after surgery or a serious medical procedure is crucial. Barbara Greenberg, a well-known U.S. clinical psychologist, says people who haven’t sorted out a few basic issues aren’t truly ready to recover.
She specifically recommends:
- Find someone you can contact if you have questions about the procedure.
- Get a clear sense of what to expect afterward. That clarity will reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
“My clients are scheduled for medical procedures or operations, and they often want everything over with so badly that they don’t ask what will happen afterward,” Dr. Greenberg said.
She recalled, for example, a woman who had her appendix removed and had no idea how often she should take pain medication. She also remembered a man who wanted to get back to his workouts but didn’t know when that would be safe. The man, she said, was miserable because he was missing the exercise sessions that were his primary way of coping with stress.
“What those people had in common was a lack of a clear idea about what to expect after medical procedures. That uncertainty produced stress, and stress undermines recovery,” Dr. Greenberg said.
Surgery coming up? A short checklist of questions to ask
Dr. Greenberg put together a short checklist of questions patients should ask their doctor before surgery. The answers will help you get through recovery without extra stress.
- Recovery: Find out how long you will need to stay home and be off work. Ask when and how often you should take pain medication. Ask whether you are likely to feel very tired (fatigue varies by person). Ask which bodily reactions you should expect and what level of pain is normal. Ask whether inflammation, constipation, or itching will accompany your recovery. Look up information about these procedures in social media groups and bring your questions. You are experiencing a trauma, so you have the right to know what to expect. Come to your doctor prepared and don’t forget your list of questions.
- Contact information: Ask who you can contact if questions come up after the surgery. Ask whether you should call the doctor’s nurse or leave a message for the doctor on the patient portal. Ask how long you should expect to wait for a response. Those are important details to sort out so you don’t end up alone with your worries and then find yourself in the emergency department in the middle of the night.
- Financial responsibilities: This is a critically important part of your experience. Check the bills for your procedure carefully. Find out in advance whom to contact at the clinic if you receive unexpected charges. Financial surprises are a major source of stress, so have that information on hand before surgery. During recovery, you will probably not have time to track down the person responsible for patient billing.
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