Pre-Op Visit Questions

How long will the surgery be?

Excision of endometriosis can take several hours. If they say that surgery will be 1 hour, that’s a red flag. Many excision specialists will say 2-3 hours, but follow that with, “it depends on what we see.” Some excision surgeries can take 8-10 hours.

What will I be given for pain control? Will refills be available?

Many surgeons do not prescribe narcotics past the first few weeks of post-op recovery and will only provide 1-2 refills if you call saying you are still having surgical pain. This, in part, is due to our the opioid crisis in the medical care system. But even so, you have a right to pain control.

It’s good to know ahead of time if you will need to see your primary care physician or pain specialist to manage pain as you recover. 

Can I also be prescribed something for nausea?

Surgery, anesthesia, and the pain medication you take at home can cause nausea. It’s good to ask for something like ondansetron or another anti-nausea medication. 

How long do you expect me to be away from work?

Some surgeons will say 2-3 weeks, others say 6-8 weeks. It really depends on your doctor, your medical history, and how your surgical recovery goes. 

Is this a teaching hospital? Can you assure me that you will be the only one doing my excision?

Teaching hospitals are amazing! They are usually filled with skilled experts in every field and help to mold future physicians. 

But since I worked so hard to get to where I am, I made sure my doctor was going to be the only one doing my actual excision. The fellows could assist with opening and closing, but I didn’t want anyone but my surgeon doing the excision part. 

Yes, the fellows need to learn. I completely get that. But I made my wishes known.

You will have to decide what you are comfortable with and make sure you express your wishes. 

What will you do if you find endo on an unexpected organ? Will another specialist be brought into the surgery?

Sometimes patients may not have symptoms or signs that suggest that endometriosis will be found on something like the bowel. But in the case that it is found, you’ll want to make sure that your surgeon has a doctor that he usually calls in during surgery. 

Or you may find out that the surgeon will decide to address it in a separate surgery. Either way works, but it’s good to have a general idea of what will happen.

Ideally you will want everything done in one surgery, but sometimes it’s safer to separate the surgeries, and it’s up to your surgeon to make that call. 

Will I be sent home the same day, or should I expect an overnight stay? How many nights?

No matter the answer to this question, always pack an overnight bag to take to the hospital. Just in case plans change after surgery.

Things may go perfectly in surgery, and your surgeon may say that you can go home on the same day. But if you cannot urinate or your pain is severely uncontrolled, it’s likely that they will keep you overnight. 

What will I need to do as a bowel prep? Will I need to follow a specific diet the day before surgery?

Prepping your bowels before surgery is done for your safety. Cleaning out the bowels helps to make sure that if something happens (perforation or they need to cut into it) then you are less likely to get an infection. 

Some doctors will do GoLytely, which is a liquid medication used for colonoscopy prep. Others will have you pickup a few things from the drug store, like magnesium citrate and fleet enemas. 

You also might have to follow a liquid diet the day before surgery. You will need to avoid drinking liquids that are red or orange in color, since they can look like blood in surgery. 

Will I be screened for COVID-19? When? What will happen if it is positive?

We are living in a new world, and COVID-19 screening is a new necessary evil. Many surgery sites are running a COVID-19 test the day before surgery and requesting that you quarantine at home after your test. 

The test is a deep nasal swab and, to be honest, it feels like they are scraping your brains out, but its a very necessary test. I found it easiest to close my eyes and take deep breaths through it. 

If you come up positive, this will affect your surgical date (most likely). I truly hope none of you come up positive the day before surgery, or ever for that matter. 

What physical limitations will I have?

Oftentimes your mind will tell you that you are able to complete a task like vacuuming or laundry, but your body may say otherwise. 

The best thing to do, other than listening to the guidelines that your doctor gives you, is to listen to your body. 

Will I be able to climb the stairs on the day of surgery?

This questions is especially important if your bedroom is on an upstairs floor or basement. Personally, my bedroom and all the showers are upstairs, so I was nervous that I would have to sleep on the couch and not shower for a few days. 

However, my doctor said it was okay to climb the stairs on the day of surgery, and to stay up there for a few days before doing it again. I was very surprised by how easy it was to climb the stairs when I got home, but it was definitely because I still had IV pain medication in me. 

No matter the answer, always make sure you have someone with you during that first week. Safety first! You are at high risk for falling with all the pain and pain medication you will be taking.

Will I see you after surgery before I go home?

Many surgeons will come see you and your family while you are still sedated. Knowing this, I gave my husband the list of questions to ask for me. It’s always helpful to be prepared.