Guest guest Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Hello Cammie, I feel that my surgeon would have answered any questions if I would have asked him. My problem was half that I didn't want to know to much because I was afraid that I wouldn't have wanted the surgery, and the other half was that I just found a few sites at the time when I searched on google. When I started my search it was in 1998 and I read information, but not enough. I didn't find this one, wish I did. Do I think he should have told me more about what I was getting into, maybe. I really wish I asked more questions then I did. I don't think I really expected this to be as much as it was. I just knew that I had to have the surgery and that was that. I am very proud of the other people on the web site that actually found this way before the surgery and they have a recipe book for things to eat and they bought the zip-n-squeeze months before the surgery even took place. I have learned from this experience that I will never go through a surgery again blinded. So I have something positive about this surgery I also think that because the doctors do start to see so many patients and do the surgeries so many times that they forget that this is your first time and you really don't have any idea what is going on. So I think I am going to suggest that he talk to patients more than wait for them to ask him the questions. That is why we do pay them the big bucks for, to prepare us, keep ups informed and make things right. I think after the second night I was at the hospital and he saw how confused I was and that I was kind of scared that I subjected myself to this kind of surgery. He brought in his wife that next day with him, because she was going on her second week of the surgery to talk to me and reassure me that things will get better in time. It did make me feel a lot better because it was her second week and I could understand her. Thanks for your advice, knowledge is power, Tonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Hello Cammie, I feel that my surgeon would have answered any questions if I would have asked him. My problem was half that I didn't want to know to much because I was afraid that I wouldn't have wanted the surgery, and the other half was that I just found a few sites at the time when I searched on google. When I started my search it was in 1998 and I read information, but not enough. I didn't find this one, wish I did. Do I think he should have told me more about what I was getting into, maybe. I really wish I asked more questions then I did. I don't think I really expected this to be as much as it was. I just knew that I had to have the surgery and that was that. I am very proud of the other people on the web site that actually found this way before the surgery and they have a recipe book for things to eat and they bought the zip-n-squeeze months before the surgery even took place. I have learned from this experience that I will never go through a surgery again blinded. So I have something positive about this surgery I also think that because the doctors do start to see so many patients and do the surgeries so many times that they forget that this is your first time and you really don't have any idea what is going on. So I think I am going to suggest that he talk to patients more than wait for them to ask him the questions. That is why we do pay them the big bucks for, to prepare us, keep ups informed and make things right. I think after the second night I was at the hospital and he saw how confused I was and that I was kind of scared that I subjected myself to this kind of surgery. He brought in his wife that next day with him, because she was going on her second week of the surgery to talk to me and reassure me that things will get better in time. It did make me feel a lot better because it was her second week and I could understand her. Thanks for your advice, knowledge is power, Tonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2003 Report Share Posted April 29, 2003 I think it is true that many surgeons do these procedures so frequently (Mine does at least two every Tuesday morning, and more, I suspect; he schedules three consult afternoons a week, and is booked solidly for that for about a month, maybe more now, in advance) that they take them a lot more for granted than we do, as we approach them. And they know that the outcome will be good, and that patients will make it through it. I think they also worry about scaring us. (Although I think I scared my doc, because I was afraid I would come out from the anesthesia as a vegetable, and was very clear in my expression of no desire to live that way.) But you should not have to know what questions to ask to get a reasonable idea of how to prepare for your post-op experience, I think. And I think that fear is the greatest struggle we have on both sides of these procedures. If you know a little about what to expect, I think, you are less likely to panic. In retrospect, I think my doc had no idea that I was as worried about swelling and congestion as I was when I first saw him. Gradually I realized that, although I'd told him I'd been reading on the sites, he wasn't concerned because I was having lower only; I hadn't figured out at that point that it is the folks who have upper who are more likely to have those problems. In short, yes, I think your doc should have better prepared you. If he hasn't the time, he could have a staff member who's trained to help patients prepare, or a video, or some way of getting the info across. Maybe your doc could ask his wife (I'd love to know whether she had the same fear beforehand and at first, after) if she'd like to be available for patients who want to, or maybe former patients would volunteer. I don't know how it could work out, but I think it needs to be worked out, somehow. I have taken every oral surgeon and most of the dentists I've dealt with Zippie bags and info on recipe books. Hospital dietitians, as well -- and I found that the dietitians, alas, did not have as much info as I did on this particular situation. I think it's good that you make your suggestion to him; I also wish they'd encourage a patient to talk with an earlier patient who's been through it. I'm sure my doc would have, had I made that specific request. I did not, because I'd been here, and had done my talking and asking! I find that most docs are also reluctant for patients to go browsing on the Internet. I know there are some rotten apples in cyberspace, but my experience has been that they don't last long here, thank heaven, and I have made some lasting, kind and fine friends here. Best, Cammie > Hello Cammie, > > I feel that my surgeon would have answered any questions if I would have > asked him. My problem was half that I didn't want to know to much because I > was afraid that I wouldn't have wanted the surgery, and the other half was > that I just found a few sites at the time when I searched on google. When I > started my search it was in 1998 and I read information, but not enough. I > didn't find this one, wish I did. > > Do I think he should have told me more about what I was getting into, maybe. > I really wish I asked more questions then I did. I don't think I really > expected this to be as much as it was. I just knew that I had to have the > surgery and that was that. > > I am very proud of the other people on the web site that actually found this > way before the surgery and they have a recipe book for things to eat and they > bought the zip-n-squeeze months before the surgery even took place. I have > learned from this experience that I will never go through a surgery again > blinded. So I have something positive about this surgery > > I also think that because the doctors do start to see so many patients and do > the surgeries so many times that they forget that this is your first time and > you really don't have any idea what is going on. So I think I am going to > suggest that he talk to patients more than wait for them to ask him the > questions. That is why we do pay them the big bucks for, to prepare us, keep > ups informed and make things right. I think after the second night I was at > the hospital and he saw how confused I was and that I was kind of scared that > I subjected myself to this kind of surgery. He brought in his wife that next > day with him, because she was going on her second week of the surgery to talk > to me and reassure me that things will get better in time. It did make me > feel a lot better because it was her second week and I could understand her. > > > Thanks for your advice, knowledge is power, > > Tonia > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2003 Report Share Posted April 29, 2003 I think it is true that many surgeons do these procedures so frequently (Mine does at least two every Tuesday morning, and more, I suspect; he schedules three consult afternoons a week, and is booked solidly for that for about a month, maybe more now, in advance) that they take them a lot more for granted than we do, as we approach them. And they know that the outcome will be good, and that patients will make it through it. I think they also worry about scaring us. (Although I think I scared my doc, because I was afraid I would come out from the anesthesia as a vegetable, and was very clear in my expression of no desire to live that way.) But you should not have to know what questions to ask to get a reasonable idea of how to prepare for your post-op experience, I think. And I think that fear is the greatest struggle we have on both sides of these procedures. If you know a little about what to expect, I think, you are less likely to panic. In retrospect, I think my doc had no idea that I was as worried about swelling and congestion as I was when I first saw him. Gradually I realized that, although I'd told him I'd been reading on the sites, he wasn't concerned because I was having lower only; I hadn't figured out at that point that it is the folks who have upper who are more likely to have those problems. In short, yes, I think your doc should have better prepared you. If he hasn't the time, he could have a staff member who's trained to help patients prepare, or a video, or some way of getting the info across. Maybe your doc could ask his wife (I'd love to know whether she had the same fear beforehand and at first, after) if she'd like to be available for patients who want to, or maybe former patients would volunteer. I don't know how it could work out, but I think it needs to be worked out, somehow. I have taken every oral surgeon and most of the dentists I've dealt with Zippie bags and info on recipe books. Hospital dietitians, as well -- and I found that the dietitians, alas, did not have as much info as I did on this particular situation. I think it's good that you make your suggestion to him; I also wish they'd encourage a patient to talk with an earlier patient who's been through it. I'm sure my doc would have, had I made that specific request. I did not, because I'd been here, and had done my talking and asking! I find that most docs are also reluctant for patients to go browsing on the Internet. I know there are some rotten apples in cyberspace, but my experience has been that they don't last long here, thank heaven, and I have made some lasting, kind and fine friends here. Best, Cammie > Hello Cammie, > > I feel that my surgeon would have answered any questions if I would have > asked him. My problem was half that I didn't want to know to much because I > was afraid that I wouldn't have wanted the surgery, and the other half was > that I just found a few sites at the time when I searched on google. When I > started my search it was in 1998 and I read information, but not enough. I > didn't find this one, wish I did. > > Do I think he should have told me more about what I was getting into, maybe. > I really wish I asked more questions then I did. I don't think I really > expected this to be as much as it was. I just knew that I had to have the > surgery and that was that. > > I am very proud of the other people on the web site that actually found this > way before the surgery and they have a recipe book for things to eat and they > bought the zip-n-squeeze months before the surgery even took place. I have > learned from this experience that I will never go through a surgery again > blinded. So I have something positive about this surgery > > I also think that because the doctors do start to see so many patients and do > the surgeries so many times that they forget that this is your first time and > you really don't have any idea what is going on. So I think I am going to > suggest that he talk to patients more than wait for them to ask him the > questions. That is why we do pay them the big bucks for, to prepare us, keep > ups informed and make things right. I think after the second night I was at > the hospital and he saw how confused I was and that I was kind of scared that > I subjected myself to this kind of surgery. He brought in his wife that next > day with him, because she was going on her second week of the surgery to talk > to me and reassure me that things will get better in time. It did make me > feel a lot better because it was her second week and I could understand her. > > > Thanks for your advice, knowledge is power, > > Tonia > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2003 Report Share Posted April 29, 2003 I think it is true that many surgeons do these procedures so frequently (Mine does at least two every Tuesday morning, and more, I suspect; he schedules three consult afternoons a week, and is booked solidly for that for about a month, maybe more now, in advance) that they take them a lot more for granted than we do, as we approach them. And they know that the outcome will be good, and that patients will make it through it. I think they also worry about scaring us. (Although I think I scared my doc, because I was afraid I would come out from the anesthesia as a vegetable, and was very clear in my expression of no desire to live that way.) But you should not have to know what questions to ask to get a reasonable idea of how to prepare for your post-op experience, I think. And I think that fear is the greatest struggle we have on both sides of these procedures. If you know a little about what to expect, I think, you are less likely to panic. In retrospect, I think my doc had no idea that I was as worried about swelling and congestion as I was when I first saw him. Gradually I realized that, although I'd told him I'd been reading on the sites, he wasn't concerned because I was having lower only; I hadn't figured out at that point that it is the folks who have upper who are more likely to have those problems. In short, yes, I think your doc should have better prepared you. If he hasn't the time, he could have a staff member who's trained to help patients prepare, or a video, or some way of getting the info across. Maybe your doc could ask his wife (I'd love to know whether she had the same fear beforehand and at first, after) if she'd like to be available for patients who want to, or maybe former patients would volunteer. I don't know how it could work out, but I think it needs to be worked out, somehow. I have taken every oral surgeon and most of the dentists I've dealt with Zippie bags and info on recipe books. Hospital dietitians, as well -- and I found that the dietitians, alas, did not have as much info as I did on this particular situation. I think it's good that you make your suggestion to him; I also wish they'd encourage a patient to talk with an earlier patient who's been through it. I'm sure my doc would have, had I made that specific request. I did not, because I'd been here, and had done my talking and asking! I find that most docs are also reluctant for patients to go browsing on the Internet. I know there are some rotten apples in cyberspace, but my experience has been that they don't last long here, thank heaven, and I have made some lasting, kind and fine friends here. Best, Cammie > Hello Cammie, > > I feel that my surgeon would have answered any questions if I would have > asked him. My problem was half that I didn't want to know to much because I > was afraid that I wouldn't have wanted the surgery, and the other half was > that I just found a few sites at the time when I searched on google. When I > started my search it was in 1998 and I read information, but not enough. I > didn't find this one, wish I did. > > Do I think he should have told me more about what I was getting into, maybe. > I really wish I asked more questions then I did. I don't think I really > expected this to be as much as it was. I just knew that I had to have the > surgery and that was that. > > I am very proud of the other people on the web site that actually found this > way before the surgery and they have a recipe book for things to eat and they > bought the zip-n-squeeze months before the surgery even took place. I have > learned from this experience that I will never go through a surgery again > blinded. So I have something positive about this surgery > > I also think that because the doctors do start to see so many patients and do > the surgeries so many times that they forget that this is your first time and > you really don't have any idea what is going on. So I think I am going to > suggest that he talk to patients more than wait for them to ask him the > questions. That is why we do pay them the big bucks for, to prepare us, keep > ups informed and make things right. I think after the second night I was at > the hospital and he saw how confused I was and that I was kind of scared that > I subjected myself to this kind of surgery. He brought in his wife that next > day with him, because she was going on her second week of the surgery to talk > to me and reassure me that things will get better in time. It did make me > feel a lot better because it was her second week and I could understand her. > > > Thanks for your advice, knowledge is power, > > Tonia > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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