Surgery feedback

[Guest guest]

I had foot surgery when I was about 11. Both feet at the same time and

in casts up to my knees for 6 weeks during summer so I would not miss

school. This was tendon transplant surgery (soft tissue). That was about

in 1963. Here it is 2004 and that is the only foot surgery I have had

and needed since, so I'd say this surgery was successful. Since I was a

child, I didn't have a say or even ask questions - one day in the doc's

office he said I needed surgery; I do remember my mother asking a

friend-of-the-family ortho about this however; I guess that was her 2nd

opinion. So it was explained briefly to me - one day I was off to the

hospital, had surgery, woke up with 2 casts on, and stayed a full week.

If you do not understand the medical terms and procedures your doctor

mentioned, ask him to explain in simple language so you can firmly grasp

the idea. Ask for him to show you either on a model of the foot or in a

simple drawing. If he won't do this, forget him and find another doc.

Ask how many surgeries of this type he has performed and how many on CMT

people. Ask if HE was having this surgery done who HE would go to. That

could be the name of someone you might get a second opinion from.

Think of all the questions you want to ask and write them down. Like

will I need to donate blood for myself? What will be length of time in

hospital? Will both feet be done at once or can one be done, then the

other? Will I need physical therapy after? Will I be able to meet with

the anestheologist prior to surgery? What antibiotic will I be given

during surgery? etc. These are all questions I asked my orthopedist on

my back surgery, but surgery is surgery, and we all have a thousand

questions. Getting my doc to draw a diagram and explain what he was

going to do took away alot of anxiety and made me more comfortable. And

believe me, I even asked more questions that those above.

Definitely, get a 2nd opinion.

~ G