Questions to Consider Asking Your Surgeon Before Surgery:
- How many procedures of this particular kind are being performed annually in this country? Worldwide? How many have you performed?
- What is the outcome that doctors collectively have experienced? What percent of patients are completely “dry” and free of leakage following surgery? What additional percent experience improvement in their symptoms? What are you experiences in your clinical practice?
- Am I more or less likely to have a better outcome by means of a different procedure? ex. Is there a difference for the diagnosis you have found in my case between and abdominal versus vaginal approach to surgery?
- Will I encounter new problems, such as urine retention or urgency? How might my sexual relations be impacted by this procedure?
- Are you recommending a procedure that involves an artificial tape or device that is being implanted? Since there are now several varieties available to doctors, why have you selected this particular one for my case?
- What is my recovery time likely to be? Do I need to continue to do pelvic muscle exercises? How soon can I resume my exercise routine? Am I at risk of “undoing” something? What is the likelihood that I will face having this procedure repeated?
- What risks do I face and how serious are they? What is the likelihood that I can encounter these problems?
