Do You Feel You are Bothering Your Surgeon? Call if You Need to!

A recent article in the New York Times talks about "Bothering Your Doctor" from a doctor's perspective. Her thoughts on the topic? I'm here for your care, call me if you need me!

Many patients, and even healthcare workers, hesitate to call a doctor at strange hours, even for important updates. Should you call your surgeon? Should you report to the emergency room? It can be a tough question, especially when the situation arises at 3 o'clock in the morning.

This article, Warning Signs After Surgery can shed some light on what symtoms may be an emergency if they occur during your recovery. If you think you are experiencing an emergency, don't hesitate to find out what your doctor thinks, and if you go to the ER, be sure to tell the staff that you recently had surgery. If you have a big surgery planned, tell them that too!

The real scoop: better safe than sorry. The worst thing you can do is ignore an emergency because you didn't want to bother your family, your friends or your doctor.