Before You Have Surgery-Preparing for Surgery

Before having anesthesia, there are things you need to tell your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist.

Learn 20 ways to be as prepared for surgery as you possibly can.

Are you concerned about anesthesia awareness, or waking up during surgery? Find out what anesthesia awareness is, how to prevent it and what to do if you experience it.

Weight-loss surgery isn't for everyone. Qualifying for weight-loss surgery is a process. With the help of your physician, you must prove that you are eligible for the surgery.

Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not the same thing. Learn the differences between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis and why they may make heart surgery necessary.

Once you have scheduled a surgery, there is a lot to get in order. Learn more about how to be well prepared for your surgery.

Before you schedule a surgery, there are many things to consider. Find out if surgery is right for you and how to prepare for the best possible outcome should you opt for a procedure.

Learn more about one of the most common blood tests, the blood chemistry, or Chem7. Find out what is being tested for and what the results mean.

Wondering how blood travels through the heart? Learn about how the heart pumps blood, and how it travels through the heart and body, tracing a drop of blood through the heart.

Diabetics have a higher risk of complications when they have surgery. Learn how to decrease the risk of diabetic complications, how to prepare for surgery as a diabetic. Preparing for surgery is important for diabetics and needs to include nutritional support and glycemic control. Should you take your insulin before surgery?

When is a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy necessary? Is tonsillitis severe enough that surgery should be done? when should the adenoids be removed along with the tonsils during surgery?

Before you make up your mind to have surgery, take the time to explore your options. You may be able to postpone surgery or completely avoid it.

There are many causes of chronic kidney failure, including diabetes, high blood pressure and polycystic kidney disease. Find out who is most likely to need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Finding a surgeon isn't difficult, but it requires more effort than opening the phone book. All surgeons are not created equal. Learn how to find the best surgeon for you.

Heart murmurs are very common. Learn the different types of heart murmurs and what a heart murmur means.

Heart valve diseases explained in easy to understand language. Learn about heart valve diseases and the damage they do the heart.

Considering heart valve replacement? Learn the differences between heart valves and how to choose a replacement heart valve.

There are four valves in the human heart. Find out how the heart valves function, their location and more.

How long should you wait between surgeries? Find out how long you should wait before having another surgical procedure.

Donating an organ to a friend or relative is a complicated process. Learn how to be considered a potential living organ donor.

Before you have surgery, you should consider obtaining a second opinion. Second opinions can be very valuable, especially if you are looking for alternatives to surgery or are not sure about surgery. Learn how to find a second opinion.

Being placed on the organ transplant waiting list is the first step to receiving a new organ. Learn what is required to be listed for a new organ on the organ transplant waiting list.

Find out what you should pack for the hospital to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Whether you are having surgery or a baby, packing well can make a huge difference in your recovery.

Paying for organ transplants can be extremely expensive. Learn about the various ways to fund an organ transplant.

Learn how to pay for surgery if your insurance company won't, or if you do not have insurance. Even if your insurance won't pay you can still have surgery.

Learn more about hysterectomy for adenomyosis and bleeding from a real surgery patient. Find out what to expect from hysterectomy surgery.

If you are a young woman considering having hysterectomy surgery, you are not the only one. Find out what you can expect from another young woman who had the surgery in this interview.

Learn more about hysterectomy surgery for endometriosis by reading this interview with a woman who had a hysterectomy for that reason.

Learn more about hysterectomy surgery for bleeding and cramps from someone who has been there. This interview sheds light on what you can expect from a hysterectomy.

Beverly Johnson talks about her experience with uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, menopause and her role in the Ask 4 Tell 4 campaign.

Find out what you can expect after a hysterectomy. Learn what real women say about their experience with life after hysterectomy

Find out about hysterectomy for cancer from a patient who has experienced it. Learn from one patient's experience with cervical cancer when you read her story.

Learn more about what you can expect after a hysterectomy for bleeding by reading this interview with a hysterectomy patient.

For some patients, bleeding can be so severe that anemia is present and a hysterectomy is necessary. Find out more about hysterectomy and what to expect from a real patient.

If you are considering having a hysterectomy, find out what women who have been through a hysterectomy procedure have to say about the experience.

Find out what to expect from a hysterectomy from women who have actually had a hysterectomy. Find out what a hysterectomy and the recovery are really like.

Learn what the results from your liver blood tests mean, what normal liver enzyme levels are and what can change your results.

Preparing for surgery can be challenging. What did you do to prepare for your surgery? Did you make lists and plans, or did you just hope for the best?

Anesthesia is an important part of surgery, know what questions to ask your anesthesia provider before your surgery starts. Understanding your risks when having anesthesia is an important part of the decision to have surgery.

If you are considering having a hysterectomy, you will find this list of questions to ask your surgeon very helpful. Ask better hysterectomy questions and have a better surgery outcome.

The risks and complications of heart surgery are explained in detail. Understand the potential complications of having open heart surgery in this article.

Before you have surgery there are questions you should ask. Find out what surgery questions you should ask your surgeon.

Tests are very common before surgery. Find out what tests you can expect to have before your procedure, what the results mean and why the test is being performed.

Why is surgery so expensive and what makes it cost so much? Find out why surgery is so expensive and what contributes to the high cost of surgical procedures.

The right to say no to surgery is part of the Patient's Bill of Rights. Learn more about your right to say no to treatment.

If you are considering hysterectomy surgery, find out the risks of the procedure here.

Before undergoing surgery, every patient should understand the risks involved. No surgery is risk-free, but understanding the potential problems will help guide patients to an informed decision.

Understanding the risks of weight loss surgery is key to making the right decision for your health. Here is an article listing the major risks of weight loss surgery.

What is Vecuronium and why is it given during surgery? Find out what Vecuronium is, how it works, how it is given and more about Vecuronium.

Curious about Versed? Find out why Versed is used, what Versed does, the side effects and warnings associated with Versed here.

Find out what PT, PTT and INR blood tests are, what the results mean and what could you could be eating and doing to change the test results of these common pre-surgery blood tests.

Learn what a CBC blood test is and what the results mean, along with other common blood tests.

Who will be performing your surgery? You may think it will be your surgeon doing your surgery, but in reality, someone else could be doing the majority of your surgery. Find out who is doing your surgery before the procedure.

Find out why you can't eat before you have surgery. No eating or drinking before surgery is a common instruction, find out what to eat before surgery and when you need to quit eating to be ready for your procedure.

When planning a surgery, it is essential that you give your surgeon all of the information needed to make your surgery as safe as possible. Here, 10 things you absolutely must discuss.

Do you have questions about bloodless surgery? Find out what bloodless surgery is, why bloodless surgery is done and who should consider bloodless surgery.

What is a surgery fellowship? What is a surgery fellow? Are you receiving care from a surgery fellow and wonder what exactly a surgical fellow is? Are you considering medical school and curious about a surgery fellowship? Find out about surgery fellowships and surgery fellows!

Have you participated in blood donation? Are you interested in donating blood? Share your experience with blood donation!

Find out everything you need to know about bowel prep for surgery or a colonoscopy. Find out why bowel prep is necessary, how to do your bowel prep, risks and side effects.

Is your physician an M.D. or a D.O.? Share your experience with your MD or DO here.

What are the risks of NOTES Surgery? Are you concerned about the surgical risks and potential complications of NOTES surgery? Find out the potential risks and complications associated with NOTES surgical procedures.

Do you qualify for NOTES surgery? Find out what NOTES surgery is, if you qualify for NOTES surgery and who is not a candidate for surgery using the NOTES endoscopic approach.

What are the causes of hemorrhoids and how can you prevent a hemorrhoid from forming? Find out what you can do to prevent hemorrhoids from forming, or from reoccurring.

What is a packed red blood cell? What does PRBC mean and why would you be given a transfusion of packed red blood cells?