Q. I am 70 years old and have a problem with my left hip, which is very painful when I walk. I have seen four doctors already in the past three years. Two doctors said I should undergo surgery while the other two said I should wait. What should I do? — Luisa
A. Luisa, since I have not seen all your records and I am not an orthopedic surgeon, what I can do is help you make a better decision about the need to undergo surgery or not. Here are some tips patients can follow.
1. Play an active role in decision making. Patients now have access to the Internet and can help their doctor decide what is best for him/her. Your values and outlook in life often play an important part in choosing surgery or not. It’s your body and it’s your right to decide for yourself.
2. Is the surgery an emergency or is it elective? Emergency surgeries leave you little choice to decide and you probably have no time to explore your options. A ruptured appendicitis, a vehicular accident, a dissecting aortic aneurysm all need immediate care. Luckily, this only happens in a few instances. The majority of surgeries are elective, for which we still have time to decide.
3. General rules when surgery is needed. Surgery is appropriate when it is needed to a) relieve or prevent pain, b) correct a deformity, or c) save or prolong a life. However, even if the surgery is appropriate, there may be other treatment options available which are non-surgical. Ask your doctor about other options, too. If you feel pressured or uncomfortable, get a second opinion on the matter.
4. Decide with a calm mind. With doubt, there arises fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of making the wrong decision. Fear of choosing the wrong doctor. Knowing the pros and cons of the operation will help you feel more calm and confident in whatever treatment you decide on.
5. Questions to ask your doctors before surgery. List them down.
It’s best to list your questions down before you visit your doctor. Otherwise you might forget about it because you panicked or your doctor is busy. Basic questions to ask are the following:
• What is the surgery called and how is it done?
• What’s the reason for the surgery?
• What results can I expect after undergoing this procedure?
• What are the risks involved and how often do they occur?
• How much time do I need before I can go back to work?
• How much money should I prepare, for the hospital bill and your professional fee?
• Are there cheaper options available for me? What if I get a semi-private room or stay in the wards?
• Will the costs be covered by my health card?
Now, the next two questions should be handled skillfully and with care: “Doc, how many times have you performed this surgery before? How frequently is this surgery done in this hospital?” These questions assess the skill of the surgeon. There’s no harm in asking around. Ask other patients, too.
6. When to ask for a second opinion. Now, you might feel uncomfortable asking for a second opinion, but that is your right. A doctor who gets angry or refuses to cooperate with you (not allowing you to photocopy your laboratory results) may not be the best doctor for you. To get around this problem, always (and I mean always) have an extra copy of all your lab tests. File it in a folder. Don’t allow your doctor to keep your only copy.
There are some instances when it’s wise to seek a second opinion: a) The surgery is risky or still experimental; b) your symptoms are not severe and the outcome of the surgery is not clearly beneficial; c) there’s controversy about the need for the procedure, for example, tonsillectomy, hysterectomy, cesarian section, coronary bypass, balloon angioplasty, orthopedic surgery, gallbladder removal and, of course, plastic surgery.
I’m not saying that these procedures are not needed, but I just want you to know that there is a wide range of opinions on the matter. There are doctors on the conservative side (no surgery) while others are on the aggressive side (early surgery). Both doctors are correct within the bounds of acceptable practice.
Now, if the second doctor disagrees with the first, find out the reason why. You might find that one doctor’s philosophy may be more in line with your own values. Then choose which doctor you prefer.
7. Pray that you find the right doctor. Now, some people might frown upon this suggestion, but really there’s a lot of luck involved, too. Prayers and a positive attitude help the patient find the right doctor. How else can we explain seeing one doctor instead of another? It’s usually a referral from a friend of a friend.
Find a few doctors whom you can trust. Doctors who’ll give you the leeway to be yourself, to listen to all your crazy questions and will only have your best interests at heart. Find a few and stick to them. With the added help of the Great Physician, our Filipino doctors can really alleviate your pain and prolong your life. Good luck!
* * *
Health Trivia
I got this amazing e-mail from my surgeon-friend Dr. Eric G. Zoleta. It shows us the power of the human mind:
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt!
* * *
To our Star readers, you may want to copy the above article and send it to a friend who is considering surgery. It might save a life! For your questions, e-mail willietong@gmail.com.