Ask Questions Until You Understand

[@tcmomcoffey4028]

I wish all doctors was more like you

[@Drjfever]

Without asking questions, you cant give informed consent

[@jessicazeller8060]

I was really nervous about an upcoming septoplasty. I made an appointment with my ENT last month and it was literally just 30 minutes of a Q&A. I felt so safe afterward. I’m so glad I did too because I had a shunt malfunction and had to have emergency brain surgery to fix it last week. My shunts were one of my concerns during the septoplasty. Had I not done my due diligence, my shunt could have malfunctioned during my septoplasty. Ask questions until you understand. Do NOT feel ashamed for being thorough. If a doctor dismisses your concerns or doesn’t do their best to inform you to the best of their ability, FIND SOMEONE ELSE. I speak from experience. I wouldn’t be typing this otherwise because I could have died. Stay safe, stay informed!

[@cazzcooke3990]

Throwback 2022. I had a brain bleed sub dural heamorrage and needed emergency surgery. I don’t have many memories before the surgery. I do remember arriving in the OT being told I was there to have a craniotomy. That was a shock. So grateful for the neuro-surgeon who saved my life and answered all my questions repeatedly (I couldn’t remember his answers) when I got better. I’m good now though. It’s my 45th bday today and thanks to my surgeon who gave me a second chance.

[@triciabyrne7761]

You rock, doc!

[@PneumaNoose]

QUESTIONS: (39F) I am at a very high risk of stroke (genetically and health wise). I’ve been struggling with daily vertigo and dizzy spells for over a year now. When these extreme, daily spells happen, everything in my body is telling me I’m losing oxygen to my brain, so I start rapid breathing oxygen in through my nose. Suddenly, my vision goes from black back to normal when I do this. I take my vitals daily and when I get dizzy, my O2 drops to around 90% when it’s usually 98-100%. My mom’s dad died of a stroke and my mom had 3 back-to-back posterior strokes (as you know, those don’t present like “common strokes” and she wasn’t believed and they let her brain die for 2 days until she needed emergency brain surgery and someone like you saved her life). I have alone taken care of her for the last 7 years as she’s a permanent triplegic with expressive aphasia. She’s the equivalent of an infant in an adult body, essentially. When my dizzy spells first started happening, I went to the ER and BEGGED for at least a CT, but a young resident who is half my age told me I just have anxiety and REFUSED to order a scan. I am very familiar with anxiety as I was diagnosed with GAD, and I’m telling you, it wasn’t anxiety. To this day, I am struggling to get neuro consult because I have chronic sinusitis (which I’ve had my whole life because of my very narrow pathways in my skull (ENT). So they keep referring me to an ENT and I need surgery to fix it, but again, I’ve had this my whole life and never had dizziness before. I am TERRIFIED of having a stroke which would land both my mom and I in state-run foster homes. Here are my specific questions… *1. Do you believe my concerns are valid?* *2. If so, how can I get a neurologist consult?* *3. Should I request an MRI for myself and just pay it out of pocket?* *4. If so, what type of MRI? Please note all 3 of my mom’s strokes did NOT show up on a CT, only an MRI* Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@ritatharp5238]

Ask more questions 😀

[@rosemaryeveleigh3562]

Ask questions and ask questions that us the way to go

[@Kmorlandhy16]

My neurological surgeon blamed me for the failure of my 1st surgery with him and blamed me four the failure. It took 6 years to finally get scheduled for a Cervical posterior laminectomy, C5-7 bilateral foraminotomies and lateral mass fixation. Before my surgery (Oct 18), I asked the surgeon 3 questions and stopped because he was defensive, annoyed, aloof and dismissive. I have a follow up appointment in a couple weeks. What post surgery questions would you recommend me asking him to ensure this neurological surgery (my 10th) is healing properly? I got more information and compassion from the nurses than he could ever muster.

[@henk-3098]

So can I ask for a 5 hour lecture on all the intricacies of the case?

[@kaiscote]

Where I am in Canada unfortunately there’s no opportunity to talk to my surgeon between the initial consult where they decided I need brain surgery and the actual day of surgery. So…they’ll be getting my questions then. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. 😅

[@veronicadunne7430]

What are the implications of prostate removal. Will there be continuous water works problems, leakage etc? Talk about radiation regarding prostate cancer?

[@kimcissell1905]

RN with a bulging lumbar disk.