Patient Education

You only need a referral if your insurance company requires you to have one to see a specialist.

At the time of your consultation, the surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for surgery. Once you have decided to schedule your surgery, our office will contact your insurance company for authorization.

For your first appointment you should arrive 15 minutes early, for subsequent appointments you should arrive 5 minutes early.

Bring your photo ID, insurance card, any pertinent medical information such as the prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and vitamins you take and your co-pay and deductible.

Call the office number and the after hours answering service will contact the physician on call for the group.

Not usually. The doctor must first examine you to determine if you are a surgical candidate and to explain the details of your procedure. There are some procedures that can be performed in the office, but any procedure that requires anesthesia must be performed in a hospital or outpatient facility. Surgery scheduling requires coordination between our doctor’s schedule, the hospital’s availability, and the assistant surgeon (if one is needed for your procedure).

On occasion, if your insurance allows and the doctor feels it is appropriate, breast biopsies may be performed at your first visit.

Results are usually available in 48 hours. On occasion, results may take longer. A longer wait for results is NO indication that they will come back "bad". Once the doctor has reviewed your results, our office will contact you immediately. If you do not hear from our office after 48 hours, please feel free to call.

Shower instead of bathing for the first week. Avoid strenuous exercise. Do not lift anything over 10 pounds.

Our physicians perform procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysm, appendectomy, artery problems, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, hernias, spider and varicose veins, thyroid, lymphomas, cysts, and many more.

Several people experience constipation after surgery. This is usually caused as a side effect from pain medication. You can purchase an over-the-counter stool softener and laxative to aid in this process. Increase your fluid consumption and activity.

This is a normal occurrence postoperatively due to this area being a dependent area. You can elevate this area with a towel or by creating a sling with a pillow case. Elevation of the scrotum will aid the fluid accumulation to return to the core of the body and decrease edema.

In addition to the pain medication your doctor has sent you home with, you may also add ibuprofen to your pain management.  Follow the directions on your purchased ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is not advised because several prescribed medications already contain it. Applying ice to the affected area is also advised for pain relief.

Many people experience nausea and vomiting post cholecystectomy. You should stick to a bland diet and advance as tolerated. Slowly introduce food to see what may cause you discomfort. Many people experience increased pain when they eat gas-producing foods and foods high in fat and cholesterol, such as fried foods.

Between 3-10 days prior to surgery if possible.

When you are no longer taking pain medications.

Varies depending on the procedure.

7-10 days

Heart and blood pressure pills. If you are on Coumadin, Plavix or on Aspirin therapy please advise the office. Many times these medications need to be stopped a week to 10 days prior to surgery.