For hernia repair, gallbladder removal, hysterectomy, bowel resection, abdominal cancer surgery, and similar abdominal procedures. The questions are similar across procedures; the specifics vary.

About my procedure

1. What is the exact procedure you’re recommending, and why this approach?
2. Will it be open, laparoscopic, or robotic? What’s the trade-off?
3. How many incisions will I have, and where?
4. How long does the surgery take?
5. Will I need a drain, NG tube, or catheter post-op?

Hospital stay and discharge

1. Will I be admitted, or is this outpatient?
2. How long is the typical hospital stay for this procedure?
3. What does the discharge process look like (timing, who picks me up)?
4. What pain management plan will I go home with?

Recovery timeline

1. When can I bend, lift, exercise?
2. When can I drive?
3. When can I return to my job (mine specifically)?
4. When can I resume sex?
5. What’s my lifting limit, and for how long?
6. When can I shower, take a bath, swim?

Wound care and signs of trouble

1. How do I care for the incision in week 1, week 2, week 4?
2. What does a healing incision look like vs. infected?
3. Will I have stitches, staples, glue, or steri-strips?
4. What signs would make me call sooner rather than later?

Risks and long-term

1. What are the most common complications you see?
2. Hernia risk after this procedure?
3. Will the procedure resolve my issue completely, or is recurrence possible?
4. Long-term — anything I should know about for years from now?