patient-center-FAQ-Waukesha

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What should I bring with me when I come for a scheduled office appointment?

    Apart from medicare and your insurance information

    • Driver’s license or valid state ID
    • Insurance information
    • Have your Private Hospital Insurance information with you
    • Copies of results, X-rays, MRI’s, CT scans etc and any other relevant information
    • Medication list (if any)

  • Are my medical records kept private and confidential?

    Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records. Ordinarily we will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent.

  • Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

    No we are willing to see you without a formal referral. However, checking with your primary care physician may ensure the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition.

  • How can my family doctor help me to obtain specialist medical care?

    Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to your own family doctor, who can discuss your condition with you and advise on whether any specialist care is appropriate.

    If it is, he or she can help you to choose the specialist best suited to your needs.

    Your family doctor can help the specialist to care for you better by providing relevant information about your health. Communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care for you better during and after your specialist treatment.

  • What should I expect during first visit?

    During your initial visit, the doctor will explain the specific test or procedure you want, help you visualize the results and go over the risks. He / she will do a physical examination and ask you questions. He / she will decide what your diagnosis is and discuss appropriate treatment.

  • Inguinal Hernia Repair

    Swollen, Bruised or Black testicles: 1. wear supportive briefs 2. Elevate scrotum while sitting or laying. This is done by rolling up a hand towel or wash rag and placing underneath scrotum 3. Ice as needed throughout the day.

    Difficulty with urination: If patient has not been able to void after surgery, advise to go to the emergency room or arrange for patient to go to the outpatient department at WMH for bladder scan and straight cath.

    If patient is going frequently (male), most likely due to swelling and instruct to take 600mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours to decrease inflammation. Symptoms should improve within 24-48 hours, if no improvement advise patient to call back. Urinary flow may be slow. This will improve over time. Important to ensure patient feels he or she is emptying bladder completely.

    Lifting: limit lifting to nothing more than 20 lbs until evaluated at postoperative visit.

  • Umbilical Hernia Repair

    Swelling and firmness at the site of the hernia is normal. This may take several weeks for the body to reabsorb the fluid accumulation.

    There may be bruising that trends downward (path of gravity). This may arise up to 5 days after surgery. Begins as a dark purple and then will go through the normal stages of bruising.

    Lifting: limit lifting to nothing more than 20 lbs until evaluated at postoperative visit.

  • AV Fistula

    Numbness/tingling: This can occur after a fistula is placed. Make sure patient is able to function, such as pick up a pencil etc.

    If they are able to do this then advise them to elevate arm above the level of the heart to decrease swelling. If they are unable to do this, contact surgeon and arrange for testing or an appointment.

    Swelling: elevate affected arm above the level of the heart to decrease swelling.

  • Hemorrhoidectomy

    Bowel movements: It is not uncommon to have bleeding and pain with bowel movements. A few drops of blood in a toilet bowl seem like a lot (similar to putting drops of food coloring into a bowl of water).

    This may last up to 4 weeks following surgery, depending on the size of the hemorrhoid removed. Make sure bowel movements are soft.

    If they are not, begin taking an over the counter stool softener (Senna tablets bid, Miralax daily, milk of magnesia). If soaking thru pads/gauze, contact surgeon for appointment.

    Hygiene: it is important to keep the surgical area clean and dry. After bowel movements, shower or take a sitz bath. Apply gauze to the surgical site to collect any drainage. This will keep the surrounding skin from becoming irritated. Continue to do this until the post-operative appointment.

  • Breast Lumpectomy

    Pain: Suggest to patient to: take Tylenol as needed for discomfort, wear a supportive bra, and ice as needed. See pain instructions under general surgery.

    Lifting: limit lifting to nothing more than 20 lbs until evaluated at postoperative visit.

  • Lap Chole

    Pain: Women typically complain of the epigastric incision bothering them. Reassure this is normal due to the gravitational pull from the breasts as well as bra line. See pain instructions under general surgery.

    Right shoulder pain and abdominal bloating: This can be from the gas that is placed in the abdominal cavity during the procedure. Use a heating pad on the area that is uncomfortable and change positions. Urge patient to take frequent short walks to express gas. Feeling bloated can last several weeks.

    Lifting: limit lifting to nothing more than 20 lbs until evaluated at postoperative visit.

  • Appendectomy

    Pain: Left lower incision is the most uncomfortable. This is the incision the appendix is removed from. See pain portion under General Surgery.

    Nausea: Not uncommon after surgery. Typically pt’s feel like they have the flu for about 1-2 weeks. Decrease diet to more of a flu like type diet (clear liquids and bland food) for a couple of days. Then slowly advanced diet as symptoms of nausea improve.

    Lifting: limit lifting to nothing more than 20 lbs until evaluated at postoperative visit.

  • General

    Constipation: Patient complaining of constipation status post surgery due to narcotic use and decrease in activity. May take up to 5 days after surgery to have a bowel movement.

    Instruct patient to begin ambulating short distances throughout the day, as well as, increase fluid intake. Pharmacologic measures include taking an over the counter stool softener (Senna tablets bid, Miralax daily, Milk of magnesia). If symptoms do not resolve within 48 hours patient is to contact Waukesha Surgical Specialists or the physician on call.

    Pain: See pain instructions under general surgery

    Driving: It is OK to drive once evaluated at post operative visit with surgeon. Or use judgment: If patient has had a “minor” case. Pt can drive once back to the cognitive level prior to surgery and off of pain narcotics for 48 hours.

    Low grade fever: This can be normal after surgery if less than 101. Advise patient to take short frequent walks and use Tylenol as needed. If the fever exceeds 101, contact surgeon for orders.

    Removing dressings: Ok to remove the dressings 24-48 hours after the surgical procedure. May shower. No tub baths/hot tubes/swimming pools for 2 weeks from surgery day. Leave steri-strips or dermabond in place until they fall off on their own or surgeon will remove at post op visit

    Return to work: Pt should not return to work until after post-operative visit. However, if a minor case and/or patient is unable to get in to have post op appointment in a timely fashion, it is OK for the patient to return to work if no longer taking pain narcotic and able to perform job duties.

    Find out what type of job they have and write for them to return to work with a lifting restriction of nothing greater than 10 pounds until re-evaluated by surgeon.