Good planning eases outpatient surgery worries

Outpatient surgery. It’s becoming almost as commonplace as a doctor’s appointment. I sometimes actually hear people say, “Oh, my surgery is no big deal, it’s just outpatient.”

Think again. Outpatient though it may be, there are still things you should keep in mind.

“It is important to learn as much as possible about your surgery in advance,” said Val Sauda, registered nurse and director of outreach at Eastern Agency on Aging. “Inevitably, some important piece of information is left out or, much more likely, forgotten by the patient. It is a good idea to have someone with you at the appointment to take notes.”

Sauda suggests the following questions for you to ask your doctor:

. Are there any medicines or supplies that I will need at home after the surgery?

. Are there any medicines I should stop taking before the surgery?

. Are there things I won’t be able to do, such as climb stairs, and if so, for how long?

. Who should I call if I have questions or problems after the surgery?

. Will I need someone to help me at home?

. Will I need to make changes at home, such as getting a portable toilet or putting a bed in the living room?

Then there are things to think about for yourself:

. If you have pets, and you are unexpectedly admitted to the hospital after your surgery, make sure you have someone who can care for them.

. Make sure you have enough medicine on hand so you will not have to go to the store – this goes for groceries as well.

. If you are the caregiver of an elderly person, make arrangements for that person so his or her care is continuous.

. And lastly, be very sure, before you leave the hospital, that you have clear and concise directions for any medications that you or your loved one will need. Usually you will be given a sheet of instructions to follow – make sure you understand them. It is much easier to straighten out any medication confusion before you head home than after the fact.

No one likes to think of having surgery, but a little forethought at least can relieve some anxiety.

If you are still in need of assistance with Medicare D, you are in luck. Eastern Agency on Aging is holding another “help session” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Bangor High School, 885 Broadway.

Volunteers will log onto Medicare.gov and help you with the “comparison tool,” which will narrow down the drug plan options that suit you best. Then you can choose your plan. EAA staff will be available to help you review the information.

There is no preregistration. Bring with you a list of your current medications with the correct spelling, the dosage and frequency, the price, name of your favorite pharmacy, and a copy of any letters you’ve received from Social Security, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the state of Maine related to this prescription drug benefit.

A special thank you goes out to the generous staff at the new LL Bean call center in Bangor, where staff raised more than $550 for Eastern Agency on Aging’s assisted living facilities.

“The LL Bean staff held craft sales and bake sales to raise the money. And we have purchased gifts for all the residents for Christmas morning, and bought a new VCR for Merry Gardens Estates in Camden so we can continue the movie and popcorn weekend event for residents,” said Deb Poulton, director of residential programs at EAA.

On behalf of all our residents, we thank you.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, TTY 992-0150, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on www.eaaa.org.