What you should do before surgery?

Questions to ask your Doctor

Explain what will be done during surgery.

Explain the potential risks involved.

Explain what the after affects may be that you will experience after surgery.

Let the Doctor explain the recovery period. How long it may take with your recovery period, and what is needed during your recovery? (For example: wheelchair, walker, shower chair, bath chair)

What should be in place before surgery?

If you have children or dependents, they will need to be with a guardian or caretaker for some time. Make sure you have made arrangements to have them taken care of even well after surgery. Also, make sure arrangements are made for their wellbeing incase surgery leads to complications.

Make sure you have a Will in place.

In some instances, a patient will be placed into an induced coma. Usually, the Doctor will discuss this with you in more detail.

Make sure you do have people who could possibly assist with the following after your surgery:

  • Someone that you can trust to take care of you during your recovery period.
  • Someone to assist with your walk, getting dressed, bathing, and physiotherapy.
  • In some cases, you might need to go to a stepdown facility if no one can look after you, or if the Doctor or family feels it is needed.
  • Someone to take care of your children or loved ones as you might not be able to.
  • Someone to look after your finances and monthly bills.
  • Someone who can drive you where you need to go.
  • Someone to monitor your medication and progress health-wise.

Prepare yourself with the reality that you may take 6 months to 2 years to completely recover from brain surgery.

You need to have patience with your progress.

Make sure your recovery environment will be in a peaceful environment. You will be resting and sleeping as much as you can.

After brain surgery you may experience epileptic seizures. Make sure your loved ones, or care-giver knows what to do to assist you.

Brain surgery by itself can be traumatic to the patient. It can cause emotional stress on the patient and loved ones. Counselling is always suggested in this area.

GENESIS LIGHT FOUNDATION would like to dedicate this page to our friends, family, and everyone battling with injury or illness related to the brain.