Everything You Need to Know About Gallbladder Surgery

Hi, I’m Lisa, the surgical scheduler at Newton Wellesley Surgeons.

So, you need surgery….now what?

You came here to NWS to your surgical consult and you’ve been told that you need an elective procedure.  Funny how the medical and insurance industries refer to certain surgeries as “elective”.  I’m very certain that I am not electing to have a gallbladder attack.  If you have ever had a gallbladder attack, then you know that there isn’t any food in the world that would be worth that level of pain and discomfort.   

But I digress…how did you get here?  It probably went something like this:  one day/night you had a delicious, but fatty, meal which was followed by severe pain and nausea. You have sought out care and you’ve been told to see a surgeon.  Maybe it wasn’t as easy as that.  Maybe it actually took ANOTHER attack to convince you to take the next step.  In any case, you have obtained the insurance referral, toured the parking garage for 20 minutes looking for a place to park, asked directions from 2 or 3 people who looked like they work here, filled out what seemed like endless forms, shown ID and met the surgeon.  It’s a bittersweet appointment, you need surgery, that’s the bitter, BUT you will be healed, that’s the sweeeeet.  You can hardly wait to eat without restriction again.  But first …. Dunh Dunh Daaaaa……surgery!  Yikes!

You leave the surgeon’s office and everything you should have asked or did ask and can’t remember the answers to, fill your brain.  Maybe as it sinks in you feel a little apprehensive.  Maybe it’s your first surgery.  You have lots of questions you forgot to ask.  How long did he say I would be out of work?  Did he say?  What are my responsibilities in this process? Will my insurance cover this procedure if it’s “elective”?  How the heck can they call this “elective”?!  How soon can I have this surgery?  Am I staying overnight?  Can I stay overnight?  I hope to answer some of those questions for you.  

First of all, you   are    in     great     hands, literally.  The experienced hands that are about to perform surgery on you have helped hundreds of people return to good health.  First, the “when”, the surgical scheduler (that’s me) who works in the surgeon’s office will call you within 48 hours after your consult.  I will discuss the dates that work for both you and the surgeon.  This is a good time to ask some of the questions you forgot to ask at the appointment.  If I don’t readily have the answers, I will help you find them.  You will also be given a “pre-operative” appointment with the hospital.  80% of these screening appointments are done over the phone (no blood draws, yay) Step one – done.  

Second step, insurance…ugh!  But before you become apoplectic, good news:  it’s the surgical scheduler’s (me again!) responsibility to obtain any Prior Authorization that your insurance company requires.  You’re off the hook for that one, but of course the other shoe must drop:  You will be responsible for knowing your out of pocket expenses or deductibles.  I don’t speak insurance either, so believe me I know the feeling of dread that just spread through your body.  Okay, deep breath.  I will provide you with the CPT (aka procedure code) and name of the your surgery:  Cholecystectomy, (ko lee sis tect o mee).  There is detailed information about this on our website, www.nwsurgeons.com.  This information will be required when you call your insurance company to inquire about your financial responsibilities. Phew!! That’s done.  

Now the next steps are simple:  get the time off from work, arrange care for the kiddos and most importantly secure a ride home from surgery.  You are not allowed to Uber or Lyft or old-fashioned taxi home.  

The final step:  Go home, rest and recuperate. You are now on your way to eating all the foods you’ve only been able to dream about.  Congrats and bon appetite!