Thinking About Surgery

Thinking about surgery can be overwhelming. How do you know if an operation is really necessary? What questions should you ask? And how can you tell whether you've found the right surgeon? In this episode of Beyond the Diagnosis, hosts Dr. Christopher Joncas and Dr. Ana Cojocaru welcome Dr. Paul Ruggieri, a general surgeon who has practiced in the Fall River community for approximately 27 years, for a candid conversation about what patients should know before, during, and after surgery. Dr. Ruggieri explains why being referred to a surgeon does not automatically mean you need an operation and discusses the importance of understanding why you've been referred, what surgery is expected to accomplish, and whether observation or another approach may sometimes be the better choice. The conversation explores: The most important questions to ask a surgeon How to determine whether surgery is truly necessary What patients should know about risks, complications, and recovery Why bringing a family member or trusted person to a surgical consultation can help The importance of keeping your medical history, medications, and previous surgical records organized What to expect from general anesthesia How age and underlying health conditions can affect surgical decisions How to evaluate a surgeon's experience and comfort with a particular procedure When a patient may benefit from being referred to a larger specialty center Why communication and accessibility after surgery are just as important as technical skill in the operating room How patients can become stronger advocates for their own care The discussion also examines the importance of trust between patients and physicians. Dr. Ruggieri emphasizes that a good surgeon must know not only how to operate, but when not to operate, when to refer a patient elsewhere, and how to remain involved if complications arise. Dr. Ruggieri also shares insight from his experience as an author, including books written to help patients better understand surgical care, colon and rectal disease, thyroid disorders, and life inside the surgical profession. Ultimately, this episode is about empowering patients to ask questions, understand their options, and take an active role in decisions about their health. Support Beyond the Diagnosis If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Beyond the Diagnosis with Chris & Anna on YouTube and follow the show on Facebook and Instagram. Have a question, an idea for a future episode, or an interest in becoming a sponsor? Email: PrimaryCareBeyondDiagnosis@gmail.com Thank You to Our Sponsors BayCoast Bank — Just right for all your financial needs. Visit BayCoast.Bank or call 508-678-7641 to learn more. Duncan Hearing Healthcare — Hearing healthcare you can trust, with locations in Fall River, Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Centerville. Visit DuncanHearing.com for more information. Special thanks to Ron for our intro music, Tyler for engineering the show, Prima CARE — your trusted medical providers in Southeastern New England — and Bioskills of the Northeast for producing Beyond the Diagnosis. Interested in producing your own podcast? The episode provides the Bioskills of the Northeast contact number as 774-301-7641.