My advice is thisa4141Depending on what is wrong with you, learn as much as you can about your options. This is not a waste of time. If surgery is recommended find out why, what procedures are available, what alternative or innovative procedures are available, possible side effects, recuperation period, etc. It's your body and you have every right to know what, why, when, how, and what else there is to know. If your doctor doesn't like these kind of questions then it's time for a new doctor.
Good doctors appreciate well informed patients.
The morning after my surgery one of the surgeons in attendance remarked aboutit. I'm glad i was well informed. I also got a lot of help from people in this forum. I have no regrets about the surgery, however, the outcome. Lastly, and certainly not the least important, someone had given me some invaluable advice.