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Incision Decisions: A Guide to Getting Through Surgery, Recovery, and Your Hospital Stay

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For everyone who is having surgery this year, this easy-to-read and reassuring guide will lead you through finding a good surgeon to managing your hospital stay to recovering well at home.

With warmth and humor, fellow surgery patient and hospital advocate Kaye Newton gives you the inside scoop on what to really expect during a hospital stay and how to make life easier for yourself while recuperating. She shares effective ways to manage pre-surgery anxiety, line up help for your recovery period, avoid hospital acquired infections, deal with the post-surgery blues, stay positive during your recovery process, and much more.

Kaye addresses the emotions patients experience as well as practicalities such as how to review your medical bills and make sure that you are not overcharged. Incision Decisions is chock-full of useful advice and planning tools and is an invaluable guide for patients and their loved ones.

212 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2017

36 people are currently reading
210 people want to read

About the author

Kaye Newton

5 books5 followers
Kaye Newton lives in Nashville with her husband, three kids, and two lively dogs. Incision Decisions, her first book, won a silver medal at the 2017 Readers' Favorite Awards.

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for J.P. Willson.
Author 4 books61 followers
June 5, 2017
Considering this really is not something I would normally pick up, because of the content and really not wanting to think about the inevitable surgery I am sure to need in the future, let's just say the information will prove invaluable when the time comes....
This is a very thorough and quite obviously well researched book of all things surgery and hospital related and then some. All of this done with a tongue-in-cheek humour that makes an impending surgery somewhat tolerable.
Sure I did find a good portion of this to be "common knowledge"- yet being a perfectionist, that perhaps is only common knowledge to me? I do have a tendency to over think things- for those that don't all you need is this book. The thinking is done for you.
The questions one needs to ask and of whom these questions need to be asked of. The author covers it in this all-inclusive compendium of all things surgery related.
I will not say it's a fun read considering the topic yet it's quirky enough to keep one interested in a topic most would rather forget about.
Definitely worth the read for it's intended purpose.
Profile Image for Don Gerstein.
758 reviews99 followers
April 13, 2017
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

I can’t say enough about this excellent book. Author Kaye Newton not only offers suggestions but also includes helpful websites that help you find a doctor and check his credentials, investigate the type of surgery you are considering, and how to translate what I call doctor-speak (medical jargon). The book is laid out well, with chapters dividing different categories, which move progressively from before surgery to getting your life back to normal.

Ms. Newton has more questions listed than I ever could have hoped to come up with on my own. She also points out what might or might not be obvious, such as choosing the most technically skilled doctor over the one with a great personality. Asking the right questions could also help reveal holes in your insurance coverage. The chapter on having an advocate at the hospital is spot on (having a loved one or friend present can ensure you receive what you need, as well as be a reassurance that everything is going according to plan.

These are just a few of the tips that are provided, and I recommend to everyone to take a good long look at this book BEFORE you ever have to think about having a surgery, then put the book in an accessible spot. Knowing what is in the book will save you time later. This is a wonderful resource and as one who has spent a lot of time with loved ones in the hospital, I wish I would have had this book years ago and saved me the trouble of learning a lot of this knowledge the hard way. Five stars.
Profile Image for Emily Williams.
Author 6 books42 followers
June 4, 2017
With possible upcoming surgery on my arm and having had many previous surgeries, I thought that this would be an ideal book to read. Although US based, and some of the information different for a UK NHS patient, the information is excellent. Newton has provided in-depth chapters with information needed prior to the operation, during and after. The chapter about preparing your home for your recovery and the recovery stages at home are very useful and thorough. The information is very personalised, with Newton's experiences interwoven within the information. I loved the recipies too. Overall Newton has written an excellent book for people preparing for upcoming surgery. Things may differ due to the hospitals policy or country but generally the information is very useful with tips and hints.


I will certainly be dipping into this book again nearer the time of my next surgery and afterwards.
1,178 reviews14 followers
May 29, 2017
The author uses her own experiences as a patient and family member experiences to provide easy to understand and implement steps to prepare for and recover from surgery. Sections include picking a surgeon and hospital, preparations, surgery, and aftercare. Use the “what to expect” sections and checklists to develop an action plan that covers emergency unplanned surgeries. The appendix includes medical jargon, people you meet, health overview, recovery checklist, medicine review, resources and notes.

I was randomly chosen through a Goodreads Giveaway to receive this book free from the publisher. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Mackenzie Bush.
31 reviews30 followers
May 17, 2017
I can't stop thinking about how thorough this book is, and what a valuable resource it will be to anyone who needs surgery. I'm currently in the process of dipping my toes into the idea of having a surgery, so I was most interested in some of the big picture things about how it could affect me and what I should plan for. However, I'm so excited that I have the more nitty gritty parts of this book to look back on in the future, should I choose to have the surgery.

This book is incredibly comprehensive. Honestly, I cannot think of a single thing that Newton did not include that I think would be valuable, and she included a ton of things that I never would have even considered, but will prove extremely helpful to a lot of people. There are sample questions to ask your doctor, lists of things to check for at the hospital to avoid an infection, and even easy recipes for during your surgery recovery.

My absolute favorite part about the book was the author's tone throughout. She's not afraid to make light of the medical situations she has experienced. One of the funniest parts of the book is the Resting at Home section in Chapter 9, where Newton does a great job in conveying her everyday challenges post-surgery in a light-hearted way that includes ghosts and Pinterest. Sections like this bring refreshing brevity to a heavy subject, but her humor never compromises how informative this book is.

I think that this book could be helpful for people who are considering surgery, who have a surgery scheduled, or even someone who just had surgery. It also has advice that would be very helpful for spouses or friends of someone who has a serious medical condition. I have a coworker who is currently going through chemotherapy treatment, and although this book isn't directly about that, some of the advice about meal planning and how best to get help from friends and family will really help me in giving her some of the help she needs. I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Pamela Canepa.
Author 11 books126 followers
July 6, 2017
Incision Decisions is a well-researched, comprehensive book, preparing a patient for the stages of surgery and all the things you must think of. For instance, I don't recall being told pre-surgery not to shave my legs four days before. I never thought of the possibility it could lead to infection. The author lays out everything in steps, gives trustworthy sources and online resources for finding things out about a doctor beforehand as well as finding out all kinds of other details about your particular surgery. Included in her stages of preparation, is preparing the house. For instance, a child's room with toys all over the floor could cause a person to trip, which could be very disastrous after certain surgeries. Other helpful information includes how to get a second opinion and just how much the bill could cost even after insurance. This book prepares a person for many things that come with surgery. Some of the information seemed common sense to me, but the author seems to have done a good job of including anything that could be important.
Profile Image for Loralee.
Author 18 books111 followers
June 2, 2017
This book had very helpful information about what to expect when facing any kind of surgery. It contained a multitude of helpful tips about picking the right surgeon, the right hospital, and so many other useful suggestions we all need to think about, but often don't. The advice was given with a good sense of humor, which made the advice and suggestions sound as if they were coming from a friend, rather than a dry "Here's What to Do" manual. And the advice wasn't just about what to do involving the immediate surgery, but what to do well before the surgery takes place, all the way through one's recovery.
This is a very useful book for anyone contemplating any type of surgery.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Johnson.
Author 9 books24 followers
June 29, 2017
This book will help anyone who is preparing for a major surgery. The author wrote through her own experiences and those of other people, and she compiled a step by step guide to help you make the right decisions from things to do to prepare for your surgery to choosing the right surgeon, the right hospital, things to do to ensure you do not get hospital infections. People to call on to help you through the process.
This book is a very useful tool, to have with you if you are considering any kind of surgery.
Profile Image for Dan Logan.
Author 6 books12 followers
September 23, 2017


A great guide for someone who is facing surgery or for anyone in the position of offering support and help to a friend or family member who is either considering surgery or has recently had the experience. Kaye Newton book is both comprehensive and easy to read. Incision Decision addresses topics ranging from how to seek second opinions, pain management, the language of health care, diet, exercise and care giving. From time to time, Newton has inserted her own brand of humor into what can be a dry, and for many, an unpleasant topic.


Importantly, Incision Decisions helps the reader think through all the major topics associated with surgery from the perspective of the patient rather than the doctor. As a person who has experienced both planned and unplanned surgery, I think Newton’s book is a must read for anyone who finds themselves, a family member or friend in a surgical situation. The book is sure to bring your attention to something you had not yet considered. Surgery is never pleasant but reading Newton’s book can reduce some of the stress and discomfort that is a natural outcome of the experience.

Dan Logan
115 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2017
Incision Decisions: A Guide to Getting Through Surgery, Recovery, and Your Hospital Stay was an excellent guidebook for anyone that is needing to go through any surgery from selecting a surgeon to six weeks out from recovery. Each chapter in this guidebook covers any and all topics to dealing with surgery including what to do while stuck in bed, how to arrange for help with children, pets, and kids, and how to make realistic long term after surgery goals. In addition to the information in the chapters, an appendix, glossary, and chart templates can be found at the end of this resource book.
My favorite thing about this book is the humor with which the author approaches the topic. Most of us are very nervous about surgery and find ourselves in less than graceful situations during the recovery process so it was nice to be able to laugh a little at this seasoned writer’s thoughts on her subject. The book was also so well thought out, organized on the topics, and the flow of the topics was very natural. The author obviously put a lot of thought and effort into her work and it shows! I was amazed at how much information she had padded her writing with and the resources provided within from recipes to the most current apps and websites that will help you arrange for recovery care from your surgery. She really seems to have thought of everything!
There’s nothing bad I can think of about this book. I am considering having a major surgery and found it very helpful to read and if I decide to have the surgery will no doubt be glad to have nearby. It made the process of even setting up for the surgery and getting started on considering the surgery to be less overwhelming. There’s a lot of information and resources I don’t believe most people would find on their own or at least find easily included in the book so each patient doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I have some piece of mind and confidence after reading it.
I think this is a great resource book for anyone considering surgery or for anyone who will be caretaking for someone getting ready to have surgery. There’s also lots of tips and resources for caretakers included in this work. Being able to have the assistance it offers in the recovery process will no doubt give patients recovering a better attitude and positive outlook recovering from surgery as well as take tons of stress off of them while making sure their needs are met. And I had more than a fair share of chuckles reading about the author’s outlooks on her own recovery process. This is a simple to read yet highly informative resource from someone who can put information in plain English as well as offer her own experiences to help out the next person in her position.
Profile Image for Jack Fernard.
Author 1 book18 followers
August 17, 2017
If you are facing surgery and need real world info, then this is the book for you. Incision Decisions could probably be marketed as a text book – it’s that thorough! The author has thought of everything and has organized it in very easy to find ‘bites’. I found the reading easy, not being absent of fun personal anecdotes. From extremely helpful links to easy to make food (for the heavy lifting impaired) this book is well worth your time.
I definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Ivan Hecimovic.
120 reviews6 followers
April 19, 2017
Surgeries are stressful and there is no doubt about that. And what is even more stressful than the surgery procedure is the time that a patient needs to wait until the surgery. “Incision Decisions’’, a book written by Kaye Newton, offers us very deep, detailed and extremely helpful insight of how the pre-surgery, surgery and after-surgery period looks like.
Things I like the most about this book is that all experiences that the author went through, are written in very detailed manner. Every chapter is divided into sub-chapters, in which Newton only more thoroughly explains what to do when the situation is the way it is. Besides that, the book is written in reader-friendly manner, which means that the book is easy to read for everyone, which is another good thing because it is clear that the author wants that her book becomes available to as many readers as possible. Also I do not think that there are many books of this ‘genre’ that besides describing the experiences also deal with emotional and psychological condition of a patient. Therefore I definitely recommend reading and buying this book. It is a masterpiece. It is very helpful, filled with numerous useful advices and all of them were written by a person who went through all that. Outstanding work!
Profile Image for Pegboard.
1,825 reviews9 followers
April 22, 2017
Kaye Newton has excellent advice for those who have upcoming surgery they are able to plan, or if you are planning surgery for a family member. One thing she mentioned that I have found helpful is asking other medical professionals who they would recommend. Doctors and staff members know how others perform and most of the time will give honest reviews.

Obviously, Incision Decisions will not cover everything you need to consider because each person’s situation is different. But she makes you think deeper than “who will do the grocery shopping”. Her organization and detailed thinking will make your surgery less stressful, which means a quicker recovery time. Kaye’s humor makes this a fun book to read, and you really will find out how to get your groceries while laid up recuperating.

I wish I had this book 17 years ago when my son had open heart surgery, then multiple hospital stays following. Kaye recommends you take someone with you to your appointments so you can go over the information again later. Make sure they listen also and they can handle bad news.
Profile Image for Alastair Henry.
Author 5 books14 followers
August 7, 2017
Incision Decisions is a specialized and very comprehensive self-help manual written for Americans who are facing an upcoming surgery. I felt it was “over the top” in many areas, but it might not be, for I am a Canadian living with a different health system. Also, as I have never been hospitalized for surgery, I had difficulty relating to the “big deal” being made of it.

Incision Decisions covers the whole gamut: from finding the right surgeon and hospital; preparing yourself, your home and for your stay in hospital, as well as your recovery and resumption of life once you are discharged. It even contains eighteen pages of easy to make recipes.

Incision Decisions is easy to read, methodical and detailed. I’m sure it will be of great help to anyone living in the USA who has concerns or questions regarding an upcoming surgery
Profile Image for Himanshu Arora.
Author 12 books15 followers
July 13, 2017
This is a interesting book about surgeries. I received this book in exchange of a honest review.

Surgeries are stressful and one needs some guidance to cope up with the stress- is all this book is about. You could find a lot of interesting information which might be useful but universally applicable or not depends on person and place where he/she is.

Author provides detailed insight of how the pre-surgery, surgery and after-surgery time are like which are appreciated.

Book language is simple to understand and follow which makes it good.
Profile Image for Jacqui Letran.
Author 48 books116 followers
August 28, 2017
First, I hope to never have to have surgery, but if I did, I know I will refer to this book again and again. I started reading this book to help my mother-in-law prepare for her surgery and I appreciated the thoroughness and detailed information the author gave. I especially loved the "Preparing Your Mind and Body for Surgery" section. I truly believe your attitude determines your healing process and having the tools to help prepare the mind and body is essential. Thank you for writing such an informative book!
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,920 reviews359 followers
June 17, 2017
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (6/17)

In “Incision Decisions,” author Kaye Newton provides some beneficial information on what to do when one is preparing for surgery. Topics range from finding a qualified surgeon, questions to ask, and getting second opinions, to enlisting others to help during the recovery process.

Many of the topics I found were common sense; however, I do know that often information presented is overwhelming, medical terms are unclear, and the whole process is confusing. Newton provides a simple guide to assist the individual, family, and friends.

Several points she makes are crucial in my mind: living wills and medical powers of attorney. Many hospitals require these documents today as well as DRN (do not resuscitate) wishes. Often, even though medical staff might say "simple surgery," things happen, and you want to have everything in writing. Newton also states, "don't rely on internet searches" to do your own diagnosing, and if you insist on doing it, go only to verified websites. She provides a list of these sites in the back of the book. Also, if you are currently working, you need to research the type of leave you qualify for, what your health insurance will pay for, and if you meet the criteria for disability leave. From my experience, start the process early; don't rely on others to handle paperwork as fast as you do.

Depending on the type of surgery and length of recovery, you might want to consider appointing a friend or family member to be the point of contact for food, school and activity pick up for children, visitors, and transportation to and from medical appointments. Recovery occurs faster with less stress. Several detailed charts are included for keeping track of medications, simple make ahead and freeze meals, and suggestions on how to make one's place of living accident-free.

“Incision Decisions” by Kaye Newton is an easy to read and understand guide; the author provides medical jargon, medical personnel you might meet in the hospital, where to get in-home help and nursing. Overall, this information is beneficial to everyone and an excellent resource to keep on your bookshelf.
Profile Image for Laura Koerber.
Author 18 books247 followers
January 5, 2019

Years ago, I had six inches removed from my large intestine. I don’t remember the surgery, of course, but I do remember waking curled up in the fetal position, overwhelmed by pain. The pain was like a fog that filled not only my body and my mind, but the room as well. The walls were pulsing. I remember wondering how I could possibly live—I felt like a gut-shot Civil War soldier.

Fortunately a nurse came in and asked how I was doing. I asked for an increase in pain meds. She compiled. For the next unknown period of time—unknown because my mind was not functioning well—I asked for pain relief over and over until the nurse said she couldn’t give me any more.

She called the doctor and he checked on me. I had a feed that was supposed to be pumping meds into my spine, but it was not hooked up. The pain meds were on my sheets.

So I had major surgery and for hours afterwards received no pain meds at all.

This author has written a thorough, clear, well-organized manual for anyone who has to undergo a surgery serious enough to require a recovery period. I highly recommend it. There’s TONS of info in this book—more than most people will need—for how to cope with the build up to the surgery, the surgery itself, and the recovery both in and out of the hospital. The book is organized so that the reader can dip in and out of it, focusing on what is most applicable to their circumstances. There’s tips and advice for every eventuality. For example, if I had known they were going to use a spinal tap for pain meds, I would have said no. I know myself, and I know that I thrash around in bed—I’m just active even when asleep. I could have predicted that the pain med feed would get pulled out from me turning over and over in bed. The lesson: ask questions! Be assertive about your care!

If you or someone you know is headed for surgery, buy this book!
Profile Image for A'Sian Starr Carter.
Author 0 books94 followers
May 17, 2020
Very Helpful

The information in this book was very helpful to me since I was having major surgery. I love that she gives you a general ideas of what to expect before, during, and after your surgery. The author also included some recipes at the end. I wish there was some vegan or vegetarian options in that list but overall it was good.
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