FAQs

Progressive Surgical Associates accepts many insurance plans. Many are listed here. If your insurance company is not listed, call your carrier to see if your provider is an in- or out-of-network provider. Our providers are willing to see all patients, however, there may be an increased out-of-pocket expense for those carriers where the provider is out-of-network.

Yes, it is very important that you have your records sent or bring them with you to your first appointment. You must request your medical records be sent to us. If you’ve had any recent imaging (CT, MRI, etc.) please bring the disc with the actual images on it. If we do not have your records, testing and/or imaging at the time of the appointment, your appointment may have to be rescheduled.

Within 48 business hours. If you have Aetna, BCBS, Cigna or UHC, we need to obtain authorization. We will call you when we get authorization.

We will call you when your date is confirmed, in 1-2 weeks.

Please drop off the forms in our office or fax them to (815) 717-8729. Please allow 5-7 business days for these forms to be completed. A one-time charge of $15 will apply. If you only need a return to work letter, this will be given at your follow-up visit for no charge.

Liquid Diet can be found here.

Soft Diet can be found here.

Fat-Restricted Diet can be found here.

Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet can be found here.

Celiac/Gluten-Free Diet can be found here.

Diet and Prep Instructions for Colonoscopy can be found here.

Yes, all patients are mailed two paper statements via U.S. Mail, and also e-mailed a copy if their e-mail address was provided to the staff. Your balance will be due within 30 days of the date of the first statement.

Every patient receives two statements via U.S. Mail, one sent on the first of the month, and one sent on the 15^th of the month as a reminder. They will also receive a statement through e-mail if they have provided their e-mail address to us. The patient has 30 days from the first statement to satisfy that balance due with any payment method they prefer, even if it is not that credit card we have on file.  If the patient’s bill is not paid within that 30 days from the first statement, the credit card on file will be charged. If card is declined, invalid, expired or there is not one on file, we will send the patient a collection letter. The patient will have 6 weeks to pay their balance or they will go to collections. All this is outlined in our Payment Policy, which you, as the patient signed off on during your initial visit, agreeing to these terms.

Yes, you must obtain a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) to be seen in our office. We do NOT assist patients in getting a referral to be seen by our office. This is something handled by the patient in coordination with their Primary Care Physician’s (PCP’s) office.

Yes. As a service to our patients, our billing department will contact your insurance company to obtain the authorization your insurance requires for your surgery. If we have any difficulty or need more information, you will be contacted. As stated above, we do NOT assist in referrals for an office visit.

Your surgeon will have given you instructions and a prescription for a bowel prep if it is required for your surgery. In general, procedures that may require a bowel prep are colonoscopy and colon and rectal surgeries. Some surgeries may have you do what’s called a “gentle bowel prep” which consists of oral antibiotics and milk of magnesia the day before surgery. You will be given specific instructions for this if it is required for your surgery.

Follow the instructions that were given to you at your appointment or were mailed to your home. If you were not given specific instructions, follow the instructions for the specific bowel prep you were given, outline here.

You should have NOTHING TO EAT after midnight prior to your surgery. You may have sips of water up to three hours before your surgery. If you need to take any medications the morning of surgery, you may do so with a sip of water.

Patients are to continue their blood pressure and heart medications. If you normally take these in the morning, you should do so the morning of your surgery with a sip of water.

Patients should continue any respiratory medications including any inhaler as normal. If you are taking seizure medications, this should be taken as you normally would, as well.

Blood thinning medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin, naproxen, Plavix, NSAIDs etc.) typically need to be stopped 5 days prior to surgery. Some of the newer anticoagulants such as Xarelto and Eliquis may not need to be stopped as soon, so always check with the physician who prescribes the medication to see how soon you should stop. You should always consult with the physician who prescribes the medication before stopping.

No diet or weight loss medications can be taken 14 days prior to surgery.

You may skip your vitamins and supplements the day of surgery.

Your anesthesiologist will conduct a pre-operative interview with you about your medical history. He or she will then make a determination about what type of anesthesia is most appropriate for you. You will either receive a general anesthetic, which will put you to sleep during your surgery, or in cases of minor surgery, you will receive a local anesthetic, leaving you alert, but pain-free as only the surgical area is anesthetized.

In general, the hospital or surgery center will want you to arrive about 1 ½ hours before your scheduled surgery time. The hospital or surgery center will contact you in the days prior to your surgery to obtain information to pre-admit you. They can answer any additional questions you have at that time, as well as confirm your surgery and arrival time. These times are always subject to change.

Liquid Diet can be found here.

Soft Diet can be found here.

Fat-Restricted Diet can be found here.

Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet can be found here.

Celiac/Gluten-Free Diet can be found here.

Diet and Prep Instructions for Colonoscopy can be found here.

Refer to our Post-Surgical Instructions page for guidelines specific to your surgery. For all abdominal surgeries, walking and going up and down stairs are not restricted. Depending on the type of abdominal surgery you had, you may not perform any heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 2-6 weeks after surgery depending on the type of surgery you had.

Refer to our Post-Surgical Instructions page for guidelines specific to your surgery. In general, you may remove your dressing and shower 48 hours after your surgery.

You may go swimming or take a bath 5 days after your surgery if you have surgical glue and/or dissolvable sutures. If you have visible/external sutures or staples, you may not go swimming until the sutures or staples are removed and you are cleared by your surgeon. We advise you avoid lakes, ponds, streams and hot tubs for a month after surgery due to the risk of infection.

Visit our Post-Surgical Instructions page here for guidelines specific to your surgery. If you have a dressing over your incision, you may remove the entire dressing 48 hours after surgery. If you have small white strips (steri-strips) over your incision you will want to leave these in place until they fall off or for two weeks. If you have surgical glue over your incisions then you don’t have to do anything.

Following endoscopic procedures or colonoscopies you may resume your blood thinner, NSAID or anticoagulant immediately.

Following surgery you should hold aspirin for 5 days, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.

If you take a prescription anticoagulant or blood thinner you may resume it the day after surgery.

NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, ketorolac, Celebrex, etc. may be resumed immediately, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.

If you have not had a bowel movement for 2-3 days after your surgery, you may take a dose of milk of magnesia. Be sure to take your stool softener (docusate) if this was prescribed by your surgeon.

In many cases, you may resume driving a few days to two weeks after surgery provided you are no longer having discomfort and are not taking any narcotic pain medication or medications that make you sleepy.

You must arrange for a ride home from your actual surgery.

If you have had only a minor lump/bump removal under local anesthesia only, you may drive any time after your surgery provided pain, stiffness, or numbness is not hindering your movements necessary for driving.

For endoscopic procedures and colonoscopies, you may drive after 24 hours.

Individual cases may vary, however, you must be prepared physically and mentally to handle an emergency situation on the road.

Most importantly, use common sense when making the decision to drive. If you are continuing to take narcotics for pain or are impaired physically or cognitively in any way, DO NOT DRIVE.

Clear or blood-tinged discharge is normal after surgery. You may keep the wound covered with clean, dry gauze and change the dressing as often as needed to protect your clothing. If you are having white or yellow thick discharge, worsening pain and redness surrounding the wound, or fevers and chills, these could be signs of an infection. If you think your wound may be infected, make an appointment to come see us during business hours or go to the emergency room outside of business hours.

Urinary retention is common after surgery, especially after inguinal hernia repairs. If you were prescribed a medication to help with urination such as Tamsulosin (FloMax), you make take this as prescribed. If you still cannot urinate for more than 12 hours, please make an appointment to see us that day or go to the emergency room. In the emergency room, your treatment will likely consist of inserting a Foley catheter. A urinalysis, CT scan or any sort of imaging is unnecessary. If you are sent home with a Foley catheter, make an appointment to see us the next day to have it removed in our office.

Pain is a normal part of recovery after any operation. Your pain will be the strongest in the first few days after surgery then should start getting better day by day. You may take over-the-counter pain medication such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol or aspirin. You may also take the medication prescribed to you after your surgery. Do not exceed the dosing instructions provided. Prescription strength pain medications (narcotics) have numerous side effects including nausea, constipation, dizziness, sedation and the potential for tolerance or addiction to the medications. Use cautiously and avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while you are drowsy from pain medication.

If you had a large hernia or abdominal incision, you may have been sent home with an abdominal binder. This is to wear for your comfort and may help limit some of your pain. The binders are not waterproof and should be taken off to shower. You should sleep with the binder off as well.

It may take up to 10 days for your bowel habits to return to normal after a colonoscopy.

Minor rashes, while irritating, are not a cause for concern. Minor allergic reactions to the sutures or skin adhesives are common. You may try a topical hydrocortisone cream for itching. For more severe itching, an antihistamine such as Benadryl may be taken, but may make you drowsy. If your rash isn’t clearing up after 5-7 days, you may make an appointment to see us. If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or facial swelling, seek medical care at the emergency room immediately.

Depending on the type of surgery, you may or may not be able to resume your normal diet. You should refer to your discharge instructions given to you. You may typically resume a normal diet after a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy, hernia repair, hemorrhoidal procedure, lump or bump removal or other procedures not involving your stomach or intestines. If you had your gallbladder removed, you should stay on a low-fat diet for at least 2 weeks after surgery. If you had surgery on your colon, rectum, stomach or esophagus, you may need to stay on a soft diet after surgery.

If you had a lump/bump removal, or a mild laparoscopic surgery like hernia repair, gallbladder removal, appendectomy, hemorrhoid surgery, or breast lumpectomy, you may travel in two weeks while following the lifting restrictions. If you had any open (not laparoscopic) abdominal surgery, or a major surgery, like colorectal surgery  (for example, colon resection), Whipple procedure, esophagectomy, or mastectomy, you should wait at least four weeks to travel.

FOR ANY SURGERY:  After surgery there is an increased risk of blood clots, therefore we also recommend wearing compression socks or stockings. If must travel, we recommend getting up to walk at least every two hours and wear compression stockings to try to prevent blood clots.

Liquid Diet can be found here.

Soft Diet can be found here.

Fat-Restricted Diet can be found here.

Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet can be found here.

Celiac/Gluten-Free Diet can be found here.

Diet and Prep Instructions for Colonoscopy can be found here.