The Good and The Not So Good
Quote from DavidFullard on January 19, 2024, 3:09 pm2 days ago I had a surgery appointment at our local University Teaching Hospital. My 7 year old inguinal hernia was to be repaired. I had a fair sized swelling in my upper left groin area and my left scrotum was the size of a healthy grapefruit. [oversharing I know but just setting the scene]
I was first on the operating list of a group of circa 34 patients. The nurses did all of the admin, sats etc. I saw the anaesthetist and was then seen by the Registrar Surgeon assisting my Consultant Surgeon. She was a delightfully pretty young Cypriot woman. She asked if she might draw on my left groin. I replied she could do whatever she wished on it. We had a brief talk about Cyprus and I confess I flirted outrageously with her.
Post op she was there with my Consultant holding my hand and calling my name to awaken me. Next day after Drs’ rounds and being given the all clear to go home she came into the ward to see me again. She was utterly charming and my sad old ego was doing cartwheels just as she put her hand on my arm and said, ‘you remind me so much of my young at heart grandfather back home in Pathos’.
Ego deflated! She was damn pretty though!The NHS usually gets the bigger things right but so often fails miserably on the minor issues. My latest experience proved to be no different. The day before the surgery there was to be no eating or drinking after midnight bar a cup of water before 6:30 am the next day. I ate my last [ frugal] meal pre op at 1900 hrs on 16th Jan. I was transferred to a ward at circa 11am on 17th Jan. No lunch available I had missed the meal ordering schedule. 1700 hours arrived, normal hospital ‘tea time’ nothing for me or my fellow ward mates, ditto missed schedule. Offered a sad looking chicken sandwich or an ice cream, declined both. Next morning at breakfast a choice of cereal or toast both carbohydrate laden options for my fluctuating diabetes. I risked the toast. A soggy and barely scorched limp slice of whole meal bread. I left the ward at circa 11;30 stuffing ‘Lift’ glucose tablets down my throat to assuage my diving blood glucose levels. 40 hours in hospital I slice of toast! No diabetic food options.
Did I mention how pretty that Registrar was?
2 days ago I had a surgery appointment at our local University Teaching Hospital. My 7 year old inguinal hernia was to be repaired. I had a fair sized swelling in my upper left groin area and my left scrotum was the size of a healthy grapefruit. [oversharing I know but just setting the scene]
I was first on the operating list of a group of circa 34 patients. The nurses did all of the admin, sats etc. I saw the anaesthetist and was then seen by the Registrar Surgeon assisting my Consultant Surgeon. She was a delightfully pretty young Cypriot woman. She asked if she might draw on my left groin. I replied she could do whatever she wished on it. We had a brief talk about Cyprus and I confess I flirted outrageously with her.
Post op she was there with my Consultant holding my hand and calling my name to awaken me. Next day after Drs’ rounds and being given the all clear to go home she came into the ward to see me again. She was utterly charming and my sad old ego was doing cartwheels just as she put her hand on my arm and said, ‘you remind me so much of my young at heart grandfather back home in Pathos’.
Ego deflated! She was damn pretty though!
The NHS usually gets the bigger things right but so often fails miserably on the minor issues. My latest experience proved to be no different. The day before the surgery there was to be no eating or drinking after midnight bar a cup of water before 6:30 am the next day. I ate my last [ frugal] meal pre op at 1900 hrs on 16th Jan. I was transferred to a ward at circa 11am on 17th Jan. No lunch available I had missed the meal ordering schedule. 1700 hours arrived, normal hospital ‘tea time’ nothing for me or my fellow ward mates, ditto missed schedule. Offered a sad looking chicken sandwich or an ice cream, declined both. Next morning at breakfast a choice of cereal or toast both carbohydrate laden options for my fluctuating diabetes. I risked the toast. A soggy and barely scorched limp slice of whole meal bread. I left the ward at circa 11;30 stuffing ‘Lift’ glucose tablets down my throat to assuage my diving blood glucose levels. 40 hours in hospital I slice of toast! No diabetic food options.
Did I mention how pretty that Registrar was?
Quote from Cliff_C on January 20, 2024, 2:37 pmMore importantly, how is the hernia, hope that went well and it could be worse! the grapefruit could have been the size of an ugly fruit or even worse, a mellon.
It isn't just squaddies that don't mind sharing the gory details. When I worked at RGIT most of the staff were ex Navy. The guy that started survival training in the offshore industry and merchant marine was Joe Cross OBE. A very nice guy, ex navy officer and he tried to recruit ex forces only. It was a good department to work for because we all had the same ethos. Anyway! I was in the changing room getting my dive gear on and the ex matlot 2nd diver said look at the size of my bollock, do you think I should see the doctor. I suffer ptsd to this day (maybe not) with the horrible vision of him sitting, legs wide apart and the said offending grapefruit in his hand. He did see the doctor and all ended well.
Wishing you well Dave
p.s
Its cold up here
Cliff
More importantly, how is the hernia, hope that went well and it could be worse! the grapefruit could have been the size of an ugly fruit or even worse, a mellon.
It isn't just squaddies that don't mind sharing the gory details. When I worked at RGIT most of the staff were ex Navy. The guy that started survival training in the offshore industry and merchant marine was Joe Cross OBE. A very nice guy, ex navy officer and he tried to recruit ex forces only. It was a good department to work for because we all had the same ethos. Anyway! I was in the changing room getting my dive gear on and the ex matlot 2nd diver said look at the size of my bollock, do you think I should see the doctor. I suffer ptsd to this day (maybe not) with the horrible vision of him sitting, legs wide apart and the said offending grapefruit in his hand. He did see the doctor and all ended well.
Wishing you well Dave
p.s
Its cold up here
Cliff
Quote from DavidFullard on January 20, 2024, 3:05 pmThanks Cliff, the hernia is gone. ‘Barry the Bollock’ is a mere shadow of its former self. I am surprisingly sore still given the op was keyhole but as JKW pointed out to me, having a Brownie Camera shoved through one’s umbilical is bound to be sore. It only hurts when I bend lol! Stay safe. D.
Thanks Cliff, the hernia is gone. ‘Barry the Bollock’ is a mere shadow of its former self. I am surprisingly sore still given the op was keyhole but as JKW pointed out to me, having a Brownie Camera shoved through one’s umbilical is bound to be sore. It only hurts when I bend lol! Stay safe. D.