Moments of Permanence - Surgeons are not always comforting people.

From: sovay Date: September 17th, 2023 06:36 am (UTC) (Link)

"It's the most painful operation you can have on your body." - my surgeon, this morning

Did he offer any reasons why?

I am glad you thought him competent, if minus bedside manner.

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From: sami Date: September 17th, 2023 07:15 am (UTC) (Link)

It wasn't bad bedside manner, he was just forewarning me about the consequences (especially considering how many strong painkillers I can't tolerate). He was actually very nice and he has a charming smile.

As far as I understand it, the pain issues are two major things: first, that surgery on your lungs means it's going to hurt every time you breathe. It's not a body part you can just, like, rest.

Second, the first day or two afterwards (at least) there is a tube going from your chest cavity into some sort of bag to drain any fluids and pick up on any escaping air bubbles. Apparently that's the worst part. That's also the part that can result in the really prolonged hospital stay. If your lung is leaking air the tube stays in and so do you.

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From: sovay Date: September 17th, 2023 07:23 am (UTC) (Link)

It wasn't bad bedside manner, he was just forewarning me about the consequences (especially considering how many strong painkillers I can't tolerate).

Fair enough. Information is different from unkindness.

Apparently that's the worst part. That's also the part that can result in the really prolonged hospital stay. If your lung is leaking air the tube stays in and so do you.

That does sound incredibly inconvenient. I hope your anesthesiologist can work out suitable painkillers. And that the surgery is uncomplicatedly successful, obviously, but that should go without saying.

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From: sami Date: September 17th, 2023 08:33 am (UTC) (Link)

Hopefully. There's going to be quite the discussion with them, anyway, and with the nurses about all of my allergies to tapes. I'm going in the night before, so we'll hopefully be able to do some patch tests of the dressings before it happens.

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From: susanreads Date: September 17th, 2023 02:10 pm (UTC) (Link)

Fingers crossed for a good outcome!

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From: sami Date: September 18th, 2023 03:40 am (UTC) (Link)

Thank you!

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From: curiosity Date: September 18th, 2023 08:06 pm (UTC) *fingers and toes crossed* (Link)

Jiminy Crickets and Jeezy Creezy, with those words of comfort, I'm curious as to why you didn't demand the surgery yesterday. Here's hoping for an easy procedure and a rapid recovery!

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From: sami Date: September 19th, 2023 03:43 am (UTC) Re: *fingers and toes crossed* (Link)

Look sometimes what you want from your surgeon is for them to be realistic. If it's going to hurt I'd rather he tell me.

And thank you :)

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From: curiosity Date: September 19th, 2023 03:34 pm (UTC) Re: *fingers and toes crossed* (Link)

Can't argue that! I suppose it's better than telling you the cough syrup doesn't taste bad when it absolutely tastes like dirty socks and roadkill.

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