BS: Taking the fun out of surgery

Subject: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 12:55 AM

OK, the surgery isn't fun, but I look forward to coming home, feeling sorry for myself, fixing a meal that has no nutritional value but lots of comfort, then going to bed in the middle of the day and sleeping until the next day, or watching really pointless daytime TV before going to bed.

They've ruined it. I went to the dentist, who sent me to an oral surgeon. He gave me some pain killer. This part usually hurts like hell, but it was so delicate, it didn't hurt any more than if he through cotton balls at me. I was somewhat relieved. There was some discomfort when he shoved a wedge in my mouth to open it wider, but I was able to live with it. The tooth came out with no problems. Then he pressed on the abcess to get some of the pus out, and that really hurt, but not for long.

My complaint is that medicine has progressed so much that it's quick and painless. I didn't feel sorry for myself. I'm not even tired. The fun part has been removed. I want to mope, and there's nothing to mope about. Damn it. I feel fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 01:01 AM

I know!! My dentist is a positive paragon of painlessness... mostly.

He even remembers I'm the one that'll throw up if he moves the chair with me prone in it...

Dangblasted computers with patient notes...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: TheSnail
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 04:47 AM

When I had some major work done a while ago, I remarked afterwards that it hadn't been as bad as I expected except for the taste of some of the stuff he used. My dentist replied "We don't want to make it too nice or you'll keep coming back for more."

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: redsnapper
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 07:31 AM

I had an similar extraction and anaerobic bone abcess excavation, treatment and filling done not long ago. A pity that the anaesthetic didn't take as well as it should have done. Delaying the procedure while the oral surgeon redid that would have been worse though. All's well now.

RS

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: kendall
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:16 AM

Liz, PRONE in a dentist's chair? What was he doing to you?

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: van lingle
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:21 AM

Drilling something I would guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: jeffp
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:34 AM

I'm hoping she was supine, rather than prone. Maybe the dentist was on a creeper like an auto mechanic.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: TheSnail
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 09:13 AM

I expect she was in a Recumbent Posture.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 10:02 AM

I always remembered it as "recumbulent" which scans better but only seems to occur in one verse here http://homepage.ntlworld.com/barnicle/stanley/words/recumben.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 12:52 PM

Abcess? Pus? Tooth extracted?

Ranger Steve, your jaw is near your brain and your ears, neither of which need to be anywhere near pus and abcesses.

I hope that the next time you sense something wrong with a tooth, you go to the dentist promptly.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 01:24 PM

Liz, you said:

He even remembers I'm the one that'll throw up if he moves the chair with me prone in it...

How can he get to your mouth, if you're prone in the chair? As a matter of fact, I've never seen a dentist's chair in which one could even be prone, and least with any comfort whatever.

My dentists over the years have always had me sitting or perhaps supine in the chair.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 03:16 PM

I'm one of those stubbotn people who think problems will work themselves out, and never see a doctor or dentist until it's nearly too late. Or use to be one of those people. My last dentist was great. He is also a folkie, and plays good music in his office. When I first went to him for an emergency abcess, he played Hank Williams for me. Unfortunately, I moved to far away to make visits to him practical. The oral surgeon that I mentioned above reminded me of Lawrence Olivier in "Marathon Man", but the dentist who sent me to him was great. I'll go back to her soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 07:35 PM

What you need to learn, RangerSteve, is how to fake it. Most people would assume that you'd be quite uncomfortable after such an event. So--go along with their assumption. Malingering is an Fine Art.

As my Drinking Uncle use to say, "Boy, whatever it is, don't you ever let a chance go by!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bee
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:25 PM

Don's the man, Steve. I had minor surgery (non-dental) a year ago. Not a twinge nor drop of blood afterward. Had to manufacture a feeling of weakness to even get supper made for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: bobad
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:30 PM

Not only that but it may lead to you being the recipient of some more effective pharmaceuticals.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Joe_F
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 09:51 PM

The most pain I have had under medical auspices was for a few seconds while my broken elbow was being x-rayed, and then, a while later, at night -- but then I buzzed and the nurse gave me something to make it go away.

The most pain I have had in a dentist's chair was having to piss.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 11:20 PM

well, *I* go to the dentist for oral surgery on Friday...(1st of two extractions of useless, hollow teeth WAY in the back)(I have thin, soft enamel)

The thing is, I had this same dentist do an extraction when he was a young fellow, 28 years ago, and again maybe 15 years ago. It took me awhile to remember his name, but he was so good, it was worth the effort to find him. Now here we are, he nearing retirement, and me nearing the end of my teeth..*grin*. I suppose I'll be sore for a couple of days, but I trust Dr. Sweeney to cause no pain during the procedure.

I, personally, have NO need for the missing fun of complaining and moping, as I can manage that with very little excuse anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: kendall
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 12:43 PM

Root canal by far.

I was discussing pain with a couple of friends, and I said root canal. One of the others said "The second worse pain I ever had was the time I was out hunting, and I had to poop. I dropped my pants and squatted down in a thicket. I didn't see the fox trap, but my plumbing tripped the damn trap and nearly cut my balls off."
Of course, I said, "If that was the SECOND worse pain you ever had, what the hell was the WORST."?

He said,


"When I came to the end of the chain."

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: HouseCat
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 02:44 PM

Hey RS, it's too bad you can't have a hysterectomy, they're loads of fun. You can be a complete pain-killer prima donna and expect to be waited on hand and foot for at least the first couple of days. Then everyone gets sick of you and you find yourself flat on your back like a turned-up turtle and no one will come help you to the potty. During the recuperation period, my days and nights got all switched around and I ended up awake at 3 every morning watching sort of bad movies on the Indie Film Channel.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 03:05 PM

I've been avoiding this thread purposely--between the headache, IBC, & obit threads-I figured I wanted to avoid another dark subject.

Now I see it's not bad--and Kendall gave me a laugh out loud!

I went to a new dentist-Bargain coupon (I thought) $125.00 for exrays, cleaning & exam. (found out later some Dentists do this for nothing--just to drum up business) I have no cavities-but one molar is a wee bit loose. I understand this is normal as one gets older-the jaw bone shrinks. He wants to pull it out! Since I don't need any other work - I'm just wondering if this is really necessary or is he shucking me? Any thoughts?

Kidney stone pain is a killer!! Wish it on no one.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 03:21 PM

Mickey, get a second opinion! If the tooth is healthy, why should it come out, unless it's practially ready to drop out by itself?

I had a dentist years ago who was all but painless. About the only thing I could actually feel was the novacaine injection at the beginning, but even so, sneaky bugger that he was, just as the needle was going in, he'd pinch my lip a little bit to distract me.

Once he'd finished injecting the novacaine, he'd say, "Okay. You can uncurl your toes now."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:07 PM

I have to echo Mickey191: Kidney stone!

The third time I had one, I learned something about language, though. (No, not cussing).

You've heard about "rolling on the floor in pain"? It's not just a figure of speech. When the whole thing came to a head, I lay down on the living room floor and rolled as far as I could in one direction, then immediately in the other direction. Then back.

As long as I was actually rolling it was a little better, but at the end of the roll, switching back, the pain would flood back.

Then suddenly I realized I'd stopped. The stone had passed, I guess, and I instantly went to sleep there on the floor.

Thank God, that was about 30 years ago, and no further recurrence.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Becca72
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:20 PM

Most painful experience? Herniated disc impinging on my sciatic nerve, by far. Complete and total agony for about 6 months. By the 3rd month I was willing to make a deal with the devil to get it to stop. There were times when I literally could not lift my right leg to take a step and had to drag it behind me to get to important places like the bathroom or the bottle of Vicodin... I would often get stuck in bed or on the john and have to throw myself onto the floor and commando crawl to where ever I needed to be. Yeesh...hope that never happens again! Worst part is, I live alone. But you CAN learn to put on your underwear without bending over. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 08:22 PM

Becca, EVERYTHING is harder when one is alone. There have been times I'd kill for a cup of tea! It sounds like you & Dave O. know what agony is.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 09:22 PM

Yeah...I had a kidney stone...maybe 15 years ago. It **HURT**...I went to the emergency room in the middle of the night, they did some 'tests', and I lay in this curtained booth, groaning, while they made sure it wasn't my appendix or something.
   As I lay in my misery, I heard rapid footsteps on the tile floor outside...then they stopped, and a guy in a while coat poked his head inside. He looked at me and asked "Kidney stone?"...."Uh...yessss", I panted, "That's...that's what they think...".....
"Um, hmmm" he said, "that's what it sounded like." sheesh! They can tell by the type of moaning!

(so then they decided it was, and put an IV in my arm as I groaned, and the nurse turned the little valve....and whishhhh...I was floating...no pain as a healthy dose of Dilaudid hit me...I lay there and counted ceiling tiles for a couple of hours till they did more tests....one of which drove the stone 'thru' and into lower areas, where it passed a couple days later)

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: jimmyt
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 09:56 PM

Good Lord, you are all depressing me! I will never go back to a dentist office again! Well....maybe if Liz promises to be prone in my chair...Let me get that light adjusted! yeah, that is perfect, now Liz, you will feel a little pressure for a minute....

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 10:13 PM

...and there is the OLD joke about the dentist who lost his license because he 'filled the wrong cavity'...

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 11:23 PM

The Woman said to the dentist: I don't know what's worse---having a baby or going to the dentist. He replies: "Well make up your mind--so I'll know which way to adjust the chair."


Or something like that.......

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 10:11 AM

"Do you promise to fill the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth...etc...?"

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: RangerSteve
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 12:09 PM

Kidney stones. Thanks for bringing that up. They have a procedure where they put you in a tank of water and plast your body with sound waves until the stone is shattered, but not in the hospital where I went. What they did was take a device that looks like a caulking gun, but with a very long, thin cable with claws on the end. They insert it into your penis, I can't go on. It hurts just to think about it. I guess it beats passing it naturally. A woman I know said that procedure was as bad as being in labor. But you definately deserve all the pity you can get with a stone.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Mickey191
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 01:00 PM

Sure glad I don't have penis!

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: kendall
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 02:36 PM

The only thing that hurts more than having a catheter inserted is having it removed.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 02:50 PM

Never had a kidney stone, but then I've never been in labor either, so I can't imagine those kinds of pain. I've battled ulcerative colitis for 30 years, though, and I can tell you that that's no fun (including the exams, colonoscopies, etc.) But leaving the below-the-waist stuff aside for the time being...

I've had 3 molars root-canaled (one tooth took 5 visits!) -- yes indeed, it's a horrible ordeal. So was the tooth infection that preceded the five-visit job. As leeneia says, anything that close to your brain and ears is a terrible place for an infection.

I've had three surgeries on my right eye, the first one being a reattachment of a detached retina. I was put under for the surgery, of course, but the recovery period was months long, quite painful (to muscles all over, as well as to the eye area), very tedious, and with the gas bubble just plain weird. No fun AT ALL. I tried watching mindless daytime television as RangerSteve describes, but with one eye converted to a ball of warm hamburger steeped in jalapeno sauce, the TV-watching was not taking my mind off the problem, just exacerbating it. Excruciating details are on this other thread: My retina surgery story

However, even having gone through all that, I would have to say that the worst surgical procedure I've endured is a lung biopsy with a bronchoscope. I do not recommend that one to annnNNNnnnybody. First of all, they don't put you under completely, because of the chance of suffocation from the procedure. What they do with the bronchoscope (a long tube with a light, a local-anesthetic-sprayer and a lung-tissue-snipper on the end) is to snake it up your nose, through your sinus passage to your throat, down your throat past your vocal chords, and into your lung. Once it's in there, the surgeon finds suspicious bits of tissue, sprays them with anesthetic to numb them a bit, clips them off your lung, and suctions them out of the tube. I remember every moment of this, including the numbed-but-still-palpable sensation of having the lung tissue pulled away and feeling it go up my throat and out my nose through the tube.

The worst part was gagging on the bronchoscope as it reached my vocal chords. They warned me beforehand about how it would feel in spite of the general and local anesthetics, but I couldn't stop the gag reflex or keep from struggling and rasping, "Get it out of me! Get it out of me!" They got me calmed down and got the tube down, after which I was of course unable to speak. Just had to lie there and endure. For days afterward, I was coughing up pink stuff. (At least I didn't have cancer, which is what they'd suspected!) I've never smoked cigarettes, but this is what you smokers out there have to look forward to...

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Becca72
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 04:28 PM

Jaysus H Keerist, Sharon. I'm going to curl up in the fetal position for awhile and try to forget about that one!

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: kendall
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 04:49 PM

And I thought my frequent laryngoscopies are awful!

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 09:54 PM

ha! That's nothing! I once had this hangnail that......oh, well, never mind.

Anyway...I had my bad tooth extracted today, and as this thread was begun to note, it was SO uneventful. It helps that I have the above mentioned Dr. Sweeney, who is about as good as they get. He makes SURE you are ok every step of the way, gives you meds for later, and at 8PM he calls to double check! I had forgotten years ago that he did this. I feel better already.

But since we are 'remembering' old pains, I will relate my 'interesting' experience with ingrown toenails 35 years ago. I had 'em for years, all 4 sides of both big toes. Let 'em grow till they hurt, then dig in & trim 'em back myself when the pain of cutting was no worse than trying to put on shoes...*wry grin*. I finally got some insurance and them permanently fixed by a good Podiatrist.......BUT a couple years prior to that, I was working in a grocery store. My toes were sore, probably a week from needing that 'trim'. I was cleaning up a batch of grocery carts, shoving them together in a line, then ramming the whole bunch of 8-9 into a pen.
   Well, I grabbed the handle of the last cart, braced my left foot forward, yanked on the handle to get them moving and.....arrggggghhhh....ran the last 3-4 carts (6-8 wheels)...full weight of the combined row... over the sore toe on my left foot! Rather than scream with customers watching, I headed to the employees lounge and just gritted my teeth and groaned. I took the last couple hours off & went home, where I s-l-o-w-l-y peeled the bloody sock from my toe and washed the foot...
...yes, I did make it back to work the next day, but I let others manage the carts.

Subject: RE: BS: Taking the fun out of surgery
From: Mickey191
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:20 PM

Is there any truth to this old wive's tale: that a daily application of iodine pulls the skin away from the toenail thus making nail trimming an easy curative??