Thursday 14 May 2009

'ELL FOR LEATHER

In and OUT! Talk about fast!

Actually, at the last minute, my surgeon - Mr Leather - decided not to go ahead with my hernia operation due to the fact that the drugs I am on include ones that are immunosuppressants which make me liable to infection. "What you've got, there," said Mr L, "is a very vulnerable groin!" As medical chat-up lines go that's got to be one of the best.

Obviously the problem has not gone away and I'm to be reassessed in a few months to see whether the operation can be performed using keyhole instead of open surgery.

Meanwhile, thanks for your concern and best wishes which I'll keep carefully in a drawer for the next time...

12 comments:

SharonM said...

I should imagine you are relieved, but couldn't they have decided that before putting you through all that pre-op angst!

Oh well, you'll obviously have to be extremely careful with your 'very vulnerable groin' in the meantime and leave the weightlifting to David.

Sheila said...

How frustrating! But keyhole surgery sounds less threatening and will result in a shorter recovery time, so it may well be good(ish) news.

I hope you've found something exciting/interesting/enjoyable to do during the rest of today to get rid of the pent-up adrenalin.

Brian Sibley said...

So near and yet...

Good Dog said...

Oh, couldn’t they have checked your prescriptions before you were admitted? Still, it’s good to see a concern for the patient rather than a “treat ‘em and street ‘em” attitude.

In the meantime, while waiting for readmission, when you introduce yourself to people you could always add, “I have a very vulnerable groin!”

Hopefully they can get it all sorted out with a quick keyhole surgery when the time comes.

scb said...

I am very relieved that they realized the difficulty with the medication *before* doing the surgery... but now the waiting begins again.

Having a "very vulnerable groin" does indeed lend itself to a lovely introductory statement... can't you just imagine the looks on some people's faces?

Hope all will be well for you.

Brian Sibley said...

The trouble is, GD and scb, I had 'psyched myself up' for the op and now I'm going to have to go through all that again!

scb said...

Brian -- yes, I had been thinking "oh, he'd have been all prepared in his mind for this, and now to have to go through all the waiting again..." I'm not sure doctors realize just how much "psyching up" it takes for people to get themselves ready for a medical procedure. To them, it's all in a day's work (obviously), and so "Oh, it turns out we can't do this today after all. Pity." runs off their backs like the proverbial water off a duck. (I assure you that quackery was not in my mind at all when I chose the duck image.) :-)

Take care of yourself, alright?

Brian Sibley said...

I'll do my best... :-)

Boll Weavil said...

If they can do keyhole, that's going to be much better for you as it doesn't have the three month recovery period afterwards.Although it's annoying to get ready then not have it, at least when you do get it, it should be easier. Fingers crossed !

Brian Sibley said...

Let's hope... :-)

David Weeks said...

I don't know about 'keyhole', it strikes me that the whole hernia thing is more about removing a 'padlock'!
Incidentally, did you realise that a closer look at the image you posted reveals that this is another caption competition. :o)

HYPOI: Injection given to put patient into non-ego state.

Anonymous said...

Is the Vulnerable Groin a relative of the Venerable Bede?

(I'll get me coat)
Roger O B...
PROILE: to toil to produce a prose piece to deadline