Re: , n and Cammie

[Guest guest]

Wweeelll, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I'm not sure we know

where n's coming from. He may indeed have been through some of

those humongous surgeries that are essential to save lives. We know

this is elective surgery, and that's one of the things all of us have

wrestled with, I think. But we've decided that it's not for us, or

that it's worth the risks, which are not insignificant. (Any time I'm

having general anesthetics, I'm gonna think about the risks, and be

sure my legal stuff is in reasonable order before we do it. Nuff

said?)

I have been told, although not by my surgeon, that the way the bone

breaks can also make a difference in what happens. And that isn't

totally predictable. A good surgeon will know what is likely to

happen, but hey. Humans don't always do the " likely " thing. That's

also why some patients expect to be banded and wind up wired -- or at

least that's one reason it can happen.

And Lord knows, if there is some unpredictable quirk -- highly paid

athletes who've undergone physicals forever have suddenly collapsed

with heart failure on the court -- we want our surgeons and

anesthesiologists to stay in there and fight. Or at least I do, and I

know mine would. And I'm surely not gonna have an eye on that clock,

either.

I just think it never works to be dogmatic about human experience.

Cammie

..

> Let me say to both and Cammie...well said in both your

> responses to n.

> I am glad your surgery is over and that you are as alright

as

> one can be immediatly following surgery.

> My surgery was about 6 hours... and nothing went " wrong " just a

few

> more moves were made then originally thought would be needed.. I

> couldnt imagine it taking under 1 hour or better yet being on an

> outpatient basis... I went in on Tues. and came home on Thurs. I

did

> not consider this a minor operation ... I would like to pose this

> question to n: Seeing your view on our " MINOR OPERATIONS " How

> would you have explained this to my 6 year old... or maybe my

> husband who has seen my struggles for 8 years and cried w/ me

(sorry

> hon if you see this) when I cried because I couldnt kiss my

children

> good night? Iam sorry to sound so crabby but I really take offense

> to your response to and frankly to myself and others!

> We have stuck by each other on and off for months ... me at least 5

> and I have seen everyone go through the good the bad and the ugly...

> No one has compared this to open heart surgery ..but just a surgery

> that in itself might not be the biggest surgery in the world but at

> this time it seems pretty darn big to me.

>

[Guest guest]

Nope, n. I'm not offended, at all. Although I think perhaps some

others were. Of course you were upset to read what had happened to

. As were we all. Nobody wants a friend to have to endure such

an ordeal.

I believe that the variety of ways bones can break, for example, can

be described, post facto, but not predicted. That's why nobody can

know what any one individual's experience will be before the event

itself. Experts can offer a suggestion of ranges, but where any one

person will fall within that range is not predictable.

My own case fell, happily, well beyond the greatest expectations I

had -- or those of my surgeon. It went well, successfully, easily and

healthily, and believe me, I am grateful that the fates looked kindly

that day.

My caretakers were splendidly qualified. In addition, they were

lucky, and so was I. All of us worked hard to bring about that

result, but still, we were lucky. I did indeed investigate carefully

before entrusting my mouth and my body to these people, and they had

worked hard over many years (and the morning of my surgery) to be

worthy of my trust, and that of their other patients.

Yes. There are just plain unskilled, impaired and awful docs. I made

sure, best way a layman can, that I did not wind up in their hands.

And I was rewarded generously for my troubles.

Sure. I'd like to think that every procedure my guys do winds up

perfectly. And I believe that 99 percent of them do. Maybe even 99.99

percent of them. But I also believe that there are random, freak

occurrences.

My friend, I sought not just three, but five opinions. I REALLY did

not want even to do the braces again at age 56. BELIEVE me. Much less

the surgery. I was appalled and nearly hysterical when it was first

suggested. And I would certainly agree with you that a number of

opinions is better, in general, than one. In my case, not only did I

trust my doc -- a trust that was generously rewarded by my outcome --

but I knew a number of people who had earlier had the services of his

partners and himself. I didn't need the letters, because i knew the

people, independent of needing the surgery.

You are absolutely right, I think, about making the decision

cautiously. Anyone should think long and hard before you decide to go

this route. Decide whether it is what you really, really want to do,

or need to do, or should do. Don't trust anybody, until you are

persuaded. And if you have any reluctance about the process, don't do

it until you are sure. On that question, we definitely agree.

Do you care to tell us where you are in this process? Prospective

patient? Unhappy patient? Caregiver? Onlooker? Prospective surgeon?

Nurse? Anesthetist? Kibitzer? All are legitimate standpoints from

which to offer opinions, I think.

Cammie