Post surgery thoughts

I went to Dr. G after almost 3 months of see-saw discussions. I originally wanted to go to Dr. Tomas of FL for non-mesh and fixed an appointment with him but after considering all things I thought Dr. G is the right surgeon with right knowledge. My decision was correct and I have been happy with his work/skill/knowledge.

Wise? Me? You do not know anything. I am driven by “F-E-A-R.” Every single thing is fear for my life. I do not know how I became like this but fear drives me. I am also miserly according to whoever knows me. To spend one cent less I go from shop to shop and save money. So to select Dr. G I was on Google for 3 months, emailed and bombarded everyone I knew about surgeries (until they said “STOP”) and decided. I also assumed that once I woke up from surgical table I would be forever in pain – like the Google pages said. So for a fear driven chicken like me it was a gamble. I even wished I died on the table and never came back for reasons I won’t put here. I spoke to both Drs. Tomas and Goodyear over phone before going and talked non-stop to people I know – locally, on internet, on NPHI discussion board and everywhere else including colleagues. I visited the local surgeon and his office twice but did not like to get this IH repaired here. My family said I should do it here locally but I said No. It is not their IH to suffer. Is it? Pain cannot be transferred like a bank account or few dollars unfortunately or fortunately. I might even have very little pain threshold.

I agree everything is connected to Dollars but that’s how life is. Also you said something about surgeon putting everything on table. Think of the time it takes and in general would you be able to do it for every patient? If you do, some patients are alarmed and frightened by the details. Should you frighten them? Medical ethics may have some other things with what Surgeons learn. If a surgeon is trying to make you fear, you should probably seek a second opinion. If you are NOT feeling comfortable to open pants to a surgeon you should never go to him in the first case. Yes, talk, write, email, read and do all possible things and select one.

I am neither wise not foolish but an average Joe. I did what I thought was best and took risk with Dr. G. It turned good for me. Luckily Dr. G has good rating, good name for these surgeries and my insurance has covered him. For going from my place to PA I paid from pocket.

If nerves grow back naturally Chrisopher Reeve would have never been in wheel chair for rest of this life. If the nerve implants work perfect as they claim there would not be a single quadriplegic in the society. Some may work and some may work for some people and some may never work. My rule of life is this – Surgeon is like YOU. He eats Pizza, watches football and even goes to movies and takes kids to swimming classes. If you do salesman work, or auto repair, he does surgery. That’s the only difference. So believe him to the extent he is believable. Anything beyond that, attach a red flag and investigate further.

Luckily after Internet we have much more information at hands now than a few decades ago.

I have been happy so far. If tomorrow the mesh goes awry and causes me trouble, I will be the first one to come here and complain non-stop (until Dr. Towfigh throws me out) 🙂 God bless.