I have a new found respect for what you do! It's always been a noble profession, but going through an intense laparoscopic surgery to remove a kidney and a giant cancerous tumour enveloping it, and spending the past few days in the recovery ward with others, I'm completely blown away by not only how hard this profession can be, but how amazingly skilled, caring and compassionate the people that do it are. I've seen so many things that tested my patience as an observer, but didn't seem to phase the nurse. And being in such a vulnerable state but being able to rely on such prompt and effective care makes me really appreciate the people willing to commit to doing it.
To those in the medical profession
- Thread starter Dogtown
- Start date
I totally get what you're talking about, Dog. My "journey" through the Emergency Room (diagnosis team following ambulance arrival from MVA) procedure was better than any "well oiled ballet team" or "mechanism choreographed by the Bolshoi's". The months following were somewhat eye-opening, to say the least.
I, being the ever quiet, gentle, and mild-mannered individual that I was, definitely put the teams through their paces and brought about their "week-spots" to the surface. In a rather loud and boisterous manner. After removing one 'nurse' from the ranks... there were many patients on the ward who came to me for days, thanking me for helping them out.
The vast majority of "them" are fantastic in what they do. So good so, that you don't even notice their accomplishments. Until it happens to YOU.
I, being the ever quiet, gentle, and mild-mannered individual that I was, definitely put the teams through their paces and brought about their "week-spots" to the surface. In a rather loud and boisterous manner. After removing one 'nurse' from the ranks... there were many patients on the ward who came to me for days, thanking me for helping them out.
The vast majority of "them" are fantastic in what they do. So good so, that you don't even notice their accomplishments. Until it happens to YOU.
Thanks! I'm already home resting with Tramadol, catching up on "Game of Thrones" and "House of Cards." The surgery experience was pretty interesting, leading up to it almost felt like a death row prisoner heading towards execution, one step at a time - kind of weird. I was on the table with the catheter in my hand, chit chatting with the medical staff and literally the next thing I remember I was coming to in the recovery ward. No "countdown" or any sense that I was getting sleepy and more interestingly, no sense that time had gone by. From that afternoon to the next morning was some brutal pain to deal with and sadly, we learned that I'm resistant to certain pain killers. The initial one they hooked me up with the PCA (amazing bit of technology there!) just knocked my pain from a 10 to 7. I hardly slept that first night but I assumed the pain was so bad that just taking it down on notch was the best they could do. Then the next morning the nurse wanted to get me to sit up in the bed and try to stand, but I looked at him with that "are you fucking crazy?" look. That's when they realized the pain meds weren't doing the trick. Even morphine made me just a bit woosy but didn't help the pain. Ketamine though, that did the trick and for the next couple days a mix of that and fentanyl made my recovery relatively easy.
It sucks losing a kidney, but it's awesome getting rid of a giant cancerous tumour!
It sucks losing a kidney, but it's awesome getting rid of a giant cancerous tumour!
Though Ive never tried it I hear Ketamine is a good one. Back in the day the kids used to call it Special K. It is a horse tranquilizer and apparently a strong hallucinogen when smoked.
Heal well, bro.
Heal well, bro.
Go easy on that tramadol brother. I know its "weak sauce" compared to the others but don't be fooled. For the last 7 years I have been on OxyContin, Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and tramadol. I am fine if I quit taking any of the others for a week if my pain isn't too bad, but the tramadol has the worst withdrawals ever. It is also more effective for my body than any of the above.
The reason the real pro's are so highly respected is that the classes they take are freakin A tough. Like smack you in the head, kick your ass, scrub concrete with your face tough. I will admit, polytrauamatic TBI's, short term meory issues kicked my ass as a Medical Laboratory Science major. I learned that my abilities did not match the goals of this profession and could not get past the 4xxx series courses. D's, all fucking D's. I was a total D, D, Deee. I am almost doen with my first semester of my new degree program, BS in Psychology, and I am making all B's, maybe higher. My goal is still the same. Get the degree, go take care of Veterans and our Warriors. I gave for my adult life, and was treated by many good people, now it's my turn to do what I can in the spirit of a family tradition began by mo mom
The sooner the better. The first couple weeks without it and you will get serious brain zaps (feels like lightning in your brain, then runs through your body giving you spasms) and you will also feel like there is an angry raccoon in your lungs trying to dig his way out. I had no problems with any of the opiates, I could just quit and not miss them. Good luck, and speedy recovery!
Yep, stuff like molecular biology...fuck, I lost the math for that in a week. Dropped it. Pysch is a piece of cake. Studied it til I knew I was stark raving mad then switched to something solid....philosophy.
Interesting. I don't know about the tramadol, but I do know that withdrawal from opiates is much easier than from barbiturates. I guess it figures...opium and its derivatives are from a natural source...poppies. That other shit...who knows, but you can definitely die from barbiturate withdrawals.
Sorry you are having such a time with it. I appreciate your effort! We need more like you. Keep it up. You will succeed!
I just went through almost the same thing. Although cancer was caught at an earlier stage so just a lap surgery with a partial nephrectomy. Six month checkup and cancer free.
My experience was much like yours. Cancer was found on a Monday in September. Dr. said." he could get to the surgery in a couple of weeks." I told him," I wanted it out of my body asap." He said,"There goes my Friday off."
Surgery was a 2 pm on Friday. I was released on Saturday at noon. I walked a half mile that afternoon and a mile on Sunday.
I only had to take one pain pill and that was on Tuesday evening. I was back to work on the following Monday, a whole 10 days after surgery. I owe my life to my PCP, Plastic Surgeon,Oncologist and my Urologist.
Eddie
My experience was much like yours. Cancer was found on a Monday in September. Dr. said." he could get to the surgery in a couple of weeks." I told him," I wanted it out of my body asap." He said,"There goes my Friday off."
Surgery was a 2 pm on Friday. I was released on Saturday at noon. I walked a half mile that afternoon and a mile on Sunday.
I only had to take one pain pill and that was on Tuesday evening. I was back to work on the following Monday, a whole 10 days after surgery. I owe my life to my PCP, Plastic Surgeon,Oncologist and my Urologist.
Eddie
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Eddie (tansinator), there aren't nearly enough good stories like yours out there. C'mon guys, there has to be more positives. Too many around me have been lost to various cancers. 1 to Hodgkins Lymphoma, 2 to Pancreatic Cancer, 1 is going through a major life-changing (read: re-plumbing) from Rectal Cancer.... there are more.
Sean, this all started with a insect bite on my forehead that wouldn't heal. It encapsulated and would not go away. a plastic surgeon removed it and sent it in for biopsy. It ended up going to three different labs. Dx was Pseudo Lymphoma, my surgeon had never seen this diagnosis. The plastic surgeon sent me to an oncologist to cover his behind. All my blood work was normal. Oncologist was puzzled. He knew it wasn't Lymphoma but the word alone got me a Pet scan through my insurance company. That is how the Renal Cell Carcinoma was found, totally unrelated to the insect bite. I was one lucky person!
Eddie
Dogtown, I hope you have a speedy recovery and the cancer stays away!
Eddie
Dogtown, I hope you have a speedy recovery and the cancer stays away!
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Woah! That does not sound like fun, shitty actually.
As far as the OP goes. My Mom went through Stanford Cancer Center and the nurses were awesome while the Doctors were conceited, ill mannered Dicks who just wrote her off, "sorry but you know your going to die, right?" Her main Doctor said. Where my Father went to a less known medical center and got great care. It can be a crap shoot when it comes to bed side manners. If your getting good care thats awesome man.
Mr. D;
Glad to see you're on the mend. Best fortune with an excellent prognosis. As you say, great practitioners make the whole process a lot more bearable.
Greg
Glad to see you're on the mend. Best fortune with an excellent prognosis. As you say, great practitioners make the whole process a lot more bearable.
Greg
Man, I don't know if I'm the second coming of Wolverine or if the combination if being really fit with surgery by some amazing medical folks is making me this way, but I'm nearly fully recovered in a little more than a week. I had the operation on the morning of the 10th and today is the first day I've gone without meds entirely and physically exerted myself (hour long steep hike). It's incredible - I may return to work a few weeks early which means I've got to work on those dirty stinky apes...ugh.
I wish you all the very best Dogtown. From a purely selfish perspective I've always enjoyed your posts and look forward to learning more from you.
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