I wish you all the best, Tweed.  

--Fil

<snip>

Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes that this really is the last
operation, Christina, and that everything goes really well. We are
thinking of you and sending you hugs,
Polonca and Soncek

I have no doubt that he meant well by doing it, and yes, humor can
help one deal with difficult situations. My last doctor (before I had
to join an HMO) used to make all sorts of irreverent jokes about my
medical issues, and I enjoyed it very much. But then again, I didn't
have anything scary wrong with me, and I don't know what my needs would
have been in that case.

That's why I said it was insensitive, rather than outright nasty. I
think this is a tricky area, and if a doctor's going to use humor, they
should pay attention to how the patient is feeling, and how he/she responds
to lighthearted remarks, and take the cue from that. If the patient is
very upset and not open to looking at his/her situation lightheartedly,
jokes might come across as callous, or at least, clueless. It's not
enough to mean well - I think a doctor also needs to pay attention and
be sensitive to the patient's needs.

Anyway, none of this has any bearing on how Tweed felt about it - but
I hope it wasn't too unpleasant!

Joyce

 Finally.

Moan and whimper all you want to, Tweed! You've had one Hell of a time
and I really hope this is the end of it!

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

Bah, it's not even a matter of putting up with anything ... of course
we're (at least I'm) happy to lend an ear (well, eye, I guess).  I
have a taste of what you mean about "you'd think it would be enough
that ..." ... sometimes it feels like you're stuck in a snowball
rolling downhill and carrying you with it.

Maybe he just wanted to make sure you were committed to having it done, and
fully aware that there are no guarantees.

If it isn't life threatening, they do have some responsibility to make sure
you are really up for how unpleasant its going to be.

That said, I kind of envy you having the choice and the positive attitude to
go with it.  The bulge I live with isn't that bad and I don't think anyone
else is that aware of it.  It would be nice to have it repaired, but I'm not
in good enough shape to do it.  So I'm glad you can get yours fixed and are
up for the process.

I went through too much hell with the surgery that left me with it.  I can't
say never again, because that surgery could fail and have to be redone at
some point.

(Really bad GERD and very large hernia in my diaphragm.  Hernia's don't
always like to stay repaired.  I'm just hoping twice was enough)

Jo

Is laproscopic surgery an option?

http://www.lapsurg.org/hernia.html#5

You may find this interesting:

http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Incisional-Hernia-Repair.html

Especially:

"Activities may be limited to non-strenuous movement for up to two
weeks, depending on the type of surgery performed. To allow proper
healing of muscle tissue, hernia repair patients should avoid heavy
lifting for at least six to eight weeks after surgery, or longer as
advised."