I hadn’t gone into the operating theatre yesterday with the intention of tweeting my operation. Initially I just wanted to interview the Surgeon mid op.
Before I continue I must apologise. I’m writing this while under the influence. Painkillers. Powerful ones.
Last night I underwent an operation to fix an inguinal hernia. You can get them at any age and I was surprised to find out many of my friends already had.
I got mine in February and it may have been caused by a combination of attempting to lift more compost than is humanly possible and trying to out exercise an iPhone app. As a result a part of my small intestine had popped through my lower abdominal muscles in my groin. Between the abdomen and thigh.
After it ‘popped out’ I found that if I was going to do anything that involved excessive exercise, I could control the pain by sticking a ‘Ben Ten’ rubber ball down my trousers.
That wasn’t a prescribed fix as when I initially did go to my local doctor he told me I had pulled a muscle.
I had already Googled my symptoms and was pretty sure It was a Hernia. I didn’t want to argue. Although way younger than me I had no doubt he was also way smarter than me as he had a load of framed pieces of paper on the wall that said so.
While occasionally incapacitated in this way I was travelling the world, running all day workshops, documenting events and talking at conferences. Business as usual just with a box of painkillers in my backpack and a kid’s toy in my pants.
Although I carried on regardless, I knew it could not be ignored as more internet research offered the sentence “..strangulated hernia followed by death”.
The driving force for me to do something about it was a) remembering I had access to free medical insurance and b) that it was soon to expire. This enabled me to get a second opinion and potentially get it fixed in a private hospital.
I have little to no personal experience of public hospitals other than knowing wonderful people that work in them and the great care given to my son in the ER despite a 4 hour wait. There is also of course the dark visits to see friends and loved ones who on some occasions didn’t make it out.
So, in a hospital that looked more like a manor house and after an immediate two minute diagnosis of a right inguinal hernia, I got to choose the day I wanted to be operated on. My diary was full for the next few months so I picked yesterday as it was the beginning of a two week ‘quiet’ spell. I have given myself these two weeks to recover and should I do any work from home at this time I hereby add the disclaimer that I am certainly not of sound mind or body.
Now I share a lot online. The more I share, the more connections I make and the more value I seem to get from sharing.
For some reason though, probably because I thought it may plant a seed of doubt in the minds of potential clients as to weather I could do a job, I decided to keep my hernia offline.
That was until the 14th of May when BBC Radio aired a programme entitled The Digital Human by Aleks Krotoski where she asked if we’re sharing too much of ourselves online. Then she asked me what I hadn’t shared online and I blurted out that I had a hernia.
It seemed to pass most people buy luckily. Apart from the momentary forming of a tribute band called Sue and the Hernias.
So last night, as I was waiting to be injected with a variety of needles I recorded an Audioboo sharing how although in my very plush surroundings I was still apprehensive.
Perhaps she was not taking me seriously in my paper underwear and my back-to-front nighty, but the nurse seemed a little surprised I only wanted a local anaesthetic and went to the doctor to check.
She came back to the room with a mixed look of respect and pity on her face. I told her I liked to experience new things and this was certainly a new thing for me. There is some really important stuff being done to my body and I wanted to be awake when it happened. It’s not paranoia. It’s curiosity.
She then stabbed me in the gut with a needle.
I asked her why nurses say, “little scratch.” before doing that and then realised that the only other practical word combination (‘small’ and ‘prick’ spring to mind) would not install the greatest of confidence in a guy standing with his bits on show.
In my initial examination I was told I’d be able to lie there pain free with local anaesthetic, listening to my own music. Just before I was wheeled in though the surgeon told me he wasn’t sure if my bluetooth headphones would affect the machines so I’d best leave them behind.
I took my phone in anyway and asked if he minded being interviewed during the op. He obviously thought it an unusual request as he had a bewildered look on his face. Not the kind of look I really wanted on the face of the man about to take my life in his hands.
Nevertheless his first response was, “Lets see” which after consulting with the four other members of staff became, “We had better not. We’re not sure what hospital policy is.”
I asked if I could still use my phone and that was okay. I asked to take a couple of photos and me and the anaesthetist chatted about the slither of wifi we could pick up from the corridor outside.
These were smart people and if I had been allowed to record you’d have heard a complicated language of anatomy and physiology.
I lost count of all the needles I felt going in to my nether regions. I lost nearly all feeling down there too. There were a couple of isolated spots the burning liquid must have missed that later enabled me to experience the flesh searing sensation of a red hot broadsword thrust into my groin and slowly, up into my stomach. Or at least that’s what it felt like.
These moments were few though and always followed with, “Sorry let me pop the needle in there.”
We shared a few laughs in the room and I tweeted a few tweets to those outside and although having my technology was a wonderful distraction, it also felt very natural. It was only the comments from others that made me think this was perhaps an unusual thing to do.
Apart from those who thought it funny to ask me for luggage advice while I was opened up and the scent of burning flesh filled my nostrils.
It was nice to have my friends there. To have a different perspective on the scene that was laid out red and pink before me.
The occasional spasms of pain went from being my centre of the universe to just another thing happening somewhere in a much bigger world.
The net addicts among us are those who don’t see online and offline as different places. At the moment though our cumbersome devices are the barrier between these spaces and the hyper connected only stand out because of this.
When the tools have vanished and the technology is ubiquitous the addicts may only be identifiably by how much they share.
That’s if the future allows us to choose what and how we share.
The banter in the room is jovial. Despite having a bleeding body in the room.
— Documentally (@Documentally) August 2, 2012
Amazing.
I’m grinning from ear to ear.
Cool! I tried to take my phone in when I had an op. They wouldn’t let me. Well done for another achievement and very glad you have got it all over with and will be better soon.
Thanks. I think when we do start wearing web enabled glasses it will be hard for people to be told to leave them behind. 🙂
On arrival to the hospital, as soon as I got to my bed and found the free WiFi my spirits lifted. I have my own but knowing there was a connection for everyone made me feel the hospital really cared.
I think some patients can feel isolated when stuck in hospital. When visiting times are restrictive, contact with family and friends could easily be achieved with free WiFi and a phone or ipod touch. Germ free too! A face time or skype chat could also enable family from overseas to wish people well. Surely this must aid the healing process.
Maybe a study should be set up between two wards. One with WiFi and one without.
It might be that those with a WiFi connection recover faster but don’t want to leave the hospital because they are too comfortable. 😉
Supply each bed with a tablet device and you have TV, Radio, games and films on demand catered for as well.
In the current climate I guess my blog post shows extreme use of the available WiFi connection. It may be that in the near future, if we could tweet our operating theater experiences, we may get better care. 🙂
I found at my hospital (its without 3g) that my own connection wouldn’t work. 🙁 so I felt totally alone. When OH was in another one I took the wibe and it could get 3g in that hospital and so his ipad worked and he could talk to me at home. I could also sit and work when he was asleep and I was visiting, and also update the kids to save phone calls when they were at work. Just having a connection made the whole experience so much easier and less stressful.
It’s a really interesting topic. I have my mifis with me all the time but it’s establishments like this that really should be offering this kind of communication solution. It’s a basic human need. They don’t need to offer it support. Just the wifi to get online. Let the patients/families support groups do the rest. I’d certainly donate an old router or two if there are any trials happening.
Anyone inspired by Christian’s experience might like to consider joining the Campaign for Free Wifi in Hospitals at http://www.facebook.com/groups/269721299101/
I’ve found that, even in the very few NHS hospitals that do provide wifi, sometimes it is not promoted and the ward staff know nothing about it, leaving patients frustrated at not being able to access it
https://www.facebook.com/groups/269721299101/ – just listened to your audioboo and it has reinforced the belief many of us hold that wifi should be available in hospitals. We think that being in touch with others when you are a patient is vital for recovery and is nearly as important as painkillers or other drugs. Many doctors also agree on this, having seen patients relax whilst talking on skype to family. It also reassures all the folk back home who want to know how you are without having to bother ringing the busy staff. its a lifeline to the world. I thought you may be interested in @johnpopham ‘s facebook page so I have left you the link.
family contact certainly essential to speedy recovery – see here: http://stg.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=2549&issue=June%202000&UID=
Work ongoing to improve wifi access and study impact:
https://dotgovlabs.direct.gov.uk/Page/ViewIdea?ideaid=2064
and here:
http://johnpopham.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/free-wifi-for-hospital-patients-progress-report/
These are hospitals with wifi (provided by wifi spark):
http://www.wifispark.com/example-markets/hospital-wifi/healthcare-locations
look here: http://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-press-releases/free-wi-fi-for-bradford-teaching-hospitals-patients
Thanks for all the info. Interesting stuff. I really liked John Popham’s blog post.. http://johnpopham.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/free-wifi-for-hospital-patients-progress-report/
Just got the bill for my operation. I guess I just pass it on to my insurers but my room, wifi, consultation, dinner, 5 members of staff, including the surgeon and the operation followed by pain killers cost.. £335. I am now interested to see what it would cost the NHS to do such a procedure.
crikey! cheap as chips!
Christian, That cost is astonishing. I had a laproscopic abdominal surgery 2 years ago. Cost was roughly $40,000, including the surgeon, 1 night hospital stay.
Wow. The health insurance that came with my Wife’s last job will cover this so it’s back to NHS cover for the family now. That said, i would seriously consider looking at private practice should i only have a small window to get operated in. I know it is often the insurance that is needed that drives up the cost, I wonder if the hospital is covered by it’s own insurance rather than having to charge for each individual case.
Hold fire. A friend just contacted me in a DM saying his Hernia cost him £10,000. We’ll see in the next week or so I guess if another bill will come in. :-/
The $40,000 cost does not include preliminary tests, preliminary doctor appointments, immediate post surgical doctor appointments
.
That really is quite something else. :-/
I just got onto Audioboo and heard you talk about your operation. My husband Gene just told me about a month ago he has the exact same thing. That’s why I wanted to have my Cataract Operation so I can drive him to the doc if he ever decides to go to the doctor. I had it on the 2nd. So how bad was the pain? Gene is so afraid to go to the doctor. Did you have the laproscopic surgery? I hope you are feeling much better now!
Hi Freida, I went for the ‘big cut’ and not the keyhole. I heard from people having keyhole and having to go back in for another op when something ‘pops’ on the other side etc. I was awake and just had local. The pain is not too bad considering. It’s more about the lying around and not doing much afterwards. You are back to 100% your previous condition after 6 weeks aparently. I am just over two weeks in and healing well as far as i can see. I really have to get back to work though. As long as I don’t do any heavy lifting I should be ok. Luckily I don’t have that kind of job. 🙂 I’m sure he will be fine. Good luck with it all.
Payne, you are a pain
very informative..