“We’re going to have to stop meeting like this.”

 

For the second time this year, I’ve gone under the knife. You might recall that back in the summer that I had a mountain bike wreck that broke some ribs and collapsed a lung. A chest tube and hospitalization followed that.

Well, last week, I had a double hernia repair. Be warned that this may contain more information than you want to hear, but I promise it will be all PG.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a hard workout on Monday, a mountain bike ride on Tuesday, and had just finished an early hour on the stationary bike when I jumped in the shower to get ready for my work day. As I showered, let’s say, “down there,” I felt this ping pong ball in my right groin.

Being the worry-wart that I am and having a primary care physician (Dr. Kevin Turner) that is accommodating and understands me, I went immediately to his office where he declared “Joe, that’s the easiest diagnosis I’ll have today—you have a hernia.”

OK. So be it. What followed the next week were lab studies, a contrast CT, and a visit with surgeon Dr. Stephen Pacifico. About Dr. Pacifico:  He played linebacker for us at MHS and has made a fine surgeon. I have all the confidence in the world in him.

Yep, it was a hernia. And yep, I needed surgery, which was scheduled for the following week. Oh, and there was a hernia on the other side too.

Back up a bit to the why. Dr. Pacifico and I agreed that while I might have the muscles of a 30 year old, I have the connective tissue of a 70 year old. And I do lift heavy stuff from time to time. I lift heavy weights, sometimes assist with transfers of heavy patients, and I work hard on the farm. Not to mention the 99 V-ups that I did in that Monday workout.

Hernias don’t just happen to old people like me either. I’ve had younger athletes that have had them. They can happen to any active individual, although they happen to men more than women.

So, now it’s time for the fix. On Dr. Pacifico’s recommendation, I chose a laparoscopic procedure, with both hernias being repaired through the same small holes. On that Wednesday, now a week and a half ago, I reported to Blount Memorial Outpatient Surgery. After check in, Scott the RN took me back and pretty much stayed with me until they took me back for surgery.

Thorough and friendly, Scott has been a traveling nurse for the last few years and has been to some cool places. I’m not using last names here because frankly, I don’t remember them. Keep in mind, the sedation process had already started.

Nurse anaesthetist Lakosha (spelling?) was next and was super. One of the nurses that took me back was Christy and she was friendly and memorable. I don’t remember the other nurse’s name but Christy was the one holding my hand when they finished sedating me.

About that moment. I’m human. I was pretty cool about the whole thing up until that moment. My BP was still good but I was admittedly anxious at that point. The entire surgical team, Christy, the other nurse that took me back, the two scrub nurses, Lakosha, and the anaesthesiologist (I can’t remember her name either but she was good) gathered around me and told me “we are going to take really good care of you.”

I remember that! And the next thing I know, I’m waking up with a sore belly and another nurse that I’ve known for a while, Montana.  She was a student trainer at Heritage High School and Maryville College, and while at MC was the recipient of the Carl H. Black Outstanding Student Trainer Award, named after my dad.

Needless to say, it was awesome to see her. I know that she is the best. Oh, and Dr. Pacifico had filled my wife in on the surgery. It was way more complicated than he had expected but it all went well.

To wind this story down, I’m fine. I’m back at work. I’m being a good patient. And I won’t be doing V-ups for a while. But my experience through all this has been what health care should be all about.