March 24 2008: Back In Hospital

Filed under Family

Less than three weeks after being placed on a waiting list, my father’s going into hospital tomorrow morning for a “Right Ureteric Stone Extraction” procedure – it’s his kidney stone problem again. I’ve taken the day off work to be with him – to drive him to and from hospital, to wait outside the operating room, to hold his hand as he wakes up from the anesthetic.

It’s supposed to be a fairly simple day procedure – in and out within the space of six or seven hours. That doesn’t mean of course, that your worries are alleviated. If anything, you get a bit paranoid. What if the simplicity of the procedure means that the operating surgeon gets complacent, and thus lets his concentration slip? A split second error in judgement could have disastrous results, especially when it involves sticking a tube up someone’s penis.

In this situation though…it’s probably best to think positive, and not let one’s paranoia get to oneself.

Anyway, I know I’ve extolled the virtues of Australia’s health care system before, but honestly? Getting to the top of the waiting list for a non-essential procedure three weeks after being placed on it? That’s pretty fucking brilliant.

18 Responses to “Back In Hospital”

  1. You can’t help but be nervous in this situations. I really hope everything goes well and your father has a speedy recovery!

    marilyn on March 24 2008 #

  2. Hope it goes well for him! But wow you’re lucky to get to the top of the waiting list so fast! My mum just went to a private hospital straightaway because it was an urgent surgery and god knows how long it’d take in NZ.

    Rilla on March 24 2008 #

  3. Best wishes to your Dad. Hopefully he’ll feel better soon. :)

    Rachael on March 24 2008 #

  4. Yay universal healthcare! :3

    I hope the procedure goes through problem-free!

    Belinda on March 24 2008 #

  5. I hope your daddy’s all right, Amanda. <3

    Jordie on March 24 2008 #

  6. Don’t drive yourself crazy by thinking like that. It won’t do you any good nor will it help your father. I can understand how you feel (the nerves etc) as I was really nervous when my mother had surgery.

    I hope the procedure goes well and I’ll be thinking of you and your family tomorrow!

    Chans on March 25 2008 #

  7. May he get well soon with a speedy recovery! :D

    Chien Yee on March 25 2008 #

  8. Hope your dad will be fine and healthy after the procedure. Best wishes!

    I want to move to Australia just for the health care system.

    Ramsha on March 25 2008 #

  9. Best wishes and all that.

    As Rilla said, over here, you’d have to go private to even dreeeeam of getting any surgery, let alone a non-urgent one. The Australian health system obviously rocks.

    They ARE poaching all our doctors :P

    Nellie on March 25 2008 #

  10. It’s great that your father has his operation so early. A much better way of getting rid of stones than “the natural way”…

    Best of luck to your father. :)

    Julie on March 25 2008 #

  11. I’m always paranoid when I’m in the hospitals (especially when an operation is being done on someone I love). I just have to keep telling myself to calm down before I spaz out.

    I hope all goes well with the procedure and your father recovery.

    Kiera on March 25 2008 #

  12. I’m sorry, but lol @ tubes being stuck up people’s penises.

    Sarai on March 25 2008 #

  13. Hey, good luck to your dad! Hopefully all goes well.

    That is some pretty great health care you guys got over there! It sucks for me cuz I don’t have any health insurance right now and I also have a pilonidal cyst, and yea…I need to get that removed one of these days. >.>;;

    Sairah on March 25 2008 #

  14. Wow! Best wishes to your dad. Hope he has a speedy recovery as well :)

    Robmarie on March 25 2008 #

  15. Best of luck to your dad! :D

    Noellium on March 25 2008 #

  16. how much I HATE hospital.

    Dakota on March 25 2008 #

  17. Hope everything goes well

    Cherry on March 26 2008 #

  18. [...] My dad’s operation went well. He’s recuperating nicely at home – though this does mean that I’m currently doing the work of two people until he gets well enough to start taking on more work again. Proof below: [...]

    Jingwen » Blog Archive » I Am Actually Alive on March 26 2008 #

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