My Next Great Adventure

**Coatingsarecrack** · 02-08-2021, 11:27 PM

Good luck with the surgery and hoping for a speedy recovery

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**2black1s** · 02-09-2021, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by IH8SPM

Wishing you a speedy recovery and luckily you believe in doctors and saw one asap. As a side note, all your toys will need your attention so a little rest now will leave you with plenty of energy to play later.

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Thanks... But actually I'm not a run to the doctor for every little issue kind of guy.

This was different. Not an ordinary pain/discomfort. Sometimes you just know... It might be time to call the doctor. My daughter who is a registered vet tech helped convince me.

**IH8SPM** · 02-09-2021, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by 2black1s

Thanks... But actually I'm not a run to the doctor for every little issue kind of guy.

This was different. Not an ordinary pain/discomfort. Sometimes you just know... It might be time to call the doctor. My daughter who is a registered vet tech helped convince me.

Whatever it takes. Most of us pay insurance and seldom use it but when it comes to medical get your money's worth.

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**2black1s** · 02-09-2021, 02:45 PM

Just got some bad news during today's video visit with the surgeon...

Due to COVID restrictions in California I cannot have the surgery performed until May or June at the absolute earliest, possibly later due to the ever-growing backlog of "non-emergency" surgeries currently being postponed; and the uncertainty of when the state-dictated restrictions will be relaxed and/or rescinded.

Then on top of that, I'm a smoker, and they will not even consider performing the surgery unless and until I quit for at least a month prior to and after the surgery. I get it that this obstacle is my responsibility and completely in my control, but it's another obstacle nonetheless.

I guess I need to start developing a Plan B, C, and so on.

I was hoping today's visit would just be going through the pre-op formalities, scheduling a date for the surgery, and getting on the road to closing this adventure... No such luck.

**Bruno Soares** · 02-09-2021, 02:50 PM

That sucks. Are you close to an adjacent state that you could go to and get this done sooner rather than later?

**IH8SPM** · 02-09-2021, 02:57 PM

Damn! I just read up on Hernia's and infact you should quit to avoid wound infections and complications are the major reasons.

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**TMQ** · 02-09-2021, 03:35 PM

Smokers must quit before surgery? Now that is a new one to me!

Gather your hernia isn't dangerous at this point?

And dang---This covid business is really screwing things up.

Tom

**weekend warrior** · 02-09-2021, 04:28 PM

had my Hernia repaired 10 years ago...at 70 years old....never had a problem...LOL and everything works fine....keep the faith

**2black1s** · 02-09-2021, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by IH8SPM

Damn! I just read up on Hernia's and infact you should quit to avoid wound infections and complications are the major reasons.

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I'm not going to dismiss the "quiting" perspective, but we are all adults and should be able to make such decisions on our own. Refusing medical services to someone just because they smoke, especially when the condition is not directly related, seems unwarranted in my opinion.

When I questioned the doctor regarding the smoking he told me that the success rate for this particular surgery, without any reoccurrence, for non-smokers is 97% and drops to 82% for smokers.

Considering the impact the hernia is having on my lifestyle and physical activity (lack thereof), I'll take the 82% chances anytime. That decision should be mine, not the doctor's or the insurance companies.