What exactly does laparoscopic surgery entail—how is it actually performed? Is it full general anesthesia or just some light sedation? And how long before I can get back to my usual routine?
I’ve been getting vaccinated religiously for the last three years—and haven't caught the flu once. When everyone else around me starts sneezing and catching everything going around, I might get a little something, but nothing major; some Echinacea and Vitamin C usually do the trick. My only real symptom is a slightly deeper voice... sort of hoarse, I suppose...😉
Fine... you aren't looking for input from women who have actually given birth—meaning they carry at least one more experience than you do—nor are you interested in the perspectives of female physicians, who are generally quite willing to share both their expertise and their personal stories. You simply want us all to validate your paranoia and your "instant expertise" gleaned from online forums. My apologies; clearly, we aren't your target audience... and I have no desire for a confrontation.🙂
I attempted to explain that even though I was young, I wasn't ignorant—even back before the internet era, books existed, and I read whatever piqued my interest. Instead of spending months obsessively worrying about what *might* go wrong—or why certain things are done—I focused on my university studies. During labor, I was in peak physical and mental condition. My only consultation was with the anesthesiologist regarding an epidural; I ultimately declined once I learned his wife—a physician herself—had delivered naturally without any anesthesia.
In the delivery room, I was, as I mentioned, quite well-connected... do you honestly believe someone would perform an unnecessary episiotomy on the daughter of a senior colleague?😕 That move, which you seem to view as butcher-like, actually saved me from tearing, as the labor—which was entirely natural—was progressing incredibly fast. Thanks to that, I ended up with a clean incision that healed quickly and never caused issues. There simply wasn't time for them to negotiate with me or my husband in that moment.
But, as I said, that doesn't matter to you. Just as you selectively cherry-picked data online to support your thesis, you expect us to indulge you—and you react poorly when someone suggests you might be wrong or that online forums aren't always reliable sources of information. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near you if you were holding a chicken bone—I'm just not that type of person.
Justin Fox said:I maintain that everyone must decide for themselves—making choices based on sound, unbiased information. I would never impose a decision on someone else, especially not someone dear to me. I’d present the facts and offer any help needed, but the ultimate call rests with the expectant mother—it is her body, her health, and her life at stake.
As for doctors, they will do whatever is requested—the question is simply the cost. In some countries, you can opt for an elective C-section; you simply state your preference and arrange for the procedure. Medically speaking, there isn't definitive proof that one way is inherently better than the other—though when I look at statistics, they often seem skewed just to support the author's specific agenda.
The keyword here is... information. However, there is a vast difference between seeking unbiased data and merely hunting for evidence to support a preconceived notion about the dangers of episiotomy. You weren't in the birthing classes—we were. Decisions are made in split seconds—there is no time to debate whether a procedure is necessary, much less over a few stitches. If you spend those precious moments threatening a doctor with a lawyer, you risk wasting critical minutes, and the consequences could be far worse for a young mother than an episiotomy ever would be.
You seem aware of the dangers of cherry-picking data... which you mention in your next paragraph... as well as the idea that doctors will perform certain things if the price is right. Well, I wouldn't deal with someone like that—a doctor who abandons professional standards and common sense for money is not someone I would ever trust. It's true that money drives many senseless surgeries—from massive breast augmentations to hymenoplasty—but that doesn't make them wise decisions.
And as for this "dream clinic"... it smells a bit too much like the Republican Party to me.
BTW... I am glad I wasn't preoccupied with these matters during my own labor... I was busy taking (and passing) exams the week before and three weeks after giving birth. I viewed pregnancy as a natural state and childbirth as a natural process... and I trusted my doctors to ensure everything turned out okay.
I’ve mostly just been lurking here, but I honestly think this has gone too far. The idea of opting for surgery just to avoid an episiotomy strikes me—no offense intended—as a rather frantic notion. I had my baby over twenty years ago; I actually sat for a college exam right before giving birth and managed to take another one just three weeks later. Despite the episiotomy—which, by the way, healed perfectly fine—I don't recall the delivery being traumatic at all, nor have I had any issues since. I trusted my doctor's assessment that it was necessary—I was quite a protected case, given the father was a physician at that same hospital. I was back on my feet that very same evening, and I simply cannot fathom having to spend weeks recovering from a C-section just to sidestep an episiotomy.😕
A C-section is serious surgery—listen to your doctors—it requires anesthesia, which carries inherent risks that anyone would be aware of. But for the woman recovering, there are so many more stressors involved—from catheters to other complications—all of which are significantly more uncomfortable than an episiotomy...
And if any expectant mothers are reading this—make your own choice. It is, after all, your own body. I once declined an epidural after asking a friend of mine—an anesthesiologist—if he had ever administered one to his own wife, who is also a doctor, and his answer was a firm no....
Hmm... I'm getting enough sleep—at least six hours—I've quit smoking Marlboros, and I've even managed to cut out refined foods in favor of fruits and vegetables. I stick to water mostly, though I still drink coffee—perfection is a myth, after all—and I try to walk as much as possible. My only real issue is the stress at work... though perhaps that’s for the best; otherwise, I’d likely die of boredom rather than a heart attack.
Rachel Cook83 said:It all went down last week—the test results and my OBGYN’s suggestion that I should just live with it and manage the symptoms rather than actually addressing the root cause... etc. So, I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar... honestly, I'm still processing it.
I won't just sit here and accept this—not anywhere, not ever.
You're right—don't just settle—and for starters, find a new doctor. Thyroid issues can mess with your cycle too... Don't put off those tests!
spectacular said:Medicine is designed to manage symptoms—not tackle the root cause.
That’s why these "geniuses" offer a fix—conveniently packaged in capsules—claiming to solve the actual problem.😕 One can only assume... the only people actually profiting from such claims are the ones selling them.
Betty Bennett10 said:It’s funny—those of us who have had plenty of run-ins with hospitals and doctors, personally speaking—we don't actually tend to have such bad experiences; most of those horror stories I hear seem to come second or third-hand.🙄
I haven't had any negative encounters myself—though, admittedly, I haven't needed much medical help. Still, about a decade ago, a doctor at a pulmonary hospital in Chicago tried to discharge my father while his pneumonia was still active... let's just say he changed his mind quite quickly after being presented with a bottle of expensive bourbon.
Bell Labs has a website—just search Google. They list all their testing services online, though they don't specify pricing upfront. I used them for tumor markers once—$50 per marker. The real value, however, is that they email the results—usually within two or three hours—and when you're waiting on news like that, speed is everything.
joya said:Basically, I don't care about race, religion, or anything else like that.
1. Requirement: Must take insurance—not private practice.
2. Requirement: Proven track record. I’d love a recommendation from someone whose specific issue was actually resolved. (Meaning they’re conscientious, thorough, etc.—they actually give patients time.)
3. Location: Chicago area.
That’s all I can think of for now...
be quick or be dead
🙂
Try checking at the Trne Community Health Center—Dr. Jean Chedid is an outstanding physician; he truly cares for his patients. There’s also Dr. Wahid in the office next door.
Not sure if they're accepting new patients, but it's worth asking.
nimbleskipper13 said:Sandra Hayes88, where else in the world can you just walk into a lab whenever you feel like it, see a specialist, and hop into physical therapy—it’s just how we do things here. In America, primary care doctors mostly just write the referrals, and about two-thirds of the population is essentially exempt from co-pays...
Even Saudi Arabia couldn't foot a bill like that... Though, even that's starting to shift .... Check out today's piece in The New York Times 😈
I agree that healthcare shouldn't be free. But I'm honestly floored by my own paystub—seeing $300 a month going toward healthcare, plus another $120 for a private insurance policy. It practically invites the gray market—I end up negotiating with my boss to report a lower salary, then putting those extra funds into private health and retirement plans....
Wouldn't it be more efficient to implement a baseline coverage mandate that every employer pays—regardless of what an employee's reported salary is—and then offer tax incentives to encourage additional private policies?
nimbleskipper13 said:High cholesterol and triglyceride levels aren't always about diet or weight—genetics plays a massive role here too. If those numbers go up while your HDL fraction (the "good" kind) drops, the risk for cardiovascular issues climbs significantly...
There are plenty of thin people out there dealing with high cholesterol. It wouldn't hurt to get your blood pressure, heart, and vascular system checked out. 😎
Thanks, nimbleskipper13! As of now—mid-40s—my blood pressure is still low (unless the stress at work pushes it up)—heart seems fine, and I'll look into a vascular screening—perks of having decent health insurance! If only I could kick the nicotine habit... perhaps then my cholesterol would behave. 🙂
I can’t speak to fatty liver—I'm hardly a medical professional—but when it comes to cholesterol, I’m in the same boat. My levels are high, despite the fact that I’m certainly not overweight, I exercise regularly, and I avoid greasy foods entirely. According to my doctors, excessive caffeine intake and stress itself can drive those numbers up. As for how one actually avoids it... well, nobody seems to have an answer for that.
Karen Brooks said:Honestly, nobody mentioned the whole nail polish thing to me—I just happened to hear it from some random bystander who wasn't even medical staff, though they had been warned before their own surgery.
I get how things might slip through the cracks during emergency surgeries, but I don't quite follow why it would happen with a scheduled procedure. Personally, I appreciated my experience at New York City's Mount Sinai—they were incredibly thorough about everything... from makeup and polish to jewelry, right down to what to expect post-op. To be fair, they mostly just confirmed what I’d already dug up online; from the moment I got my diagnosis until the surgery (about three weeks), I was obsessively researching—I found just about everything. There are some fantastic American preoperative guides written specifically for laypeople—simple, illustrated manuals for various procedures and tests—so, really, I wasn't worried at all.
Betty Rivera14 said:Betty Cox30, a cigarette just two hours after surgery???
Weren't you in the ICU?
I was in the intensive care unit—but since it was just laparoscopic surgery, I was up and moving almost immediately. Despite the nurses' protests, I insisted on a quick walk to the restroom, though naturally, I was closely supervised. Once they realized I wasn't about to keel over, they let me light up—I suppose I must have looked sufficiently unhinged. 🙂
Betty Rivera14 said:I’m honestly at a loss for words... being in the ICU following surgery, I saw some patients who were vomiting terribly. The nurses suggested they clearly hadn't fasted properly. And by fasting, of course, I don't mean skipping one meal—I mean that whole "hospital style" purging process that drags on for three days.
Betty Rivera14, that three-day purge was because of your abdominal surgery, not the anesthesia itself. When it comes to the anesthesia, the rule is simple: soup for lunch the day before, coffee or water is fine until midnight, and then absolutely nothing. Oh, and smoking isn't exactly encouraged either. That part was the hardest for me—I didn't even give up my morning cigarette before the procedure, and surprisingly, I felt fine. I even had one two hours after surgery—much to the horror of the nursing staff, but addiction is what it is. 🙂 Still, I wouldn't recommend it...