Just A Shake Of My Head

[jennyj]

A friend's husband has to have a endoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow, She works for me and has asked off for tomorrow which is fine. But when she called to tell me she said she needed off tomorrow it was because he had to have major surgery and it was extremely serious. My first thougt was OMG. She said that she was going to call the family in and I asked what are they going to do. She said two scopes. I asked her what the surgery was and she said the scopes. She said surgery should last at least an hour and recovery about 2. Still confused I asked if he was having surgery after the scopes and she said "No, the scopes are the surgery. Scopes are classified as major surgery." I told her that she could have the time off and I prayed all went well. I have had 2 endoscopy, 2 colonoscopy, and numerous scans in the last few months but never considered them major surgery. Am I confused or has anyone else heard them called major sugery.

[queenofhearts]

Never heard that... nothing gets cut, isn't that what surgery usually entails?

Though I guess the biopsy is a little cut, actually...

[penguin]

It's a minor procedure, but I guess it can be classified as major surgery, especially if he's high risk for whatever reason, you never know. It does sound as though she's freaking out, though...

[Nancym]

My health insurance calls it "outpatient surgery".

[hineini]

Interesting - I'm having epidural steroid injections into my spine later this month (no general anesthesia or anything) and those are categorized as 'surgery'... I even have to go in for a separate "pre-op" and "post-op" appointment! I think anything where they put you under would definitely be in an even more "serious" category since there are risks involved with that.

[elonwy]

Yeah that really wierd. Mine was outpatient surgery as well, though they did make me sign the form saying I wouldn't sue them if I died while under anesthesia.

There are risks and complications that are possible, but you go home right after you wake up.

Some people get really freaked out by this kinda stuff though. Feel kinda bad for the husband.

Elonwy

[gfp]

Yeah that really wierd. Mine was outpatient surgery as well, though they did make me sign the form saying I wouldn't sue them if I died while under anesthesia.

There are risks and complications that are possible, but you go home right after you wake up.

Some people get really freaked out by this kinda stuff though. Feel kinda bad for the husband.

Elonwy

I think you can see this in different ways....

For thepoor friend, she probably does see it as major surgery. She is probably frightened and confused... not to mention the medical disclaimers.

I think the compassionate thing would be to tell her she is welcome to the time off and that this is already given BUT for her own sake she should realise these "operations" are minor and in your case you have had several and its no big deal. As her friend and employer you are happy for her to take the time but you don't want her worrying over nothing.

At the end of the day, if you did make her come in I doubt you would be ready to sack her for being inefficent and distracted the whole day anyway... but make it clear you are doing this because its a big deal for her and she should worry less over minor ops and legaleze jargon on forms.

[queenofhearts]

Interesting - I'm having epidural steroid injections into my spine later this month (no general anesthesia or anything) and those are categorized as 'surgery'... I even have to go in for a separate "pre-op" and "post-op" appointment! I think anything where they put you under would definitely be in an even more "serious" category since there are risks involved with that.

That's a good point, the anesthesia-- & those forms they make you sign are pretty scary!

I think you can see this in different ways....

For thepoor friend, she probably does see it as major surgery. She is probably frightened and confused... not to mention the medical disclaimers.

I think the compassionate thing would be to tell her she is welcome to the time off and that this is already given BUT for her own sake she should realise these "operations" are minor and in your case you have had several and its no big deal. As her friend and employer you are happy for her to take the time but you don't want her worrying over nothing.

At the end of the day, if you did make her come in I doubt you would be ready to sack her for being inefficent and distracted the whole day anyway... but make it clear you are doing this because its a big deal for her and she should worry less over minor ops and legaleze jargon on forms.

That sounds like just the right touch.

[Michi8]

A friend's husband has to have a endoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow, She works for me and has asked off for tomorrow which is fine. But when she called to tell me she said she needed off tomorrow it was because he had to have major surgery and it was extremely serious. My first thougt was OMG. She said that she was going to call the family in and I asked what are they going to do. She said two scopes. I asked her what the surgery was and she said the scopes. She said surgery should last at least an hour and recovery about 2. Still confused I asked if he was having surgery after the scopes and she said "No, the scopes are the surgery. Scopes are classified as major surgery." I told her that she could have the time off and I prayed all went well. I have had 2 endoscopy, 2 colonoscopy, and numerous scans in the last few months but never considered them major surgery. Am I confused or has anyone else heard them called major sugery.

Hmmm, don't know if they're considered major surgery here...definitely an outpatient sugerical procedure though. Anytime there is anathesia in use, there are risks. For my upcoming endoscopy and colonoscopy (on different days...don't know if I could handle both in the same day!) I need someone to drive me to and from the appointment (because of the anesthesia.) If I do not have a support person/driver, they will not perform the procedure at all. IMO, taking the day off from work is justified...and my support person (DH) will have to take the day off too as the procedures are scheduled, but could be delayed to much later in the day due to emergency cases.

Michelle

[queenofhearts]

Hmmm, don't know if they're considered major surgery here...definitely an outpatient sugerical procedure though. Anytime there is anathesia in use, there are risks. For my upcoming endoscopy and colonoscopy (on different days...don't know if I could handle both in the same day!) I need someone to drive me to and from the appointment (because of the anesthesia.) If I do not have a support person/driver, they will not perform the procedure at all. IMO, taking the day off from work is justified...and my support person (DH) will have to take the day off too as the procedures are scheduled, but could be delayed to much later in the day due to emergency cases.

Michelle

Oh, man, I had mine both at once because to me the prep is way worse than the procedure! Plus that way there's only one anesthesia... you might want to consider rescheduling... up to you of course.

Leah

[Michi8]

Oh, man, I had mine both at once because to me the prep is way worse than the procedure! Plus that way there's only one anesthesia... you might want to consider rescheduling... up to you of course.

Leah

I'm afraid that is impossible, and entirely out of my hands. It's a three month wait for my endoscopy, and a 7 month wait for my colonoscopy. That's just the reality of elective procedures in Canada.

Michelle

[queenofhearts]

I'm afraid that is impossible, and entirely out of my hands. It's a three month wait for my endoscopy, and a 7 month wait for my colonoscopy. That's just the reality of elective procedures in Canada.

Michelle

Yikes, I guess that's the price you pay for National Health... I had a 2 month wait & thought that was forever!

[2Boys4Me]

When my (then) 5.5 year old had his upper endoscopy I told my boss he was having "surgery". She is the most unsupportive manager I have ever encountered. Since the hospital only did the procedure on Thursdays, and I work late Thursday afternoon (4 - midnight), I booked the day off a month in advance. She still gave me a hard time and never asked anything about the situation or wished him well. Meanwhile, my colleagues all knew that it was a reasonably minor procedure, but they all wished him well and all seemed concernced. I thought since he was getting a general anaethesia I figured he'd need his Mom, and I'd need to be with him.

[gfp]

I'm afraid that is impossible, and entirely out of my hands. It's a three month wait for my endoscopy, and a 7 month wait for my colonoscopy. That's just the reality of elective procedures in Canada.

Michelle

Is it not possible to elect to pay for one and arrange they are done at the same time?

Yikes, I guess that's the price you pay for National Health... I had a 2 month wait & thought that was forever!

Not necassarily, the waiting list in France is same day but you still have to pay a small portion or have seperate "mutuelle" insurance.

[Michi8]

Yikes, I guess that's the price you pay for National Health... I had a 2 month wait & thought that was forever!

It's a price I'm more than happy to pay to have National Healthcare. No worrying about having to see a health plan approved doctor, no big out-of-pocket expenses, and no worry about being dropped from or refused insurance due to a diagnosed/pre-existing condition. The waits are basically for elective stuff...for those with emergency or life-threatening cases (eg cancer), there is no wait.

Michelle

[queenofhearts]

It's a price I'm more than happy to pay to have National Healthcare. No worrying about having to see a health plan approved doctor, no big out-of-pocket expenses, and no worry about being dropped from or refused insurance due to a diagnosed/pre-existing condition. The waits are basically for elective stuff...for those with emergency or life-threatening cases (eg cancer), there is no wait.

Michelle

I'm all for National Health! I think it's barbaric not to have it actually. Isn't the US basically the only first world country without it? Insane.

But that's a long wait! At least the endo comes first so you can find out about the Celiac & get started on the gluten-free diet sooner.

Leah

[par18]

A friend's husband has to have a endoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow, She works for me and has asked off for tomorrow which is fine. But when she called to tell me she said she needed off tomorrow it was because he had to have major surgery and it was extremely serious. My first thougt was OMG. She said that she was going to call the family in and I asked what are they going to do. She said two scopes. I asked her what the surgery was and she said the scopes. She said surgery should last at least an hour and recovery about 2. Still confused I asked if he was having surgery after the scopes and she said "No, the scopes are the surgery. Scopes are classified as major surgery." I told her that she could have the time off and I prayed all went well. I have had 2 endoscopy, 2 colonoscopy, and numerous scans in the last few months but never considered them major surgery. Am I confused or has anyone else heard them called major sugery.

Hi,

When I went in for my dual scope last year it was serious! I was "wasting away" for no apparent reason. I had never heard of Celiac Disease or knew that it could be the source of my condition. It appeared I was malabsorbing but I had no pain. I had my wife, brother, sister, and mother present expecting the worst. I did not know of this website or what to expect after this procedure was done. I will tell you when I left home that morning I took a good look around because I was convinced I was never coming back. Whenever someone gets something like this done the greatest fear is the "unknown". A good example is when you see a spot on your skin. It could be something as simple as aging or it could be the start of something like cancer. Just because something doesn't look or feel bad does not mean it is not serious. We can only hope that if something is found in your friend's husband's procedure it is treatable and he can recover. Or if nothing is found then everything is ok too.

Tom

[2kids4me]

It's the anesthesia that's the major part (IMHO). Any time a procedure "enters a body cavity" and is taking tissue samples (biopsy) or removing something (polyps for example) is classified as "major" because there is a risk (however small) that the site could bleed excessively, that the endocscope would cause damage or that the patient would respond unfavorably to the anesthesia.

In vet medicine -we regard the anesthesia as the greatest risk - it seems that it is the healthy normal patient that will have erractic heart rates and blood pressure issues during a "routine spay or neuter". (it happens rarely but when it does happen - it seems to be the one you think will be fine). Then the geriatric epileptic with a heart murmur and such terrible teeth that is needed antibiotics for week prior to the dental - sails through the procedure. I have worked in vet clinics for 25 years and the one thing I have never gotten complacent about - is anesthesia.

Personally and professionally any procedure that involves general anesthesia carries some risk (very minimal but a risk all the same) and that is why the consent forms or medical personelle refer to it as "major".

A personal story - when dd was almost 4 yrs old, they did an MRI of her brain because of the global developmental delays - at the same time I had concerns about her not growing etc. She needed general anesthesia - they used propofol (an ultrashort injectable). She wouldnt wake up, she was two hours post - procedure and snoozing, The anesthesiologist was great, kept checking her and then finally said - the propofol is long gone from her system - she must have been really tired cause she is just asleep (as opposed to be "under the influence").

4 weeks later dd was in full blown myxedema and stat referral to endocrine. Unknown to us - her thyroid had failed, and at the time of the anesthesia - her body was barely coping with the low levels of thyroid, the anesthesia had pushed her over the edge and towards a mxydema crisis. (it s physiological thing where stress pushes a borderline patient to severe symptoms. )Because her thyroid was barely functioning, the unknown risk we took was that during anesthesia, she could have developed an arrythmia or worse. BUT because the doctor used propofol (its avery safe drug) - it didn't happen. I LOVE propofol for that reason.

I do like to tell stories, dont I

anyway, back to the original comments - any procedure involving anesthesia could be classified as major depending on yuor perspective. From the patient's viewpoint and loved ones' perspective - it's scary. From the insurance carrier - its the cost and what was done.

[jennyj]

Thanks for all the input. I talked with her for a while today before she left to go to the hospital to be with him. I tried to be supportive with her but it is hard at times. Her husband and her are not living together and she was complaining to everyone(customers) who came in today about not having time tonight to take their daughter to dance because she HAD to be at the hospital and how this is messing up her schedule. I know I shouldn't get into this too much but I just need to let it out.

[2kids4me]

Its hard to be supportive when someone waffles between trying to be there for someone and then taking on the role of martyr.

[Michi8]

I'm all for National Health! I think it's barbaric not to have it actually. Isn't the US basically the only first world country without it? Insane.

But that's a long wait! At least the endo comes first so you can find out about the Celiac & get started on the gluten-free diet sooner.

Leah

Yeah, it is a long wait. I do plan on trying the diet regardless of the diagnosis. Personally, I think my DH needs to be tested too, but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.

Michelle