I hear many horror stories about people getting surgery and getting treated terribly. Some people going into surgery hear the list of things that are going to happen to them as they are getting prepped without being told before or doctors getting agitated at questions. Really? Agitated over questions?
My first surgery happened when I was 7. A mesiodense removal. I knew what was going to happen but when I woke up from the anesthesia I started crying. A nurse came over and told me to stop. That was the most memorable part of the surgery, being scolded for feeling scared. In fact that also triggers a memory of being 2. Yes, 2 years old. I had contracted encephalitis and I had to hold a heavy lead plate and I didn't want the nurse to let go of it. It seemed heavy and that if she let go it might sever my legs. That is what my 2 year old brain was thinking. So I started crying. She got mad and told me to "stop crying!". It's the way these women barked "stop crying" at me without any kind of empathy from them. I was scared! And rather than comfort me, they were bullying me. And that is what I remember from my medical history as a child. Now I won't have people treat me poorly when I'm paying top dollar and going under a knife.
In fact after my first PVNS synovectomy I was so disappointed by the lack of bedside manner from my surgeon I spent a year interviewing other surgeons who were familiar with PVNS until I found the one I was comfortable with.
I don't think people realize that they still get to be in control of their own health and that whatever doctors tell them is purely advice and not a command. Even when I had to have surgery to remove a substantial part of my thyroid the surgeon said it was still optional. But I had a cyst on my thyroid that was growing, choking me in my sleep, and giving me sleep paralysis. No thanks doc, I'm opting for the knife. But I was still happy that he reminded me that surgery is still always my choice.
Unless my leg has exploded and I'm in ER and the doctor is saying they have to amputate to save my life. Ok, I might buy that. But for anyone who has ever felt uneasy about how their doctor or even the nursing staff is behaving, you as the patient have every right to demand someone else treat you or just refuse to work with the person who is making you feel uncomfortable. There is nothing worse than having added stress when you are dealing with surgery. I believe stress actually slows down the recovery process. So if any medical staff are causing stress, they need to be put out of my care team.
