Last Thursday we were in a hospital, for a change. The difference this time was that it was for me! And now I’m going to tell you about it, because it seems to be a topic that isn’t often mentioned…
Last Thursday I had a hernia operation. “What’s a hernia?”, I hear you ask: and well you might ask, because I had no idea before I got one. Essentially, it’s where a bit of a man’s intestine has found a weakness in muscle below his belly button, and makes a break for freedom. There’s nothing overly dangerous about that, but it can get quite painful at times. So last Thursday a surgeon dealt with it.
Actually, I walked completely healthy into the Lagan Valley at Noon, was under anasthetic at 3, and home watching TV at 9pm. With a packet of paracetamol. No worries!
Until the anasthetic wore off.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so grey. But it’s alright, I’m slowly getting back on my feet although I can’t drive for a while or pick up Timothy for another week or so. Daytime TV is actually beginning to bore me (oh that that would happen during exam season!) and lucky Kathryn gets to look after both her men all day.
And how does this connect in any way to Edgehill? It was at my first event as a student, the pre-term induction weekend, when Mr. Hernia first came into my life – I was in severe pain on the Saturday night and hardly slept at all. That was almost two years ago. The procrastinator in me went online, self-diagnosed myself and didn’t bother going to the doctor for over a year because I was embarrassed. I’ve heard of other men suffering quietly for over a decade.
One thing I’ve learnt in the past year at College is that difficult decisions put off just complicate the matter and make things worse. Tackling the problem means involving other people to support you, using their time and energy, but it causes less pain for all in the long run.
wow – rosco. very glad it’s out and sorted.
you really waited 2 years?!!??!!
if only i’d known I would have tormented you 😉
only joking sir … hope the healing continues and Kathryn continues to keep both her men healthy and happy!
I’m glad that no one else will now have the experience of waking up in middle of the night to have you staring across at them from the other bed like I had during that first pre-term. It was like Eddie out of friends. Glad you may now have a pain free pre-term. Enjoy the rest of the summer.