I’m a free
man once again, a “titanium-free” man that is. The 35 minute operation at the
Polyclinic d’Aguilera to remove a two year old metal plate from my left arm went
well yesterday. And a rather nonchalant but business-like surgeon packed me on
my way this morning as I stood in front of him in my throwaway hospital underpants
with my razor in one hand and shaving foam covering half of my face (no fear of
my morning ablutions disrupting his morning round).
As ever, it was an interesting 36 hours in the hands of the world renowned French health service. The quality of the medical care was clearly very high (from reception staff to nurses to anaesthetist to surgeon), although neither the food, nor the 1980s style décor of the two bedroom unit where I slept were in the same league. In fact it’s really quite interesting to see how the hospital has changed over the six year since they repaired my arm after the first break… In short: food worse (or have my standards just increased?), medical care much improved (e.g. local rather than general anaesthetic for the same operation, and a more aesthetically pleasing scar after the fourth operation), nursing staff – the same, literally – when the nurse this morning said that he recognized me from before, I suddenly thought I should probably stop breaking things (that’s not true, I actually through I’m glad I’ve bought an air jacket which means I have significantly reduced the chance of serious injury when riding horses). On reflection, maybe the nursing staff isn’t exactly the same – this is the first time that one of the (female) nurses offered to help wash me in the shower. They were never so forward in the past, or was it just because I’m now older and more wrinkled? At any rate, it’s just a shame it was the wrong one…
A couple of other things also dominated this latest stay with the infirmières. The first is that after my recent Facebook clean up, the social networking site along with Frankie Boyle on Twitter, really helped me pass the time and keep family and friends up to date with events. Hopefully I wasn’t guilty of the TMI (too much information) syndrome… On balance, I think that next time I won’t have any requirement to spend the additional seven euros which grants one access to very poor French daytime television. The second thing that struck me is, in these austere times in a country which hasn’t balanced its books for over thirty years, is the amount of waste and inefficiency; why, if one is required to use 60ml of disinfectant for a pre-operation shower, is it supplied in 250 ml bottles? I really need to be buying shares in whichever company makes Betadine rouge 4% scrub. The other thing which shocked me was the grey-green form that was handed to me as I left which officially gives me the right to remain off work on virtually full pay until February 10th (even despite the fact I told the doctor yesterday that I had no intention of stopping work). If you don’t fancy working in this country unfortunately it’s all too easy… Anyway, all’s well that ends well… now to do some babysitting (I have had a whole day off you realize; surely you don’t think Sandie has planned any time for convalescence in my schedule do you?!) and prepare for next operation on my eyes next Friday.
As ever, it was an interesting 36 hours in the hands of the world renowned French health service. The quality of the medical care was clearly very high (from reception staff to nurses to anaesthetist to surgeon), although neither the food, nor the 1980s style décor of the two bedroom unit where I slept were in the same league. In fact it’s really quite interesting to see how the hospital has changed over the six year since they repaired my arm after the first break… In short: food worse (or have my standards just increased?), medical care much improved (e.g. local rather than general anaesthetic for the same operation, and a more aesthetically pleasing scar after the fourth operation), nursing staff – the same, literally – when the nurse this morning said that he recognized me from before, I suddenly thought I should probably stop breaking things (that’s not true, I actually through I’m glad I’ve bought an air jacket which means I have significantly reduced the chance of serious injury when riding horses). On reflection, maybe the nursing staff isn’t exactly the same – this is the first time that one of the (female) nurses offered to help wash me in the shower. They were never so forward in the past, or was it just because I’m now older and more wrinkled? At any rate, it’s just a shame it was the wrong one…
A couple of other things also dominated this latest stay with the infirmières. The first is that after my recent Facebook clean up, the social networking site along with Frankie Boyle on Twitter, really helped me pass the time and keep family and friends up to date with events. Hopefully I wasn’t guilty of the TMI (too much information) syndrome… On balance, I think that next time I won’t have any requirement to spend the additional seven euros which grants one access to very poor French daytime television. The second thing that struck me is, in these austere times in a country which hasn’t balanced its books for over thirty years, is the amount of waste and inefficiency; why, if one is required to use 60ml of disinfectant for a pre-operation shower, is it supplied in 250 ml bottles? I really need to be buying shares in whichever company makes Betadine rouge 4% scrub. The other thing which shocked me was the grey-green form that was handed to me as I left which officially gives me the right to remain off work on virtually full pay until February 10th (even despite the fact I told the doctor yesterday that I had no intention of stopping work). If you don’t fancy working in this country unfortunately it’s all too easy… Anyway, all’s well that ends well… now to do some babysitting (I have had a whole day off you realize; surely you don’t think Sandie has planned any time for convalescence in my schedule do you?!) and prepare for next operation on my eyes next Friday.
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