Yesterday I had to go to the Antelope Valley Hospital for a procedure on my back to inject a steroid into my spine. I was put under anesthesia even though the procedure took only about 5 minutes to complete. I was asked to arrive at the hospital at 11:15 a.m. I was told that I shouldn't be there more than about an hour and a half. Wrong! I was there over 4 hours. My friend, Carol, drove me there and back. She stayed with me the whole time. I felt very bad for her because it took so long. Anyway, once I got into a room where they prepped me for the procedure, I was asked many medical questions by the nurse and anesthesiologist. The male nurse, named Robert, asked me how tall I was and how much I weighed, so I told him. He looked me in the eye and told me that if I lost weight, my back wouldn't hurt any more. I couldn't believe he said that. My response: "So, will losing weight straighten out my scoliosis? Will losing weight put space between my discs where I am bone on bone? Will losing weight fix my bulging discs? Will losing weight remove my arthritis? Will losing weight guarantee no more pinched nerves or neuropathy in my feet?" He just looked down and didn't respond. I think he knew he had put his foot into his mouth. He didn't even have a clue as to what my back problems were when he made that statement, so that statement should never have been made. I agree, losing weight could maybe alleviate some of my pain, but it definitely won't cure my back. Nuff said!
On the bright side, he found a vein for my I.V. on the first try. He is definitely my hero in that respect.
(Disclaimer- Not my actual I.V.)
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