Last night, I caught most of a show on ABC called "Boston Med." It's one of those reality hospital shows, kind of like "Trauma, Life in the ER," or those similar-type shows that run on TLC and Discovery Health a lot. I do like watching medical shows, as the cases can be really interesting. Last night, one of the patients featured was a teenage girl that was getting a heart transplant.
I thought, "wow, that sounds like just about the scariest surgery anyone could every have." I mean, let's think about what happens here. They cut you open, they hook you up to a heart-lung machine, they TAKE OUT YOUR HEART, they stick a new one in there, they reattach stuff, and hopefully the new heart starts beating again, and I guess at that point they disconnect you from all the machines. I mean, I know people survive these procedures on a regular basis, but still, for a little while there, YOU DON'T HAVE A HEART. It's like you're kind of not all the way alive. Yikes!
Next to a heart transplant, open heart surgery sounds pretty scary to me too. Again, lots of people survive open heart surgery and bypass surgery. I personally know several people who have had this procedure. But still, for a while there, YOUR HEART IS NOT BEATING. I mean, there is a possibility that you might not be here after the procedure if your heart doesn't restart.
Okay, so I really really hope I never have to have heart surgery. But there is one other surgery I really really hope I never have to have either. Brain surgery. The idea of someone opening up my skull and rooting around in there is just weird. Okay, I know they don't actually "root around" as they have finely calibrated instruments and microscopes and stuff. But still, you have to admit that it's still a bit scary.
Okay, so those are pretty big medical procedures, and honestly, I don't think I'm scared of anything else, medical-procedure-wise. But seriously, even a trip to the dentist can be a terrifying experience for some.
So out of curiosity, what are your feared medical procedures?
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3 comments:
This made me think of this article I heard recently: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127593663
While the whole heart thing does seem about as scary as it could get, I think for someone who has never had a baby to imagine having a baby is pretty scary. Having come out (ha!) the other side of the experience ok, it is strange to remember all the angst that went into preparing for that experience!
Michelle, I agree with you about childbirth. I think it is sort of the fear of the unknown, like how long will you be in labor, will it hurt a lot, what if something goes wrong, etc. But you're right, now it doesn't seem like such a big deal!
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