I confess that I am a sucker for modern technology but it can be taken a little too far.
Our Dentist has recently moved to swish new premises with all the latest gadgetry. As I lay back in his chair this morning, I noticed there was a TV screen above me showing a rather interesting program about Thailand. (no sound – just sub titles). The problem was, just as it was getting interesting, the dentist kept obstructing my view of the screen. Eventually he completed this year’s control and I had to leave before the program had even finished. I hope the screening works like a Kindle book or iPlayer app where you continue watching next year where you left off. Otherwise, what is the point?
On the other hand, we thought our RDV was for tomorrow because that is what we had written down in our manual agenda. Fortunately, Google Calendar had been automatically updated by the dentists appointment app and we got a beep giving us a 30 minute warning to be there this morning which we made just in time, despite a surfeit of toast crumbs and coffee dribbles.
My dentist shows videos of people having their teeth fixed and beautified.
Only in the waiting room though, there is no widescreen entertainment during the actual act of tooth-mangling, I just get to stare at a bright overhead light.
(too much information alert - sensitive souls look away now)
OTOH when I had my last colonoscopy the consultant had a TV rigged up so that both he and I could inspect the progress of the probe as it wiggled through my lower anatomy.
My son had to swallow a camera the other week to check on his stomach. No putting him out whatsoever, just a rubber bung shoved in his mouth and the thick tubing pushed down with swallowing although he said he kept wanting to sick it back up. He felt it wriggling around inside like a worm and after it was over, the doctor presented him with some very colourful photos showing a nice pink gullet and surroundings. So no, no anaesthesie that time.
Same here. I could see everything that was going on. In addition though, the machine broke down as I was on the table with my arse hanging out waiting for the inevitable. She said it was just the screen that was blank so I asked her to check the monitor cable at the back. No, no can’t do that, so I waited about 20 minutes, still on table with arse etc… and a technician turned up, plugged the monitor cable back in whilst tutting and left. She did apologise.
Nope - you do get given an injection to make you slightly sleepy so your muscles are relaxed, and you can have gas-and-air on hand if you feel any pain, but (at least at the Royal Surrey) you stay awake.
Thanks to the muscle relaxant it was all very painless (just mild discomfort going round corners!!) so I think full anaesthetisation is unnecessary for most people, and it makes it an outpatient procedure.
That certainly seems to be the NHS approach. There are risks attached to knocking somebody out completely I believe.
Yep… when I was in my 30’s, as I was coming round from full anaesthetic I heard someone way… “Mrs XYZ’s (that’s me) has had a bad reaction to the anaesth” or something like that… and I’ve never forgotten it.
Nowadays, more often than not, I go for local anaesthetic … and, afterwards, more often than not I tell OH “don’t ever let me go through that again… just knock me out with a brick next time”
Not at Brsl Ry. Inf. I was offered whiffs of gas if it felt ‘uncomfortable’ but it didn’t. No live feed [sic] just enthusiastic commentry from the doc at one end “Oh! Wonderfully clean! You’ve done a great job! [sic] . Nothing to report … !” and general chat with the nurse stationed by my head.
I recall having a massive Full English after the previous day’s fasting and clean out
Certainly are. Jerry Garcia of The Greatful Dead, died under full anaesthetic, as did Tony Williams the sensational teenage [at the time] drummer in Miles Davis’s 2nd Gt Quartet.
