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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU in thinking I was being amusing???

49 replies

oldgrandmama · 09/08/2013 15:48

Some years back, after several exploratory operation involving general anaesthetics I was told I needed 'It ALL Taken Away' ... womb, ovaries, cervix, because of 'pre-pre cancerous signs'. Not happy, but consultants know best ... Was booked into a very posh London hospital, 'cos I had medical insurance (those were the days ...) Very nice lady gynaecologist who was doing the surgery, also rather stern lady anaesthetist visited me prior to op. On day of the surgery, I was dreading the whole thing, of course, but thought I'd lighten things up. My right hip was buggered, and I knew I'd sooner or later need a hip replacement. So just for a laugh, I stuck a little yellow 'Post It' note onto my right hip, just below my 'lady bits', saying 'Dear Operating Theatre, while you're at it, would you do a quick hip replacement at the same time?'

Next day, through a haze of morphine, I appreciated the gynaecologist's visit, when she said my note made her and the theatre staff laugh. But the lady anaesthetist also visited, fiddled with my morphine pump, and told me through gritted teeth that my Post It note was NOT funny and all it showed was that I had 'a very flippant attitude'.

I still think it was funny, and no, before you jump to conclusions, the morphine pump still worked fine.

OP posts:
Spikeytree · 09/08/2013 19:49

There are lots of joint problems in my family and nearly everyone has had a replacement or an op of some sort. We always write on the skin near the joint and draw a little arrow so that they operate on the right one. My poor mum ended up with an extra scar after they cut open the wrong hip (I suspect it was a case of 'my right or your right?' confusion).

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 19:54

I think you were very funny. When I had my knee replaced, I was asked to sign and date the to be operated knee. Which I though was very funny given I have a prosthetic leg on the other side..

FruOla · 09/08/2013 20:19

Hahaha Secretswitch. Blimey, they'd have had a surprise if they cut into the wrong leg? Well, presumably, you wouldn't have had your prosthetic leg on anyway during an operation?

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 20:21

FruOla, that is totally the funny part! I was allowed to keep my leg on..

FruOla · 09/08/2013 20:24

How weird Confused Grin

FruOla · 09/08/2013 20:25

Ah .... did they need to see both of your legs during the operation? To make sure they did the correct thing with your knee? (Sorry, I'm probably asking questions that are too personal Blush).

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 20:32

Hmmm..good question. I was naked under a sheet, so I suppose they could have drawn it back for a look..
Can't imagine what they would have compared it to..my other knee is made of titanium and flesh coloured foam..

SuckAtRelationships · 09/08/2013 20:34

I think that is hilarious!! :o

VixZenFenchell · 09/08/2013 20:36

Complete derail but I've been caught out by my sense of humour before!

Was chatting to patient and his gf prior to surgery - usual pre anaesthetic check of current health, meds, allergies, fasting status, general heart/lungs/mouth examination - and then asked them to sign the anaesthetic consent form. There's a line where you explain after a GA they shouldn't drive, operate machinery or dangerous appliances, drink alcohol or make important decisions for 24h.

So in my cheerful way I tell the patient he's out of the kitchen for the day (dangerous appliances) and he's not to buy or sell a house, agree to marry or divorce anyone for 24h, ha ha ha.... Not.

It was Feb 29th and his gf had a huge proposal party planned that night as a surprise which apparently I'd just ruined.

VixZenFenchell · 09/08/2013 20:39

Oh - reminds me of another story. Patient having gynae surgery who had a neatly trimmed lady garden dyed green and a "keep off the grass" tattoo. We had to shave a little lower for her op so the surgeon left her a post-it "sorry, had to mow the lawn!"

We'd have found your note v funny! (I'm an anaesthetist, most of us are laid back odd people but some are strangely up tight odd people - you must have had the latter!)

TheOneWithTheHair · 09/08/2013 20:39

Secretswitch that is hilarious.

Op YANBU. It was definitely funny.

FruOla · 09/08/2013 20:41

I was just wondering whether they needed to see both legs together so that whatever they did to one knee would match up with the other knee?

VixZen - ahhh, but how were you to know? I hope she still proposed - and I hope he still accepted?!

cocolepew · 09/08/2013 20:44

Grin very good.

My aunt had a hip replaced last week,when they had finished dawing a massive black arrow on the hip to be done she took the marker and wrote 'NO! Not this one!!' on her other hip.

When I was in labour the Dr put a clip on DDs head and clipped his glove to her head. I said "this must be what Sooty feels like". Me and the nurse cracked but the man with his hand up my chuff didn't seem amused

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 20:51

Damnit you may be right, FruOla.. still, hope erudite surgeon could note difference between actual and artificial keg..

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 20:51

LEG obviously, not keg..one would hope..

VixZenFenchell · 09/08/2013 20:55

FruOla I said she'd have to ask him before I gave him mind and body altering drugs (trying to salvage situation with more humour, she was looking daggers at me!) so she went down on one knee there and then, in a little clinical room with patient in hospital gown looking totally stunned. He said yes :)

VixZenFenchell · 09/08/2013 20:58

Re knee replacements - no, we don't need to compare the surgical side with the other side. However, we do check for equal leg length at the end of the operation. It's also good for patients to be able to move around the bed post op and using the leg which has just had surgery is too painful. Finally (probably the real reason) - nobody will have wanted your prosthesis to be lost and they won't have wanted to remove it in case they couldn't get it back on! Far safer to leave it attached to you :)

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 22:44

Ahhhhh. Thanks VixZen! I was made to get out of bed in what I thought was a very short length of time post surgery..I had visions of lounging about, watching Telly through a haze of pain killers. They seemed awfully big on the get out of bed and get about quickly..

Pleasecansomeonereply · 09/08/2013 22:53

I remember when I have having a C-section with DS2.. I joked with the staff asking them if I could have my stiches 'vazalled' in bright colours!.. must have been my nerves.
In theatre, a couple of students were watching and I clearly remember shouting "if this is not the best advert for contraception I don't know what is!' - must have been the drugs blush--

Pleasecansomeonereply · 09/08/2013 22:54

sorry Blush .. .emoticon fail (must be the wine!)

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 23:07

Pleasecansomeonereply, that is hysterical! I once tried home vajazzeling..the little horns I applied to my Fanjo fell off in exMIL pool..

Pleasecansomeonereply · 09/08/2013 23:09

thanks Secret.. so am not a total plonker after all! My humour can be a little 'black'
I take it you stopped home vajazelling at that point?!

Secretswitch · 09/08/2013 23:19

Yes, as those stupid horns were expensive! Also I don't think I had the right type of fanny skin for maximum adherence IYKWIM?

ephemeralfairy · 09/08/2013 23:35

I think it was funny! Reminds me of a very dear friend of mine who suffers from Crohn's, after her colonoscopy the nurse went to wipe off the bum lube and she said 'no leave it, that'll come in useful later'. Apparently the whole med team was on the floor laughing. Grin

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