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This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb

666 replies

ouch321 · 30/01/2022 17:37

I loved the book of this by Adam Kay. I know others weren't so keen.
BBC has dramatised this and starts in early Feb. Just a heads up for others who liked the book.

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6
Kendodd · 13/02/2022 13:00

Sorry, didn't mean to shout true!

foxlover47 · 13/02/2022 13:07

I'm not sure I would choose a c section ... I had electives after my emergency due to a small pubic bone or so they said
You're dammed if you have one you're told oh natural is best , don't you feel bad for missing out bla bla and maybe that has changed I don't know but I def felt shamed ... only difference is my daughter downed just couldn't get all through so I do know the pain of contractions and pushing ... was still told I missed out
I'm on episode now ... episode 6 floored me ...
I guess I'm watching it as a show not on the book as I haven't still read it despite owning it
And I really like it ... he is a mess .. he feels ... he's got ptsd I'm sure but I do honestly believe he cares

foxlover47 · 13/02/2022 13:07

My daughter "crowned " not downed 🙈

cathyandclare · 13/02/2022 13:33

@WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs
Your experience really resonated with me, although I worked in A&E and O&G earlier, in the nineties. Also out of medicine now.

I'd read the book and thought it was OK, just a few too many stories that have done the rounds for decades. However, the prem birth and the experience that precipitated his leaving medicine were very moving.

The programme is frighteningly close to reality, in my experience, I have sobbed during each episode and had nightmares where I'm back on the ward and don't know what I'm doing.

I've met Adam, although can't claim to know him. He seemed to suffer from the same NHS leavers' guilt as I do. I don't think he's misogynistic, , he was just tired and angry at the patients, the staff and the system. In many ways it reminds me of the book 'House of God' with the 'O' sign and 'Q' sign etc.

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 13:54

AK writes he wasn't out to his mum in 2000.

I qualified in 1999 and no-one was out in my med school year. We had discussions about how it would be impossible to be an out paediatrician for example Shock I don't think I worked with anyone out until 2010 and even then they are bunched in particular specialties and workplaces.

I've never worked in O&G, loathed my 10 weeks at med school, that was enough, so all my patients have been male and female. But honestly the experience of Shruti is universal to any specialty and I've met loads of Adams. Not all of them have been men either.

There's a point where you are so busy, so tired, so many emergencies, that the patients seem like just one great conveyor belt designed to hurt you.

At this point you should not be at work - but if you aren't there, who else is going to do it? And you will be bullied for not going. So you keep turning up - eventually somethings breaks and in healthcare it's either you or a patient.

Whitney168 · 13/02/2022 13:58

We've just watched the one where he did the stint in the private hospital - (assuming it's accurate) my, that's scary stuff - all very lovely if things go well, but frightening that so many things which could be called on even in an under-funded NHS hospital in an emergency weren't available.

I am enjoying the series so much more than the book, think Ben Wishaw is doing a great job - and we are seeing far more human, caring moments from Adam now, amongst the stress.

Can't imagine how Harry and Adam lasted that long, as depicted - they seemed very ill-matched.

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 14:21

I remember going to a cardiac arrest on the private ward of an NHS hospital.

Lovely ward, all private rooms, nice food served under a silver serving do-dah.

Only no monitoring going on, no idea that the patient had arrested and then no equipment on the trolley. Whole thing was a complete shitshow.

We used to get utter disasters sent over to us from the private sector (universally known as the Golden Nugget) all the time.

amnm · 13/02/2022 15:20

If you think the book or the show was misogynistic, you need to watch it again and consider why the book was written and the TV show was made.

It was made to highlight the terrible stress and pressure the NHS staff work under. They are completely overwhelmed and have to deal with far more patients and incredibly serious cases and situations when they just don't have the resources to deal with them properly. It's impossible to provide each patient with the care they need, or give them the individual attention they deserve. When you're working a 12 hour shift or longer, and faced with a new emergency every 5 minutes, unfortunately patients just merge into 'numbers' and you stop seeing them as individuals. Yes, it's terrible, but it's how it is.

From the book, I remember him making the point that if you allowed yourself to get too upset or involved in each case, then you'd never last in the job. And indeed, he didn't last (and I'm not blaming him in the slightest, given the event that drove him out of the profession).

In the show, there are also times where he's shown to be advocating for the patients (e.g. believing them when they saw they have unexplained pain, including getting into trouble for sending them for unnecessary tests).

Ultimatly, if you want a doctor who is going to give you round-the-clock personalised care you need to either go private or campaign to have the NHS made better.

Also, from reading the book, i definitely came away knowing his partner was male, but I do remember it being only revealed half-way through the book.

FanciedChange · 13/02/2022 16:04

"she felt entitled to have this procedure done" - yes how awful that she would feel "entitled" to choose what to have done to her own body Hmm.

lljkk · 13/02/2022 17:17

The fact he’s never so much as apologised or explained why he thinks this is ok

Except for the moment when he did apologise & explain? Confused

Apologised In 2019 ... and again in 2022.

And tried to stop the songs circulating (but that won't happen since people are keener to punish him than stop sharing what they are so angry about).

This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb
This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb
lljkk · 13/02/2022 17:23

he wrote and sang those songs whilst working as a medical professional

I guess let us know if you do, when he sang the songs in public or they got recorded. I can't know the timeline, but it seems like he wrote & performed the songs in 2000... when he was a 1st/2nd year med student. I sure hope 2nd year med students aren't "working as a medical professional" routinely.

This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb
This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb
Canaloha · 13/02/2022 19:35

Except for the 'album' he released in 2004, the year he qualified I suppose and those released in 2007 and the performances they gave after that I suppose.

LittleBearPad · 13/02/2022 19:56

And tried to stop the songs circulating (but that won't happen since people are keener to punish him than stop sharing what they are so angry about).

It’s a salutary lesson that nothing’s ever gone on the internet.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/02/2022 20:38

Just watched the first episode. Boring and not funny.

ButtercupOfFlorin · 13/02/2022 21:49

@the80sweregreat

The lady Doctor on the one born every minute programme tried to talk this lady out of having a C section. It wasn't an emergency. It was only one example though and they did do as she asked.
It doesn’t matter if it was an emergency - not wanting one because labouring would be painful and traumatic is absolutely a valid reason
ButtercupOfFlorin · 13/02/2022 21:50

As an aside the term ‘lady doctor’ called rally does belong in the 1980’s

ButtercupOfFlorin · 13/02/2022 21:57

Anyway I’ve read the book of TIGTH (and agree it was painfully misogynistic to the point I’m surprised people missed these parts) and begrudgingly watched the TV series too.

We’re it not for the dolphin tattoo story (and obviously the title and main character’s name!) if never have guessed the TV show was based on the book. Adam is a completely different character in both. Book/real life Adam is way more thick-skinned than BBC Adam. Book/real life Adam didn’t mention knitting boottes AFAIK or beating himself up with guilt over a misdiagnosis - in fact the message very much was that making mistakes is an accepted part of the job and moving on is the only way to get through it. BBC Adam doesn’t say half the nasty sexist things book/real life Adam does about women, the sneering and annoyed attitude doesn’t come across nearly as much. But I like they kept BBC Adam to be a bit of a sarcastic prick - Ben Whishaw pulls it off so well, he has an amazing range! His character was unlikable but much less unlikable than awful Adam Kay himself.

Giraffesandbottoms · 13/02/2022 22:03

Absolutely adored the book - I didn’t feel it was misogynistic and I thought it was clear he was gay.

Switched the show off after 7 mins. Made me feel sick to my stomach with the cord hanging out and potentially dead baby - and his stupid snide comments in an emergency scenario.

But then I’m
Pregnant with my 3rd so it’s quite possibly not the best timing. I didn’t think it started off as lightly as the book did.

ButtercupOfFlorin · 13/02/2022 22:04

@lljkk

The fact he’s never so much as apologised or explained why he thinks this is ok

Except for the moment when he did apologise & explain? Confused

Apologised In 2019 ... and again in 2022.

And tried to stop the songs circulating (but that won't happen since people are keener to punish him than stop sharing what they are so angry about).

Why should the songs stop being published?! He was happy to write them until he got famous and now it’s inconvenient that everyone knows he’s an ableist prick Hmm

I can’t say an insincere half-arsed ‘apology’ cuts it with me.

I wonder why people like JK Rowling get threatened with rape for pointing out facts but the likes of Kay can mock people with Down Syndrome and be misgynistic and people either fall over themselves to make excuses for him or they ignore it. I wonder what the difference between the two could possibly be Confused

flyingdream · 13/02/2022 22:48

I have never seen a c section being performed till this show. The way they were pulling etc was scary but then I saw all the blood falling everywhere...I've never bawled my eyes out that much.

Somebodylikeyew · 14/02/2022 00:26

I’m not sure I think it’s misogynistic; I think the NHS is equally disdainful and dehumanising to both sexes a lot of the time. Which I think is because everyone in it is at breaking point, and I think TIGTH portrayed that excoriatingly well.

CovidCorvid · 14/02/2022 07:20

@Somebodylikeyew

I’m not sure I think it’s misogynistic; I think the NHS is equally disdainful and dehumanising to both sexes a lot of the time. Which I think is because everyone in it is at breaking point, and I think TIGTH portrayed that excoriatingly well.
I was pondering this yesterday.

That it appears misogynistic as the patients are obviously women but if it had been set on an orthopedic ward Adam (and others) would have been as bad to the male patients. I think the system turned Adam into this, not that I’m saying he was a nice person before. But I think it made him worse and i think he didn’t like himself much.

the80sweregreat · 14/02/2022 08:27

I only called her a ' lady Doctor' because i didn't know the professionals name and to hi light that it was a female professional who tried to talk someone out of having a C section and not someone who was male.
Sorry to be ' old fashioned' and the programme I am referring to was on around ten years ago so my own memory isn't that great now I'm ten years older.

muckandnettles · 14/02/2022 10:28

What I find wrong about this sort of 'memoir' is that people's personal stories are in there. As a retired professional I have a lot of good stories that I could write about if I wanted but even 30 years later they are still not my stories to tell, so I wouldn't.

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