Last friday morning I went in for a simple surgery that was intended to install a feeding tube in my stomach. My whole world was prepared for me to be out of it for a good 5-6 days, I had in home care as well as every forseable detail managed. I had set up a sub for my Saturday morning Master Class, a 6 month executive coaching workshop I lead and had prepped food for 5 days of recovery etc etc. I went in, was loaded up with anti-biotics and then sedated. When I woke up the nurse informed me the surgery had not taken place!

Apparently, I am unique~which is not news to me or my acquaintences, however now we have physical proof! I am amongst 10% of the population whose stomach is tucked firmly up and under their ribcage, situated very close to the heart and crowded by the liver, making it difficult to access for my feeding tube installation. The process we were going to have was a 2 man job: one GI specialist goes in through the throat and esophogas with a camera to the stomach ,while another doctor waits to punch in the feeding tube from the outside. ( this is my sophmoric understanding of the procedure) The problem is with all those organs in the way it was just too dangerous to go forward with the procedure. We needed more information in the form of x-ray technology. As we were unable to get that process scheduled for the same day, I was sent down for the blood work that would support the next procedure and then sent home.

I do so apprectiate it when I’m in smart capable hands. While it was a trying day for me and my parents, it went relatively well. I even ran into a friend who coincidentally was scheduled to observe my procedure! Thank God for Maura Barron! She kept my parents informed through out the process and it was evident the level of care I was recieving stepped up a notch once I was known as a friend of one of the attending physicians. I did have the experience of being treated more like family than a patient, which was comforting. So, now we wait til Monday, to see when we can reschedule. All in all, a reasonable delay. I’ll keep you posted!