Other than the brain, I believe that the asshole is the most important organ in the body. This organ is not the most well known in the medical world and methods to treat it are still the same for many years. Did you hear of this joke yet? http://www.channels.nl/knowledge/33188.html
There is a good reason why I bring this topic this up today. About a month ago, my wife went for a colonoscopy and piles procedure and we were unprepared for the resultant complications. In total over the last few weeks, we had a total of 11 visits to the doctors (3 specialists and 2 GPs), 3 A&E admissions and 1 hospitalization (2 nights stay). It was a lot of agony for her as a supposedly “simple” operation created a whole series of unfortunate side effects. She was having severe nausea from the new medications and extreme pain from the swelling/inflation of the piles and to top it all, a reoccurring UTI (Urinary Tract) infection.
The 3 specialists we saw also seemed to have different opinions and suggestions. The more we read on the web, the more we realized that complication was more common than we originally thought. The surgery methods have not really evolved over the last 10+ years and the doctors really do not explain the complications well. All of them state that the procedures were simple and recovery should be fast, until shit hits the fan (literally).
In the end, I concluded from the doctors that piles are actually quite common in all of us and age/gravity is the main factor as we get older. The message that seems to come out of this nightmarish experience is that if it doesn’t bother you badly, don’t go for the ops. Just use baby wipes to clean up, apply cream to the anus area and take Dalfon meds orally to reduce the swelling. Maybe its best that I wait a few more years till a revolutionary foolproof procedure comes along before I do it.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that we do a colonoscopy examination once every 5 years if we are above 40 years old. A close friend discovered he had stage 3 colon cancer last year. Thankfully, the chemotherapy treatment worked and he is back at work.
The other uplifting event this week in the midst of bad news this week (mostly Trump induced) was the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach in Thailand. The whole world pitched in (even Elon Musk) and the rest of us watched in suspense as we got periodic updates of the rescue efforts. The 1,000+ people from Thailand and specialists from around the world works tirelessly and raced against time to plan for the extraction exercise.
It was also heartening to read about the communities in Chiang Rai sacrificing what little they have to help. Farmers agreeing to have their lands flooded with the waters being pumped out of the caves that destroyed their crops and giving food/massages to the rescuers etc.
Not only had this unfortunate incident brought the world together in a common mission, it also brought a divisive Thailand together as a nation. It made us all believe again that there is hope for humanity. It has been a long while since such an event galvanized everyone to chip in selflessly. We were all rooting for the boys but fearful that something might go wrong. The fatality of the brave Navy Seal diver should not be forgotten. He paid the ultimate personal sacrifice and should be recognised as a hero. RIP.
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