My weight is back to my normal 150 plus pounds, my blood work is all normal and my doctor still seems hesitant about my last operation that realigns my innards and severs my leash to the hospital.
At first I thought that it was we got along so well that he would miss me and my visits. But alas I was wrong, it was a monetary issue. So I queried as to what the problem was, he explained that my last surgery required a circular staple gun that the hospital did not have. It must be special ordered from Mega Manila (Of Course) and he wasn’t sure if my Tri-Care would pay for it because it had to be outsourced.
Now I\m in a tizzy, and starting to worry too; “Oh my will I never have another beer?” My priorities are slightly different than my doctors! I inquired as to the outrageous cost of this miraculous piece of medical equipment and wondered if since the hospital didn’t have it, was it up there in cost like an MRI machine? Did it require a group of technicians from Mainland China to install it, and the Chinese refused because of the Spratly Island dispute. I know the worlds Geo-political situations hold heavy sway over our day to day lives. Oh Woe is me; am I doomed to wander half way between a medical cure and medical dependency?
Then there is the added worry of not having the operation prior to 1 November and the US Governments new fiscal year, and my having to pay $750.00 towards my new $3,000.00 insurance cap. Even this week as I went hither thither and yon throughout the Bay Pointe Hospital (I still can’t figure why they put the letter “E” on the end of the word Pointe, is that a British thing like centre instead of center) being poked (Kinda like Facebook) and prodded and no one asked for any money as my Cap has been met for this year!
Finely a decision is made, the operation is scheduled for the first week in September, Ah the staple Machine? I asked the doctor how much it cost and he said PNP 15,000.00, I immediately said; “Doc, order the darn thingy, I’ll pay for it if Tri-Care won’t.” I thought he was talking about thousands and thousands of US Dollars and those Chinese technicians plus their air fare. I’ll be accepting donations of Tanguy 12 year old Rum or cases of little brown stubby bottles of San Miguel Beer, Cash is not accepted.
I was at the hospital again last week (4 Aug) to finish my pre-op testing and of course when it was all done my doctor was gone for the day, so I’ll see him on the following Saturday and tell him I want the operation the first week of September, unless he is golfing or on vacation. But I’ll stop writing for now and finish after I talk to my surgeon and know the date for sure and then I’ll finish this missive when the date is secured!
Saturday, August 06, 2016, the phone rang, Kuya Paul can we change the appointment to Monday? Yes but the folks on LiP won’t know the date of my operation. I could not see it over the phone but I know there was head scratching on the other end when I said that. So I didn’t bother to explain, I just said; “Yup, I’ll be there!” Because I don’t have a lot of say in it anyway.
Oh sometimes I play with them and say that Monday is not good for me could we make it for another day? But that would only slow me down and I can see that ice cold SMB looming in my future. So my only remark to them is; “Hey Buddy, can you spare a Stapler?”
Hey Paul –
Great to hear you’re doing so much better – keep that stapler if my doctor ever needs one I’ll have him rent it from you…lol
Steve B.
Omg, paul gets me every time!
Phil;
I really hope it’s not the stapler that is getting you! (LOL)
SteveB
I was thinking of mounting it on my “I Love Me” wall with all my Navy/Merchant Seaman memorabilia. (LOL)
Good luck on the realignment Paul…. My annual procedure is aug 31….. Keep the stapler close just in case……
Billy;
Using stapler means future cocktails, do you see why I feel that the price is worth it? (LOL)
It’s good to hear that you are back to your normal fighting weight. I also want to congratulate your new circular stapler business. 15k sounds like a bargain when you get to use it first. Just have the hospital give you a commision and it will be paid back in no time.
GaryM;
Paul’s one stop used medical supply shop, I could rent a stall across from Gordon Hospital in Olongapo city, and rake in the pesos. I’m not so sure about those previously owned needles, and wonder if there is a market for them? The sad part is if I start to do well, 10 more stalls selling exactly the same stuff at exactly the same price will open up beside me within a week.
That’s the thought process. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just try to grab someone else’s customers.
Hi Paul,
Fortunately, I am unfamiliar with medical terms having never been a Hospital inmate.
I only have experience of the old “stiches” of which I have had a few over the years from various incidents, Lol.
I guess staple guns are the new technology.
Nah, “Pointe” is not a British thing, it’s a French thing 🙂
Chas;
It must be a sailor thing because in my 68 years prior to my 69th I’ve never spent a night in Hospital, only there for as you said stitches and to get out of a full dress inspection. I was hoping to shuffle off this mortal core with that record intact, I failed and all I have is a stapler to show for it!
What in the hell has the French word Pointe got to do with the Philippines? Another unsolved mystery in the land of SMB’s.
GaryM;
If I want a vulcanizer I know the street where they are lined by the dozens waiting for that one person with the flat tire.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the update. I wonder if those circular staplers can be found on Amazon or Ebay LOL. Will you be needing a circular staple remover as well or will they use those self disintigrating staples ? Good luck Paul, I am glad those bottles of San Mig are on the horizon for you !
Bob (NY)
The question about the staple removal was brought up by “ME”!!!You are right on the button somehow they dissolve on its own. Hmmmmmmmm BEEEEEEEER!!!!!
I’ll be praying it goes good for you this time Paul. With the new stapler it should. Merced will be there September 2nd and can give your wife moral support at least. I can’t make it this time, so have a couple R&Cs for me.
Loren;
You got some splainin’ to do, Merced is going to be here without the Big P? UNSAT shipmate (LOL)
Alright Paul Thompson !!
Soon…. cold beer
Beanahole Gardner
Yup cold beer………………………………
Paul,
Don’t blame you for paying for the stapler yourself when beer is involved lol. Glue is starting to replace staplers/stitches now in a lot of the surgeries. You will have the surgery done just in time to celebrate the beginning of the the long Christmas season lol. That’s another reason to enjoy some cold ones. Will pray that the surgery goes well with no problems whatsoever, which i have no doubt will happen because you have a good surgeon there.
Papa Duck;
I got scared because it has been so long since I had a cold one, maybe it’s like cigarettes and I don’t drink anymore. Can that happen? What a cruel twist of fate that would be. One of the luck parts of my life has been hangovers, so if I party today it will be 4 to 5 days before I can stand to have another one. The hair of the dog trick never worked for me. (LOL)
Hi Paul,
I had spinal fusion a few years ago. When I saw the x-rays of my spine and saw the 4 screws that were used to fuse my vertabrae, they looked just like screws from a hardware store. They probably cost like $1000 each or something. Good luck with your surgery!
Peace
Jay
Hi Jay;
Years ago my wife was helping me fix something and I told her I needed 10 screws, she asked me if I wanted Plus or Minus screws? (+ Plus – Minus)
Hmmmm Flathead or Philips was the way I was taught, but from that day on I’ve called them plus and minus You are never too old to learn a better way!, so your screws are they……………..? (lol) And I know you are right about what they cost.
Your cut to the chase solutions are an inspiration Paul!
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
Did you have to use the word cut? (lol)
Good luck Paul.
I need some stuff put up in my man cave, can I borrow the stapler? The one I bought in ACE Hardware is useless LOL.
Cheers
AJ UK