I got in touch with my doctor in an atypical manner: I sent him a LinkedIn message. It can be slow to get in touch with doctors themselves in the Netherlands, due to the healthcare system being referral-based. So your GP will refer you to someone (you can ask for a particular doctor or they can suggest one), then you will get an appointment with the doctor, and then you will meet said doctor to confirm the diagnosis and potentially schedule an operation. Just based on availability and turnaround time, this means it takes at least 24 hours to go from referral to talking to the doctor. If the doctor proposes a treatment plan that you don’t agree with or you’d like a second opinion, then it’s another business day or two before you can talk to someone else.
I was injured on Tuesday the 17th. I spoke to my GP on Wednesday. I went to the first orthopedic surgeon on Thursday and she proposed open surgery. I was looking for a minimally-invasive surgery, so I got back in touch with my doctor, who referred me to another surgeon on Friday, but that meant that, at the earliest, I’d be talking to this surgeon the following Monday. Surgery wouldn’t happen until Tuesday, if it all worked out perfectly. From what I had read, minimally-invasive procedures are only preferred in the first week or so after injury, after that open or conservative is preferable (I’m not sure why). Tuesday would be right on the cusp.
So, I got a little frantic and did even more research on doctors in the Netherlands. Ultimately, I found a doctor who had written a paper I found promising (mentioned in my last post) and sent him a LinkedIn message explaining my situation. To my surprise, and good luck, he responded! He was great. I was put on waitlist for surgery on Monday. If there weren’t too many accidents over the weekend, I would be operated on Monday!
I went in to the hospital (OLVG West) Sunday night for a COVID test, which fortunately was negative. I started fasting Sunday at midnight.
Monday (Nov 23) at 2pm I got a call to go to the hospital. I went in and, after my vitals were taken, was pretty much immediately whisked off to the operating room, where the team was waiting. I met the man I’d sent a LinkedIn message to, was given a spinal nerve block, some form of tranquilizer, and laid prone. I chatted with the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. I could hear the surgery team at work and occasionally a pull, but nothing at all painful.
Afterwards, I said goodbye to the team, was taken back to the recovery ward, then to my room. The nerve block took quite a while wear off, about three hours. I didn’t feel much pain initially. My girlfriend came to pick me up, we picked up my medicines, and we went home. They are definitely lighter on the painkillers here than in other countries—I was only prescribed paracetamol for pain and some injections for anti-thrombosis.
At home, some more pain set in. It was pretty uncomfortable, 5 or 6 out of 10, and woke me up a couple of times, but not alarmingly high. Today, Thursday, three days after the operation, the pain seems slightly less. I’ve made an effort to keep my leg elevated as I lay on the couch all day, which seems to help.
21 responses so far ↓
1 michelleg // Nov 26, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Wow you were awake the entire time during the surgery?!
2 cbrauchli // Nov 26, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Yep! They told me they prefer local anesthesia or epidurals when possible right now, due to COVID. Thought the intubation equipment, etc., is sanitized, if somehow some virus got on it, it would almost guarantee infection. I would have preferred general anesthesia I think, but this wasn’t a problem at all. My heart rate was high at first—I was definitely nervous—but the anesthesiologist gave me something that brought it down.
3 Custom beard oil boxes // Feb 17, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Nice blog. Keep sharing with us.
4 Studynlearn education // Feb 22, 2021 at 8:27 am
India’s Best CBSE, ICSE, State Boards School Syllabus mapped E Learning App for K-12 Students. This Learning App covers learning courses from Kindergarten to Class 12th which makes Concept Learning Effective and Easy Learning Experience.
5 mobile app development guest post // Jul 10, 2021 at 8:27 am
Hello There. I found your blog using google. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return. mobile app development guest post
6 Miss India // Jul 10, 2021 at 8:34 am
“I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy
on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?
Exceptional work!
Feel free to visit my page : Miss India “
7 write for us technology // Jan 3, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Hello There. I found your blog using google. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return. If you want write for us please visit here:write for us technology
8 io games // Jul 19, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Thanks a lot for the information you shared, this article has given me more insight into the problem I am facing.
9 Quordle // Aug 22, 2022 at 2:53 am
Yes it hurt, but you so great
10 chennai escorts service // Sep 7, 2022 at 1:27 pm
There is one big weakness of holistic health therapy: it takes time. It’s not, in anyway a quick fix.
11 Write For Us Tech // Oct 8, 2022 at 9:09 am
Travel Guest Post like all design new
12 escorts in chennai // Nov 3, 2022 at 11:56 am
Staggering posting this is from you. I’m unquestionably excited to peruse this superb post.
13 Female Escorts Service in Delhi // Nov 4, 2022 at 10:30 am
I read your article and find you article is brimming with data. Continue to post that is exceptionally useful for those individuals who is searching for these sort of data.
14 Bangalore Escorts // Nov 10, 2022 at 4:44 pm
This is your site that provides every important need, such very time to time I check your web post.
15 Escort in India // Nov 10, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Wonderful Post, I highly appreciate those people who share some good information.
16 amazon pro publishing // Dec 14, 2022 at 11:09 am
your article have quality work.
keep it up and continue Amazon Publishing Services Peoples like quality work.
17 Call Girls Service in Bangalore // Dec 16, 2022 at 2:01 pm
To know more interesting things just click on my profile and Enjoy your day . Bangalore Call Girls ||
18 Escorts Service in Electronic city // Dec 24, 2022 at 8:29 pm
Hey Buddies, are you feel alone don’t worry i am here to solve your every querry related to your life just click on my sites. Escort in Electronic City||
19 Agra Escort // Dec 27, 2022 at 6:35 am
Great Article it its really informative and innovative keep us posted with new updates. its was really valuable. South Delhi Escorts Service ||
20 Shivaniroy // Jan 4, 2023 at 9:19 am
I feel very grateful that Call Girls Service in Hyderabad I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it.
21 Emma Johnson // Mar 29, 2023 at 6:30 am
I just hope ChatGPT Login that you can recover soon, get rid of these sufferings, and return to normal life as soon as possible, I wish you the best of luck.
Leave a Comment