NP; Colonoscopy

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Count me fully in the camp of C-avoiders.  The indignity to be avoided is not that of the procedure itself, but that of the night-before preparations.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
>Sent: Apr 9, 2008 5:39 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: NP; Colonoscopy
>
>Joe Allonby wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 8:53 PM, <page at quesnelbc.com 
>> <mailto:page at quesnelbc.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     Age: 50 or a bit later. Definitely by 55. As far as the normal
>>     weekend, in
>>     my experience morphine isn't that easy to come by. Good thing, too. I
>>     could easily skip the indignity and go straight to the good part.
>>     Just a
>>     little prick and.... comfortably numb.
>>
>>     >
>>
>>  
>>  
>> It's not that difficult.
>
>You don't really experience the indignity because one moment you're 
>lying on a gurney in a large semi-open area with an I.V. pumping slowly 
>into your arm feeling very comradely toward a bunch of other other guys 
>and women all about to get the same procedure. Next moment (and it seems 
>like only a moment) you're awake alone in a recovery room with a piece 
>of paper in your hand telling you the results of what they found and 
>repairs they made.
>
>I'm describing the way they do it at a big  hospital (Georgetown  in 
>DC).  At other facilities I've heard about they do it without anesthetic 
>or of course an anesthesiologist  present. This makes for a cheaper 
>operation, which the insurance companies prefer. Recently one big 
>insurer (Aetna) announced they wouldn't pay for anesthesia any more 
>except in special cases truly requiring it. Doctors strongly objected 
>and the insurer backed down.
>
>Obviously anesthesia makes it easier for the doctor as well as the 
>patient. Also at teaching hospitals like Georgetown there are likely to  
>be medical students and residents standing around. It's nice for the 
>doctor (teacher) to be able to discuss interesting things freely without 
>fear of upsetting the patient.
>
>
>