The big day...


Well the wait has begun. Nil by mouth from 7am onwards and a hospital admission at 11am means an uncomfortable few hours, especially in summer Qld heat. If you stand in the shower with your mouth open does it count as drinking? Just asking for a friend.

Unfortunately there was a bit of a fuss yesterday around payment options. I am having this done at a private hospital because I was told that it was the only way to guarantee the surgeon that I want. My insurance doesn't cover it but such is life - I was happy to pay the fees to get the best care. The hospital only found this out & delivered the estimate to me yesterday at lunchtime, despite me booking this in September, and wanted the not insignificant payment up front. Luckily we were able to action that with bank transfers but we're still relying on either the funds transferring overnight & being traceable on the hospital records or the admin staff being happy with screenshots of the transfer. Obviously this lead to a lot of stress and worry for both my wife and myself that could and should have been avoided, either by an earlier quote that we could settle ahead of time or the ability to pay as an invoice post surgery.  

The doctors surgery also suggested that they could set me up with surgery by the same doctor at a public hospital 'in 1-2 months' if I wanted to cancel, which goes against what I was originally told and also throws up all those 'what if' questions that I've sorted through and processed many months before. I am lucky enough to have the $, am able to spend it on the surgery and have been able to arrange the dates around my business. I have been not exactly happy but have been at peace with that decision for a few months - it is frustrating to find out there was another option less than 24 hrs before my admission time. 

Anyway, it is what is is and lessons have been learnt - ask repeatedly if there are options, stick with your decision once made and have a chunk of cash available at short notice before surgery. The focus now is to be calm, be cool and be near the toilet when the two microlax (sort enemas) I've just taken kick in. 

See you on the other side. 

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