Surgery

As many of you back home know by now, I had surgery this past week on my finger and foot.  Now that my finger is healed enough that I can type efficiently on a keyboard again, I will share my Korean surgical experience.

A while back, I discovered that I had a couple of warts on my finger and foot.  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that warts are more common in Korea and other Asian countries because of frequent shoe removal in public.  Technically, warts are no big deal, but as I am someone who absent-mindedly picks at scabs, insect bites, and other abnormalities on the body, they were mildly annoying.  I tried using some conventional and unconventional (such as duct tape) treatments, but nothing was working to my satisfaction.

Last Monday, I’d had enough so I went to the hospital to see a doctor.  He (as well as many nurses) looked at them and felt them and told me that it wasn’t just a simple wart but then went into some medical jargon I didn’t quite understand.  Even though he was speaking fluent English, he might as well have been speaking Korean.  I did understand that surgery with a local anesthetic was an option and since he could schedule it the next day, I opted to go that route.  The doctor assured me that I could go to work the very same day as long as I wasn’t on my feet for long periods at a time.

I’ve had simple surgery before back home when I needed a cyst removed from my neck.  It was a simple procedure done by my doctor in his office.  Check in, surgery, check out.  Simple.  I had assumed that it would be a similar experience here, but I was in for some surprises.

The next day, I check in at the nurse’s station.  I had to change into hospital pants.  She tried to give me a shirt as well but as it would have been too short and too small, I was allowed to wear my t-shirt.  I thought having to change was a little strange, but didn’t think much of it.

A few minutes later, the nurse told me she was taking me to the injection room.  Since I was told I was to be given a local anesthetic, I assumed I would be given shots in my foot and finger.  The nurse told me to sit on the bed and proceeded to pull the privacy curtains around the bed.  She said I was going to get two shots in the ass.  I pointed to the wart on my finger and asked, “Are you sure?”  She nodded and told me to pull my pants down and lie down on the bed.  Confused and befuddled, I complied.  I felt her rub the alcohol on my skin and waited for the injection.  However, she started repeatedly smacking me on the ass.  Then, she started rubbing the skin with more alcohol.  When she started smacking me again, I was very confused.  The nurse then said she was all finished.  I’m assuming the ass smacking was to keep me from feeling the injection and if so, it worked very well.

Surprised, I was returned to the waiting area.  About 10 minutes later, the nurse said she was taking me to the surgical room.  I followed her across the hospital, up the elevator, and through some more hallways.  We get to a set of double doors where I am told to hand over my bag of clothes and take my shoes off to change into some sandals that seemed 6 sizes too small!  She takes me to the doctor who asks if I am ready.  I am concerned because I do not feel numbness in my finger and foot and communicate this to him.  The doctor told me the shots were just pain medication and I would get the anesthetic in the surgical room. 

I follow the doctor into a large room similar to one that might be seen on a hospital drama such as “ER.”  Other staff followed us in and I observed five staff members total.  At this point, I started getting very nervous.  What the hell was I getting myself into?  They tell me to lie on the table in the middle of the room.  The doctor asked me if I liked music and said that music sometimes helps patients relax.  I say ok and next thing I know, he’s putting a set of headphones on me.  Next, one of the nurses clamps a sheet so it is hanging vertically above my neck.  At this point, I was unable to see anything below my neck.  If I was nervous before, I was near panicked at this point.  I was expecting a simple surgery.  Instead, I felt like they were preparing to cut me open for a major invasive procedure. 

I could hear the staff going about their tasks and it seemed that each one in turn stopped to examine and feel the warts.  All of a sudden, without warning due to the headphones, I feel a series of injections in my foot.  The anesthetic worked well because the only reason I knew that the doctor was operating after that was because someone was holding my leg down.  The operation on the foot could not have taken more than 6-8 minutes. 

Next, I could sense the staff readjusting their positions in the room.  I was given two injections in my hand (again without warning) and the doctor went to work.  I felt the doctor working on my finger, but there was no pain.  The operation on the finger took less time than the foot. 

A few minutes after the doctor finished, someone took my headphones off and removed the sheet that blocked my view.  My foot and finger were wrapped heavily in bandages.  A couple staff members moved a stretcher next to the operating table and asked me to roll onto it.  Never having been on a stretcher before, it was a little strange.  They wheeled me down a couple hallways and then pushed me up against a wall and left!

 I was left lying there for a while (I’m assuming around 10 minutes) and was starting to get annoyed when a nurse came up to me and asked if I could walk.  I looked at her and shrugged so she lowered the side guard of the stretcher and told me to get off.  As I put my feet on the ground, the nurse positioned herself as if she was going to catch/support me should I fall.  Yeah right!  I was able to walk just fine so she took me to get my clothes and shoes.  I asked if I was finished and could leave but she said no.  She told me she called for a wheelchair.  I tried to refuse because I was able to walk just fine but she said I was a patient and it was hospital rules.

A few minutes later, the tiniest nurse I have ever seen came to the door with a wheelchair and told me to sit down.  She could not have been more than 5 feet tall and probably weighed around 80-90 lbs.  I gave the other nurse a look that said, “You have got to be kidding me!”  She nodded and also told me to sit.  Not seeing any other options, I sat and laughed internally as this tiny nurse tried to push me.  She struggled as anticipated and didn’t make it to the end of the hallway before calling in a male staff to take over.  The male staff had little trouble and took me to the desk where I started so I could change back into my own clothes.

I checked out and started walking back to my apartment after a stop at the pharmacy.  About halfway home, the anesthetic wore off on my foot and I started feeling pain!  I limped the rest of the way back and crawled into bed.  My boss drove me to my school later that day and I had to conduct all classes sitting down but as long as I wasn’t standing, there was only minor discomfort.  I went back to the doctor daily to change the bandages and three days later, he removed all of the stitiches. 

Every day since was the same.  Other than going to work or to get my bandages changed, I just lay around the apartment watching TV shows, movies, and sports.  Today, 5 days later, there is virtually no more pain.  I still have to wear bandages and walking long distances is still a chore, but normal activities such as writing, typing, and standing are no longer obstacles.  While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I was highly satisfied with the treatment I received from the doctor and other staff before, during, and after my surgery.