Eye Eye Guys and Gals

[johnb80]

They wouldn't give you the choice now, no more than they'd give you the choice of a general anaesthetic for a tooth extraction. The risks of general anaesthesia are now recognised as not worth it for minor procedures that can be carried out under local.

You're probably right, my cousin also had a vasectomy a couple of weeks after me, they wouldnt allow him to have a general anaesthetic, he didn't like the idea of needles in his gear, the consultant suggested hypnosis. On the allotted day, he was hypnotised and had the snip. He said he was totally aware of what was going on but felt no pain. He didn't have any problems afterwards either, no soreness etc. It seems a perfect solution to me, the consultant did say to him that it would only work if he allowed himself to be hypnotised, if he fought it as such he couldn't forcibly be hypnotised.

 

[Rolfe]

Surgeon playing mind-games. Interesting.

 

[Rolfe]

Been there, done that It was an interesting day out to say the least. The most useful aspect was the waiting room, there were 2 or 3 people in there, 2 waiting to go in, one recovering with a cuppa, the guy recovering said to me 'theres nothing to it' which really helped. The doctor whilst in the middle of cutting and cauterising the tubes asked me if I'd like to have look, my eyes were tightly shut and I managed to shreik no! Apart from feeling really awkward the actual procedure wasn't too bad. Lots of giggles from the girls on reception when you checked in

Actually I don't think it's fair to men to have girls (or indeed women) around at all when something like this is being done. Women get a female-only setup for mammograms.

 

[johnb80]

Actually I don't think it's fair to men to have girls (or indeed women) around at all when something like this is being done. Women get a female-only setup for mammograms.

There was a nurse in the room whilst it was being done, to be honest, it doesnt really bother me, even less nowadays. It's really just a job for them, nothing more than that.
Over the years I've had many GP's and I've found that female ones are much better, they seem to have more time, listed to what you have to say and seem to be more sympathetic. The last two GP's I've had I have chosen females for this very reason.

 

[Rolfe]

Fair enough, but if "girls on reception" are giggling at men showing up for a vasectomy appointment, they need a stern talking-to. And if that doesn't work, a stern sacking.

 

[johnb80]

Fair enough, but if "girls on reception" are giggling at men showing up for a vasectomy appointment, they need a stern talking-to. And if that doesn't work, a stern sacking.

I hear you and I would imagine some men may find it difficult I suppose but for me it's like water off a duck back and I just laughed (or attempted to) with them. It must be slightly amusing to watch us blokes wandering in, scared to death, squeamish etc, ladies have all of the childbirth to go through so they've done their part in my book, if the girls want to laugh at our predicament that's fine.

 

[Rolfe]

I just don't think the men who take the sniggering in good part have the right to inflict it on the men who are upset by it. It's like my friend saying to me, well, I don't mind if men are allowed to use the women's changing room, and I say, that's all very well, but lots of women do mind, and you don't have the right to over-ride their objections.

If I was in charge of that operation I'd seriously consider invoking an EA exemption to employ only male receptionists, and if I didn't do that then I'd certainly issue strict instructions that all staff had to behave professionally and appropriately, on pain of a formal warning. (Actually I'd do that last anyway. Even lads can be insensitive.)

 

[Archev]

It was a long time ago in my case but I can only recall complete professionalism with any contact with the medical profession.

 

[johnb80]

I just don't think the men who take the sniggering in good part have the right to inflict it on the men who are upset by it.

I dont think I did inflict it on anyone else, if I did then i apologise.

It's like my friend saying to me, well, I don't mind if men are allowed to use the women's changing room, and I say, that's all very well, but lots of women do mind, and you don't have the right to over-ride their objections.

I completely agree

If I was in charge of that operation I'd seriously consider invoking an EA exemption to employ only male receptionists, and if I didn't do that then I'd certainly issue strict instructions that all staff had to behave professionally and appropriately, on pain of a formal warning. (Actually I'd do that last anyway. Even lads can be insensitive.)

I have no doubt everyone would know what was expected of them working with Captain Rolfe at the helm and I can understand your stance on this.

 

[Gomev]

I hear you and I would imagine some men may find it difficult I suppose but for me it's like water off a duck back and I just laughed (or attempted to) with them. It must be slightly amusing to watch us blokes wandering in, scared to death, squeamish etc, ladies have all of the childbirth to go through so they've done their part in my book, if the girls want to laugh at our predicament that's fine.

Just imagine the outcry if the situation were reversed, male receptionists giggling at women coming in for a female procedure. Respect and professionalism should apply equally.

 

[johnb80]

Just imagine the outcry if the situation were reversed, male receptionists giggling at women coming in for a female procedure. Respect and professionalism should apply equally.

As I said earlier, I can see the points made by Rolfe but I also see a little bit of a funny side to the situation from their point of view. Big macho man turning up as a quivering wreck just because theres going to be a small cut made in his anatomy, 5mm thats all. It is IMHO worthy of a little laugh, better than turning up to a reception like at the undertakers, a bit of banter makes light of the occasion, for me anyway.

 

[Rolfe]

As I said earlier, I can see the points made by Rolfe but I also see a little bit of a funny side to the situation from their point of view. Big macho man turning up as a quivering wreck just because theres going to be a small cut made in his anatomy, 5mm thats all. It is IMHO worthy of a little laugh, better than turning up to a reception like at the undertakers, a bit of banter makes light of the occasion, for me anyway.

I'm sure that's a good and healthy attitude, and no, I wasn't suggesting you wanted to impose that on everyone. I was just looking at it from the point of view of a shy man, embarrassed by the procedure and desperately not wanting attention drawn to what he was there for.

As Gomev said, male receptionists giggling at women coming in to have a contraceptive coil fitted (and I understand that procedure can be very uncomfortable) shouldn't be tolerated, and goose and gander sauce and all that.

You wouldn't have felt anything was missing if they hadn't giggled, after all.

 

[johnb80]

I'm sure that's a good and healthy attitude, and no, I wasn't suggesting you wanted to impose that on everyone. I was just looking at it from the point of view of a shy man, embarrassed by the procedure and desperately not wanting attention drawn to what he was there for.

Point of view of a shy man? That's all of us!

As Gomev said, male receptionists giggling at women coming in to have a contraceptive coil fitted (and I understand that procedure can be very uncomfortable) shouldn't be tolerated, and goose and gander sauce and all that.

Yep I can see that point of view and I agree with you. Me being somewhat old fashioned and a relic have utmost respect for women, I still open doors, give up seats etc so my stance on the male receptionist giggling is very biased and definitely not equal rights.

You wouldn't have felt anything was missing if they hadn't giggled, after all.

No thats true, it still makes me smile thinking back to it, I can still see them behind the reception desk and the guys in the waiting room, pale, worried, cringing etc.

At the end of it all, the visit was successful, It really wasn't uncomfortable at all, I went back to work after and the next day I did a 28 mile sponsored cycle ride for local churches with my eldest boy (4 at the time) sitting on a crossbar seat. I didn't have any side effects or pain afterwards.

 

[Rolfe]

You can open doors for me, and indeed give up seats, any day you like!

 

[johnb80]

You can open doors for me, and indeed give up seats, any day you like!

I would be more than happy to do so, it's built in to me from many moons ago, I absolutely hate with a passion the lack of manners in these modern times.

 

[T1 Terry]

You can open doors for me, and indeed give up seats, any day you like!

You would probably be tired of waiting by the time I got there to open the door for you

i just realised it was 40 yrs ago I got the snip .... fully paid up in the top medical cover at the time, so I opted for an over night in the private hospital, remember being wheeled in and waking up with a pillow between my knees ....
Home by 11am and had to make sure it all still worked ..... bad idea, but it all settled down after a few hrs.
My doctor who also did the procedure, told me when he was back in India somewhere, they would set up road side clinics and the blokes would get the equivalent of a few dollars to get the snipe, no needles, sit, snip, next .... Told a story of a young lad who came in and the doctor was suspicious, finally came out with the fact he had lied about his age so he could get the money, he was 14 I guess he could have had a wild time and would have saved a fortune over here being done at that age, no child support, ever .....

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

I would be more than happy to do so, it's built in to me from many moons ago, I absolutely hate with a passion the lack of manners in these modern times.

It can make me a bit flustered and embarrassed sometimes, as if "does he think I'm decrepit or crippled or what?" but I smother that and smile nicely and say thank you, because that's the right thing to do.

The opposite happened in Singapore. I'd spent the day sightseeing, hours in the vertical gardens by the bay, and not only was I exhausted but my back was aching. I got on the underground and thought, I think I can justify taking one of the seats marked for the elderly (I'm 72), disabled etc. There was one free. Before I could get to it, a girl in her 20s stepped in front of me and sat herself down. Not a glance at anyone around. I had to stand for most of the journey. I was strongly tempted to remonstate with her, but I was embarrassed, and wondered if she'd try the "I don't speak English" gambit.

I was actually quite appalled, because I had thought the Singaporean people were generally polite and considerate.

 

[Rolfe]

You would probably be tired of waiting by the time I got there to open the door for you

i just realised it was 40 yrs ago I got the snip .... fully paid up in the top medical cover at the time, so I opted for an over night in the private hospital, remember being wheeled in and waking up with a pillow between my knees ....
Home by 11am and had to make sure it all still worked ..... bad idea, but it all settled down after a few hrs.
My doctor who also did the procedure, told me when he was back in India somewhere, they would set up road side clinics and the blokes would get the equivalent of a few dollars to get the snipe, no needles, sit, snip, next .... Told a story of a young lad who came in and the doctor was suspicious, finally came out with the fact he had lied about his age so he could get the money, he was 14 I guess he could have had a wild time and would have saved a fortune over here being done at that age, no child support, ever .....

T1 Terry

No children, either.

 

[T1 Terry]

No children, either.

I can't say they are over rated, I had 5 to two marriages and a hand in raising 10 altogether, one still speaks to me, so that makes the heartache still worth it.

I should correct that, 12 altogether that I had a hand in raising and 2 still speak to me, so that makes the ratio a little better.

T1 Terry

 

[johnb80]

The opposite happened in Singapore. I'd spent the day sightseeing, hours in the vertical gardens by the bay, and not only was I exhausted but my back was aching. I got on the underground and thought, I think I can justify taking one of the seats marked for the elderly (I'm 72), disabled etc. There was one free. Before I could get to it, a girl in her 20s stepped in front of me and sat herself down. Not a glance at anyone around. I had to stand for most of the journey. I was strongly tempted to remonstate with her, but I was embarrassed, and wondered if she'd try the "I don't speak English" gambit.

She was probably one of the girls from reception in the snip clinic in Leeds