Truman Customer Story Column
A White T-Shirt, a Thin T-Shirt
The question asked most before surgery is about pain. How much it hurts, for how many days.
Because pain cannot be gauged until you experience it, it is also the worry that grows largest in the imagination. The person in today's story was someone who worried most about post-operative pain.
After surgery, they wrote that it did not hurt as much as they had feared. But that is their case, and the degree of pain varies with the extent of surgery and individual sensitivity. Some say it barely registered; others say they were uncomfortable for several days. So in consultation, instead of saying "it won't hurt," I lay out in chronological order what discomfort may occur and when.
The Longest Distance Is to the Clinic DoorThis person said their first visit was not intimidating. Being received by male staff put their mind at ease, and the manner was kind and comfortable. They also said the consultation inspired a great deal of trust.
The place where you first speak about your chest cannot be an easy one. What we attend to in the clinical environment comes down to that point: lowering the threshold to speaking, and giving accurate answers to what is asked.
Saying It Was Over in a BlinkAsked what moment stayed with them from the surgery, this person's answer was short: that it was over in a blink, which surprised them.
Our surgery is performed under sedation. The operation takes place while you sleep and finishes in about thirty minutes. Afterward we explain in the recovery room how it went. Because the time passes so quickly, people say that looking back, the interval feels entirely blank. Believing that a shorter operation means less burden on the patient, we keep working to reduce that time.
A White T-Shirt and a Thin OneAsked what they most wanted to do after surgery, this person said they wanted to wear the white and thin T-shirts they had rarely been able to wear.
Clothes come up often in the consulting room. Carrying an extra layer even in summer; checking color and thickness first when choosing a T-shirt. How old that habit is, they know better than anyone. Being able to pull something out of the closet at random and put it on — that was the extent of the change this person wanted.
To Those Facing the Same ConcernThis person left the thought that a month or so of inconvenience is better than carrying stress for years. That comes from the time they have lived through, and whether to have surgery is something to decide after confirming your condition through an examination.
But time measured alone rarely reaches a conclusion. If a question comes up, it is better to come in once and ask it. Even if you hear the answer and decide it is not yet time, that too settles something.
