He simply walked in to the nearest clinic to only get his blood pressure checked. Like a regular activity for him. It stood at 145. Yes 145 as upper limit.

He came back a little stunned and decided to go for a whole body check up. Tests consequently revealed that he had high ammonia levels and a couple of other things distorted in report. More or less everything related to kidney. So a nephrologist was referred to.

After a couple of more tests the nephrologist decided that it was after all not a kidney issue- much to our relief. And that it might be a case of prostrate enlargement. A very common issues among men in their fifties.

Let me first define what this issue is. In younger men the gland weighs roughly about 20g, but as the age proceeds it tends to get enlarged so much so that sometimes it begins to hamper urine bladder. The first symptoms of this are that one want to go to the bathroom frequently and also always get the feeling that they still want to go. This is because the gland has become so big that it is blocking the urine bladder and its tract.

For the next few weeks the doctor asked papa to wear a catheter which would allow the clear passage of all liquid collected in bladder and which would consequently ensure ammonia levels to return to normal. This was very important as the levels were dangerously high for a normal human being.

“A surgery?” I gasped at the doctor.

He only smiled and replied, ” Not just any surgery its a laproscopic surgery. Its not as big as you are sounding it through your expression.”

“But then how much time will I take to recover and what would the charges be like,” my father more calm than me had his list of questions.

“Two days, one for the day of surgery and next day for observation and after that you are a free man. Mr Singh its not as serious as you all are making it to be. Here this brochure you please read it, it has all the details. Medical technologies have changed and now laser surgeries have made bloodless operations possible for all of us. Believe me it is not as scary as you are making it to be. Read this brochure and your mindset about conventional surgeries will change,” he spoke with much firm authority.

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What is a laproscopic surgery? This question was hounding all of us. We belong to a family of engineers who specifically avoided all biology terms in life because we were scared. And any normal person when hears surgery tends to have a panic state of mind.

Papa lost more weight just thinking about the surgery and then there was always catheter to preoccupy his mind. He felt a little handicapped with that tagging along and he even stopped taking my calls to avoid all discussions centered around his health.

Yes the brochure why did I forget about it? I went and extracted it out of my bag. I thought perhaps knowledge can help dispel all fears. And surely it did.

The brochure printed in hindi and english was crisp and clear outlining the steps of surgery, the precautions and also prevention of a reoccurence.

I was more pacified after reading it. Laser and laproscopy technology has allowed doctors worldwide to perform some of the most tricky surgeries without shedding a drop of blood or incising a cut on flesh. This wonderful invention which causes no visual harm to the body or otherwise is now being advently used to perform all kinds of operations such as uterus related issues prostrate or stones in kidney Medical science has also used it to remove unwanted hair, scars and other skin related aberrations.

I searched and searched this information because I knew the only way I could dispel fears was through knowledge. And each time I thanked god that we could detect it at an early stage because statistics says that 93% of the cancers are prostrate cancers which is an advanced stage of undetected prostrate enlargement.

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The day of surgery.

Papa was admitted to the hospital. The surgery was scheduled around ten. The doctor was going to perform five prostrate surgeries that day and because we had panicked so much each time we had met him, he scheduled dad’s as first.

Papa was nervous so were we. I had taken my laptop to the hospital because everytime I had some fear or apprehension I thought I would take to internet and let knowledge remove all issues. I used to see dad and in my head I started making symptoms- he is looking pale, his eyes are bulging, there is swelling. And each symptom would then be searched and understood and used to calm down senses.

“Patient needs to be taken,” a nurse walked in.

I panicked straight away, my husband had gone downstairs to get tea for us and I was the only one around. I had tears in eyes I didn’t know what to do.

Papa looked at me and said, “I can go myself.”

But no I couldn’t let that happen. I kept the laptop on the side and followed the nurse and dad. They stopped outside a room tagged “Operation theatre”. I felt weak in my knees.

“You cannot go further than this,” the nurse spoke in a crisp tone. I just stood there watching dad and the room.

“Beta Richa, I am fine. I will go inside like this and come out much better. You take care,” my dad spoke softly.

I didn’t budge from where I was standing.

“Vikas take her back,” I swirled around and saw that my husband had arrived. He then took me back to the room where I eventually broke down.

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After the surgery.

I saw dad coming on a stretcher, my heart felt slightly better to finally see him after an hour’s time.

“Papa how are you feeling,” I asked in a weak voice.

“Alright. Do you know the doctor’s dad was my professor in college? We had so many stories to share. We spoke about his dad and also about the principal who got murdered on the premises. Remember I told you the whole story,” my dad spoke excitedly.

I got a little confused. I didn’t know why he was talking like he just came back from a social gathering.

“Dad what are you talking about? How did the surgery go?” I asked slightly confused.

“It was okay. In fact quite entertaining. We chatted up all the time,” he replied happily.

It was a surgery not a gala party! What is he even saying.

Just then to the doctor entered.

“Your dad and I go way back. In fact I just spoke to my own father and told him how I had operated Jagmer Singh. Next weekend he will be in Lucknow we have to all catch up for dinner,” the doctor replied smilingly.

The confusion on the faces of my husband and me must be quite apparent. Why is no one talking about the surgery?

“The surgery went fine. I gave him local anesthesia lower down and then the laproscopic operation began while we talked. The enlargement has been removed and it is here in the bottle. We need to send it for a few tests though we are sure it is benign,” the doctor began talking sensing our confusion.

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Medical science has progressed so much that today we don’t need to even sleep while the operation is on. Or in a few cases remain uptight and nervous. Doctor and patients chat up while the surgery is performed and in between jokes and catching up on life voila the treatment is done.

                                          My sister and dad- loves of my life 🙂

To better understand such technologies and their ever so fast paced advancement you can also check Apollo Hospitals- A cutting Edge which I always find helpful to get better clarity on medical and health related  topics