Way back in 1999 and 2001, I went under the knife, both times for hernia repair operations. Going in for surgery is never fun, but looking back, I’m amazed at how little I thought of the cost of health care in terms of what was a priority and everything else.
The First One: I Didn’t Even Know What Was Wrong
When I had my first hernia, I didn’t even know what I had. For those who aren’t sure of the exact problem, it’s essentially a tear in your inner lining that typically keeps your intestines in place. I had a ballpark idea of what a hernia was and I knew how the doctor tested us guys (yes, we do turn our heads and cough), but I didn’t know why I had this big lump that appeared at the bottom of my stomach, and why I could push it in and have it pop out. It didn’t really hurt, it was just…weird.