Details, details...

Many may have heard the proverb that begins: "For want of a nail, a shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, a horse was lost; for want of a horse, a rider was lost..." (You can read several full versions, as well as interesting history of the proverb, here ).

So, Friday I finally had the surgery I've put off for, well, years. The surgery went fine, thank you, and easier than planned. But when I awoke, I looked at the bandage over the site and thought: gee, that doesn't look very secure. Couldn't they have used a bit more tape to fasten it down?

Predictably -- indeed, I did predict it -- the bandage came loose and slid off, resulting in bleeding. On Sunday. This was hardly critical, but I had no way to staunch it, and I had no supplies to re-dress it myself. With nothing else open and no other options, I had to hie myself down to the hospital emergency room. All for want of a little surgical tape.

Now, this surgery cost me some $1500, which I guess is not outrageous. (I don't wish to get involved in a debate about health-care costs here!) But the additional trip to the ER has cost me another $250, which should never have been neccessary. If only they'd used enough tape to secure the bandage in the first place!

I'm happy with the outcome of the surgery. I believe it went well and I don't mind having to pay a reasonable amount. But I am kinda disgruntled about this additional cost, not to mention the nuisance. And wouldn't the ER staff be better served, too, not having to deal with things like this that could so easily have been prevented, with just a bit more tape?

At least my car didn't get towed while I was in there. I couldn't pay the meter while using both hands to hold a dishtowel over the wound.

For want of a nail....