"Renal Stones treatment"

Thanks, David.

I just realised that I overlooked mentioning the medical staff treating me. They were professional, thorough and friendly — and they picked up on some other health issues that are potentially serious. In fact I'm still undergoing tests in several departments, including cardiology and neurology, to try to isolate the underlying causes.

Best of all, they listened to me when discussing my conditions and took my comments seriously. I was very appreciative of their willingness to do so. I realise how heavy their workloads can be.

The surgical team were terrific, too — confidence-building, in fact.

Recently, I had the stent in my right-hand ureter removed at Box Hill Hospital's Endoscopy Suites. I'd been looking forward to having it gone — the stent pain in the time since the original surgery had been enough at times to make me want to vomit without ever actually reaching that stage. But it was a dragging abdominal ache, especially while voiding my bladder.

I realised, when I reached the fourth floor Endoscopy suites in the old Building B, that they were located in the former operating theatre suites where I'd had surgery in 2012. The entire building seems to be being progressively refurbished to bring it to the standard of the new Building A.

The admin and nursing staff were friendly and professional, and I quickly found myself in a bed, in a hospital gown, waiting my turn in the queue. After a short sleep, I was wheeled into the same operating theatre — but it seemed much brighter this time.

One of the surgical team who removed the kidney stones re-introduced himself (I remembered him) and performed the procedure. I couldn't believe how proficiently it was done under local topical anaesthetic — nor how quickly! About 2 minutes into it I felt an urgent need to relieve myself. What I thought was a temporary interruption to accommodate my urgent need turned out to be the end of it — and I was soon back in the recovery ward getting dressed and preparing to go home.

I was extremely impressed by the skill of the 3-person team. No pain, no residual discomfort or even numbness from the anaesthetic gel. No bleeding, either.

A short wait while discharge information was given to me, along with some water and a snack — and a quick trip to the toilet to check everything was working properly — and I was leaving the hospital.

Everyone was professional, friendly, willing to explain anything I wanted to know, despite the surprising number of patients treated in such a short time.

I've had no after effects, apart from tiredness (unsurprising after a relatively invasive procedure) and my urinary tract is working perfectly once more.

Thanks again Box Hill Hospital!:D

Dear David,

That same grandson stayed with us on Friday night and came with his Grandma to collect me from Box Hill Hospital following the stent removal. He enthusiastically quizzed me on what had happened, all the way home, with lots of interruptions as his excitement grew and his imagination caught fire, expanding to almost match his eyes!

Grandma intervened, rebuking me for getting him so excited. That ended the discussion. But next day, when we returned him home, he couldn't wait to tell his brothers that "Pa's got a new video camera and 'claw' in his willie that he can grab you with while he lasers you — and he can video it and put it on Youtube!"

That kid watches far too much sci-fi on streamed television!