I’ve written more than a few posts about some of my embarrassing moments (I have so many to choose from):
- Lobster Man Strikes Again
- Another One of Life’s Embarrassing Moments
- Embarrassing Stories – A Wonderful Way to Get to Know One Another?
- Another Benefit of Sharing Embarrassing Moments
- Add One More to Life’s Embarrassing Moments
- Well, That Was Embarrassing…
Thankfully, it’s been a while since I felt a need to write another one.
But I think it’s that time again. And this time, it’s for a moment that hasn’t even happened. Well, technically it has.
I’ll explain.
Today I went to my dermatologist for a surgical procedure known as Moh’s Surgery.
Here is some info about the procedure from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
Mohs surgery is considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), the two most common types of skin cancer. Sometimes called Mohs micrographic surgery, the procedure is done in stages, including lab work, while the patient waits. This allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar.
The procedure is done in stages, all in one visit, while the patient waits between each stage. After removing a layer of tissue, the surgeon examines it under a microscope in an on-site lab. If any cancer cells remain, the surgeon knows the exact area where they are and removes another layer of tissue from that precise location, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. The doctor repeats this process until no cancer cells remain.
This was actually the second time I have had the procedure done; the first time was back in October.
That first surgery required the doctor to go through the removal process twice. While the actual surgery is just a few minutes, the wait for the lab results is quite time-consuming. I was at the doctor’s office for over five hours that first time.
Today, I was lucky in that the doctor only had to go through the removal process once, and I was there for just about two hours.
Both times, the procedure was done on my forehead, once on the right side, once on the left.
I left the office with a bandage covering half my forehead, and there is so much packing of gauze underneath it that it bulges out at least an inch.
And now I have to go teach five classes tomorrow and explain each time to the students why I have this obscenely large bandage on my forehead. When I mentioned this to the doctor, he said I could use it as a teaching moment to tell the students to make sure they use sunscreen and to cover up when they go outside.
So I guess that will be the major takeaway from tomorrow’s class.
I had to go through this same experience back in October, but that won’t make it any easier this time around. So in a way, tomorrow’s embarrassing moment has happened before.
Plus, I have about 30 students this semester who I also taught last semester, so this will be their second time to see me in such a condition.
I can only imagine what they’ll be thinking…
Oh yes, a teachable moment indeed! You can tell your students that due to going nuts staring at debit and credit entries for too long, you’ve had to undergo a minor lobotomy. This might steer them away from a career as an accountant and on to other more exciting pursuits. This will reduce competition in the field, helping to raise the salaries of accountants across the country. And that will enable them to more easily afford their lobotomies.
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A great idea! And maybe he could have a guest speaker one day, like you sharing about your lobotomy experience. 🙂
Hope they got it all Jim and believe me I could probably bypass you with embarrassing stories!
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I don’t drink. So instead of having a bottle in front of me, I’ve had a frontal lobotomy.
But all kidding aside, I hope they got it all, also. Must be miserable having to go through that surgery.
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I remember hearing Tom Waits suing that lobotomy line on TV when I was a kid, and I thought it was such a clever line. I still do…
and fingers crossed the doc got everything…
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Yeah, it’s an old joke. I turned it around a little, but I still stole it from way back when. I didn’t know Tom Waits started it. Or maybe he stole it from someone else.
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I am sure Tom stole it from someone else…
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I wonder if lobotomies make you a pun savant.
fingers crossed they got it all, and I am sure I have many more embarrassing moments still ahead of me…
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maybe it wil be time for me to pursue a career as an accountant. assuming there is demand for 64-year old guys with a minor lobotomy…
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Ah well, my friend … life is full of embarrassing moments that someday we look back on and laugh, yes? I’m just glad to know the doc got all the cancer cells and hopefully this will be the last time you have to go through it!
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yes, indeed life is just one embarrassing moment after another. and yes, fingers crossed the doc got all of it…
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They’ll be thinking, “WHY didn’t he use sunscreen?” cause unless you tell them, they won’t know it wasn’t the norm in oot time. In fact, it was common to lay out/”tan” wearing baby oil.
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I will be sure to tell them how little we knew back then…
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We all need to be embarrassed from time to time. It keeps us humble. I know your students are there for an accounting lesson, but if you prevent one student from getting skin cancer, what could be more valuable than that?
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I’ve been humbled many times…
and yes, if I can prevent one student from getting skin cancer, then that would be the best takeaway from today’s class…
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In such a situation I tell an exciting narrative of how I visited the zoo and was attacked by a rhinoceros – and won.
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I think I’ve already used that story…
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Fortunately you are having the condition taken care of. This could also be a teachable moment about the need to have regular checkups which can catch more things than skin cancer.
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good point. I have regular checkups with many doctors, and it does provide some level of comfort…
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Wishing our forehead better, Jim. Sharing some of your life experiences with your students is a kind thing to do. Xx
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thanks, Jane. I hope the students take the lesson to heart…
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if you talk about being safe in the sun you might save a life and it could be the most valuable lesson you could teach them. you could always add in some stats about the positive effects of sun protection vs. no protection if it helps you to feel more comfortable.
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it’s certainly a more valuable lesson than knowing debits go on the left. and maybe your stats idea could be a blog post 🙂
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There you go!
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Nothing embarrassing about seeking medical treatment, although the oversized bandage may make it feel that way. When asked I would simply say, “I cut myself shaving”. Let their imaginations take it from there. Be well, my friend!
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Dang, wish I had thought of that!
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Taking care of yourself is not embarrassing. Waiting way to long, would be.
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good point. I’m glad I had it taken care of it. I jsut wish all my students didn’t have to know! 🙂
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Tell them you were having cybernetic implants put in your brain.
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the students would probably think “it’s about time…”
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Until it turns into a science-fiction nightmare in the classroom.
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that’s probably what they thought when I walked into the classroom today…
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I don’t see anything embarrassing about it at all, but I do hope you don’t have to do this again any time soon!
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yes, fingers crossed…
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I’m sure your students would relate better if you used poetic license and say you had a shaving accident 🙄. Nothing to be embarrassed about, either way
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I wish I had thought of that that would have been fun. I got through the day just fine; after two minutes of teaching I forgot I had the bandageon!
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When you ‘fess up’ to students, you are their favorite teacher, because you are real.
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I’ve always tried to sahre a bit about myself with each of my classes. I think it helps to make that personal connection…
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When I was younger, whenever I appeared banged up in any way my friends and I joked that I could pretend I got into a catty fight on the streets and pretend I came out the winner…. lol I certainly wouldn’t recommend that here though lol… 🙂 Glad you got those checked out! I am always “nagging” my husband to keep up with his physicals and what not!
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a couple people had suggested I blame it on a cut from shaving. I’d be concerned that the students would think I was serious, and start wondering why I am shaving my forehead.
I was glad I got it checked out and taken care of…
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Hope everything okay Jim, cheers
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things are going well on my end; I hope the same for you. cheers!
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Glad to hear jim. All good here. Take
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👍
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…care mate!
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Arg Jim, my husband had that procedure. I hope all is done for good and you are all clear. 🙂
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I hope so too! thanks, Debby.
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BCC and SCC seem to be a never-ending story from my experience… I hope you’re not one of them.
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hopefully they are infrequent and get caught early!
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