Hi Greggg, I know of people who've had the surgery 3 times before it worked, but others seem to have had a great result. Maybe I'm just a medical nightmare. 9 hours is a long time for surgery, and then to be ill afterwards, no wonder you don't want any more!

They did my surgery from the back, but things were a bit complicated so I've been told, so I ended up with a much bigger scar than I would normally have had. Doesn't matter to me, no one sees it anyway.

I live near a big teaching hospital and the facilities are pretty good. I wouldn't say they were bang up to date, but then Scotland never is! The USA always seems to be much further ahead in terms of treatment and knowledge. I think some doctors, especially the older ones, are a bit set in their ways and do their own thing regardless of new practices or treatments. They tend to stick to the tried and tested methods and they don't like people questioning them!

I would have thought you had it pretty good where you live. Do you have to travel far for hospital? Is there another way they could have done your surgery?

So, where does all this leave you? What happens next? Is there anything else they can do for you?

Questions, questions, questions - you'll be sorry you ever met me!!

Take care