Who is this guy who looks like he just stuck his finger in the electrical socket!
Is it that he just recognized me from another life?
Could it be that the needle slipped and went in the wrong direction?
Or, maybe the ED session is going too well!!
I recognize him – it’s Leonard Laing, RPN, from Module I in the Urology department at the Ottawa General Hospital.
Leonard was my super upbeat ‘admittance’ nurse for a Cystoscopy procedure just before my Prostatectomy back in September/October of 2014.
“OK, let’s get naked”, he said as he ushered me toward the changing rooms – I’m sure that I had a bit of that ‘electrical shock’ look then too! It was hilarious and really took the edge off!
So, what’s Leonard doing here with Dr. Bella at his brand new Ottawa Urology and Men’s Health (OUMH) clinic?
It’s a long story…
Well, maybe I can shorten it a tiny bit.
I first met Dr. Bella in practice at the Civic hospital back in March of 2015 to start ED therapy as a consequence of having my prostate removed.
At that time he held the Greta and John Hansen Chair in Men’s Health Research, was Assistant Professor of Urology at the Department of Surgery, Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus and was actively involved as an acclaimed scientist in the research and practice of complex surgeries related to men’s urological health.
Dr. Bella was hugely in demand for his surgical skill when his career took a major turn following a back injury.
No longer able to conduct extensive and intricate surgeries, Dr. Bella moved lock, stock and barrel to CentrePointe in Ottawa, where he established a new urology clinic for men’s health – the OUMH.
The ‘lock, stock and barrel’ luckily included Penny, his charming and very proficient Administrative Assistant, and the huge barrel of laughter and very upbeat and super positive atmosphere that is Dr. Bella.
But, that’s not all. There was a ‘coup’ of sorts in the move!
The prize – no other than Leonard.
He was snatched up from Dr. Chris Morash’s Urology Department at the Ottawa General.
How super was that?
So, what brings me here on my walk with prostate cancer?
Well, it was a regular follow-up on my ED therapy with a twist – there was a glitch in my Trimix prescription – the latest batch seemed to have more ‘octane’ and left me in ‘overdrive’ far too long for safety.
As you can see in the data that I was recording, the erection duration began to last longer than 4 hours after injection – a point after which there is a danger of Priapism – a medical emergency where a trip to the local hospital is definitely required – but certainly not the kind of embarrassing exposure one wants to endure, ever!
It’s a serious matter, but I can’t think of a better way to get a big laugh out of the medical staff!
My awkward and alarming situations were temporarily remedied by reducing the dosage in my sessions – taking me out of the danger zone – until I got a more permanent resolution from Dr. Bella.
I finally caught up with the ED crew after several changes in email address and once they re-surfaced at their new location – all set up for action.
The visit to the new clinic included a re-assessment of my Trimix prescription’s effectiveness with a repeat of the CIS (Combined Injection and Stimulation) test.
Leonard did the honours this time – checking me in, getting my story, analysing my data from the past year, and preparing for the injection test.
Wham! Something stung a bit! Leonard left the room.
He and Dr. Bella popped in a few times to check progress…
‘Hot Dog’ – it worked!
Leonard was safe after all – the needle didn’t go in the wrong direction!
What a great experience at the new OUMH – that’s Ottawa Urology and Men’s Health – NOT ‘ouch’ as you might imagine!
Eveybody is so upbeat and as funny as can be.
It’s so great to have Dr. Bella and staff as a key part of my walk with prostate cancer.
Thanks ‘doc’.
