In Episode 18 of the Balls Deep podcast, Dr. Joe Pazona together with his co-host Cat Williams goes into an Ask Me Anything session where Dr. Pazona answers various questions about him as a urologist. Neurosurgery sprawls across this episode with all its sophistication and does not spare ‘jaw-dropping’ stories and subtle problematics inherent in urologists. Keep reading to hear shocking patient stories and more.
Memorable Patient Stories
Dr. Pazona starts the AMA by remembering a few colorful and eccentric patients. One such odd patient was a gentleman who thought he had something in his urethra. However, the patient himself was unsure. Dr. Pazona made sure and checked, and, of course, found nothing. It is incidents such as these that make urology an interesting field, as different and interesting issues will present themselves to patients.
In another case, a man burnt himself with battery acid in his barn. As a result of the pain, he decided to immerse his injured penis in a running stream nearby, which shocked it and made the situation worse. He ended up in the emergency room, where Dr. Pazona had to operate. The man was told to keep the bandage on and keep it out of water, yet within 24 hours, he had ripped the bandage off and stuck it in a cup of ice water. This tale highlights the slightly funny nonsensical disregard that the doctors can be faced with. However, Dr. Pazona summarizes that it is critical to treat every patient with the due respect while having fun in relation to such cases.
Making the Cut: Surgery in High Stakes
On the other hand, surgery in Dr. Pazona’s own words, is one of the hardest yet gratifying most operations he has carried out in the past. He recalls a difficult case wherein one of the patients had massive tumors on both of his kidneys with one reaching the size of thirty centimeters. In such a case, he did not have access to a cancer center and therefore completely depended on Dr. Pazona’s hands. Dr. Pazona performed precise and sequenced surgical techniques twice to remove the tumor without forcing the patient to go for dialysis which most likely would have been the last resort to save his life. This compelling account affirms the fact that surgeons are in a greater position of making considerable variations and transformations to the lives of their patients in high tension situations than in lower tension situations.
What Being a Urologist Entails
Dr. Pazona describes practicing medicine and the stress and fear that come with the profession. No matter if it's ongoing fear of lawsuits, fear of patient attacks, or maintaining a character and performing life-threatening surgical procedures, he frankly admits that such elements will always make specialists like him cave in. He stresses the pressure that being a doctor entails, but such a privilege and responsibility – everything has its price, and the place of initiation of all great endings is rather painful.
In the end of the podcast, the hosts have a playful discussion about what kind of a doctor Dr. Pazona would never wish to become. Unsurprisingly, feet rank at the top of the list! In jest, he says that podiatry is not the career path for him, and adds the witty preference aspect of medicine. He admits, however, that he is interested in wellness and preventative medicine, due to the fact that he wants to learn how to help patients not get diseases at all rather than operating on the same disease over and over again.
Key Takeaways
Urology Is Never Boring: Clinics see patients with the most bizarre complaints and awful and non-compliant patients, but this field has its characteristics and a lot of humor.
The Duty and Burden: For surgeons and doctors, the risk level is always high, however, the contribution of doctors towards people’s lives is priceless.
Prevention is the Cure: Dr. Pazona and his practice are learning more about wellness and preventative medicine, discovering ways to help patients not get diseases in the first place.
Be it looking for a surgeon’s infamous medical cases or what goes on in the lives of a urologist outside the practice, this episode covers all. Learn more about Dr. Pazona and how is practice can help improve your health.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your healthcare provider for any medical conditions.
