[pavulon]

In the past, people died of diseases that are easily cured with realtively simple surgeries today. Occassionally we see folks that for a number of reasons won't come to the hospital until things have gotten well out of control. Frequently they are Amish but occasionally not. My neighbor ended up with 3 separate surgeries and big zipper on his abdomen followed by a year-long recovery after "toughing it out" long enough to let his appendix rupture. He's now unemployed and I'd think missing a pile of work made him an easy guy to let go.

I admire a high pain threshhold more than most. However, I really admire folks who have an inner voice of reason that tells them when it's time to get checked. Folks tend to do much better during and after surgery if they're not tapped out going in.

YMMV but not much.