Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Taking a Break

In this case, quite literally.

Last Friday, I was coming down the stairs in our rental condo, and on the last step, my left foot slipped out from under me. I was holding the rail and caught myself with my right foot. Unfortunately, one of my kitties had ruffled up the throw rug so that it was fluffy-side down. I slid, at maximum speed, across the tile, and made contact with the bottom of my right foot with the front door. I still had hold of the rail. If I were shorter, I might have missed it.

I immediately knew that EMTs and firemen would be required because my leg was pointing north and my foot was pointing east. It was very bad.

Of course, my cell phone had no signal, and which I had held onto during the fall. I was about 15 feet away from the land line we just had installed in January (late December? I dunno.). I slid on my belly on the tile until I hit carpet then I walked on my knees to the land line, got the phone, and went back down on my belly.

The 911 people were wonderful, the EMTs were fabulous, and the firemen were gorgeous.

They gave me some (worthless) pain medicine nasally as a spray, then wrapped my leg in a blow-up splint. Ladies, I was wondering which was worse--broken ankle or childbirth. I was hollering and screaming for all I was worth as I grabbed onto the padding of the reclining chair next to me.

They wheeled me out of my place on my office desk chair because the gurney wouldn't make in it here, it's very tight and crammed.


So I rode in the ambulance--cool--no lights or sirens, not life-threatening, and they got me on morphine drip. Aaaaah.

My wonderful boss/friend came over to the ER and held my hand and we told stories as I waited. An orthopedist came by (bone doctor), and without warning re-located my ankle. OW. Then better. Had it x-rayed, broken in three places, surgery to put a plate and some pins in it and overnight in the hospital.

So I'm here at home, a favorite relative flew out from back east to look after me, thank god because there was no aftercare plan prepared for me. And the hospital care was not great.  *ahem*

We're trying to get some home health care for me for when she leaves on Monday. I also see the surgeon on  Monday Thursday.

I am not mobile. I'm in the reclining chair in the living room. I don't have enough strength to hold myself up on crutches, the anesthesia has given me a congested chest, fortunately I'm constipated so that hasn't been a problem, but a bit of a worry. And tonight we're going to be hammered with snow. Thuper!!! Good day to be at home.

So I'll be back when I'm...well, back. Cheers. :-)

No comments:

Post a Comment