coming out of my shell

coming out of my shell

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Knee jerk reactions, part 1: How

TRIGGER ALERT

I have always been good in a crisis. I fall apart weeks later.

As is typical for me, I was doing 3 things at once. Family was coming for dinner, and I was picking up clutter, making gazpacho, and doing laundry. I multitask to keep from getting bored, but (numbnut that I am) I fully understand it kept me from focusing and caused this accident. By all that is holy, I'm gonna change!  


Our washer and dryer are in the garage sitting on a concrete step. Built in the mid-1990's it is not wide enough to comfortably hold the newfangled humongo appliances AND a human being without paying close attention to where you are. I was not. I slipped and began my descent. As I fell, I concentrated on shielding my upper body. I did not anticipate my right knee might hit the concrete step where the riser meets the tread.

I heard the crunch and knew I'd broken my patella. I later learned it was broken into three pieces, plus change. However, I felt nothing at first. It was surreal. I was able to roll over onto my back (probably not a good idea). I instinctively raised my knee, searching for a comfortable position (also probably not a good idea) as the pain escalated. I found my pain-free position before the worst of the pain kicked in, absolutely not considering the maxim that what goes up must come down. I wasn't thinking.

I screamed for my husband, T. I didn't scream for the pain, by the way. I screamed for the horror.  And, of course, because T is hard of hearing.

I could see he was shaken as he looked at the grotesque condition of my knee. My man was so freakin' sweet to me as he called the ambulance and packed my overnight bag. Let me just say to the entire world: I love that man.


Almost immediately, 4 kind EMT's shot me up with potent painkillers and lifted me onto the stretcher. I was deliriously happy to see one was a woman, so I took the time to congratulate her on being in a non-traditional job. I should have asked if they were registered to vote. Unfortunately, I forgot.

Away
 we flew to the Orlando Hospital trauma unit, sirens flashing. I have to admit, that was fun. 

I couldn't sit up to see so I begged an EMT to take pictures for future reference. I'm a total fiend. Unfortunately, my phone was in my overnight bag in T's car. He was following the ambulance.  Bummer.

At that point there was no possibly of straightening my leg, or moving at all without inflicting excruciating pain. Thankfully, the EMT's thought they'd let the doctors deal with that. I was transported to and into the ER with what looked like a leg with three knees sticking straight up in the air. People stared.

The head EMT got into a snippy argument with an aide about how to move me from the ambulance gurney onto the hospital stretcher. He wasn't taking any shit, and insisted it be done his way. I trusted him with my life but I felt sorry for the aide. Geez, I love hospital dynamics, it's always like watching a movie.

To be continued.





23 comments:

  1. So far I am horrified and fascinated at the same time.

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    1. Oh good, that's exactly what the experience was for me.

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  2. You should fall more often. You're great at telling the subsequent story, grippingly, amusingly, unexpectedly, in detail and memorably. Second thought: hire someone to do the falling for you so you can concentrate on what you're good at. (Growing sounds of clapping.)

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    1. Imagine how much I'd have to pay the poor sucker.

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  3. Ouch, just reading how you fell onto CONCRETE hurts. How lucky that you were not alone when it happened.
    Get well now!

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    1. I thought of that as I lay on the floor screaming for Tom. I think now that everyone who lives alone (or who is alone for a significant amount of time) should try to keep their cell phone with them at all times.

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    2. Amen. I take one with me each morning as I walk the dogs since Beloved won't wake up that time of day unless a foghorn goes off beside his head.

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  4. Frightening and fascinating.

    Thankfully you were able to get assistance and treatment promptly.

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    1. It was quite amazing how quickly the EMT's arrived with the ambulance and painkillers.

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  5. Oh my god...that sounds so terrible! Colette!! You poor thing. I'm glad Tom was there to help you. Take care of yourself.

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    1. Many thanks. It was quite an experience. I hate to think what the experience would have been like if he had not been home, or if I was a single person.

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  6. I have a feeling more unpleasantness is to come. Let me guess how many times they shifted you on the x-ray table. Had to take you back for one missed view. I shudder for your next several days. I wonder who has more pins, you or me! Good luck recovering.

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    1. The x-ray ordeal was monstrous, it's true. I go to the surgeon for my 2 week post-op tomorrow. Since my husband was shellshocked, and I was drugged, it is amazing how little I know about the future state of my knee. And, of course, I am absolutely dreading physical therapy.

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  7. Total recall! Yikes!!!! Sending love as your "rodilla" heals in "tres" places. As a medical transcriptionist for 23 years, I typed up hundreds of broken knees from the doctor's point of view but reading about a broken knee from your point of view, I can FEEL the pain. So fortunate that Tom was nearby.

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    1. It was surreal, for sure. I think that's why I can remember it all so well. Once they started shooting me up with drugs, my memory is less complete. I hope you keep your cell phone charged and close to you.

      How interesting to be a medical transcriptionist and discover what the doctors think about these things. You must learn a lot about human anatomy and physiology.

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  8. When I was ten years old my mum tripped and fell on a sidewalk, smashing her knee cap. She spent a year in and out of the hospital and in casts, this was almost fifty years ago.

    Just the thought of breaking something, other than toe, gives me the willies. I think it would be the sound that would haunt me.

    Get well soon.

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  9. Oh Colette! This is quite a story. I read some of it out loud to Roger. I have to say we both laughed at your wish to have asked the EMTs if they were registered to vote. You are the BEST!!! Thinking of you and hoping the recovery goes well. Yikes. What an experience.

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    1. Your comment (and pleasure at my quirks) makes me immeasurably happy. Thank you, my friend.

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  10. Yikes. What more can I say? May you heal quickly and feel no more pain.

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth. I appreciate the kind words.

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  11. What a trauma to your knee. Thank goodness your hubby was home at the time to help you and call an ambulance. What a wild ride in the ambulance with you wishing you had asked if the EMTs were registered to vote!

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So, whadayathink?