This time as I was picking up a pair of slack off my bed to hang in my closet. I forgot about the sharp corner of my very low Danish bed as I was going to bed around 4 am. I tripped over it, lost my balance and hit the side of my sharp cornered night table with my left shoulder and the flipped over to my right side and hit the right corner full force with my right forehead. I have hit that corner so many times in the last 45 years but only put a divot in my calf. Obviously not a practical design.
As usual when I fall and I can't get up, I tried to butt crawl to the side of my bed thinking I could hoist myself up but because of the pain in that arm, I couldn't so I butt crawled into the living room hoping to find some way to reach my phone but couldn't. I was pouring blood profusely so decided my only option was to butt crawl my way to the front door and fortunately was able to hoist myself up enough to unlock the door, open it and fall head first into the hallway and call for help. My manager who lives next door came out immediately and I told her to call 911. I think I passed out several times briefly but the ambulance arrived within minutes. She phone my friend Liz and told her what had happened and Liz arrived a few hours later and stayed for most of the day. She is such a sweetheart.
I was taken to the hospital and my clothes were cut off. I couldn't believe the amount of blood when I saw how soaked my blouse was.
Once in the ER. I was stitched up and taken for an MRI. No doubt to check if I had fractured my skull or had a concussion. Gratefully I didn't.
I was kept in the ER for two days (moved into the hallway the first night) until I finally discharged myself on Sunday. It seemed my injuries were not life threatening. I was observed for a day and I waited for hours for a doctor to discharge me. The hospital beds are so uncomfortable these days that I couldn't change positions and my shoulder pain became my primary focus. Just as when I was in Coquitlam last Feb. They put sheet on the bed that won't let you slide and when one has no strength in one arm or both, it's impossible to moved or get up. I was in do much pain that I couldn't stand one more minute. The nurse helped me with the forms. Of course I had no clothes, money, shoes etc. but the nurse phoned for a cab and I knew I could pay once I got home. Without any clothes, I wore a pair of men's hospital PJ pants, a gown and a blanket wrapped around my shoulder and a pair of socks. I went out on the sidewalk dressed in that attire to wait for the Taxi. Lo and behold, as I was standing there my girlfriend Lise approached me. She cancelled the cab and drove me home. Liz had phone her on Saturday night to tell her what had happened to me.
When I arrived home on Sunday, Lise told me that both she and Liz had been in my Apt. on Sunday morning and was shocked to see the condition my apt. was. Lise said it looked like a murder scene, with blood every and called in a Carpet Cleaner who arrived immediately and cleaned it twice. It should have been done the day before when the blood was fresh. As a result there are stains everywhere that will never disappear. Had a conversation around this with my manager but will save the details for another time.
How grateful I am, to have 2 wonderful friends who always come to my assistance. My upstairs neighbour June became concerned Saturday when she didn't see any lights in my apt. so knocked on the Manager's door to find out if she knew if there was a problem with me. She was informed and walked all the way to the hospital to come visit me. I love this woman. We have each other's back because we share so many similarities in terms of our life stories/health issues and she is the only one who can really understand. That is probably the bond that connected us immediately. I love her greatly.
Arriving home and getting into my own bed and falling asleep at 6 pm after 3 nights of no sleep and no food, I was able to sleep until 5 the next AM. When I looked in the mirror I was shocked to see my reflection. I looked like Dracula's daughter. Today, I look much worse. I have a huge egg on my right temple which has 8 - 10 stitches. That's okay, the Hematoma will eventually subside. But in the process, I have red/black eye. The right side of my face is swollen and progressively turning green to dark purple. All the way to my collar bone and back to the middle of my neck. Have never seen anything like it. Just like with my knee last year. My left shoulder also suffered some major trauma, so I have a bandage on part of it that I haven't really checked out. Must have some scraping or whatever that made it bleed. My arm is purple/black from the shoulder to my elbow and very swollen. Another hematoma. Only the shoulder joint is painful and I may have to see the Chiro once it healed. They only thing that is really painful apart of my shoulder is the amount of blood caked in my hair. It hardened to the point where they have become scabs and can't be combed out. No doubt there is a method to do this and an attempt was made when I was in the hospital without much luck. Since I have been home, I have tried with my nails to break them up by crumpling into smaller pieces so that eventually they can be dissolved. I haven't wanted to do anything until the stitches are removed and I have an appt. on Friday for that and for a dressing change to my left arm. As usual, I broke my glasses so will attempt to have them fixed tomorrow.
I have made a decision re my hair, that if the blood knots can't be dissolved, I will shave my head. Probably won't make any difference when I go out. I wear a cap anyway since I have such little hair left and no hairdo. Lot's of women have lost their hair due to Chemo. That will be a another lesson in terms of being able to relate. Wouldn't if be lovely if my hair grew in thicker and curly?
I bought a cell phone months ago to help me and discovered some weeks ago I had a problem and it wasn't working. Lise and I figured out what the problem was, she had the same with a different phone, we managed to solve the problem, so now I carry it with me all the time. Of course that doesn't prevent me from falling but does provide security for getting help. My legs have really become unstable in the last year. Talked to my MD about it and he said it is part of the aging process and due to my Spinal Stenosis. Can't do anything about either condition so am not left with much reassurance that it won't happen again. I continue to walk to build up my core and leg muscles.
I'm sure there a details that I forgotten but wanted to provide an overview of what happened.
No need to respond. I am doing just fine and don't expect this will create another PTSD episode. But who knows? It never happens until months later. I Pray it doesn't. I will update you.
~ Tutte ~
