A Fractious And Foggy Affair! - June 23, 2019
You may have heard me say this before! There is the bike ride you plan and then there is the bike ride you have. On some occasions this is for the good. This past Monday – not so good. But all is well that ends well and it ended well enough. Sort of. I guess…
I asked Laur on Sunday evening if we could go for a bike ride on Monday and he could not see why not. We started off at 9 am or so and pedalled the Welland Canal path to Port Robinson, then over some quiet roads to Fonthill and Port Dalhousie. And then back home. Or almost!
We were five minutes from being home when I hit a curb and went airborne off my bike onto a concrete sidewalk. Bless his heart, Laur, who normally never keeps track of me, turned around – having heard a big THUD! He dropped his bike partially onto the road and came back to check on me.
[Ed. Actually, I look around regularly to be sure she is following – probably every 3 to 5 minutes.]
A first I could not move. Or rather, I was afraid to move. Afraid I had broken my neck. But I could wiggle my toes and my fingers so eventually responded “I’m OK!” I sat up to survey the damage. I couldn’t see my noggin but I’d had a bike helmet on and was still conscious, so that was OK – or OK enough. (In all honesty, I think I’ve had yet another mild concussion. But with me, it’s kinda hard to tell.)
My right leg looked messy, and my right arm was bleeding, and my right shoulder hurt like crazy. Laur helped me up using my left arm and asked if I was OK to cycle home. I was all for it, except for the part that I couldn’t use my right arm without excruciating shoulder pain. Laur said he’d ride home and get the van.
To be honest, standing there was more painful than moving a little, so I started walking my bike home with my left arm holding it up. No surprise – Laur, who was a little panicked – drove right by me. I sighed and continued, almost getting home by the time he caught up with me. “For Pete’ sake, Janny, I wish you’d stay in one place!” I don’t think being a Personal Support Worker is his calling in life. 😊
[Ed. But not all of us get to do what we want…]
We got home and I could not get myself out of the car! What?! Laur suggested we go to Emergency at Niagara Health Services before we had lunch and I had a shower and, for once in my life, I agreed with him. We arrived just after 1 pm and were out of there at 5 pm. I found the wait in between things – getting registered, seeing the triage nurse, seeing the doc, getting an X-ray, seeing the doc again, and getting outfitted to go home – very long and I’m not at my best when I’m hungry. I needed to slap myself with the arm that was still working and remind myself…
-You could have broken your neck.
-We have socialized health care.
-Your fellow “woundees” and you are having really funny chats.
-There is a Tim’s around the corner and Laur would have gladly (or glad-enoughly) done a Tim’s run.
[Ed. And Laur brought you a banana!!]
Laur was being overly solicitous and extremely gentle with me. I found that kind of scary. It made me feel like I’m broken or something. Oh right! I DID HAVE SOMETHING BROKEN – MY RIGHT CLAVICLE!!! But thankfully, once we realized I was already on the mend, he became his old familiar Scots self – complaining about the price of hospital parking, being unimpressed that we have to throw out my bicycle helmet, and asserting that he can fix my bike. No need to take it to the repair shop. Phew! That’s the man I married.
My favorite pharmacist came over to visit and bring me some supplies. Laur made supper. I had a shower, and I thought I was doing just great until I tried to brush my teeth with polysporin with analgesia! Ooops! I might not have noticed save that my mouth started going numb.
[Ed. I left it out for her leg, but she refused to apply it, deciding to eat it instead…]
I tucked in with a pillow to support my right arm and a long audiobook – C S Lewis’s Mere Christianity. Partly for inspiration but as much for a sleep aid. The reader has a very monotonous voice…
*****
What have I learned from this? Absolutely nothing! I hope to be back on my bike in three weeks. I was not being careless – stuff happens.
What can I continue to do? I can go for my morning walk – but I can’t jog any of it. It hurts like heck when I do that. I can continue to visit my friends in long term care. I just can’t push any wheelchairs or assist with the repositioning of my friends.
What can’t I do? Go to GoodLife morning group exercise classes! GAH! The best party ever and it happens at the only time of the day when I am somewhat alert - mornings! I told Laur that the doc said I could exercise my legs and left arm and my friend has offered to drive me… K wrote, “I could pick you up for spin next Monday?!”
Laur’s response – and he is correct – “Spinning with one hand on handlebars?? Mountains? Intervals? I don't think so... Come on K, don't aid and abet; I have enough trouble with her as it is. P.S. to Jan: You have an appt with specialist at fracture clinic next Monday morning... Remember??? FRACTURE clinic.”
Did I mention I may have also experienced a mild concussion? Symptoms include “confusion or feeling as if in a fog…”
I asked Laur on Sunday evening if we could go for a bike ride on Monday and he could not see why not. We started off at 9 am or so and pedalled the Welland Canal path to Port Robinson, then over some quiet roads to Fonthill and Port Dalhousie. And then back home. Or almost!
We were five minutes from being home when I hit a curb and went airborne off my bike onto a concrete sidewalk. Bless his heart, Laur, who normally never keeps track of me, turned around – having heard a big THUD! He dropped his bike partially onto the road and came back to check on me.
[Ed. Actually, I look around regularly to be sure she is following – probably every 3 to 5 minutes.]
A first I could not move. Or rather, I was afraid to move. Afraid I had broken my neck. But I could wiggle my toes and my fingers so eventually responded “I’m OK!” I sat up to survey the damage. I couldn’t see my noggin but I’d had a bike helmet on and was still conscious, so that was OK – or OK enough. (In all honesty, I think I’ve had yet another mild concussion. But with me, it’s kinda hard to tell.)
My right leg looked messy, and my right arm was bleeding, and my right shoulder hurt like crazy. Laur helped me up using my left arm and asked if I was OK to cycle home. I was all for it, except for the part that I couldn’t use my right arm without excruciating shoulder pain. Laur said he’d ride home and get the van.
To be honest, standing there was more painful than moving a little, so I started walking my bike home with my left arm holding it up. No surprise – Laur, who was a little panicked – drove right by me. I sighed and continued, almost getting home by the time he caught up with me. “For Pete’ sake, Janny, I wish you’d stay in one place!” I don’t think being a Personal Support Worker is his calling in life. 😊
[Ed. But not all of us get to do what we want…]
We got home and I could not get myself out of the car! What?! Laur suggested we go to Emergency at Niagara Health Services before we had lunch and I had a shower and, for once in my life, I agreed with him. We arrived just after 1 pm and were out of there at 5 pm. I found the wait in between things – getting registered, seeing the triage nurse, seeing the doc, getting an X-ray, seeing the doc again, and getting outfitted to go home – very long and I’m not at my best when I’m hungry. I needed to slap myself with the arm that was still working and remind myself…
-You could have broken your neck.
-We have socialized health care.
-Your fellow “woundees” and you are having really funny chats.
-There is a Tim’s around the corner and Laur would have gladly (or glad-enoughly) done a Tim’s run.
[Ed. And Laur brought you a banana!!]
Laur was being overly solicitous and extremely gentle with me. I found that kind of scary. It made me feel like I’m broken or something. Oh right! I DID HAVE SOMETHING BROKEN – MY RIGHT CLAVICLE!!! But thankfully, once we realized I was already on the mend, he became his old familiar Scots self – complaining about the price of hospital parking, being unimpressed that we have to throw out my bicycle helmet, and asserting that he can fix my bike. No need to take it to the repair shop. Phew! That’s the man I married.
My favorite pharmacist came over to visit and bring me some supplies. Laur made supper. I had a shower, and I thought I was doing just great until I tried to brush my teeth with polysporin with analgesia! Ooops! I might not have noticed save that my mouth started going numb.
[Ed. I left it out for her leg, but she refused to apply it, deciding to eat it instead…]
I tucked in with a pillow to support my right arm and a long audiobook – C S Lewis’s Mere Christianity. Partly for inspiration but as much for a sleep aid. The reader has a very monotonous voice…
*****
What have I learned from this? Absolutely nothing! I hope to be back on my bike in three weeks. I was not being careless – stuff happens.
What can I continue to do? I can go for my morning walk – but I can’t jog any of it. It hurts like heck when I do that. I can continue to visit my friends in long term care. I just can’t push any wheelchairs or assist with the repositioning of my friends.
What can’t I do? Go to GoodLife morning group exercise classes! GAH! The best party ever and it happens at the only time of the day when I am somewhat alert - mornings! I told Laur that the doc said I could exercise my legs and left arm and my friend has offered to drive me… K wrote, “I could pick you up for spin next Monday?!”
Laur’s response – and he is correct – “Spinning with one hand on handlebars?? Mountains? Intervals? I don't think so... Come on K, don't aid and abet; I have enough trouble with her as it is. P.S. to Jan: You have an appt with specialist at fracture clinic next Monday morning... Remember??? FRACTURE clinic.”
Did I mention I may have also experienced a mild concussion? Symptoms include “confusion or feeling as if in a fog…”