Thoughts after spending 11 days in a hospital
After my accident on July 11th at 12:30, I spent about 11 days in the hospital recovering from a number of surgeries. I got home last night, and using crutches and a walker it was the toughest physical exertion I have ever done in my life. At one point I thought I saw stars because my body was so exhausted and worn down from the broken bones, I had no reserves left.
I had three procedures done when I was in the hospital:
Resetting the leg
I was knocked out with propofal and given hard drugs (Fentanyl and morphine) and they straightened my leg out. I couldn't have this done while awake.
Attaching External Fixative
Just like the old "halo" devices, I had an external surgical fixative drilled into my bones to straighten my leg out. Again, I was knocked out with general anesthesia and don't remember much about it. I woke up with metal pins drilled through my flesh and holding it together. The shot below is showing my leg just after the accident; I was in extreme pain.
During the next 8 days I would wait for the swelling to go down and eventual surgery. My surgery got cancelled three times before I finally got it done last Thursday. It was a huge relief - I would no longer need this ungodly metal gear on my body.During those 8 days I learned how slowly time passes you by in a hospital. They have weird schedules: The first 3 days I was in hospital they were checking my vitals every 1 hour. It make sleep difficult. I had 3 roommates during my stay: An older lady named Judy who had some issues with her lower GI tract; a younger black man who had a problem with knee ligaments; and finally, a younger guy named Shane who was dying of bone cancer had had part of his hip removed for treatment. Sad.
Instead, the doctors would use stainless steel and titanium screws to put a plate into my tibia and fibia bone, then lock it together in a velcro zimmer splint. My leg is going to be immobilzed for 4-6 weeks and won't be able to take weight.
During this extreme time, my bud Laszlo and very very good friend Paul helped me out. Laszlo helped by getting my wife groceries and stuff during the first few days - which I appreciated. Paul flew in from Montreal and immediately helped with everything I needed. I cannot explain how grateful I am for this. Paul filled in areas where it was impossible for me: Get prescriptions, go pick me up at the hospital, drive my wife to her appointment; etc. I will forever be grateful to him.
I hope to get back to work on Wednesday - in a wheelchair, albeit, but still - it's going to work somehow. I used to be scared of needles when I was younger - but now I'm desensitized to them. They'd take blood from you at 3AM every 4 days; I had my IV's changed every 2 days; on my last day the surgeon had to inject numbing agent to suture up some holes in my lower leg that was from the external fixative frame.
I am grateful to get out of the hospital. I'll be selling my skateboard in a month or so; I'm done with sktaeboarding. It was nice to do, but I realized how fragile the human body is and I'm too old for these risks.
I had three procedures done when I was in the hospital:
Resetting the leg
I was knocked out with propofal and given hard drugs (Fentanyl and morphine) and they straightened my leg out. I couldn't have this done while awake.
Attaching External Fixative
Just like the old "halo" devices, I had an external surgical fixative drilled into my bones to straighten my leg out. Again, I was knocked out with general anesthesia and don't remember much about it. I woke up with metal pins drilled through my flesh and holding it together. The shot below is showing my leg just after the accident; I was in extreme pain.
During the next 8 days I would wait for the swelling to go down and eventual surgery. My surgery got cancelled three times before I finally got it done last Thursday. It was a huge relief - I would no longer need this ungodly metal gear on my body.During those 8 days I learned how slowly time passes you by in a hospital. They have weird schedules: The first 3 days I was in hospital they were checking my vitals every 1 hour. It make sleep difficult. I had 3 roommates during my stay: An older lady named Judy who had some issues with her lower GI tract; a younger black man who had a problem with knee ligaments; and finally, a younger guy named Shane who was dying of bone cancer had had part of his hip removed for treatment. Sad.
Instead, the doctors would use stainless steel and titanium screws to put a plate into my tibia and fibia bone, then lock it together in a velcro zimmer splint. My leg is going to be immobilzed for 4-6 weeks and won't be able to take weight.
During this extreme time, my bud Laszlo and very very good friend Paul helped me out. Laszlo helped by getting my wife groceries and stuff during the first few days - which I appreciated. Paul flew in from Montreal and immediately helped with everything I needed. I cannot explain how grateful I am for this. Paul filled in areas where it was impossible for me: Get prescriptions, go pick me up at the hospital, drive my wife to her appointment; etc. I will forever be grateful to him.
I hope to get back to work on Wednesday - in a wheelchair, albeit, but still - it's going to work somehow. I used to be scared of needles when I was younger - but now I'm desensitized to them. They'd take blood from you at 3AM every 4 days; I had my IV's changed every 2 days; on my last day the surgeon had to inject numbing agent to suture up some holes in my lower leg that was from the external fixative frame.
I am grateful to get out of the hospital. I'll be selling my skateboard in a month or so; I'm done with sktaeboarding. It was nice to do, but I realized how fragile the human body is and I'm too old for these risks.
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