June 1, 2010

• With a little help from my friends…a view from the other side.

     

  Now that I am about 7 weeks post op from my surgery….trochanteric left femur fracture…thought I might reflect on some of the insights of this journey.

  
  

  A view from the other side, well have both worked as a health care professional and now been a patient in the health care system.

   

  Whatever side you may find yourself, I hope the following points may be helpful:

   

  • Sleep with your sock on the injured leg, easier in getting dressed the next morning
  • When helping on stairs, curbs or car entry, offer your elbow, don’t grab mine..it is sturdier that way
  • Going up inclines backwards is easier in wheelchairs
  • Backing up to open when on crutches or walkers non automatic doors is the easiest or asking someone
  • Cloth bags are great for transporting everything but make sure they can go over your shoulder & forget about being a fashion statement!
  • If you don’t know how to help or what is needed ASK, not knowing is OK!
  • My lack of former independence is my greatest struggle. Don’t be offended if I rebuff an offer of help and don’t take it personally. I will figure a way and probably come back later.
  • Food is always welcome, especially something I can freeze as by dinner time my energy level is pretty well depleted
  • Anything that involves stairs in the initial weeks post-op is really scary, so just be next to me or carry my bag or take down the laundry to the basement
  • Your provincial health care and Blue Cross probably does NOT cover ambulance services, including air ambulance. Before you travel out of province make sure you get travel insurance.
  • Photo copy all your documents
  • For medical appointments encourage me to write down questions
  • Be a patient or client advocate in the hospital or rehab setting, especially in the early stages of the injury as meds and pain level may impair my short term memory
  • “So on a scale of 1 to 10 what is your pain level? “  I don’t know it just HURTS!
  • Say thank-you to those RN’s, LPNs, OTs, PTs, X-ray porters, hospital room cleaners, social workers, they need as much encouragement as you in their hectic, often understaffed days
  • Do not regale me with stories of other’s similar accidents “ it could have been worse “ scenarios. I have probably seen most of them in my first few days post op on the orthopedics ward
  • I know that “ all things work together for good “  but telling me that is the early stages of injury or loss is not helpful. Several months down the road, I will be able to reflect on the meaning and purpose of events but not right now.
  • Don’t park in “H” parking spots unless you have a tag because there is someone that genuinely needs that space.
  • Same applies to the use of wheelchairs at hospital entrances
  • Be patient with my use of wheelchair walker or crutches: I move SLOWLY, but an offer to carry my bag is appreciated
  • Good accurate information on my medical condition and prognosis is helpful; it helps me make good and realistic decisions.
  • Share any insights you may have from your own experience or profession as how I might handle better my recovery and healing period. E.g. a retired physio at church said my steps with the walker “ were painful “ to watch. We practiced with my crutches, taking long strides with head up and back straight.  Abit of an attitude shift as well.
  • A sense of humour really helps on both ends e.g. the card with Tigger about losing my bounce, bionic women and airport x-rays, “ Hop along Cassidy”
  • Little things make a difference: holding a door, helping make a bed with fresh sheets, unloading heavy bags or the wheelchair from the car
  • I have repeated my story many times but if detailed medical descriptions make you uncomfortable, let me know. Sometimes those of us who work in health care for get that those in other fields may be abit squeamish.

   

  All in all it does get better with changes at 3 weeks and 6 weeks but bones takes 12 weeks to heal so the full recovery period is longer.

   

  So with a little help from my friends and family…

   

   

  • 2:19 pm
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