I drove down to Tulare, Ca to visit my mom for mother's day. I wanted to clean the house for her and give her a break for mother's day. She's always working very hard and taking care of everyone else, but, no one ever seems to return the favor. So, I drove down Friday night after work. I brough my dogs with me.
Saturday, the day before Mother's day, I spent all morning cleaning the house and doing laundry for her. Earlier that morning, I had slipped on a step that she has going from the kitchen down into the back porch. My ankle was tight and sore, but no biggie, on with my day.
At 6:00pm, I left for Porterville and went to spend some time with my Aunt and 2 friends. We went to some Italian restaurant for dinner. After dinner, I went to my friend Angel's house and we hung out together.
Sunday morning came and we had breakfast and were all around the house. I went to the cemetary to take Carlos Alves flowers like I have for the past 21 years and to take my father flowers to his grave. After, I went to Walmart to buy my mom a TV for mother's day. When I got home, I gave her the TV and she was very excited. I offered to make the BBQ Carne Asada, but she asked me to connect the TV for her.
So, with the TV in hand, I walked through the kitchen. I was focussing on the spot I was going to connect the TV for her, missed the step leading into the porch again, and all I remember is my foot went to the left, my bone went to the right, I fell on my butt. I was happy that I didn't break the TV. I was screaming bloody murder, MOM, MOM, MOM, come here MOM, when she came, she found me on the floor crying. I felt like I was going to faint. I told her, Call 911, I broke my foot. My step sister called 911 and what seemed like eternity, they finally came to get me. I was having a major anxiety attack. I was breathing very heavy and was shaking like crazy.
Due to the positioning of the slider door between the kitchen and the back porch, the EMT's had to pick me up from behind my back and another from my knees, while another was holding my foot in his hands. I was SCREAMING in pain. The ride to the hospital was MURDER. I felt every single bump. My breathing was intensifying, my shaking was uncontrollable, tears running down my face.
We finally get to Tulare District Hospital and they leave me in the emergency room in the hall way. I was in so much pain, I was crying. When they came to take x-ray's of my ankle, I couldn't help but scream when they moved my foot. The doctor had the nerve to tell me to be quiet. I wasn't screaming for attention. I was in true physical pain. Those who know me know I have a high pain tollerance. This was extrutiating.
They finally get me into a room. They inform me that I have a dis-located ankle, a broken ankle, and a broken fibula. Once I told them I had Kaisser, they could not get me out of that Emergency room fast enough. They put me under and pop my ankle back into place. I wake up with my leg in a splint and wrapped. They tell me that I have to go see an orthopedic surgeon because I will need surgery. I'm still not 100% awake and they take me from my bed and put me in a wheel chair. Again, I am left to sit out there in the middle of the emergency room waiting for my x-rays so I can take them with me to Kaisser.
They gave me Tylenol with Codeine and send me on my way. The drive home was horrible. I could not elevate my leg in the car. My toes were swollen. When I got home, I elevated my leg and went to sleep.
Monday morning, I call Kaisser Orthopedic Suregon's office and expain to them what had happened the night before and they try to book me an appointment later in the week. I told them I needed to be seen today as I was going to be needing surgery. They told me to be in Fresno at 11:45 am. That only gave us 1 hour from Tulare to get there. Normally that is ample time, but my step father is older and tends to move slower than normal. So, we arrived in Fresno around 11:55pm to find out that the Dr. left for lunch. Meanwhile, I had to get and EKG, and bloodwork and by the time I was finished it was 1:30pm. The nurse previously had informed me that they would take me in right at 1:30pm. I begain noticing them taking in other patients and not calling me. So, I went up to the receptionist, explained the situation and they got me in. Another 45 min in the waiting room go by, and by now I'm getting really bitchy because I am in a lot of pain, and I inform them that I have been waiting. They tell me that the doctor was trying to squeeze me in in between patients. I told them this was unacceptable because the doctor had left for lunch early when their scheduled lunch time in from 12:30 - 1:30pm and I got there at 11:55am. The doctor was in a few minutes later. He looked over my x-rays and informed me that I would be going in for surgery later on that night.
So, at 7:30pm, they finally take me in and prep me for surgery. I think my mom said I came out of surgery around 12:30am. The doctor told my mom that the break was a very bad one. I received a steele plate on my fibula with 6 screws, a pin in my heal and a lovely pink cast.
Everytime I would wake up the pain was extrutiating!! I would wake up crying in pain. The nurses would come in and give me a shot of Morofine. Unfortunately, the Morofine wouldn't last 4 hours until the next dose was available and again, I would wake up crying. My poor roomy didn't sleep well that night. I was in too much pain to be quiet. I kept complaining that my cast was on too tight. The pain was insaine. Finally the doctor ordered that they cut the cast on both sides and open it slightly. When they did that, the pain subsided. It was not as intense as it originally was. They re-wrapped my leg with gauze.
I spent 2 days in the hospital because they could not get my pain under control. They finally began giving me a shot every 4 hours and a pill every 2 hours in between to subside the pain. I tell you, I do not wish this experience upon my worst enemy.
It has now been 9 days since my surgery and I am feeling better mind wise, but am still experiencing a lot of pain on my ankle. I can't seem to position myself comfortabilly at night to sleep. SO I toss and turn most of the night. When I finally find that comfy spot, I don't move at all. Walking on crutches or using a walker is a bit challenging. I get tired very quickly. It takes everything I have to go from the bedroom into the kitchen or the bathroom. I have began sitting outside in my wheel chair to get some fresh air. I wheel myself back and forth for about 45 minutes to build up my arm strength.
Taking a shower is quite challenging. My mom put a tall chair in the bath tub. I have to use my crutches to back up and scoot myself onto the chair and hope it doesn't flip over. My right leg has to be elevated outside of the bath tub and wrapped to ensure it doesn't get wet. I use a hand held shower head to get the soap off my body. I'm someone who loves soaking in the tub and I can no longer do that. I also enjoy long, hot showers, and with a hand held, I cannot enjoy those anymore either. So, I just wash myself the best I can and make sure I don't miss any spots except for my let that is forbidden to get wet.
I got up and made myself some waffles for breakfast today. That was a challenge. I get to tired trying to stay on my crutches and good foot. The cast is very heavy and I get winded trying to walk. Every move is moving the plate inch by inch with every step I take so that I can eventually get over the couch, sit down and eat.
I keep reading online about other people who have gone through what I am going through and I am scared to walk when the day comes. It sounds like it's going to be very painful. I keep moving my toes as much as possible to promote mobility in my foot. I will keep you posted.
My spirit is a little broken because I went from a very independent woman and a pratically immobilized woman. That is very hard for me to have to depend on others to take care of me. I'm always the one taking care of others.
If you are reading this and have gone through or are going through what I am, I would love to hear your story. We need to support eachother.
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