My trip to the ER yesterday
So I am walking down the hall at work, minding my own business. I walk from the carpeted area to the hardwood reception area and I slip. I fall and know that both the receptionist and my boss (a VP) have just seen me do it. I was totally embarassed. I knew I had twisted my ankle, but I thought it was nothing more. Then I looked down. And there it was. My KNEECAP showing. My left knee had hit the raised metal border around the hardwood just perfectly. It cut a flap of skin about 6 inches long in a semi circle on the top part of my knee. It was totally loose and you could only see bone. I almost freaked out. At this point there was no blood and I really wasn't in any pain. I just said "Oh My God" over and over. Then people starting coming over and the looks on their faces showed me that it was as bad as I thought.
My boss (a great guy by the way) came up and looked terrified and then had someone get the first aid kit. He wanted to put some pressure on the wound, but it still wasn't really bleeding which was the weird part. Then some other people came along, they looked at it and everyone ran to go call 911. I was calmly sitting there and said 'oh do you think I need to go to the hospital or get stitches', and they all were like 'of course'.
So the ambulance arrives ten minutes later, the EMS people laugh because I said I didn't think it was a problem and didn't need to go to the doctor. We get to the hospital and they give me a tetanus shot, clean the wound, use a needle to numb the area (by sticking it in the wound 5 separate places OWWWWWWW), then he stitched it up as best he could. I was in soooo much pain. I also couldn't look at it since it was so huge and gross it was making me lightheaded. I took some antibiotics to be sure as well.
He did say I was really lucky because another millimeter would've landed me in the operating room. He also noted that since I cut the entire top of the knee open that is why it didn't bleed much (the blood vessels run down not up), but that he was very concerned that this wouldn't heal properly since the tissue might not get enough blood flow.
My ankle is bruised and sprained too, with some rug burns too, but that was the least of my worries.
They put a dressing on it and a huge knee immobilizer (like when you dislocate it) and sent me packing. I have to see an orthopedist on Tuesday and a plastic surgeon after that.
So I am in the new house (4 level split, so 4 sets of stairs) with the baby and DH is still at the old house in DC (he comes down on the weekends). Man, when it rains, it pours.
My boss (a great guy by the way) came up and looked terrified and then had someone get the first aid kit. He wanted to put some pressure on the wound, but it still wasn't really bleeding which was the weird part. Then some other people came along, they looked at it and everyone ran to go call 911. I was calmly sitting there and said 'oh do you think I need to go to the hospital or get stitches', and they all were like 'of course'.
So the ambulance arrives ten minutes later, the EMS people laugh because I said I didn't think it was a problem and didn't need to go to the doctor. We get to the hospital and they give me a tetanus shot, clean the wound, use a needle to numb the area (by sticking it in the wound 5 separate places OWWWWWWW), then he stitched it up as best he could. I was in soooo much pain. I also couldn't look at it since it was so huge and gross it was making me lightheaded. I took some antibiotics to be sure as well.
He did say I was really lucky because another millimeter would've landed me in the operating room. He also noted that since I cut the entire top of the knee open that is why it didn't bleed much (the blood vessels run down not up), but that he was very concerned that this wouldn't heal properly since the tissue might not get enough blood flow.
My ankle is bruised and sprained too, with some rug burns too, but that was the least of my worries.
They put a dressing on it and a huge knee immobilizer (like when you dislocate it) and sent me packing. I have to see an orthopedist on Tuesday and a plastic surgeon after that.
So I am in the new house (4 level split, so 4 sets of stairs) with the baby and DH is still at the old house in DC (he comes down on the weekends). Man, when it rains, it pours.
posted by Nicole VA @ 10:57 AM
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