We returned from our Yosemite/Lake Tahoe vacation on July 22, and we were all excited to go to Caleb's house the very next day for a party. I am that person who has to unpack and get settled right away after returning from vacation. So, after arriving home around 10pm, we immediately began the chore of cleaning out the car etc. The next morning I ran to the grocery store to replenish our pantry and pick up food for the party dishes I was making. By 3pm when we headed to Caleb's house, I hadn't eaten or drank much and I was completely exhausted! I planned to just lie down in his backyard and take a power nap as the kids played on the slip'n'slide. I never made it that far unfortunately! Soon after we arrived, I was carrying a pile of towels and clothes out to the backyard to get the kids situated with their water activities. As I turned around to shut the sliding door, my very worn out jelly shoes slid down the three steps and I flew onto the concrete. I specifically remember wondering how I was going to get out of the mess of tangled legs to catch myself! I heard gasps, but being very embarrassed, I turned over to quickly get up and realized my wrist looked like this. Ewwww! Obviously broken. And I was wearing my trusty unbreakable Smith's sunglasses which made a small gash above my eyebrow. I couldn't communicate much as I felt like I was going to pass out and/or vomit all over the place. Everyone thought I had hurt my head also, but I knew my head was fine. I listened to James call Instacare and cringed knowing that they'd just send us to the ER, after I had experienced such with Masey Johnson a few years back. I was regretting that I had drilled into James that we always do Instacare first because when he took Jackson to the ER for a head gash it ended up costing us over $700! Caleb and James sat me up and got me into the car while stabilizing my arm, but I had passed out and don't really recall the trip!
At Instacare, they thought I had sustained a head injury and were asking me the date, my name, etc. I couldn't talk much, because again, I was about to vomit everywhere and wanted to keep my mouth shut. They did send us to the ER saying they didn't have the imaging technology to check out my head. What a blessing though,..as soon as we got the the ER I was admitted for a real "emergency head trauma"! As I laid in bed waiting to see the Orthopedic Surgeon on call, I had tears streaming down my face. I wasn't in physical pain, but in emotional pain and frustration knowing that this was going to be a little more than inconvenient! I had a strength training routine down for the past few months and knew that my progress was going to be lost and that I'd have a long recovery ahead. The surgeon advised that surgery with a plate and pins would serve as an internal cast and was the quickest and most flawless way to recovery. It sounded great to not be casted for up to 12 weeks!
I was referred to an Orthopedic surgeon, Dr.Hammon, at TOSH in Murray. He came highly recommended by a few people, and the nurses who cared for me spoke very highly of him before I went in for surgery. So I have 4 breaks, 3 to be pinned and then the scaphoid process will just have to mend itself in time. It's never pinned because it would cause immobility and loss of function in the wrist. Mom and dad took the kids for 6 days to allow me to recover which was amazing! I wasn't ever in much discomfort, except that the ace bandage cut into my thumb as my hand was swollen. That will heal fine though, and my wrist is getting stronger every day. Thank goodness for modern medicine and highly experienced doctors in our area! I should be able to return to my exercise routine of strength training within 2-3 months after surgery. Until then, I'm on the stair master so I don't have to use my wrist. Although it's boring, I'm grateful I can at least do that!
Lesson learned: listen to my body and get adequate rest and nutrition! Being a mom is hard and it's so easy to put our needs on hold to tend to everyone else. I definitely can't do that now as recovery from surgery and healing bones have sucked a lot of my energy dry. I'm doing my best to take it easy and really listen to what my body needs!
The splint I had from the ER was up past my elbow! Thank goodness I only wore that for 3 days!
My cute Primary class made me get well cards
The bandage was so tight it cut into my thumb
Cute Activity Days girls left encouraging notes for me on the door and "ding donged" us
X-rays of the pin and plates. I tried to watch the surgery on youtube, but that lasted 10 seconds before I felt that I would pass out!
