I have wifi from my apt right now so here's an update. I called the ER because the pain is so terrible, still, and they told me there are no pain relievers that are stronger than what they gave me. So I am taking oxycodone and ibuprofen. I have to return to the hospital tomorrow morning to see an orthopedic surgeon so it looks as though surgery is still an option, and possibly likely based on what I've been told by others.
I am trying to distract myself from the pain by reading a book that one of my readers sent as a Christmas gift, The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar. I can only read a few pages at a time, but it is such a delightful story .. I mean how can I not fall in love with a book with this as the opening scene?
Dinnie, an overweight enemy of humanity, was the worst violinist in New York, but was practicing gamely when two cute little fairies stumbled through his fourth-floor window and vomited on the carpet.
"Sorry," said one.
"Don't worry," said the other. "Fairy vomit is no doubt sweet-smelling to humans."
Anyway, I hope that my birds don't learn how to say "ow ow ow ow" even though they sure hear it a lot.
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Nemo, Che, and I hope your wing recovers soon. Get lots of rest and sleep as much as possible. Remember we're all thinking of you here in the south.
I'm glad to know that you have a follow-up appointment tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm providing generic nursing advice based on the very general info. you provided about the injury in your posts:
*Check your peripheral pulse every four hours while you are awake, and if at any time you note any of the following, and note whether the pulse is weak or absent (radial pulse in the wrist is the easiest to check, but you can also check the ulnar and antecubital pulses):
*Coolness/coldness in any part of your arm from fingertips up
*Change in color - paleness, blue tinge in the nail beds, or redness or streaks anywhere from fingertips up
*Change in sensation from tingling, pins and needles, hypersensitivity or inability to distinguish pinpoint touch or pressure from the fingertips up
*Change in the quality and severity of pain anywhere
*Ability to sense movement of the affected bone(s)
*Evidence of swelling or ecchymoses. If so, if you can, take a Sharpie and outline the area so that changes in size can be tracked.
*Comfort management:
*Use a frozen bag of peas as an ice pack (or a moldable ice pack) and apply directly over the fracture, checking the temp. of your skin every twenty to thirty minutes. (Cover the pack with a washcloth or thin piece of cloth).
*Keep the arm elevated on a firm pillow/bolster/foam wedge
*Do not use the arm to lift any weight of any kind.
*When bathing, keep the arm in the sling, if possible. if not, and you can manage it, use the old tried and true triangle cloth sling to keep your arm in alignment and bathe with it in place. If none of that works, then try to hold the arm still when it's out of the sling and unprotected.
*If ibuprofen isn't working, try another NSAID, such as naproxyn (Aleve), if you know you are not allergic and have no other contraindications for using. But don't take more than one NSAID at a time.
*If you have any sign of circulatory or neurologic alteration - no matter how slight - go back to the ED immediately. Those can often be irreversible and they have a very short window of opportunity to reverse the problem and address the underlying issue.
Again - call me if I can be of help! (Hope that some of your local SciBlings can check in on you and help you with immediate needs)
I just hope your birds don't learn anything worse than "ow ow ow". You could try teaching them "Perkele". It works best if you roll the r. And, frequent observation of others has suggested, if you're drunk.
I can't offer any medical advice - I use to work in pathology, but that experience is not much use unless you're a barley plant. But be careful, there are lots of us here thinking of you. Even Jack is looking downcast.
I hope it works out for you.
Maybe they can put a screw in and stabilize the break. Once it is stable the pain should be minimal. On the up side if they leave the screw in you might be able to avoid the metal detectors at the airport.
i am kinda hoping for surgery at this point because of the pain and the moving bone is really freaking me out.
oh, and i just thought of this; i can always correctly claim that i got screwed in NYC!
Polly want a fracture? Of course not. What an awful development. Feel better my friend.
My parrots and I send our love to you, Grrl. As you are able to, please keep updating on your blog.
"i can always correctly claim that i got screwed in NYC!"
ROFLMAO I love it! Glad to hear your sense of humor isn't broken!
I don't know how long it takes your birds to learn to say something new, but as long as you don't accidently teach them to say "OW, DAMMMIT! OW, $#!+!! OW, F**K!!!" I don't think you need to worry, especially if you can get that thing fixed soon.
Aleve is good. I'm an ibuprofen fan myself, but I've used it a couple of times. I used to work with someone who took it for menstrual cramps that would have her bent over double, turning pale, and breaking out in a cold sweat otherwise. She swore by it.
I've been meaning to ask you: How are the birdies doing these days? I know they had a hell of a lot of stress while you were away!
I'm sending you all kinds of good vibes. Take care.
If misery does love company, British actor and blogger Stephen Fry broke his arm in the Amazon basin. And now he is well enough to podcast about it.
http://stephenfry.com/blog/?p=38
http://stephenfry.com/blog/?p=40
Quote-mining themadlolscientist:
Now I remember what I've been trying to recall! The Goddamn Parrot in the Garrett, P.I. series of fantasy-detective novels by Glen Cook. This parrot has a very ripe vocabulary, and is particularly good at mimicking children being assaulted. Garrett, who was given the parrot as a gift/joke by one of his best friends, is constantly trying to get the bird to STFU least he be accused of committing the acts the parrot is mimicking. (Garrett is a good guy and is not a parrot or child molester; he's their rescuer.) It's a rather amusing side-story-line in the novels.