(no subject)
James' hospital appointment went well this morning, and he now has
He's also looking a heck of a lot better than the last photo I shared.
The appointment started in a frustrating way. Kayleigh drove us to the hospital, and we got there at 9. Got the wheelchair out, pushed James to check in for just after 9 and were directed straight to x-ray, at which point I though, great, this may not take too long.
Got to x-ray, didn't have to wait too long and James was wheeled away to the room. Then about ten minutes later was wheeled back, looking annoyed and saying it was down he was there to have his foot and ankle x ray'ed. Despite James protesting, they still did those x rays, and asked, could he lie on his back? No. Could he lie on his left side, double no. But they got them somehow, brought him back, and off we went back to reception to see what was going on.
At this point the receptionist went off to investigate, as James had the appointment on his phone saying he was there for an essential fracture check, and not an x ray of his foot and ankle. At which point a nurse from the emergency day case unit, which is where we were supposed to go after x ray, arrived looking for us.
She got involved with trying to work out what happened, and it seems James had another appointment for a different orthopaedic consultant to check his ankle and foot, co coincidentally, at the same time and date, but that appointment had been cancelled ages ago so how the information got mixed up I don't know.
Anyway, that sorted she took us to the day case unit and we finally saw the doctor who said as the fractures were being treated conservatively, ie, no surgery, the best option was to fit a fixed brace and just wait for healing. Problem was, x rays needed to be taken once the back slab had been taken off and before the brace was fitted.
That removal was done there and then, and was not a fun experience for James, and then off we went to x-ray again. Where we found out the reception still didn't have any requests for a arm x-ray. So, the receptionist had to go phone to chase things up, and finally James went off for the right x-ray, leading to many mutterings in the waiting crowd as at this point things were getting backed up and wait times were long. But, they had promised he'd be put first in the queue, and once the right orders actually came through, that did happen.
From there it was off to the plaster room to be fitted with the brace, and after some pulling and measuring, James says it feels more comfortable than the back slab. Which isn't surprising as that thing was getting soft and also digging into his wrist and the crease of his elbow.
Left there to go back to the day case unit to wait for the doctor to do a final check. The doctor says James elbow is like a bag of bones, and will just take time to heal, between three and six months to heal completely, but he can take the brace off a little for washing, and I was shown how to work the locking joint so when James feels comfortable, and is in much less pain, the lock can be taken off allowing for some movement.
No driving for six weeks, mainly for insurance purposes, and then he can see how his arm feels in terms of strength and if he can manage wearing the brace. Then in a few weeks, he'll be sent some physio appointments to help get some movement back.
Now he's snoozing on the couch wrapped in his heated blanket, which is unsurprising since he's been up since 4:30 this morning.
So yeah, as good as it could be really, even if I spent a lot of time walking the same corridors today.
He's also looking a heck of a lot better than the last photo I shared.
The appointment started in a frustrating way. Kayleigh drove us to the hospital, and we got there at 9. Got the wheelchair out, pushed James to check in for just after 9 and were directed straight to x-ray, at which point I though, great, this may not take too long.
Got to x-ray, didn't have to wait too long and James was wheeled away to the room. Then about ten minutes later was wheeled back, looking annoyed and saying it was down he was there to have his foot and ankle x ray'ed. Despite James protesting, they still did those x rays, and asked, could he lie on his back? No. Could he lie on his left side, double no. But they got them somehow, brought him back, and off we went back to reception to see what was going on.
At this point the receptionist went off to investigate, as James had the appointment on his phone saying he was there for an essential fracture check, and not an x ray of his foot and ankle. At which point a nurse from the emergency day case unit, which is where we were supposed to go after x ray, arrived looking for us.
She got involved with trying to work out what happened, and it seems James had another appointment for a different orthopaedic consultant to check his ankle and foot, co coincidentally, at the same time and date, but that appointment had been cancelled ages ago so how the information got mixed up I don't know.
Anyway, that sorted she took us to the day case unit and we finally saw the doctor who said as the fractures were being treated conservatively, ie, no surgery, the best option was to fit a fixed brace and just wait for healing. Problem was, x rays needed to be taken once the back slab had been taken off and before the brace was fitted.
That removal was done there and then, and was not a fun experience for James, and then off we went to x-ray again. Where we found out the reception still didn't have any requests for a arm x-ray. So, the receptionist had to go phone to chase things up, and finally James went off for the right x-ray, leading to many mutterings in the waiting crowd as at this point things were getting backed up and wait times were long. But, they had promised he'd be put first in the queue, and once the right orders actually came through, that did happen.
From there it was off to the plaster room to be fitted with the brace, and after some pulling and measuring, James says it feels more comfortable than the back slab. Which isn't surprising as that thing was getting soft and also digging into his wrist and the crease of his elbow.
Left there to go back to the day case unit to wait for the doctor to do a final check. The doctor says James elbow is like a bag of bones, and will just take time to heal, between three and six months to heal completely, but he can take the brace off a little for washing, and I was shown how to work the locking joint so when James feels comfortable, and is in much less pain, the lock can be taken off allowing for some movement.
No driving for six weeks, mainly for insurance purposes, and then he can see how his arm feels in terms of strength and if he can manage wearing the brace. Then in a few weeks, he'll be sent some physio appointments to help get some movement back.
Now he's snoozing on the couch wrapped in his heated blanket, which is unsurprising since he's been up since 4:30 this morning.
So yeah, as good as it could be really, even if I spent a lot of time walking the same corridors today.