Update on My Head
In brief, my head is improving and is, in fact, easier to live with than it was after my fall in October. In that instance, I gave myself quite the hematoma, but the skin wasn't broken. Consequently, the swelling, which was sizable, pushed against the skin; it hurt. It has taken more than four months for the swelling to subside; it is still mildly tender if I push on it.
On the contrary, Tuesday's injury broke the skin, and the wound apparently bled copiously. So, 'a jagged cut,' as the E.R. doctor who sewed it up called it, but no swelling and not much pain.
Another difference: nobody seemed to see the first bump; trained medical personnel would be looking right at it and ask where it was. In the present case, anybody who walks around to my right side says, "Omigod," which convinces me that it looks pretty awful.
The doctor who discharged me on Wednesday wanted me to see my physician by Friday. I was able to get an appointment for 4:00 p.m. on Friday with my usual doctor's associate, Dr. Jaeger. I was impressed: he is pleasant and competent. The appointment itself was pretty much a non-event. John took me, so he was able to confirm to Jaegar that when I spoke to him right after the fall, my speech was clear and with no slurring (no stroke?).
Nobody -- not the three doctors who examined me in the hospital, not John, not Jaeger -- is interested in the fact that when I fell I wrenched my torso badly. "It's muscular, and it'll get better." Yeah, and in the meantime, sitting up, standing up, sitting down, changing position in bed, coughing and laughing all hurt. I wasn't allowed to take aspirin until yesterday, and that was all John and Pam had in the house. When I got home, my stock of Advil was down to three, all of which I took. The improvement was huge and immediate. Sam went out this morning and got me another bottle which, in her medical capacity, she said I should continue to take. I am happy to comply.
I'm still having a few dizzy spells, but in the last two days, they have all occurred when I was flat on my back in bed. Not too scary. I'm cautious about bending over, but I found I have a pretty good range of motion as long as I keep my head up straight, so squatting, not bending.
I go in sometime this week to get my stitches out, and I need to see my doctor in four weeks for follow up. The drama is definitely winding down. FanSee
On the contrary, Tuesday's injury broke the skin, and the wound apparently bled copiously. So, 'a jagged cut,' as the E.R. doctor who sewed it up called it, but no swelling and not much pain.
Another difference: nobody seemed to see the first bump; trained medical personnel would be looking right at it and ask where it was. In the present case, anybody who walks around to my right side says, "Omigod," which convinces me that it looks pretty awful.
The doctor who discharged me on Wednesday wanted me to see my physician by Friday. I was able to get an appointment for 4:00 p.m. on Friday with my usual doctor's associate, Dr. Jaeger. I was impressed: he is pleasant and competent. The appointment itself was pretty much a non-event. John took me, so he was able to confirm to Jaegar that when I spoke to him right after the fall, my speech was clear and with no slurring (no stroke?).
Nobody -- not the three doctors who examined me in the hospital, not John, not Jaeger -- is interested in the fact that when I fell I wrenched my torso badly. "It's muscular, and it'll get better." Yeah, and in the meantime, sitting up, standing up, sitting down, changing position in bed, coughing and laughing all hurt. I wasn't allowed to take aspirin until yesterday, and that was all John and Pam had in the house. When I got home, my stock of Advil was down to three, all of which I took. The improvement was huge and immediate. Sam went out this morning and got me another bottle which, in her medical capacity, she said I should continue to take. I am happy to comply.
I'm still having a few dizzy spells, but in the last two days, they have all occurred when I was flat on my back in bed. Not too scary. I'm cautious about bending over, but I found I have a pretty good range of motion as long as I keep my head up straight, so squatting, not bending.
I go in sometime this week to get my stitches out, and I need to see my doctor in four weeks for follow up. The drama is definitely winding down. FanSee