A Peek Inside a Covid19 Hospital

[BoSoxGal]

My local hospital - same where I was born nearly 50 years ago, but which no longer has a maternity ward - was designated a covid19 treatment facility a few weeks ago with all other treatment diverted to other area facilities.

The ER remains open and like all ERs nationwide, initial triage diverts covid19 presumptive patients to a different area for quarantine from patients presenting with other emergency conditions.

That was me yesterday afternoon, after tripping and falling and breaking my wrist while getting up from a lawn chair where I had been absorbing some D and fresh air with my cousin/housemate. The joys of a damaged neurological system!

Anyway, spent 3 hours there getting X-rays and pain meds and after the terrific PA consulted with a hand surgeon over my X-rays, a lovely splint/wrap/sling pending followup evaluation with the orthopedic surgeon today or Monday.

The ER was much quieter than normal - most of the usual contingent who use it for frontline medical and social work access are keeping away. Everyone is masked of course, but turns out they’re mostly wonderful at smiling and conveying comfort with their eyes. Wrist fractured in two places and impacted as well translates to pain much more excruciating than a broken ankle, but a blend of ice, ibuprofen, low dose oxycodone and a nice strong splint improved things exponentially. I scored a surgical mask from the experience, which will protect others better than the lame dust mask I’ve been wearing.

I’ve watched the obits the past few weeks and I know a fair number of folks have passed at our little covid19 hospital, but apparently (according to my treating PA) it is scheduled to revert back to full service care within the next couple of weeks, so while our numbers are still rising, the hospital system anyway has determined it isn’t in fear of being overrun.

I’m always a good and gracious patient (it’s true, the nursing care staff always tells me so), but I made an even bigger effort to express my heartfelt thanks to all who cared for me last night. Had some no BS conversations about what it’s been like for them to be on the frontlines in our covid19 hotspot. Humbling stuff.

Don’t worry too much, it’s my left wrist- I’ll still be able to visit here and spread my usual charm. & Hopefully I didn’t catch the corona.

[Gob]

Best of luck for a full and speedy recovery.

[Darren]

Does your situation involve the myelin? If so R Lipoic Acid.

[ex-khobar Andy]

Get well soon, BSG. Let me know when you plan to do some of that charm spreading. I can get you a good deal on one of these if you need it in order to rest that wrist.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Wish you a speedy recovery BSG!

[BoSoxGal]

Get well soon, BSG. Let me know when you plan to do some of that charm spreading. I can get you a good deal on one of these if you need it in order to rest that wrist.

[BoSoxGal]

Wish you a speedy recovery BSG!

This looks like a silverback gorilla with a tiny dog's face.

[MajGenl.Meade]

This looks like a silverback gorilla with a tiny dog's face.

I get that a lot

[RayThom]

... breaking my wrist while getting up from a lawn chair where I had been absorbing some D and fresh air with my cousin/housemate. The joys of a damaged neurological system!

Does that "D" stand for Daiquiris?

We obviously both know the aggravating effect of neurological disorders. I, too, am diagnosed as a falling risk on my medical chart but I have yet to fall.

I hope it doesn't prevent you from driving the ol' RAV4. Think positive, and heal quickly.

PS. Dr. Darren has asked, "Does your situation involve the myelin? If so R Lipoic Acid." Watch out, this could be a Trump cure right from the ass of Trump, so be cautious.

[BoSoxGal]

I try to be extra careful, but admittedly during lockdown I haven’t kept up with my walking and proprioception exercises as well as usual and due to the neurological deficits I quickly regress. This incident however was a stumble that could’ve happened to a healthier person - though they might’ve been able to recover balance without taking such a hard fall.

Anyway as soon as the initial pain subsides and I’m off the oxy, I’ll get back to my one leg stands and walking/stair climbing.

I might also try hydroxychloroquine mixed with Lysol for my balance issues. Sounds like it could be beautiful.

[Big RR]

All the best in your recovery, BSG.

[Long Run]

Ditto.

[Scooter]

Hope you heal up soon.

[dales]

I might also try hydroxychloroquine mixed with Lysol for my balance issues. Sounds like it could be beautiful.

Works wonders for vertigo.

[Guinevere]

Heal quickly and stay healthy.

[Econoline]

OUCH! Best wishes for as-speedy-as-possible recovery.


I hope the loss of use of your left hand doesn't turn you into a right-winger!

[TPFKA@W]

Around 35 years ago I fractured my right index finger in 2 places. Being as it was my dominate hand it was a huge inconvenience. It also hurt worse than my metatarsal fx ever did. In fact it still hurts now and then. It's a pity you didn't do this while working then you could have an income and the bills paid too. Oddly, I am making as much sitting on my caboose as I earned up running around, in net figures. May the healing force be with you. I get my verdict Monday on whether I will be having surgery or not.

On another note, if the surgeon did not tell you too I would highly recommend taking calcium and vitamin D. Most women of declining years are short on both and the D helps the calcium absorption. (Men on here listen up, you need to start taking it too, your bones are not invulnerable to fracture and the threat increases as you get older.)

[Bicycle Bill]

Get well soon, BSG. Let me know when you plan to do some of that charm spreading. I can get you a good deal on one of these if you need it in order to rest that wrist.

I thought that was a recent picture of Trump speaking at a press conference out by the Rose Garden.

And to BSG — get well soon.  This place wouldn't be the same without you spreading .... well, whatever it is you're spreading around here.    

-"BB"-

[BoSoxGal]

Around 35 years ago I fractured my right index finger in 2 places. Being as it was my dominate hand it was a huge inconvenience. It also hurt worse than my metatarsal fx ever did. In fact it still hurts now and then. It's a pity you didn't do this while working then you could have an income and the bills paid too. Oddly, I am making as much sitting on my caboose as I earned up running around, in net figures. May the healing force be with you. I get my verdict Monday on whether I will be having surgery or not.

On another note, if the surgeon did not tell you too I would highly recommend taking calcium and vitamin D. Most women of declining years are short on both and the D helps the calcium absorption. (Men on here listen up, you need to start taking it too, your bones are not invulnerable to fracture and the threat increases as you get older.)

Thank you for that good advice, which thankfully I've already been following a few years now - 5000iu D3 daily after suffering chronic deficiency for a few years and several prescription courses of 50,000 iu/week not 'sticking' for long. Also take 600mg calcium daily in addition to my Centrum Silver multi for Women. I am definitely in the category of middle aged folk who don't absorb enough vitamins from diet despite a fairly healthy diet including fortified foods. A little over a year ago my 3rd neurologist pinpointed a major cause of my panoply of neurological symptoms and deficits as a longstanding B1 (thiamine) deficiency that gave rise to dry beriberi disease; after supplementing I have much improvement, but some damage is permanent. I'm a huge proponent now of vitamin levels testing in folks my age with neuro symptoms and fatigue, depression, etc. It's alarmingly common to find deficiencies and shocking to me that a simple cheap vitamin level test didn't happen for a number of years while repeated MRIs, spinal tap, and a host of other autoimmune disease screenings did.

In any case my ortho was very pleased with the healing in my ankle and foot last year so i am hoping my regime helps knit up this wrist fracture quickly and solidly, too. I am just nervous about the prospect of surgical intervention - I gather the hand surgeon I've been referred to is excellent, but I hope he determines it isn't necessary as this would be my 4th go-round with general anesthesia and I do worry about going under again even though I did well each time, and also because I've read that pain is significantly increased in bone surgeries so that is unnerving.

[BoSoxGal]

I have to have surgery - orthopedic surgeon was ready for tomorrow, but there are no more rapid covid19 tests in stock so I can’t have surgery until Friday when my test results come back - everyone gets covid19 tested as pre-op these days.

The nasal swab is fucking horrible - it goes all the way up until they tickle the brain, I swear. My eyes both gushed from the reflex and discomfort - they swab both nostrils so 2x the brain tickling.

I like the surgeon, he’s a Canadian - from Toronto - and says aboot. We chatted about the Nova Scotia massacre and Canada’s reasonable response, and the clusterfuck American government response to the pandemic. I feel very confident about him drilling my bones. I’m going to have permanent hardware unless it causes pain, in which case I might need it removed sometime down the road.

Anyway scared about general anesthesia as I always am, but hopefully it goes well as it always has. If I die, I loved most of you more than I hated you.