Clearly, I haven't written in a while, but all in good reason. You see I haven't had access to a computer in the last 2 weeks, and some major shit has happened.
I went up to Uni (a 2 hour drive away from my Melbourne home), still in a lot of pain and still on crutches the day before i had to present a maths project (an oral presentation that had been put off for 5 weeks due to my "injury"). Arrived in good old Bendigo and although extremely sore from the trip, went off to the pub for a meal, and went back to my house. It was a pretty early night for me, and i went off to sleep as normal but many hours earlier than normal.
About 4am, I awoke in extreme pain, in my left butt cheek. I already knew i had a tear in the gluteus maximus, and was unable to explain the new onset as i had been asleep! Anyway i couldn't get comfortable and the pain was worsening so i took some medication. I cried quietly in pain while my mother slept beside me.
Although i knew something was seriously wrong, and i wouldn't be able to get back home to Melbourne on the medications i had available, i had to go to Uni and present, knowing it would only take 10-15 mins and i would be able to go to the hospital straight after.
I painfully arrived at the hospital in 10/10 pain, and was told to go wait in the waiting room. Actually she told me to take a seat, but knowing full well i couldn't sit down, which was half the reason i went there in the first place, and after informing her of this, she told me to lean again something instead. Within 10 minutes ( i wouldn't of lasted much longer) the doctor came to call me in. My mother followed. I layed down in the bed, then had to put on a gown as the Dr.'s decided to take a E.E.G. . I had high blood pressure and an extremely high heart rate, not unusual for someone in so much pain. After explaining the history to what felt like 10 different people (nurses, Dr.'s, student nurse's, student Dr,'s etc..) the chief Dr. came in to examine me. at one point he hit what seemed to be a bomb, as all pain spots in my legs exploded into extreme pain. The lovely screen that showed my BP, HR etc also erupted as my blood pressure rose to alarm levels as did my heart rate at 145 bpm.
The chief doc left to ring my new doctors to decide the best course of action. before i knew it, i was being wheeled off to the small intensive care part of the ED, as they started a Ketamine drip or shall i say 'shots mixed with a saline bag'. The first shot consisted of 20ml and i have never tripped out before, but i can tell you, i don't want to do it again. All i remember was a horrible experience, with people staying still, but the rest of the room becoming a blur. It reduced my pain for a short period of time, but as i came out of the hallucination, the pain came back, just as bad. Over the course of an hour, i had another two 'shots' containing about 10ml - luckily they didn't cause any hallucinations however didn't do much for the pain.
Before I knew it, i was being told they had a bed for me at a private hospital in Melbourne and were going to ambulance me down, and the paramedics would be arriving in approximately 5-10 mins. Holy shit somehow between 11 -2 disappeared in all of that and next thing i was aware of i was being transferred into an ambulance.
The Ambulance consisted of a bumpy ride of about 180km, i was treated to 2.5ml of morphine every half hour, on oxygen and we changed ambulances at Kyneton. I arrived at the hospital where i am now, between 5-6pm and i have remained here ever since. Before i forget to mention it, I spent my 23rd birthday in here (friday the 16th) which sucked, but i got lovely visitors which/but i guess it was just a good excuse for my friends to come visit.
which was followed by an inflamed area with 20 hours or so:
After 4 days of this I eventually got it put in IV but I've also managed to get a rash there too. Ill save you the picture of my itchy scratchy spotty arm.
A few positives of my stay here however have been, I got to meet a fellow twitter friend @rellacafa, who I've shared many thoughts with and she's helped me get through some tough times in this hospital even! But Hayley was the one who inspired me to write this blog thing, and i can tell you, meeting her was definitely a highlight, and someone i know i will be friend with on and off the Internet. She was so kind, she even bought me a 'get better soon/happy birthday' gift and card!
Meet 'Brawson' - a small but inspiring bear to get through the hard times!
I was told he likes to play twister, sing karaoke and eat gingerbread!
However I've layed here for most of my 11 days so far, I'm only starting to work with the physio and psychologist and I'm not sure of how much longer ill be here for. Unfortunately i wont be able to blog again most likely, until i get home, so ill leave you with some pictures of some of the HOSPITAL food I've been getting. You can see all pics on my twitpic page but here the current ones are:
and they taste as good as they look!
As usual, feel free to comment, send me an email to jl4cummins@students.latrobe.edu.au, facebook me or message me on twitter @jencummins16.
hope to be back soon,
signing out,
Jen xo
PS you can get to Hayleys/@rellacafa's blog by clicking here
