Sometimes, you have to put in to perspective that you are older and cannot do the same things in the same amount of time it has always taken you. This came true for me at the end of the week and I am now consigned to languish at home, bored until I can manipulate this walking boot and not be in pain from a severely sprained ankle.
Twenty years ago, I would have fallen like I did last Thursday and thought, "What a klutz.' I would have gotten up, dusted myself off and continued with what I was doing. That is not what happened to me last week.
As I was walking across my pool deck, the basket pole which was propped up against one of my lounge chairs blew across and down toward me, right as I was taking a step. My legs got tangled up in the pole and I went down, hard and my ankle felt like it snapped. It didn't, thank God, but as I was trying to crawl back in to the house, dogs surrounding me and crying, I just knew it was broken.
I reached a friend who took me to the emergency room and from then until this morning, I realized just how getting older can create a fragility you never realized you had.
I think it began in the ER when a lady came up to ask me questions I had already been asked and answered. I was in pain, had been waiting an hour since X-rays, no one was talking to me and this lady was asking me was I allergic to any medications and if I had insurance. (the answer was yes to both) but I had already been asked these questions, answered them, had my ID and insurance card scanned in to the system. I hate ineptitude which I let her know when I informed her I had already answered all these questions and then she found them. Ugh. 15 minutes later she was back with "One more thing." She informed me there was a $100 deductible for my insurance and how did I plan to pay? After informing her in no uncertain terms that I would prefer she dun me for money after I had at least received a diagnoses or some pain meds or something, she left again.
PA came out and gave me my diagnoses, a boot, some crutches, one pain pill and sent me on my way with instructions to call an orthopedic guy on Monday if I felt anything different, more pain or swelling, etc.
I live by myself so my friends and my son have really been instrumental in keeping me sane. They have called and texted me, fixed my morning coffee and fed my dogs, gone shopping and picked up my mail. This is where you really realize how fragile you are when you are older and by yourself. I can still speak up for myself, like I did in the hospital. I hate to but will still ask for help when I need it. I cannot imagine being here, laid up with a sprained ankle and not having someone who you could call if you needed help.
I know there are people in my area and I am sure, your area, who may could use a little help. It could be as simple as taking their garbage can to the road for pickup or feeding their dogs because they cannot bend over. Perhaps it is a neighbor or someone you know from church. We must all be there for each other to help. It is the way we have survived. I am sure grateful for those around me this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment