Freak Accident...

This is my freak accident story.... which could probably happen to anyone... and perhaps the lesson is to slow down and take it easy and not do too much at once.

As all of you know, been working to the bone ever since I returned from Melb. It's been hectic and crazy.

Then one morn, went to help J fix a light bulb at her place cause she was moving rooms... It was in the kitchen and it was slippery because the cleaners came. But their light bulb needed fixing and I said I'll do it. So I used J's stool - a bad decision, because as I installed the light bulb, and slipped (which rotated the stool about 360 degrees) and I hit it and then the floor. I couldn't really get up and J's housemate had to carry me into his car. He rushed me to emergency at about 7.30am, told the hospital staff that I was in a lot of pain. They then stretchered me from the car into the emergency ward where my blood pressure, X-rays, etc, were all taken. They also gave me a minor pain-killer because they wanted me to be alert enough to let them know what I was allergic to. I actually waited for quite a while as they were sorting out theatres and beds. After my X-ray results were released, the doc said I had a severe rib fracture and needed immediate surgery as it was touching my nerve. He also said it's a good thing I didn't have a full break or I'd be looking at about 6-8 weeks off everything. It was a day surgery from 12pm and I was discharged at about 6pm in the evening... TY rang me at about 5pm and I was still in recovery at that point.

It was quite a strange experience because I've never been in surgery or under general anesthetic before. Before the anesthetic kicked in, I recalled my last words about Perth, how I did high school there, and how the weather in Sydney was better than Perth. They asked me something else after, but I think I just totally knocked out. Couldn't remember anything after that. But I woke to the nurse calling my name. The anesthetist prescribed me all this medication - got like about 7 pills to take... I think I'll buy that weekly pill box...

Got to see the doc again on Mon to remove my bandages. Stitches are dissolvable. J's got class on Mon, but hopefully I'll be better to take a cab on my own to the medical centre.

J and M, two of my really good friends who I met in Summer School at Syd Uni, are looking after me right now. But I feel so helpless... Like J had to tie my hair today and button up my pants... They had to grab all my bags, had to get my meals, had to lift me up from bed... I am definitely going to treat them to a really nice dinner after I'm fully well.

Of course when this happened, pre-surgery, I only told my work colleagues and TY. J and M already knew because they were there when that happened.

Post-surgery, I didn't feel nauseous at all, just dizzy and in a daze. But the girl next to me who had a rib reconstruction done, puked all over her blankets after taking the same pills that I did...

This morning, the nurse called me to check up on me and I just woke up. But I had strong chest pains. She said it's common, because the meds would have worn out by then. So she suggested I eat breakfast first and then have my meds. I did and it's all good. I actually tried to carry J's bag just now, but I could feel something pulling and then I realised yes, definitely, I can't carry anything.

All in all, I'm okay... The doc gave me about 2 weeks off work and then M and D and T arrive. Hopefully I'll be okay by then to venture places with them, but for now, trying to rest up. The doc said I'll be myself fully in 6 weeks. And at least for the 2 weeks, I can concentrate on my assignments and study for the exams. There's also shows and TV series to watch, but you can't watch them all the time. In fact, I'm already bored and it's one-and-a-half days post-surgery...