ER Visits

Tonight I did a very stupid thing.

I tried to pry a half-opened lid off a can of tomato sauce. I cut my thumb and middle finger on my non-dominant hand. The middle finger didn't stop bleeding after 15 min of direct pressure, so I had BF take me to the ER. I felt sort of silly going to the ER of a major city hosp. for a cut finger, but I'm glad I did.

I ended up getting 4 stitches in the tip of my finger :(

That was my third ER visit, and I hope, my last.

My question is, who here has been to the ER, and for what?

Oh, man, how many times?
Bike related: none yet.
Home stupidity: Twice, I cut a can, and prying it open, the metal bent a bit, then sprang back down and cut my knuckle all the way through. Wasn't goign to close by itself, I could see the joint. Two stitches.
Sis got upset at me while we were having a 'discussion' over homework. Lunges with pencil and I dodge, protecting myself with hand. Hand v. Pencil. Pencil wins. Went to ER and it took two nurses to hold me down while the doctor poked around in the wound to find the broken lead. Still have a tattoo on my palm.
Should've gone for the 3", fat-deep gash in my thigh from a wood-cutting incident, but was too stupid and scared to. It healed up fine, just left a nasty, huge scar.
Illness: Too many incidents of bronchitis and ear infections to count, went once because I was sure I had mono, but my parents were 'sure' it was just a cold, even though a guy I worked with had mono. Sure enough, they diagnosed me, said "Not much we can do. Drink lots and don't move much." Spent the next four days almost unable to swallow anything and in weird feverish dreams. Temp went up to 104 for awhile. I got 'I told you so' rights.
...that's it, as far as I can remember. I guess it's not that bad.:o

Drilled the large steel spring found in a window shade into my thumb one afternoon. I tried to pull it out but it was really stuck. Took myself to the local ER where I generated a steady stream of hospital personnel through my cubby as I waited to see the ER doc. I guess I was the most unusual case that afternoon:p . The ER doc decided on a course of action and he finally returned with a pair of wire cutters and some pliers. He tried the wire cutters first - I told them they would not work given it was tempered steel but he had to give them a go and discover for himself that they woudl not cut the spring. Next, he had a male nurse pin my hand down, he grabbed the spring with a large pair of pliers and gave it a quick and forecfully jerk. The spring came out, no damage to my hand/thumb and I was sent home.

Just the holly incident. Hope your finger heals quickly, pyxi.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kitsune06

Bike related: none yet.

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Same here. I've been twice in the last five years, though:

- Severe asthma attack at 3:00 am when I was coming down with bronchitis. The nebulizer treatment they gave me lowered my blood pressure to the point that I was so faint I couldn't walk, so I had plenty of time lying there watching the ER goings-on in the middle of the night. Interesting, but weird.

- Went out for an evening walk after work. Coming home through the grounds of the local elementary school around dusk, I felt so good that I stopped to play at the deserted playground. After climbing on the jungle gym for a while, I got on one of those parallel bar thingies that you "walk" across on your hands. Halfway across, I slipped and did a faceplant in the wood chips. Got up with a sore face and wrist. Walked the rest of the way home thinking that I had a concussion and a sprained wrist. Once I got in the house, all I wanted to do was close my eyes and sleep. Instead I got out a couple of bags of frozen veggies, one for my wrist and one for my head, and sat down at the computer to one-handedly look up the symptoms of a concussion (which described exactly what I was feeling). Ended up laying down on the couch with my frozen veggies and falling asleep for two hours, (which you're not supposed to do when concussed). Woke up at midnight, realized I was in bad shape, called the ER. They told me to come drive on over. I said "I have only one hand, I can't drive". They sent an ambulance. I asked the EMS if they had ever had to transport anyone for anything as silly as a hurt wrist. Loooong story short, I had fractured my wrist and the doctor swore I couldn't have a concussion because I was too coherent. Ended up in a cast from my fingers to my elbow from the end of July to the end of September. So much for that cycling season... And the folks at work still won't let me live down calling in sick because I fell down at the playground. :rolleyes:

My first ER visit was the scariest. I had been fasting and drinking something called golytely(?) as prep for surgery scheduled the next day. That night I woke up vomitting and shaking. My system got really screwed up. I started to lose consciousness. DH carried me to the car and drove me to the hospital where I was scheduled for surgery--which was 70 miles away. I'd pass out and then DH would shake me awake and then I would pass out again. He was driving over 90 mph. I remember I couldn't feel my hands. We FiNALLY get to the hospital and the ER crew is waiting for us. Some big guy lifted me out of the car and strapped me to a gurney and rushed me in. The next thing I knew I had four different IV's in me and my mom and dad were suddenly there. Fortunately, they were able to continue with surgery so I didn't have to go through prep again.

The next 4 visits to the ER were all MRSA related (the deadly flesh-eating bacteria). And, I'll tell you this ladies, you think you've had bad saddle sores and cysts "down there"--you ain't had nothing until you've had a saddle sore infected with MRSA. Yowza!!! I had to wear a drain for a week.

Bike related - none (knock on wood)

Other - Most recent were 2 within a 3 month timeframe because of a crohn's flareup. There's not much they can do for you other than IV pain killers, fluids and anti-nausea meds to stop the projectile vomiting. They do a CT scan to make sure you're not obstructed, let you lay there for about 7 hours then send you home. It's kind of weird, they ask you if you want to be admitted. Um, NO. :D

Other than those, I haven't had many. Once for a dislocated kneecap when I was a teenager. There may be others but I can't think of them, so they probably weren't all that eventful or traumatic.

childhood--minor injuries

adult--

*ruptured 10 cm endometrioma (blood filled cyst on the ovary). Acute peritonitis for 10 hours before they figured out to do a CAT scan, then into surgery for 3 hours.

*gallstones--I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. Excruciating. Passed on its own as I sat there in the ER waiting room for 4 hours, rocking and panting in pain.

I work in a hospital. I HATE being a patient, especially in the ER. Last summer when I tripped on some broken sidewalk and badly skinned both knees and palms, I considered going to the ER because cleaning my own wounds was tough. I just bit the bullet, though, and did what I knew they'd do in the ER. It was fine.

Hmmm...

Two car accidents.
One at age 15, driver as 16 and just got her license. Hit at intersection, lots of soft tissue damage and bad case of amnesia. Still have no recollection of what happened. Lost close to two weeks of memories. Weird.

Second accident last year. Ford 150 plowed into my brand new Volvo and four other vehicles stopped at a light. $18,000 in repairs and hospital bills, thank goodness for good insurance! Eight months of rehab.

One visit in grade school. Missed some air on a half pipe with my skateboard. Messed up both ankles. What a sucky summer that was.

Three visits in college. Once I accidentally sliced my finger open with an exacto blade. Three stitches. Once with a pancreatic infection. Painful. Third time when clumsy roommate knocked over a pan full of hot oil on my hand/arm. Watching skin fall off your body is gross and extremely painful. ER doc gave me happytime injection then proceeded to peel the damaged skin off. I was so goo-goo at that point that I wanted to help. He kept pushing my head away because I wanted to watch too closely.

Gosh, I sound like a walking train wreck...

Right out of college, newly married, I had a glass break on my hand while washing it in the sink. It took 15 stitches across my pinky with 8 stitches on a knuckle.

Car accident about 14 years ago. The main lesson learned was if you are going to be in a car accident, make sure you go to the bathroom first.;)

Bike crash in April - broken wrist, bruised hip, bruised cheek, broken helmet.

Multiple ER visits with my youngest son due to Asthma - all times of day and night!

In July was our last visit, my youngest ended up with heat exhaustion. Wow, I couldn't believe how fast the nurses began working on him.

A mine of mine laughingly tells folks that the ER has a "fast track" just for
me!!!

Bike related:

fell off road bike, hit head and fx'd collarbone
fell off road bike, hit head and sustained nasty road rash
flipped over mountain bike handlebars torn AC R shoulder
flipped over MTB handlebars lacerated R elbow required 12 stitches
flipped over MTB handlebars down steep descent and jammed R thigh into bar ends (bar ends now long gone)

Non-bike related:

Well just too many to talk about but lets just say I've broken a few bones...

* * *

It's not that I'm accident prone (:confused: ) it's just that I'm always doing things to get myself into trouble. :o

Wow.
I had to think really hard about it.
Once, I had chest pain when running on a treadmill. Boy, do they take you in fast when you say "chest pain" - and I was only about 32 y.o.! 'twas nothing...a pulled muscle.
Second time...car accident. Was driving home from VT across NH in an icestorm. Phone rang...looked down at caller ID...did NOT answer it. But taking my eyes off the road got me out of the tire tracks of clear pavement and onto ice. Spun my truck and flipped it on the other side of the road. Had a nice shiner but otherwise was fine. I was more worried about my bunnies who were in their pet taxi beside me. The local police took them back to the station. Fortunately, they were fine, too. Whew!
BTW...the caller was my BF, now DH, and he feels terrible about it to this day!
Only bike crash that really injured me...I didn't bother going to the ER. I was up in the sticks of NH, and none was local, so I iced my injured knee and ultimately had surgery to repair it when I got home.

Now I'm starting to feel better already ;)

Bailed off a horse and broke my fibula. Tiny backwoods ER. Very weird experience.

Kidney stones ususally get me there lickety split. Oh, and then there was the time I was an ER nurse/ER nurse practitioner...let me tell you, we have seen it all!!


karen

geez, you guys, i feel queasy after reading all this.
The last half dozen times i've been to ER it was because of one of my sons or my husband.
and my husband outdid my kids.

Only one, but memorable.

I had a glass shatter in my had while washing dishes one night. Deep cut, we couldn't stop the bleeding. ER trip was in order.

The complication was that we (DH & I) were playing a concert that night, so time was a factor. We loaded up the bass, horn, kids, & concert blacks, and headed into town, 30 miles away. Got the thumb stitched in time to go play the concert. I had to borrow a different (German) bow, I couldn't hold my French bow, and having my hand down in playing position was no fun. (Throb, throb, throb - not in time with the music, either.)

What I remember most about the incident, though was Elder Daughter's warning as I was heading out the door: "Don't bleed on your bass, Mommy!"

We know our priorities in our family.

I probably should have gone in the time I fell on the ice & hit my head - and didn't recognise my front door when they walked me home....:eek:

Nothing too major:

age 7 - did a flip off the top of the monkey bars and landed flat on my chest with my right hand bent up to touch my forearm. Broken wrist.

college - couple of misc stuff (bladder infections, bronchitis, etc), couldn't stop hyperventilating one day. Chased my niece around the house barefoot and caught my foot on a corner breaking a few toes (my family still gives me the "no running in the house" banter).

I had the stomach flu so bad once I had my neighbor take my son to daycare. Around 3pm dc called and I had to pick him up because he was running a fever. I threw up 3 times just trying to get to the car. Got there and called them to bring him outside and put him in his car seat. Took him to the ER where I christened their doorstep (picture ds rubbing my back saying "it's ok mom, you'll feel better". Then looking at what I did and saying yucky:eek: ). When I brought him in they asked me what I was there for. Nothing, my son is sick. They took us both:p . He had an ear infection and I got 3 iv bags and an antinausia shot. They made me eat a popsicle which I promtly gave back to them:p That was a VERY long day.....

I prefer to give my bike related injuries to the walk in. I've asked for a punch card of buy 10 get one free but they just laughed....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Regina

Once, I had chest pain when running on a treadmill. Boy, do they take you in fast when you say "chest pain" - and I was only about 32 y.o.! 'twas nothing...a pulled muscle.

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I had that happen too! I woke up in the middle of the night with sharp stabbing pains in my chest (roughly heart area). Luckily, the BF was a doctor and quickly realized that I had injured my collarbone during an earlier workout. It had become inflamed during the night and the mere act of my breathing was moving bone/tissue in ways it didn't want to be moved. Scary!

From the bike: zero
As a child: many...too many to count!

As an adult:
1) I played rugby in college and had many a trip to the ER with other teammates...only went once for myself and it was in an ambulance. Trashed everything in my ankle...was screaming in pain. Not pretty.

2) When bartending I broke a wine glass in my hands under the water (while washing it) and just about sliced off my index finger before realizing what had happened. Got 4 stitches and a lovely scar. It was really cool to watch them stitch me up.

3) Making iced tea...accidently poured a pot of boiling water over my wrist because the pitcher tipped over. I suffered through the pain for 2 days until the purple color of my wrist started to scare me. Went to the ER...2nd degree burns. Not much they could do but they gave me some white stuff that really, really worked!

4) Car accident - a woman blew through a stop sign, into me, in the dark and rain, and sent my car into a phone pole. I was ok but taken to the ER in ambulance...I had to pee when I left work but didn't and was strapped to a back board for like 3 hours because of a back up. No one would give me a bed pan. My neck was fine, but my bladder was killing me!!!

5) Snowboarding accident. I fell, on ice...fractured my elbow. It still hurts on long bike rides...;)

1. Tried to make a thumb and cheese sandwich in law school.

2. Broke a vase and got a very deep laceration.

3. Last month a week after being released from hospital for the pulmonary emboli, I had severe chest pain - worse than anything - and went to ER to be safe. CT scan (#2 for the week!) showed nothing different, So it was pleurisy that stayed with me for about 2 - 3 more days. Boy that was so painful!!

Also a few too many to count, but a couple I thought you would enjoy.

In 6th grade, was riding my 3-speed (think metallic blue with fancy banana seat) home from my friends house, wearing flip flops. Foot came off pedal and into spoke - cut the bottom of my foot off. Let me tell you how painful it was getting the road grit out of that wound! Lesson learned - NEVER ride bike in flip flops!

About 5 years ago, went to the DR due to severe abdominal pain. He sent me to ER to have an ultrasound. Drove myself there and waited around. ER doc finally came in, did an exam and declared they were taking out my appendix! :eek: Frantic call to DH to come to hospital. By then, the on-duty OB GYN came through and they did an ultrasound to discover that I had an ovarian cyst. Ended up having to spend the night in the hospital, but at least I still have my appendix.

Three years ago DH and I were building an addition on our vacation home. We had put in the ridge pole for the cathedral ceiling, and were starting on the roof rafters. Think 6"x8"x10' from 14'up. DH on ladder against ridge pole, and me handing rafters up to him. As he shifted, one of the rafters fell, hitting me directly in the forehead. No hospital in town, so went to the clinic. It's amazing how quickly you are treated when you have a gaping head wound! Doc took a look and decided to STAPLE :eek: my head. First came a LOT of novacaine. One staple, two staples, three staples - Oops! What do you mean, "Oops"? Apparently the third staple didn't go in quite right. They spent the next 1/2 hour trying to get it to come back out. By that point the novacaine had worn off, so when the next staple went in, I felt it! I told them to just keep going at that point, so I felt the remaining 7 (of 9) staples going into my head. Looked like Frankenstein after that one, and wore a hard hat on the job thereafter!

No bike related visits as yet (touching wood!).

SheFly

Numerous times as a child: I was always seeming to get fingers caught in doors.

Graduate school: cut open my hand on a broken pipette (2 stiches). should have also gone when I sliced open my finger with a razor blade

Three years ago: fell while ice skating (in July!) and hit my head (21 stitches)

ER? Too many visits to count. One was for my gall bladder (resulted in emergency surgery), every other time was for a migraine with complications all resulted in a CT scan or MRI.

I have also been to the ER with DH and the boys for typical kid stuff (yes, my DH counts as a kid. :D)

Should I feel bad since I'm like the only one with bike related ER visits? Maybe I am a clutz!!!!!!!! :o

BCIpam - you're not the only one with bike related incidents.

1. As a child, I got a "splinter" while running around barefoot. Said splinter entered the ball of my foot and exited through my second toe. They had to strap me down to get it out. I haven't walked or run barefoot outside since.
2. Bike related: When I broke my wrist last year
3. Bike related: Taking my husband to get an insect out of his ear--it flew in during a bike ride. I count it as I had to wait there while kids puked on the floor beside me.
4. Bike related: Took a turn into a driveway too quick at night, hit the sidewalk cutout at the wrong angle and split my chin open, needed stitches.

Bike related (so bcipam feels better ;) ): Ambulance ride into ER because of broken femur that occurred while riding my bike.

Non-bike related:
- broken collarbone from falling off a chair. I was only three, but it was an early sign of what a clutz I would be throughout life.

- had to get my hand looked at after it had gotten run over by the front wheel of a parked trailer. No broken bones, and no stitches required. I was 8, but I really don't want to talk about why my hand got run over by a trailer.

- a group of friends in college knew of a great place to go party for the afternoon. To get there, you had to go over a barbed wire fence. Getting there was no problem, getting back over was -- after the party and all. To the ER -- no stitches required, but got a tetanus shot as a precautionary measure.

- making softball a contact sport. (Really smart if you're 5'1" and ~115 lbs!) Ran into a teammate while trying to catch a linedrive. Her open mouth & teeth went around my right eye. Boy, head wounds sure bleed a lot!! Stitches to close the cut above and below my eye. Had a huge shiner for a while -- people would come up to me asking if I was being abused. Nope, just softball. But I encouraged them to keep asking, because if I was being abused, I'd hope someone would be willing to show me how to find help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deanna

BCIpam - you're not the only one with bike related incidents.

1. As a child, I got a "splinter" while running around barefoot. Said splinter entered the ball of my foot and exited through my second toe. They had to strap me down to get it out. I haven't walked or run barefoot outside since.
2. Bike related: When I broke my wrist last year
3. Bike related: Taking my husband to get an insect out of his ear--it flew in during a bike ride. I count it as I had to wait there while kids puked on the floor beside me.
4. Bike related: Took a turn into a driveway too quick at night, hit the sidewalk cutout at the wrong angle and split my chin open, needed stitches.

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OMG Deanna! The first one made me cringe!!! :eek:

All of my trips(that I remember) have been bike related
1. Was hit by a car running stop sign - broke wrist - Went to where I was employed at the time - Had to covince the ER satf that I was there as a patient, and not an employee.
2. Was descending and and hot some fresh rocks n' tar/Chip seal. Had laceratorions from glasses (Had clip on sunglasses and the clips did it) and on the knee. I did this a block from a Rescue Squad. Got loaded into the Ambulance. Also Broke my left pinky finger
3. Three weeks ago, I fell in a paceline and cracked my humerus. Drove 40 miles back to the ER closest to where I live(on the advice of a MD). Still recovering

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Should I feel bad since I'm like the only one with bike related ER visits? Maybe I am a clutz!!!!!!!! :o

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Uh, my only ER visit was bike related. I can tell you from experience that it's really not a good idea to flip your bike forward (as in I think my front tire got caught, and the bike and I kept going) and to then land on your head. (It's a really good thing my poor head was covered by a helmet!) I was actually in 2 ERs for that accident but I have no memory of either. Oh, and I missed the helicopter ride too. You're right, I was there, I just don't remember it.

Please - don't feel that you are alone!

--- Denise

Once about 6 years ago. I was bit by a squirrel!:eek: Three stitches in my pointer finger. I don't really like the furry creatures anymore...:D

I had an accidental overdose (as prescribed by my doctor!) when I was in high school. Mom called an ambulance and then I had to endure a stomach pumping and a round of dialysis to remove toxins from my blood. They kept trying to find out if I was on other less legal drugs, but I wasn't.

I was taken to the ER by my mom after stepping on a piece of broken glass in her kitchen. No stitches, but we couldn't get the glass out ourselves.

I went last week after the bike meets car incident.

Oh Denise I remember another ER visit - your post reminded me - I also "rearended" another cyclist (for some stupid, reason he stopped right in the middle of an intersection during a paceline - he didn't call out, I was the cyclist behind). My front wheel got caught on his rear cassette and lieterally my bike (and me) rolled up and over his bike. I landed first on my head (yes thank goodness for helmets) and then rolled onto my bum. I thought I was OK until I hear someone say "uh-ho" and looked at my wrist. It was bruised and swollen and looked broken. I was taken to the nearest hospital (Irvine Regional). After sitting there for 4 hours with what I thought was a broken wrist, I called a friend who then drove me over to St. Joseph's. They took me in immediately (thank goodness for good insurance) and x-rayed the wrist. Not broken (whew) just badly sprained.

OK I admit I am a clutz!

Only time I've been to the ER was when I was 18 month old.

My brother threw me off the basement stairs, and a bone in my foot broke.

He wanted me to have fun, but I didn't want to jump (off of the 3rd step), so... When I started screaming, he told my mother that I stepped on a marble and fell. :confused: Anyway, that's how I didn't break my first broken bone.

As a child:

1. Severe asthma attack (age 4 or so)
2. Fell while running on sidewalk, split chin open, several stitches (age 4 or so)
3. Cut thumb while carving a jack-o-lantern, 5 stitches (age 12)

As an adult:

Only one - pelvic fractures from my cycling accident in April 2005. I was in the ER for about 10 hours before being admitted and moved to a room!

Hopefully never again....

Emily

I've been lots thru the years-mostly for stitches. The last time was a kitchen accident for me too. I was washing a glass and it broke and cut my thumb, 5 stitches that trip. on my dominate right hand. I can tell the nerves are still unattched at places, it feels weird to touch it.

All the posts about washing glasses etc. made me feel better about my own accidents.

My previous ER trip was also a kitchen incident. I was washing an Ulu knife (from Alaska, with a sort of half circle curvy blade) and my hand slipped and just hit the blade a tiny bit, but man, was that thing sharp!

My sister took me to the ER and watched them sew up my thumb, including the severed tendon.

She was going, "you should look, this is really cool."

I had a partial cast almost to my elbow and had to go to a hand therapist after it came off.

I got rid of that knife right away.

I'm considering giving up kitchen duties from now on...

no bike ones. but gallblatter problems run on both sides of the family. 2 cousins and my sister all had emergency surgury at 21/22. i am 22 and had a galstone got stuck and was in the ER for 13 hours. they said the pain is equal to a heart attack!

DH has been in the ER twice for bike stuff...a broker shoulder and cracked ribs. the cracked ribs happened the day he was suppose to meet my dad. showed up 4 hours late! luckly my dad has broken so many bones he let him pass cause he cracked 2 ribs....lol

I have decided this week I have been to the ER too many times. Getting married increased the frequency of my visits.

Myself:
At 4 years old I busted my chin open on my Nanny and Pawpaw's bathroom tub. It required 5 stitches. I did get a medical glove rooster balloon. :D
When I was 9 a case of strep throat gave me a temp of 104. We had to go to the emergency room since it was so high.

Since starting to see my DH 9 years ago:
2001- appendix ruptured. We lived out of town and I was the only family. We had been engaged a year.
2004- He ran his bike into the back of a parked semi-truck on the college campus. Sprained wrist, bruised head. The EMTs wanted him to have Xrays the school couldn't do, the hospital didn't think it was necessary.
2006- This week he went to the ER Friday with what they thought was Hepatitis A. Yesterday, we ended up back in the ER and he was admitted for an abdominal infection.

Reading these posts makes me think I am some kind of a disaster! :eek: :eek: (And I am only going to get into ER visits for ME - If I included my kids and DH, this post could take me all night!)

As a child :

ER and stitches - in my head from my brother pushing me into the corner of a table (still have the scar under my hair)

ER and stitches - from a classmate and a PENCIL going into my hand in the 2nd grade

Neither of these seemed like a big deal to me - but I'll bet it did to my Mom!!

As an adult :

ER and yet more stitches in my head from chasing after my oldest child (then only about 18 months) and crashing head-first into a window sill. Still have the scar under my hairline.

Sept. 2005. ER for 5 stitches in middle finger of right hand, sliced open while helping son # 3 rebuilding computer. (Did you ever realize how SHARP the metal sides of a computer tower can be??) Still do not have any feeling in that finger. I think the nerve was sliced. Hoping for regrowth someday.

Bike-Related:

Broken Pelvis from following too closely in a paceline ( 9-09-01). Taken to ER on body board. Kept overnight plus one day. Absolutely HORRIBLE week from He** as I lay helpless, just home from the hospital, watching the TV and all the horrendous 9-11 events unfold.) Diagnosed with concussion, too.

Feb. 2002 - Wiped out on bike after being rear-ended by another bike rider. Concussion and minor road rash. Taken to ER for head x-ray. SCARY! Dam*! Don't need to have brain shook up so soon again!

Oct. 2003. Close encounter with a car. Choice - Get hit by car/take the curb.
I took the curb. My bike stopped. I did not. (law of motion in action!). I kept going. Slid on my face (mostly) and stopped at a brick wall. Called my DH (tho' I don't remember doing so and repeatedly asked him on the way to the ER how DID he know where to find me). Yet another concussion and major road rash on my face. (Denise - You are brave to show your photos. Maybe I will show mine sometime.) I looked much worse than I felt. Still have some slight scarring, but I feel extremely lucky to have gotten off with so few injuries.

August, 2004. On RAGBRAI. In Fort Dodge, IA. Hit by a hit-and-run-driver when going to my campgrounds after the evening entertainment. It was my first year self-supported. I credit my panniers with saving me from worse injury. I was hit on the rear pannier and I honestly think that absorbed most of the impact. Woke up on the side of the road. The rider following me witnessed the whole thing. Called 911. Ambulance came, whisked me to the ER. Had x-rays. Was there for over 4 hours. Finally told that nothing was broken and I could leave. Leave???? I had no bike. It was trashed. I knew perfectly well I had been unconcious for some time....... Thank the PTB's that the person who'd witnessed the "accident" had friends in town that took me in for the night and rescued my bike and all my "stuff." That's RAGBRAI for you. People take care of each other. Anyway, I called home, arranged for a ride home the next day, and came back and healed up. VERY sore, but not broken or sprained ankle. Still have the mark where the pedal ripped into my ankle. Weird, but it's almost a mark of pride............ it's a star shape. When I look at it, I think, F***! I could have quit riding then. I'd had so many accidents in the past few years. So Many People, including people I care for deeply, thought I should quit biking. Yet I didn't. I couldn't. As long as I am able to bike, I will do so. It is so much apart of who I am. I had ridden, seriously, for over 15 years, and never had ANY major injuries or accidents. It finally caught up with me. :rolleyes: :( I still wouldn't change a thing. I continue to ride and honestly, I am very safety-conscious, but haven't really changed the way I ride or where I ride. Life is short and oh so capricious. I will ride my bike and be happy.

Sorry to get so philosophical!!! Its late. At night. I should be sleeping. I don't post much........ it seems everyone else says what I would say before I get a chance to say it. And that is great! I feel almost related to many of you wonderful women of TE. Ride on, Ladies. Keep posting. I will join in when I have something to share.

annie