Was BACK in E.R. last night..

[Jenn]

They asked me my pain scale when I walked in and I told them an 8 because the area was getting so red, hot and swollen.....and they did nothing.
Thank you for the information, I'm watching the sites, they seem to be not as big and red and hot today.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey Jenn,
Step back and look at the big picture- no concussion, no broken bones or cracked skull, didn't get RUN OVER by the car that turned in front of you. Bike is ok too. I'd say you were pretty lucky- this time.
You'll probably be on your bike again in a couple of weeks!

Good that you went and had your wounds cleaned by the pros, and good that you had more xrays just to be sure they hadn't missed anything.

Jenn, just a little helpful suggestion- you don't have to start a whole new thread every time you have something to update about your accident- unless it's a major new turn of events or something. There are now four threads about your crash, and it's getting confusing to keep up with it all.

[Jenn]

Hey Jenn,
Step back and look at the big picture- no concussion, no broken bones or cracked skull, didn't get RUN OVER by the car that turned in front of you. Bike is ok too. I'd say you were pretty lucky- this time.
You'll probably be on your bike again in a couple of weeks!

Good that you went and had your wounds cleaned by the pros, and good that you had more xrays just to be sure they hadn't missed anything.

Jenn, just a little helpful suggestion- you don't have to start a whole new thread every time you have something to update about your accident- unless it's a major new turn of events or something. There are now four threads about your crash, and it's getting confusing to keep up with it all.

Don't worry I won't be posting anymore.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Don't worry I won't be posting anymore.

I hope you don't mean like....FOREVER!!!???

Did I hurt your feelings?? I certainly didn't intend to. I was just trying to be positive and helpful.

[Python]

Oh, Jenn - more gentle (((Hugs)))

This is what I was afraid of with these abrasions. When I fell of my platform shoes years ago (in the 1970s) mine went septic and swelled up too. I can't remember the name of the dressing they put on me but it was covered in a creamy/sticky antibiotic goo. It took nearly two weeks for it to start healing up. The area was just where the worst part beside your elbow was. I couldn't bend my arm or even lift it above my head because it swelled up so much. I had to get help dressing and undressing for a while. Thankfully it made a full recovery although I did have some scarring for several months which eventually disappeared completely.

As for the way you were treated, I would most certainly complain and make sure you put it in writing and demand an explanation and an apology. It's the very least you deserve.

As for the pain meds, I don't like taking pills and potions either but sometimes we have to. They will make you feel better and help you to sleep. The body heals itself when it's sleeping.

I really hope you start to feel better very soon.

[Meg McKilty]

It probably already been said a million times in this thread, but find out who the manager of the ED is, and write an email. If youd on't get a response, go through the chain of command. An 8 in pain is intolerable, and should have been treated.

[smilingcat]

Dear Jenn,

please take care of your self. And heal fast. Road rash happens to lot of us. but don't let this deter you from your cycling. In a short time, you'll be all recovered. Important thing about recovery is try to have a positive attitude the whole time. Healing goes much faster when you think postive thoughts.

Like you get to spend more time with family at home.

[mimitabby]

Don't worry I won't be posting anymore.

good grief, don't take yourself out Jenn!

[Kano]

Don't worry I won't be posting anymore.

Oh no Jenn! I know that's not what Lisa meant! We DO want to know how things are going, and that we CAN heal from this mess called road rash! I thought of you, pictures flashing in my mind's eye, as I was screaming through the new phase in our subdivision last night, faster than ever, wondering if I should slow down just in case! I didn't -- there are only four houses in progress, the blacktop was SOOOOOOOOOOOO smooth, there's still no traffic of any kind there, and it was so easy to just loop around and around -- and make DH worry!

(DH has a cold, said we were going to have a SHORT ride, like three miles, so I decided to play hammer head to get some kind of work out in the deal. It was a fun change from my usual ride!)

Karen in Boise

[Wahine]

(((((Jenn))))) - I'm really sorry about your ER experience. I had a similar situation once, had to have serious wound debridement. Not only did they give me pain meds, they froze me locally and did not start the procedure until they knew I couldn't feel any pain when they poked around the tissue.

I hope you get better soon and if it was me I'd contact the nurse manager as someone else recommended.

As for the new threads, I appreciate the new threads when something like this comes up. If you had posted this on a previous thread, I likely would not have read it, thinking that you were commenting on peoples well wishes etc. I would not have realized that you had a new question and wanted input. I actually find it easier to keep track of things the way you have chosen to post.

I also think that Lisa SH did not intend to discourage you from posting. As someone else said, things are often misinterpreted in this type of format.

Keep us informed, we want to hear about you getting better!!

[Jenn]

My feelings are just as tender as my face and body right now so I'm sorry if I'm a little over sensitive. I didn't mean forever, I just meant while I take a few percocet and finally lay down and rest and FLUSH my body with antibiotics. Lack of sleep doesn't help either.
Ya'll are the best....thank you so much for all the kind words and hel
{{{{HUGS}}}}
Jenn

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My feelings are just as tender as my face and body right now so I'm sorry if I'm a little over sensitive. I didn't mean forever, I just meant while I take a few percocet and finally lay down and rest and FLUSH my body with antibiotics. Lack of sleep doesn't help either.
Ya'll are the best....thank you so much for all the kind words and hel
{{{{HUGS}}}}
Jenn

Great!
When your wounds heal you will have new tougher skin! (bad joke maybe)
Get some rest, girl. The body heals itself fastest when we are sleeping, did you know that?

[Zen]

Shiraz is correct when she said cellulitis is not to be taken lightly. When I contracted cellulitis and went to the ER I was immediately put on IV antibiotics. Did they run blood labs? You should probably go back to your primary care physician. She/he knows you personally and should be a bit more concerned, plus they don't have the time/pressure constraints of the ER.

Be assertive! You have to be your own patient advocate!!!

[rij73]

POOR YOU! That's just awful... I've been on jury duty for last 2 weeks hearing a case of medical malpractice. Part of it has to do with hospital care and wound infection. All I can tell you is that I've learned through this case that you have to demand your needs be met even if it means screaming your head off. You also need to demand that certain things be written in your chart if you think there's any chance that anyone is being neglectful.

Take very GOOD CARE of yourself and watch those wounds. I'm learning all about how nasty wound infection can be... In spite of how you must hate the hospital right now, don't hesitate to rush in there at the slightest hint you might need help. Do you have decent relationship with any particular doctor? If so, they can help to expedite your case if you have to go in to the ER again.

[mimitabby]

See if you can find an urgent care clinic near you. They are much less stressed
and they are better set up to take care of people like you.
A friend of mine who was an ER doctor for many years got tired of the shifts and t he stress and the numbers of doctors and nurses vs patients in ER and is now a happy camper working for an Urgent Care clinic.