Broken Bear

Well, hasn?t this been a great day?! Was shooing a wadi cat away that had been trying to get into the house this morning and suddenly found myself at the bottom of the little set of steps outside our back door. Don?t remember falling, just hitting the ground. When I tried to get up my right foot was flopping around like it wasn?t attached to my leg any more and I could see odd bones poking through the skin. Just couldn?t stand as there was nothing I could grab hold of to pull myself up and the foot flopping around was making me feel decidedly queasy. Decided to crawl on my hands and knees back up the steps and made it into the kitchen. Had a bit of a rest before crawling around trying to reach a phone from floor height. Finally managed to get my mobile and phoned hubster and then Taffy and Welshgirl, as I?d just been emailing them and they might wonder where I was if I didn?t reply.

Hubster came from work and managed to lift me up and with quite a bit of difficulty, we dressed me, toileted me, brushed my teeth (well, a girl has to look her best!) and tried to work out how we could get me to the car. There was quite a bit of improvisation, but we made it. Fortunately, the clinic where we get our medical treatment has everything under one roof, so I was X-rayed and seen by a consultant. Diagnosis: spiral fracture of the tibia. Could have been worse as he said, had the fracture not stayed in place I?d have had to have a screw put in it. Now I?m in plaster (a fancy new lightweight type, which the consultant (Sri Lankan) repeatedly told me was ?special? and he?d got it especially for me (yeah, right!) and I?m trying to master the delights of shuffling round on crutches.

The upshot (or is it downshot?) is that we can?t now go on holiday, as I have to have physio etc. and won?t be able to walk properly for a little while. It?s more of a problem as I am osteoporosific (as he called me) and will take longer to heal. Gutted isn?t the word, but one thing that?s gone in our favour is that we were about to pay for our tickets but, here, up until the time you pay for them, you can cancel without penalty (I think!), so it?s one saving grace. My apologies to Taffy and Welshgirl for mucking them about and letting them down. No doubt, we?ll get to see them a.s.a.p., but probably not this side of Christmas, as the airfares from here to NZ more than double over this period. Don?t know how we stand with the airfares and peak season coming up in NZ.

Sorry to anyone who might have been looking forward to reports and photos from North Island. Won?t even make the beach BBQ either. Just remains to cancel the flights, unbook the fur from the vets and unpack those things that I?d already put in the case. What a bummer, but maybe there?s a good reason why we?ve been stopped at this time. Perhaps fate has played a hand. Got to tell myself that or I?d end up kicking my fractured leg in frustration.

Can't even manage to sort through some appropriate smileys today, so shows you how incapacitated I am with my leg in the air. :icon_eek:

Mother Bear

I was absulutely gutted to hear of your bad luck and wish you a speedy recovery.


Skunkgirl

what a complete nightmare..

it could have been a lot worse.. and I'm sure you will be on the North Island as soon as your foot is able to carry you..

Aaahhh, poor Mother Bear hope you get on the mend quickly but every cloud has a silver lining and you'll be able to dedicate even more time to answer the questions posed by the good folk on this forum now!
Had to laugh though cos OH had a quick read of your post and said it served you right for shooting cats (he always was a bit dyslexic though not to mention short sighted but I put that down to his age!).
Get well soon,
Sian

That is just awful Mother Bear! :icon_sad:

Get hubby to arrange that PC and other bits of furniture so it is comfy for you to type ... we've all got used to you posting those smilies. :icon_biggrin:

Not too sure about the flights but I altered hubby's 25th Sept Emirates ticket to 11th Dec with no problems or further expense with the change of season ... there was just a $100 admin fee. Obviously different tickets and companies have different conditions and arrangements, but it is worth looking into.

Decembers have got a habit of not having the best weather anyway. :icon_rolleyes:

Do hope your ankle gets well soon.
::):

Goodness, things have really been happening in your household lately. First poor Purdy, and now poor Hoppy Bear. I got woozy just thinking about your floppy foot and bones sticking out. I hope you, and Purdy too, have speedy recoveries.

Thank you all for you kind thoughts, which are very much appreciated.

Well, I?ve survived the night, which wasn?t as uncomfortable as I expected, despite being woken at 12.45 a.m. by a pizza delivery boy at the wrong house. Worst part was trying to get up 2 flights of marble stairs to bed. In the end I went up backwards on my bum, as it was the safest option. Coming down this morning was a bit easier. Having difficulty mastering the crutches at the moment, as they are hurting my arms and hands, which aren?t used to this sort of punishment, of course. [img:95eb5d765e]http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/inv.gif[/img:95eb5d765e] Hopefully, I?ll toughen up in a few days. It?s amazing how things I took for granted are now so difficult, but I guess, by the time the cast comes off, I?ll have it all sussed out. Will be good when I get to try walking in a couple of weeks. At least, then, I can put my foot to the floor, which will give more stability and, therefore, more confidence. At the moment I?m wobbling about all over the place and in danger of falling again when I try to do something, as it means letting go of the crutches. It?s a steep learning curve, but I?ll get there. I really feel for those who have breakages much worse than mine. It really can turn your life upside down for a while.

Luckily and unluckily at the same time, we have the Eid holiday (after Ramadan) in a couple of days. We had planned some trips out, which we?ll now have to modify but, at the same time, it?ll mean that hubster will be around to help with the little difficulties around the house, which he?s very good at. He?s going to try to reschedule the NZ holiday for January, so it will give us something to focus on, having waited so long for this one, only to have it whipped from under our feet (literally, in my case).

Why did I have the feeling something was going to go wrong? Spooky[img:95eb5d765e]http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/str.gif[/img:95eb5d765e].

I hope the holiday rescheduling goes well. From what you've said about Mr. Bear's hectic job, that could take some doing. Have you considered setting up a bed downstairs so you don't have to lump up the stairs every night? No need to set yourself up for another tumble. Purdey needs you in one piece.

We?ve successfully managed to reschedule for 3rd Jan. and for the same price, so only an extra month to wait. I think hubster?s boss was quite pleased he?s not going in Dec., as it?s a critical time for them and he?s raised no objections to our going in Jan. Shame we?ll be shoving and pushing with the rest of the tourists at the best sights but, as Glenda says, the weather may be that bit better so we can, at least, enjoy what we?re seeing to the full. Just got to get the leg working again now.

I had thought about sleeping downstairs on the settee, but not sure that I?d be setting myself up for more problems, as I have a back and neck problem (bit of a wreck, really) and our bed is orthopaedic and supports me very well, so it?s worth the haul up the stairs to get to it. Keep telling myself I?m going to be very well toned up by the time this is all over. It?s just a case of overcoming the initial muscle pains and weakness, then it should get easier. When I can put my foot to the floor to steady myself, it will be much better. I fell yesterday when my crutches decided they?d have a bit of fun with me but, fortunately, I fell onto the rug and not the hard floor.

I must be getting adept at falling well, as, apart from fracturing my leg through twisting as I fell, I?ve not suffered any other bruising or pains from these falls. It?s not the first time I?ve fallen on those steps outside either ? perhaps I?m secretly training to be a fall guy (stuntman or is that fall/stunt person?). Must find a way to explain to the cats that it?s really not a good idea to be rubbing round my legs while I?m tottering along on my crutches.

[quote:682c8a322b="Mother Bear"]Must find a way to explain to the cats that it?s really not a good idea to be rubbing round my legs while I?m tottering along on my crutches.[/quote:682c8a322b]
Oh, but now you have four "legs" to twine around! That's so attractive for the kitties. Maybe you could wrap the lower foot of your crutches in some kind of velcro-like fabric so the cats will get a brushing while they trip you up. I should make some shin guards like that. It'd save time brushing Isabel.

I'm glad your visit won't be delayed too long. Although you'll be in NZ during the high season, you won't have to scramble for lodging...unless Taffy & Welsh Girl have already booked your room to someone else!