Broken Wrist!!

Jamie was off on his usual Saturday activities guitar and drama and when I returned to collect him he was a little upset.  He'd hurt his wrist, but it didn't seem  to be too bad, so we got on with the rest of our jobs, which was to  get his Scout uniform sorted out.    He had been walking backwards at his Drama class and tripped over a girl sat on the floor, accidents happen and there was no need to make a fuss.  So off we went, he was still in some distress when we got the the local scout shop and after we got the uniform sorted I asked the leader there is he knew first aid, as most of the scout leaders do.

He checked out Jamie's arm for me and he suggested I head to the Walk-In Centre at the hospital which is where I was thinking of going as Jamie was not settling down and it did not seem to be easing.  We headed to the walk in and every jolt seemed to be hurting Jamie.  As Mike was on nights I left him to sleep and thought we would have a good story to tell him when he woke!  We didn't have to wait too long and Jamie was triaged - and having told the story of how it happened a couple of times, we were sent off to A and E, as the nurse thought he would need an X-Ray.  So lots of new experiences for Jamie, although casualty is not my ideal way of spending a Saturday afternoon.
So we headed to A and E, told our story again, and settled in for a long wait, Jamie was triaged again and then booked in for an x-ray.  We headed along to x-ray and then settled in for a wait - Jamie was still in a lot of discomfort and had not at this point had any Calpol or any painkiller.  After the x-ray I called Mike and he headed down to the hospital too.

When we saw the doctor, he was unable to determine if Jamie's wrist was broken because of where it was hurt, there is a bone in the wrist called the scaphoid, which does not always show the break immediately.  (This is also the bone that old ladies tend to break when they fall over, it is a typical injury when you put your hand out to stop you falling)  So Jamie was sent away with a splint/wrist support and we were asked to come back again in a week so they could review his arm and have another look to see if it was broken.  I think the Doctor thought it wasn't and I thought that it was unlikely.  Jamie did improve as the days went on so I was expecting a fairly quick appointment at the fracture clinic.

Jamie was examined again and as he still had a lot of discomfort in his wrist which the Doctor didn't like so we were sent off to get an MRI, they don't like any pain or discomfort to pass it as ok - but we were new to all of the broken bone business.  We weren't able to get him seen straight away so had to wait a couple of days and took him in for his scan on the Saturday.  He was pretty uptight about going for the MRI but we watched a video and looked at some information before we went to try to alleviate any fears, oh and he got the Michael Jackson album too, to listen too whilst he was in there.

Well he was pretty scared by the time he got in there but got on with it, I was pleased to see that it wasn't entirely enclosed and so I was able to stand at the other end and talk to him and encourage him even though he couldn't hear me.  Those things are loud, we both had industrial style ear protectors on  and it was still very loud.  Thankfully Jamie doesn't have any fillings but I do and my mouth certainly felt strange in there, I don't understand the science of it, but it affected my fillings!!

After the MRI scan we had to wait another few days and headed back to the fracture clinic, I was confidently saying to Jamie that he didn't need to worry and that it was so unlikely that it was broken.  Jamie was totally delighted to see my face when we were told that yes it was several small/tiny fractures but broken nevertheless.  I was absolutely gobsmacked!! 

Jamie was given the option of having it put into a cast, but the Doctor said it was clearly healing well and that he would only be in a cast for a week or so, so we had a quick think and just kept his splint/support which he would continue wearing for a couple of weeks.  He also had his guitar exam coming up so it would be easier to practice without a cast.

I am not sure what gave Jamie more pleasure, the fact that he had broken a bone or the fact that I was speechless when we found out as I had been so confident it wasn't broken!!  Thankfully he is fully repaired now, although he missed out on lots of rugby and karate, which was a shame and only managed a couple of end of season rugby matches once he was healed.  Of course children view broken bones as a badge of honour!!
Ciao

Sue
XX

Reading challenge 15/16 - currently reading Learn To Be An Optimist by Lucy MacDonald

Mike Goes to Hospital for an Operation

Mike had to go into hospital for a very minor operation this week - he had been on standby for a few weeks as he was able to get in at short notice and he got a call.  He was offered a date, which sadly fell in half term holidays, but we felt better get it out of the way as soon as possible.  So off he went with his bag packed - I had to go and find him both slippers and a dressing gown - neither of which he wears under normal circumstances - nor is he likely to wear again - but he needed them for hospital.

We were all up early as he had to be at what is known as the Treatment Centre very early.  I was pretty impressed as there is a free 15 minutes drop off and collect allowed which meant there was plenty of space (parking can often be a nightmare at the hospital), everything in reception was lovely and new and most importantly of all it all appeared to be very efficient.  Mike was called in within 5 minutes of our arriving and that was that - he headed off and we had to leave him.

Jamie and I had to keep ourselves occupied for the day whilst Mike had his op, yes a minor one but of course still needing general anaesthetic etc.  And no matter how minor when it our loved ones we are always going to worry!!  After mid-afternoon we were just waiting for the call to say we could go and pick him up and then when it arrived and the Nurse said "He is ready to be collected now" - I couldn't stop myself and said "I bet he is" - not in a horrible way but I just knew he would be ready to be back at home. 

The operation had gone very well and Mike was awake and pretty comfortable when we picked him up, again the TC was incredibly efficient and we arrived and collected him within 5 minutes.  It had all gone very well, thankfully.  He got home and was surprisingly chipper, I was expecting him to be wanting to sleep for the rest of the day - but we just chilled out.  The next day and for a few days after (when the anaesthetic and painkillers wore off) he was pretty sore, but all is well and he is fine and dandy again now.

Overall we were both very impressed with the Treatment Centre at MK Hospital and feel the treatment he received via the NHS was on this occasion excellent.

That wasn't our only hospital visit as a couple of weeks later Mike's Mum broke her hip - this time the other one to the one she broke a couple of years ago.  Mike was at a Howard Jones gig in London when I got the call and so I headed over to Aylesbury - fearing the worst in terms of the hospital as it was the 6th November (the day after Bonfire Night) and a Saturday night - I was expecting a very long wait.  But  the hospital were again very efficient and had her x-rayed and processed and onto an observation ward very very quickly - so once again the treatment from the NHS was extremely quick and efficient.

So now both Mike and his Mum are recovered and recovering well respectively.

Ciao

Sue
XX

Reading challenge 15/16 - currently reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy