Hi Everyone,

While at work last Thurs afternoon, I decided it was time for a potty break. I work at a community college. Even tho the collge was between semesters and people traffic, if any, was spotty, just as I stepped out of the doorway of the room I was in, I did as I always do, check for people traffic. Since I wanted to turn left, I first looked quickly to my right, then began to proceed onward and when flat down onto my right side. I've still no idea if I tripped over my own foot or fell out of my clog-style shoe or what. I felt pain along the upper part of my right rib so sat there for a sec. Then 2 of my co-workers came out and helped me to my feet. I was shook up but proceeded to do what I had originally intended.

I've been on anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs for several years. Between that, my sleep apnea, and the dreary winter weather, I have lately had some short,mild dizzy spells that come on unexpectedly and cause me to fall. I'm working with docs on these issues. All previous times, I may sustain a mild bruise but still able to pull myself up and feel alert. This time something felt slightly different yet I kept my past experiences in mind and went back to work for another hour.

By that time my left foot was very sore and loosening the laces didn't help. Time to go home. It was a long, painful walk to my car. After getting into my home and finally sitting down, I realized I couldn't risk putting any further weight on that foot. Called the EMTs, went to the ER and was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the left side of that foot.

Had a rush surgery last Friday to repair what turned out to be a double break in the 5th metatarsal bone, and am now looking forward to having the hard cast removed this Thursday. Been doing okay with a walker, may get a 'scooter' for returning to work which, hopefully will be next week. Thankfully, tho I've plenty of tasks to do, I've no mandated deadlines until later in the year.

Last winter it was snow, snow, snow along with falling on the ice; this year it's a broken foot. I never did like winter.

Ahhhh, Butterflybabe, so sorry to hear this. I am glad you had it taken care of. I hope healing happens quickly!

OH you poor thing! I feel the pain from here. So awful to fall and not know why. Possible the medications are affecting something. I take Pain pills (over 4 years now) in small amounts, but sometimes I have a slight 'blip' that makes me wonder if I am having a small dizzy spell(lasts less than a second) or maybe it's TIA's (small blood clots in the brain that go away quickly and leave no damage). Not sure, maybe you are affected by one of those.

Just be Careful now! Don't wanna worry about "I've fallen and I can't get up" messages from you.

So sorry you are hurting!

Hope you heal up fast

Hugs Butterflybabe.

Wow Butterflybabe that's rough, but I can feel your pain. On my left foot I broke my third metatarsal, then my big toe when an 800 lb bar joist fell on it. Then I fell on it, and tore the ligaments in my ankle. On my right foot I slipped on ice, and broke the ankle.

I hope you're healed up quickly.


joe

Sorry your hurting Butterfly~
hope it heals soon and your back on both feet~ Hugs~






Doc

Take good care, butterflybabe, and I hope you are soon feeling much better

butterflybabe, I can sure sympathize about winter there. I lived in and around Chicago for 10 years. I sort of got used to the summers but never got used to the winters. I hope you get, literally, back on your feet again, very soon.

Hope all will go smoothly for you. Hugses

Thanks everyone!

Saw the doc today. Took post-op xrays. One screw holding everything together. Basically, healing is going well.
Bad news. No more walker; back to the wheelchair. Stay off foot as much as possible for the next 2 weeks. Mostly due to lovely Winter, that means staying home until mid-Feb. Guess I've no excuse to not make the time to get some house paperwork organized since I moved here in July 2013. Thank goodness for online shopping. Don't know if any of my job tasks can be brought here or not, nor if workman's comp will kick in or not.

Told my boss this afternoon that my work/pay fate is in the college's hands. My main task now is to take care of myself so that I completely heal. The cast stays for maybe another month or so, then physical therapy to help feet and legs regain strength.

Major bummer yet I truly believe there's a reason for anything that happens in my life. Got thru the divorce/move challenge and I'll get thru this one too.

So far the only being confused about this whole situation is my little pug dog, Huey. He doesn't understand why I'm not walking him anymore and carefully watches whatever device I use to get around.

hugs to all

I hope that you heal well and that things improve from here on out. Take good care of yourself.

That's a lot to contend with, butterflybabe
Do take good care and I hope your recovery goes well

Hugs and may the recovery be complete and easy.

Awww hate that you need to stay off the foot. Would crutches be an alternative to the wheelchair if you don't put any weight on the foot? At least you could get around easier. Hope this all heals fast. You will make it through this one too. And like you say, 'reasons'. We just never know what until later.

Sorta,

I experienced crutches before and it was a nightmare. I've never had a good sense of physical balance. That along with poor muscle tone has made lifting myself up from anything a challenge. Every time I try to schedule some kind of regular exercise or group workout, life interfers and prevents me from continuing. My personal belief is that some of the problem I'm dealing with now are the latent result of all the regular anesthesia that was used during the operations I had when I was young. I just don't have the upper arm strength needed to work with crutches.

I'm back in the wheelchair now and actually happy about it. Using my injured foot a lot less and getting around in my home a lot easier. Spent a good part of this afternoon placing a grocery order with Peapod. They don't carry every brand I'm used to so I'm accepting alternatives. Groceries being delivered between 4 and 9 tomorrow so hope to use some morning energy to clear up the kitchen counters and get a load of dishes done. Once that's done and I have the groceries, I'll feel a bit better.

Also, got a call from HR at work today and was reminded / told that the hallway cameras are being studied to see how and why I fell which should then also capture the hard, difficult walk I did just going from the office I was working in to my car in the parking lot. Their conclusion will determine whether or not I qualify (the school approve my receiving workers comp benefits.

it wil be interesting to see how this all plays out. Not quite as showstopping as what's happening in your neighborhood, SB, yet definitely taking a wait and see attitude for this unexpected time in my life.

I've never used crutches myself (knocking on wood right now). Sounds like they hurt and you must be able to hold yourself up. I used a wheelchair when I hurt my back. Kaiser managed to get me one so I could get to the pharmacy and the out to a taxi at the curb when I exited the emergency room after being brought in by ambulance. Nobody asked if they could help me! I learned a lot in a short time. Elevators, narrow lines of chairs to get to the window in the pharmacy, then over to the 'help desk' to use their phone (I don't have a cell) to get a taxi, the OUTside to the curb, down a substantial slant and into the taxi. Even the taxi driver didn't get out to help me, duh. I wonder sometimes why nobody seemed to think I needed help. Maybe I was doing so well, they thought I didn't want help. Hope I never have to do that again.

How long are you going to have to wheel around???? I don't think my house would be big enough for a wheel chair.

OH the video of your fall sounds interesting. Maybe you can get a copy for yourself. Scary watching I'll bet, but I'm sure they will see you aren't just playing games. Geez, did they even really think that?

Sorta,

The only purpose of the video is to see whether or not the college was liable in any way; thus being fiscally responsible to me. If they don't and it was purely an accident, then they'll determine how much if any they will offer to help me because I was on the job at the time, not visiting. But I agree with you that I'd like to see the tape, and that may be offered to me. Don't know.

My experience with cabs and either a walker or wheelchair was different; which surprised me because the website stated that the drivers will stow the item in the vehicle but are not to offer to help the passenger. Yet each cabbie Ive dealt with did everything possible to aid in my safety. The idea is, of course, liability on the driver's part and the company's version of what that means vs the drivers.

I do agree with you tho about it being an eye-opener about people noticing or not and spacing issues.

The hardest part right now is my lack of energy and the fact that the cast is heavy. Trying to accomplish some kind of organizing or clear up task in my home every other day or so. Lots of paperwork can be done sitting down.