Author: laranettle

The Public Hospital System

Holy Fuck !

Mark took me to Hornsby Hospital today to get the medical records and X-Rays from my accident three years ago. I am hoping that the old X-Rays will show that my spine was fine before the whiplash, and that the degeneration since is far too rapid to have been attributed to “genetics”.

Maybe my spinal explosion is because of the whiplash I suffered three years running. Maybe it’s not. If it is though – I would be covered under Work Cover. And then, not only would I have some income, but I would also have someone mediating between me and the boss to try to get me back to work.

So…..

I had to go to hospital to get the records from my first accident. Coincidentally, it’s the hospital I was born in… And I think they are still using the computers they were using when I was ten years old.

We have just received a $6 tax cut in the budget. Mr Costello, I have no income until I get back to work, and I earn too much for my husband to qualify for Austudy, but if I ever to get my $6, send it to Hornsby Hospital.

They need a new sign out the front so people can find the department they need. They need to pay for a cashier that works past 3.15pm in the afternoon. They need an EFTPOS machine in the Emergency Department that works (as they are the backup cashiers), they need an ATM that works, they need a door to the Medical Records Department (as well as the map) that doesn’t slam so loud it feels like your eardrum is bursting.

And they need computers that are less than two decades old.

And now for the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The staff were great 🙂 Thanks guys – you made a horrible situation almost bearable.

One Useful Thing….

Yesterday was harsh. I had to move my stuff from one desk to another, and then get it useable as a desk. Then do some work. By the time I got the work done, I was exhausted. I hope the boss isn’t cross with me for not making it neater, but that was more exercise than I have done in 7 weeks. And I am still coughing, which makes the pain almost unbearable.

So I decided not to get out of bed today. Rest is good.

But I did do one useful ting today. I have asked my old physio for his advice, and am waiting for a call. My specialists nurse is talking to him also, so once I have my X-Rays from Hornsby, I should be able to get some idea as to wether or not my injury is work related or not.

Though I am keen to get back to work, yesterday taught me that I am not nearly as well as I thought I was.

Friday

Today hasn’t been good. I sliced a chunk off my thumb, and have spent the bulk of the day crying, blowing my nose, and coughing up phlegm. I think I have a cold. Or bronchitis.

Anyway, let’s get back to the positives….

• I rang Hornsby hospital to find out how to geet copies of my x-rays from my first whiplash.
• I watered the citrus trees (they are all in pots)
• I made a yummy vegetble soup
• I ordered my new iMac G5 20″ with the works….. Yippeeeeeeeeeee

Thursday

Yesterday I
• Fed the chickens (discovered that they love basil)
• Picked some new flowers for my bedside table
• Found a Passionfruit that is starting to colour. My passionfruit are the largest I have ever seen, each one is almost as big as my closed fist !
• Visited my GP and got more info about my “condition” (in a separate post)
• Went to the dentist – so of course that adds to my feeling of wellbeing, not ! 😦

The Big Question

Just saw the specialist…..

I have to make a choice about surgery. I can either

a) wait and see if it gets better (3-4 months)
b) have surgery and be back at work in 6 weeks ish

The surgery will probably be a spinal fusion, requiring a bone graft from my hip.

It’s a very serious decision, and I have till thursday week to make up my mind.

Still Stuffed

Ok, so it’s the third week, and I am still in pain. The nerve is being pinched by a slipped disk. Had an mri, what a trippy expereince that is !

Still can’t knit, but Dutt showed me how to d a granny square, and I have been able to do a few stitches at a time. Over 3 days I’ve been able to start a blanket 🙂

ACK.

Snarl. Ouch. Whinge.

Today it’s been a week since my shoulder started causing grief. Had X-rays yesterday, and apparently my muscles are in spasm- you can see it on the x-ray, cool ! But today it seems I have not taken enough drugs, and I have been in pain pretty much all day. I’m not supposed to go back to work till next monday.

Sometimes I’d be glad for the time off, but at the moment, I’d rather be at work, and without pain. TIme off is no good unless you can play in the garden, or knit, or shop, or…..

Ouch

Did a face plant on Easter monday. Skinned a knee, but was relatively unscathed. Until 2 days later, when I felt a pain in the neck. Took drugs, ignored it.

Then on Thursday, the pain was bringing tears to my eyes. Apparently I have dislocated the shoulder and mangled a nerve. And it could take weeks to heal. There isn’t enough codeine in the world.

AND I CAN’T KNIT!