It is safe to say it did not get better in the morning. Walking into church, all the colors and the movement and the people and I could barely walk holding onto the cane and Richard both as every muscle kept trying to give way on me. I, um, scared a few people. They felt better after I promised to go to Urgent Care afterwards.
Home first for a moment to get ready because I knew it would be a long wait, where I looked out the window and went oh right and got the silly mango tree covered for the night. Somehow the green (can’t call all of it grass) and the stillness in the yard soothed my firing neurons and it wasn’t too hard. I wanted to be the one to do it.
We headed out.
The doctor at Urgent Care, prodding around: Does this hurt?
Yes, up a bit–here.
Then he said the last thing I ever expected to hear: Do *not* move your head. You might have broken your neck. He called for a c-spine and told us we had our choice of ambulance or having Richard drive me, but recommended the ambulance, but in no way was his facility equipped to deal with this–go straight to Stanford. He would call ahead and let them know.
As Richard put it afterwards, to justify me in my decision and help me feel better about it, If he was sure it was broken he wouldn’t have given us options. The c-spine was on and we skipped the $300 co-pay.
The ER took me immediately in, no waiting.
And then, as one always does there, one waits.
I was glad I’d brought reading material because I wasn’t sure how I was going to knit like that.
The young doctor was highly pleased and relieved to be able to come back and say that the CT results were negative: no broken bones, no bone fragments in the brain, the diagnosis was a pulled muscle in the neck and a concussion.
This was very good news at this point and we all knew it. He took that c-spine off me and at last my neck could relax after holding the one position for hours. I told him I’d been wondering how I was going to be able to wash my hair in the morning and he chuckled. I still don’t know how one does it when one doesn’t get to take it off so fast.
But it will be a good long while before I’ll be in any shape to drive anywhere. Given what could have been, I can live with that.
And the mango tree glows its quiet, warm blue in the night.
14 Comments so far
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What a scare that must have been. I’m so glad it’s (only?) a concussion. And that the mango got covered. Healing prayers heading your way!
Comment by Pegi 12.12.16 @ 3:35 amMaybe your guardian angel is trying to tell you to take it easy. Heal well.ill be praying.
Comment by Jody 12.12.16 @ 5:17 amAdding to the chorus of “take it easy.” And so thankful it is only (rats!) another concussion with a topping of neck strain. I wish your life wasn’t so exciting. I hope you feel much better very soon.
Comment by DebbieR 12.12.16 @ 6:30 amMy heart was beating faster as I read your post from 2 days ago and then this one… Wow!
I pray your life becomes filled with joyful excitement from now on. Enough with the concussions…
Please find a new hobby in 2017! *hugs Alison softly*
Comment by Suzanne from Montreal 12.12.16 @ 7:49 amAs the others say. Relax. Have that cup of tea and knit, if you can. Other things will take care of themselves.
Comment by Helen 12.12.16 @ 9:05 amThat must have been so scary. I’m praying you’ll have a calm, peaceful, and healthy new year, starting today.
Comment by AmyS 12.12.16 @ 9:39 amHoly cow! Take care, friend! Rest up, drink tea, feel better soon…I am glad it was not worse…but another concussion isn’t good news either. Heal fast. 🙂
Comment by Joanne 12.12.16 @ 9:59 amYour life is way too exciting! Please slow down, take it easy,give yourself a chance to heal. We love you and need you to be able to cheer us on.
Comment by Sherry in Idaho 12.12.16 @ 10:15 amSo glad to see a post today! And hoping for a fast recovery from the concussion. You’ve had too much practice at that!
Comment by twinsetellen 12.12.16 @ 10:50 amThinking about sending you a person size package of bubble wrap.
Comment by Susan (sjanova) 12.12.16 @ 4:31 pmIt was a very busy weekend, and somehow I missed that first post – just reading both tonight.
Two words – and you know what they are! (hint – B.W.)
Oh my, you are on my daily prayer list, I wish I could do more.
Chris S in Canada
Comment by Chris S 12.12.16 @ 7:28 pmOh honey. My Middlest got a concussion yesterday. I have been on Mom-alert ever since, wondering if we need to go to the ER (which we can’t afford), as this is not the first, just the first that I knew about. Sending you lots of slightly-distracted love from Texas. Do slow down. You are precious to all of us.
Comment by Lynn 12.12.16 @ 7:34 pmLeave a comment
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