[Lucydog]

Yesterday I did wonderful fall out my chair and ended up in A&E for the whole afternoon. I was just heading out the back door to work when somehow I managed to flip myself back and over

Dont know how I did it, we do have a bit of a slope on the floor there. Anyway as I fell I hit the back of my head on the corner of the bare wall by the door, not just my head but that bit of bone just behind the back of your ear. I think I was knocked out for a minute or so and then I just lay there looking at the ceiling thinking that my ear had exploded as it ws so bloody painful.

After a bit of a snivel I called my husbnd who demanded I get an ambulance which I did. I then spent the next 4 hours at the hospital having an x ray of the side of my head, horrendous earache and a thumping head. I came home with a concussion and a perforated eardrum. OUCH!!

This morning I feel as if Ive been doing prize fighting as every bit of my upper body hurts! Just what is it with me, I seem totally unable to stay upright for any length of time!! Just call me Coco the clown I suppose!

[kanga2433]

Well, Lucy, I can't do the tea bit, but I am sorry to hear of this accident. It is just so easy to get the balance wrong and flip. I've done it lots of times but obviously my arm was quicker than yours as I ahve mostly managed to break the fall by catching the ground with a hand.

I do hope you recover quickly. What treatment do you get for a damaged ear drum by the way?

[mttb14]

Hi Luce,

You sound as accident prone as John.

Hope you are ok today, take things easy.

Maybe, you need to put some sand bag weights on the front of your chair to stop it from toppling backwards, only joking.

John walloped his shoulder on a kitchen cupboard yesterday, and he was in agony.

He opened it, bent to pick something up and then due to not being able to shift his head far enough, did not see he was in direct line with the cupboard door, he'd opened. He brought his body upwards quite quickly, straight inline with the bottom corner of the cabinet. The corner dug right into his collar bone area, his pride was damaged more than his body, but it looked like it hurt. Then it was wham, slam and a lot of swearing.

So I spent the rest of the afternoon quite a distance from him.

How do they treat a perforated eardrum? Doesn't it cause problems flying and swimming?

You'll have to get a sign to go on your chair, dangerous vehicle, or should that be dangerous driver!

Well, look after yourself and speak to you soon.

Maria

[stacyandmike]

Hey Lucy,

Hope you're feeling a lot better today - bet you've got a sore head!!

xx

[Scotsgal]

Hey Luce, poor you !
Hope you're soon Ok again and fit for Sports Aid !
Lots of luv,
Scotsgal XX.

[sjean423]

Can't send the tea across the Atlantic, but sure can send the sympathy. I haven't fallen out of the chair yet, but am rather terrified of the idea .... so I can commiserate with you. Take care and hope you are feeling better soon!

[Joed]

God Bless Ya Big! I hope you're doing okay today. Damn gravity.

I'm glad you were convinced to call the ambulance....Did anyone else see you fall? Maybe they could give some insight as to how it happened?

We'll all get a lesson in ears when you get back on and reply....I'm wondering what the treatment is too, and whether the perforation can be healed/closed in time?

Be extra kind to yourself.

[bubbleandsqueak]

as my drunkin mother would say "dam gravity attacks!"

[itsjustme]

I take it sooooo for granted that I'm not ever going to fall out of this power chair! I know better now don't I?

My big spill was off of the transfer board between the bed and shower chair a couple of weeks ago. The board started slipping off of the bed and I looked at my caregiver at which time we both said simultaneously, "OH NO!" and down I went.

First time in 2 years that anything like that has happened and I was lucky. I didn't get hurt this time. Thank goodness we have a Hoyer for such emergencies.

Lucy, you take care of yourself! You are just having a heck of a time here lately with one thing or another!

[Jilly]

OOhhhh...bugger! you poor thing! You're going to be sore for a while. My guy hasnt taken a tumble out of his chair for a while but a few weeks ago he nearly went head down bum up while getting from the bed to his shower chair. (butt naked of course) As he lives alone and of course didnt have the phone near at the time, I wondered how on earth he would get himself out of THAT one!!

[benok]

"and ended up in A&E for the whole afternoon."

Sorry for the fall, hoping for your quick recovery. What is A&E?

[mttb14]

Hi,

A&E, is accident and emergency or casualty at the hospital.

Hope your feeling better today Luce, take care this weekend.

Maria

[dom]

oh sorry to hear that lucy! hope it was'nt too hard,maybe you could get a headrest like in a car
seriously though is your chair backheavy? maybe its a fault with the chair cos i seem to remember that i read somewhere else that you had a fall?
take care

[russ1]

Definately feel for you there Lucy - I went over about 10 days ago, just got out of the shower and went to swat a fly behind me with my towel. Momentum of swat flipped me over backwards quick time. I managed not to bang my head but jarred my back pretty bad. Spent the next two or three days feeling really rubbish - didn't know why thought it was a whiplash type thing but then my foot went black and blue and my ankle swelled up as the bruising came out - must have banged it as I went over so I reckon it was probably that.

Anyway take it easy falling over's an occupational hazard of being a para. Hope you're sorted now.

[Bookjunky]

Can you get anti-tippers or wheelie bars for the back of your chair? Mine have saved the back of my head numerous times.

[Avocado Baby]

So sorry to hear about your accident and subequent pain!!

I'm always managing to fall out of my chair...upside down, forwards, side-ways, you name it, I've done it! I never usually know how afterwards though so you're not alone!

I hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself in the meantime and make sure you milk it and get lots of people to pamper you!!

[Caring Tech]

Hi Lucy and all!

I NEED YOUR HELP!

I am currently trying to teach x ray techs HOW TO TRANSPORT patients like yourself from a wheelchair to the exam table, and often the EXAM TABLE is higher up!

I want to hear from all of you...how YOU would like this to be handled:

Some thoughts I had... including obvious mistakes that are made:

-Should they immediately call for help?

-Would you like to be asked the best way to be moved? Or, if you have any other needs?

-Should they locate the patient hoist device and have it delivered to the room?

You also need to be changed into a "Johnny" for the procedure, how should this be handled?

DEPENDING ON
1. If you had someone you came with to help you
OR
2. If you are alone?

Any feedback, including both positive and negative would be most appreciated! Please be honest and throw me any bad experiences or consequences you have had or things that can be as a result of poor patient care.

Thanks!

Rhoda

[bubbleandsqueak]

well i'm going to say that i believe the vary frist thing you should do is ask the person what he/she can do and how he/she would like to do it.