BirthFree
05-27-2006, 11:54 PM
So I seem to have some type of drama every pg... homebirth transfer to the hospital with my oldest, appendicitis while pg with my youngest and this pg... well, I fulfilled the drama day today. Fireman, paramedics, ambulance ride, ER visit, the works.
Please don't laugh...
So I opened the blinds behind my couch/chairs and turned around to sit down in my chair... next thing I realize my left leg/thigh hurts a lot so I put my hands on the arms and pull myself up to realize that I have now impaled myself with my size 8 knitting needle. I am not only shocked but freaked... I go to pull it out and I can, but only an inch and then it won't come out anymore (and I can feel it grating this weird sound). (The needle just happened to be pointing up in a bag of knitting stuff tucked in the side of the chair - and it caught on my pants... etc.)
I keep saying, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" and my DH comes running into the room... he tries to pull it out but again, it won't move. He's asking me what he should do but I have NO idea so he calls 911 - they say don't take it out and they send the firemen.
Firemen arrive (with me feeling like a total idiot and in pain) and they determine they can't pull it out, and find my other knitting needle to determine how long it is (what is sticking out of my leg) to see what is inside, and to see what kind of pliers they need to clip it (at which point I am saying, "I don't think so!"). They figure out the pliers but wait for the paramedics to arrive to be sure.
Paramedics arrive, again I'm feeling stupid and in pain, and they say for the abulance ride we need to clip it so that it doesn't jostle the whole ride and call ahead to the hospital. They clip it (to my almost-hyperventilation) and load me onto the stretcher, gurney and into the abulance.
Once at the ER they figure out how to get my spendy yoga pants off without cutting them (I was concerned about it, what can I say... the pants are not only pricey but comfy and I have a single pair only) and after waiting a long time the Dr. came into say that they will be just pulling it out.
Ahhh, no.
She suggests local anesthetic and I say more because I can feel it all the way in my muscle - so she does local, they start an IV and give me morphine (which is a Class B med. amazingly - I made the nurse read me the info. from the book) - but they gave it to me so quickly that I started not being able to breathe and it really scared me. Silly nurse.
After many local shots and time for the morphine to work the Dr. comes back and without warning (kind of smart really) she pulls it out.
Okay, get this... it was FIVE inches long (that is after I had already pulled out an inch!!!). FIVE. No wonder it wasn't coming out when I pulled.
Wash wash wash the wound and dress it with stuff, send me away with drugs, anti-nausea drugs (for when I take the drugs) and antibiotics. Like 2 drops of blood the whole time. Amazing.
So my butt/leg is in pain, I'm taking pain meds and I feel like a total dork. I will say though, after knowing how much came out of there, I am DARN glad we called.
All needles are now going to be stored in a nice needle carrier I will be making tomorrow. I will also never live it down.
BUT, it's out and is quite a story.
I don't like taking drugs and it seems so sad that my no-pain-med-for-childbirth self would take morphine but I have to tell you, it was worth it. Ouch.
So that's my evening.
Please don't laugh...
So I opened the blinds behind my couch/chairs and turned around to sit down in my chair... next thing I realize my left leg/thigh hurts a lot so I put my hands on the arms and pull myself up to realize that I have now impaled myself with my size 8 knitting needle. I am not only shocked but freaked... I go to pull it out and I can, but only an inch and then it won't come out anymore (and I can feel it grating this weird sound). (The needle just happened to be pointing up in a bag of knitting stuff tucked in the side of the chair - and it caught on my pants... etc.)
I keep saying, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" and my DH comes running into the room... he tries to pull it out but again, it won't move. He's asking me what he should do but I have NO idea so he calls 911 - they say don't take it out and they send the firemen.
Firemen arrive (with me feeling like a total idiot and in pain) and they determine they can't pull it out, and find my other knitting needle to determine how long it is (what is sticking out of my leg) to see what is inside, and to see what kind of pliers they need to clip it (at which point I am saying, "I don't think so!"). They figure out the pliers but wait for the paramedics to arrive to be sure.
Paramedics arrive, again I'm feeling stupid and in pain, and they say for the abulance ride we need to clip it so that it doesn't jostle the whole ride and call ahead to the hospital. They clip it (to my almost-hyperventilation) and load me onto the stretcher, gurney and into the abulance.
Once at the ER they figure out how to get my spendy yoga pants off without cutting them (I was concerned about it, what can I say... the pants are not only pricey but comfy and I have a single pair only) and after waiting a long time the Dr. came into say that they will be just pulling it out.
Ahhh, no.
She suggests local anesthetic and I say more because I can feel it all the way in my muscle - so she does local, they start an IV and give me morphine (which is a Class B med. amazingly - I made the nurse read me the info. from the book) - but they gave it to me so quickly that I started not being able to breathe and it really scared me. Silly nurse.
After many local shots and time for the morphine to work the Dr. comes back and without warning (kind of smart really) she pulls it out.
Okay, get this... it was FIVE inches long (that is after I had already pulled out an inch!!!). FIVE. No wonder it wasn't coming out when I pulled.
Wash wash wash the wound and dress it with stuff, send me away with drugs, anti-nausea drugs (for when I take the drugs) and antibiotics. Like 2 drops of blood the whole time. Amazing.
So my butt/leg is in pain, I'm taking pain meds and I feel like a total dork. I will say though, after knowing how much came out of there, I am DARN glad we called.
All needles are now going to be stored in a nice needle carrier I will be making tomorrow. I will also never live it down.
BUT, it's out and is quite a story.
I don't like taking drugs and it seems so sad that my no-pain-med-for-childbirth self would take morphine but I have to tell you, it was worth it. Ouch.
So that's my evening.