Icarus's blog: "Somantics"

now that the arm restraints were off I could look at my arms-they kept telling me not to move. I was hooked to vitals monitoring devices, and transferred from the care of first responders to second (?) responders. Overtaxed nurses PAs and Docs
And damn that neck brace was uncomfortable
kinda choked me
threatened paralysis if I moved it- so I behaved
we found out later that I had lacerations on my neck too
they were slow bleeders and were getting kinda crusty on the brace.

Right before I was taken into X-ray I was greeted by my aunt and her new husband, and we talked about the weather...
no
we talked about the accident.

I got in and got out, had my little lead lap thing for my swimmers... not that I thought I'd be impregnating
anyone
ever
especially with this massive disfiguring scar on my head.

But hey- why take that risk?

Lectures about seatbelts.
More lectures about seatbelts
and hey
you guessed it

more lectures about seatbelts.

I talked to my aunt, my uncle knows some attorneys so he got in touch with an injury lawyer and told them to anticipate some calls.

My aunt took pictures of me full blodied, and we  found out that my folks were en route and about an hour away.

Then one of my cousins showed up
gagged a few times
and my aunt and her began to wash me off since ... well, it was a full house in the ER that day, and I was a low priority injury
and my mom would be there soon
didn't want to freak her out THAT much.

I got more of the police report, gave my statement
signed my statement
got the spiel about insurance and liability and who is paying what

and then my dad came in not 2 minutes before I was going to get stitched and
guess what

gave me a lecture about seatbelts

"yeah- like I haven't heard that all day- nice to see you to jackass, glad you're alive!"

note that this was about 10 minutes after my morphine and I still managed to get annoyed at the wagging finger as opposed to a tearful greet

then my mom began to putter and fret
and I told her to sit down and be quiet
I had a professional hovering over me with needles and stitches
I did NOT need the distraction.

The numbing agent HURT
but I was glad for it
couldn't feel all 8 stitches that went in my head.
Well... closer to 16
we had to sew the tissue under the skin since my skull was exposed.

I had questions
they had answers
those graham crackers they gave me were the best thing I had ever tasted

trauma and hunger does that to someone.

The doc had some pretty good stories, and a good perspective on the work she does.
Twenty three years of trauma center
*whistles*
that takes a strange and tough woman.

I got one more lecture on the seatbelt, got some wendy's got some pain pills and muscle relaxants

and I was on my way.

Nobody likes the story I tell, there's a mix of amazement, anger, and fear in every reaction.

I know I requested non-narcotics but by hour 2 at home I was writhing and wiggling and moaning
and my parents expected me to JUMP UP and go to the hotel.

They couldn't stay at my house (not enough beds in the inn)
and for some fucking reason were in an almighty rush to get there.

I ... snapped
several times on this topic

I was in an accident
I am experiencing a high level of pain
Shut up
get me better pills
sit down and THEN we'll talk about moving.

We called it in, and filled the scrip for loritabs.
I was throbbing in parts I hadn't even hit and about downed the first pill over the counter.

Talked to my aunt that works at the hotel... took my pills
faded.

It was either have my folks for the first 24 hours of surveilance or sleep at the hospital
head injuries need some babying in that first period.

It was good to sleep.
I felt a lot better with my dog there...