Comeuppance? My Walk Was Perfect Until
My walk was lovely until. . . I arrived home, bent over to kiss my dog, and suddenly I was lying on the patio with a bloody nose and mouth. My glasses either hurt or helped—not sure. Bloody fall🤕
If you didn’t read my earlier post about relaxing on Sunday, the title will seem silly. I did do as I suggested: walked a lovely walk with my dog, and we had good but cold, sunny weather. I took one photo of a bloomimg pear tree to send to our daughter. The rest of the walk, I chatted with my dog, and it was a top ten Sunday—until we arrived home. . .
I came through the gate to the patio where my husband was sitting, and I bent over to remove the leash from Paddy.. I must have moved too quickly shaking up my sinuses and got dizzy. Before I knew it, I was face and shoulder down on the patio with blood dripping off on my face—scaring my husband and dog more than me. I didn’t realize I was bleeding. Yet.
My poor husband was freaked out, and the dog ran to the other side of the patio thinking he had caused the accident. When a person falls, the first reaction is to help them stand up quickly.Wrong! My doctor friend had always said to let the person lie there a while to get their bearings, and then assess the situation before helping them upright. Stop the bleeding.
Well, my husband did the opposite and tried to get me up. Bless his heart. The problem is that if you have 3 joint replacements, you have to think through how to get up with the least amount of pain. I asked him to bring a chair, and eventually I got myself in position to get into the chair. He was relieved, and my job was to look at my bleeding face once we went indoors. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Keep in mind I didn’t realize I was bleeding until hubby looked alarmed. I washed my face to see the origin of the blood and applied cold pressure over the sink to stop the bleeding. It was far worse than the look Inhad seen in his his face. Later he said he didn’t want me to panic! Cuts on the already swollen nose, around one side of the nose, abrasions and cuts on one side of the upper lip. I looked like Rocky Balboa’s sidekick in need of a beefsteak. I settled for cold compresses.
After I got the bleeding stopped, I applied temporary bandaids and antibiotic ointment. This held the bleeding at bay while I had Tylenol and some orange Gatorade with Southern Comfort. It was all we had! It still tasted good through a straw! I never made it to the shower to wash my hair, but c’est la vie! Tomorrow.
Here’s my take-away for anyone over the age of 50: anything can happen anytime no matter how careful you are walking or bending. After I had my 3 joint replacements, I think about every move and really try to be ultra-alert and careful. I walk 2+ miles a day. Just like today. But it did me no good today. In 5 seconds, I was down for the count. I’m glad I wasn’t alone or out on the street.
Be safe out there. Shhh. Breathe. Shhh❤️🩹
I'm glad to hear you're going to recuperate and no fractures! The uncoordination hit me at 60 yrs old. Heck, everything hit at 60 yrs it seems. I just couldn't see it coming clearly because of the bifocals. Or maybe it was the strands of grey hairs in my eyes. 😉
Susan Niemann: OK. I have a similar story.
I traveled a few years ago to Virginia Beach to participate in my favorite Uncle and Aunt's 60th wedding anniversary.
As normal, I got up early for a walk -- probably about five miles.
I was in a happy mood; it was sunny but cool; I was looking all around at the trees; I was two blocks from the hotel when my left foot struck an abrupt jut in the sidewalk knocking me flat on my face.
My bloodred face reflected the intensity of feeling around the nose. At the hotel, the lobby raised a fuss and called an ambulance. I went to my room and saw that cleaning up would be in vain.
Now, I was limping, but I wanted to walk to the ambulance. The medics insisted on hoisting me on a gurney, against my protest that the scene would create undue drama in the hotel lobby. From all the bystanders and their gawking, you would have thought CBS News was there reporting on a crime scene.
My cousins and ultimately my dear Uncle visited me in the hospital. After thoroughgoing exam, all was pretty much in order, but I was given a crutch.
Plus, about a quarter of my face (or so it seemed at the time!) was covered in white, cloth bandaging, so it had an overdramatic look of a war injury, which really was WAY EXAGGERATED, but there it is.
I had actually planned to speak at the well-attended Evening Banquet, since I was the only one in the assembly who knew my Aunt and Uncle BEFORE they had married (since they were in my life even as I was a toddler in the late '40s and early '50s).
Needless to say, the facial bandages ruined any credibility I felt I had to speak. So fine words of affection went unsaid in assembly, though certainly expressed to my Uncle and Aunt.
So, this IS an experience one can have from the walks.
You REALLY have the adventures!
Heal well, my friend!