For her birthday, FG begged for a pair of Heelys. A lot of the kids wear them even though they’re banned from the school. Since that is all she wanted, I agreed with the stipulation that if we had to make a trip to the emergency room, she wouldn’t be able to use them anymore.
Fast forward one month and she’s using her heelys on the sidewalk and, unfortunately, must have caught a pebble or something because she fell forward and used her arms to stop her fall. We spent SIX hours in the emergency room on a Sunday afternoon and it turns out she did fracture her lower arm near the wrist. She has a temporary cast and will get a permanent one on Friday.
The whole emergency room experience was probably more painful than the break itself. They need some serious time management and customer service classes for the medical staff. Personally, I could care less about a doctor’s bedside manner ~ I want someone competent and efficient. No need to chat me up with useless talk but I think they should be able to tell you if it’s going to be a 4-5 hour wait. I would have sent FM home so we both didn’t waste our time sitting in the waiting room. I’m known for questioning everything and had I not questioned the first set of x-rays, they wouldn’t have found the fracture. Even though I SPECIFICALLY told the nurse that FG was complaining about pain in her lower arm, they requested x-rays on her elbow. UGH. I always wonder what happens to people who are too intimidated to question the medical staff. And yes, I have to put up with their condescending answers because they don’t like being questioned by lay people but that doesn’t stop me one bit. It only makes me resolved to make them make it clear to me. I’ve already told FM (who hates to question the staff) that if I’m too incapacitated to talk, he better step up and be an advocate for me.
That said: I’m thankful that I have medical care and know that there are a lot of people who don’t have access to our kind of care. It could be a lot worse.
This will be FG’s fashion statement for the next week. She’s hoping for a red cast on Friday.
Displaced Beachbums 
FG and D. could compare slings! I totally agree and understand your frustration with the system. I felt the same way, even when I was working “on the inside”. I can’t count how many times I had to explain what “stat” means to the lab or pharmacy. Maybe I was just full of energy, but I was always running to hurry up. I constantly wanted to light a fire under my coworkers. One of D’s many ER visits lasted 8 hours, and they didn’t even fix him. He always wants me to go with him to his appts because he won’t question them either. I won’t even get started on the wait to make an appt here–on hold for an hour, literally, because they only make same-day appts.
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TO ALL: I told FG about your kind words of encouragement ~ thanks! So far she’s enjoying all the attention she’s getting at school BUT it is dawning on her that it’s going to be a boring few weeks of recovery. She’s such an active child and the thought of not biking, swimming, karate, kangaroo club (jump roping) etc. is a bit upsetting.
KBG: Yikes, that sounds like a really painful break. FG’s cast is above her elbow as well.
Toni: Thanks for your comment ~ glad you broke your silence 😉
Kay: FG would LOVE to host flat stanley. Do you have our address?
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Oh my – they boy has been begging for heelies forever and I’ve always just told him no. Guess I’ll stick to that.
On another note – tell the girl that I broke my left wrist (the radius) right at the wrist when I was 15 – all the way IN HALF. I had a pretty cool cast all the way up over the elbow for 6 weeks. I hope they give her a “shower bag” so that she can still swim/shower in it!
And the boy will be so jealous when he hears – he totally wants a broken bone just for the cast experience!
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We have had to make several ER visits and I sympathize with your wait. I think one of first things that should be taught in medical school is “listen to the mom”. It doesnt matter what level of healthcare is available – always have an advocate.
Cast tip: Ask about the powder that is available to keep it from smelling 🙂 Hope FG gets lots of attention at school and tell her that her dress is very pretty in her picture! She will be a celebrity with her red cast! We hope she gets better quick!
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Poor FG! My hubby hasn’t let our kiddos have the heelys in spite of all our begging, and it looks like with good reason. My two are incredibly accident prone and would certainly break something the very first day. And good for you for speaking up…there are so many people who are hesitant to question health care professionals, but my philosophy is that they’re still only human and can make mistakes. Hope FG gets the red cast she wants since she has to give up her heelys!
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(I just wrote a long winded rant against medical professionals and erased it. This isn’t the place for all of my crazy ER stories.)
One hour is too long to wait let alone Six!!! I’m with you on being the advocate too. I’m the same way when it comes to my kids. Luckily, Fred steps up when it comes to me. There have been so many times he’s helped me when I’m in the doctor. I’m also very thankful when it comes to our benifits but does that mean we have to wait six hours and then have to question the decisions that were made about our care? Something to think about.
I hope your FG is better soon. What a great mommy you are to have caught the medical mistake. Kudos to you!
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Hello! I’ve been a lurker for a couple of months now. I’m originally from Guam, but currently in the Virginia Air National Guard at Langley AFB. But I digress. I want to applaud you on your persistent question asking. Doctors too often carry themselves above their patients, and I can understand their new frustration of self-diagnosing patients thanks to the Internet. But when you know something is wrong, you need to speak up, regardless of what kind of degree the person you are dealing with has. It could very well be a matter of life and death. Kudos! Hope your daughter gets well soon!
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Hmm C-A has been wanting heely’s too! Should we make an offer or should I show her the picture of your FG?
Hope she gets well fast!
Are you interested in hosting a Flat Stanley?
K.
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