Oh no! Now I'm the patient!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Nurses. Just wanted to remind you to take it easy out there on the roads. My flight was canceled coming home from vacation, so I thought I'd rent a car and drive. Note, if it's too snowy to fly, it's too snowy to drive. Anyway, I made drove about four hours, stopping every hour for bathroom and coffee. Then, the roads started to look better. I was going along about 60, then I hit a thick slush patch of about 5" of dark grey mush. I started sliding, and I thought I would just end up in the ditch..and then I started seeing grey and heard the windshield cracking. I rolled over 1.5 times and ended drivers side in the air backwards. I called 9-1-1 and wasn't sure if I was hurt or anything..just kind of stuck in the air. Then, three witnesses stopped their cars and three burly men lifted me out of the vehicle and to safety in their car until EMS came. I have no way to thank them, but I want to so much. It meant the world to me. EMS came and I refused further care--I seemed fine. Now my neck is really sore and ribs may be cracked, so I'm going to ER or Urgent Care tonight. I know we can't give/get medical advice here of course, but does urgent care have CXR capabilities? I would hope so. I don't want to go there and then get sent to ER, but I don't want to clog up ER with my non-life threatening injuries either. Oh well.

Again, take care and be cautious. We are precious!

Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

Please go to the ER ASAP. They are more capable of handling traumas than a doc-in-the-box-and, you had a trauma.

:yeahthat::plsebeg:

Ok OK...going to ER soon with Mom. Let you know how it works out.

Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

please go to the ER right away.. i am so glad you lived through that. please keep us posted on how you are doing !!

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

so glad to hear you are ok. i hope you go to the ER too just to make sure you don't have anything going on.

i am glad those men were there to help you today. take care of yourself!

SO GLAD I went to the ER. I had CXR, shoulder XR, U/S of abdomen and heart, and CT of abdomen and pelvis. Definitely wouldn't have gotten all that at urgent care. Also had good nursing care :) I have a bruise and minor bleeding on my right kidney, and bruised ribs. Now I'm happy to have a prescription for some vicodin and a note to be off work. Thanks nurses :)

P.S. I was really shocked at how much the contrast made my crotch burn. Holy cow!

After a trauma like that you should never feel bad about going to the ER. You needed one and I'm so glad you went and were thoroughly checked out. Hope you feel better soon. Rest up!!

Specializes in Oncology.

Yep, good decision to go to the ER. I've gotten CXR's at urgent care- but for asthma, not trauma.

If you had gone to urgent care, hopefully they would have shipped you out the door to the ER anyways.

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
SO GLAD I went to the ER. I had CXR, shoulder XR, U/S of abdomen and heart, and CT of abdomen and pelvis. Definitely wouldn't have gotten all that at urgent care. Also had good nursing care :) I have a bruise and minor bleeding on my right kidney, and bruised ribs. Now I'm happy to have a prescription for some vicodin and a note to be off work. Thanks nurses :)

P.S. I was really shocked at how much the contrast made my crotch burn. Holy cow!

i'm glad you went to the ED, too. :)

the 1st time i had CT contrast, the rad tech did not warn me about the sensation that feels like you are peeing all over yourself. i was in high school and i was so embarassed i started yelling "stop! i just peed on the table! i'm so sorry!" she had a nice chuckle.

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Get plenty of rest. Wishing you a speedy and event-free recovery!

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