And now... the continuation of Victim.
So, I'm at the security office with Ricky. I can't remember if I told them what happened of if Ricky did. What I do remember is the outrageous agony I was in and the only way I could attempt to cope with it was to throw my head down on the counter and cringe. They asked if I wanted an ambulance or a taxi. Should I have gotten an ambulance? I really didn't want to be in one of those. However, the taxi did take forever to get to us and the driver was so freaked out about the whole situation that he drove erratically and actually backed into a sign in the parking lot to start out. I crouched next to the building as we waited for the taxi, a napkin over my hand that the lady gave me suggesting that it might keep germs away from the wound. It mostly just increased the pain and got stuck to the remaining wax and oozing.
At some point during the wait, possibly shortly before the taxi got there, a man who works in the cafeteria came by and asked if the burn had been cleaned at all. When we responded that it hadn't, he fetched some neosporin from his car and put it on my hand. I was terrified at that moment because I was sure that the cream was going to kill me because there couldn't have been any possible way for the pain to go beyond that point without leading to death or a coma. I don't remember it killing me, putting me in a coma, or increasing the pain, though.
We eventually got to the hospital where the receptionist took her sweet time to get all of my information. She had to ask what happened, what my name was, contact info... She asked for my insurance card as well. No, I did not have my insurance card. After thuroughly scorching my flesh, I wasn't terribly interested in fetching my WALLET in case I need some cards when I went to the EMERGENCY ROOM.
After another long wait, they finally let me into the back where another lady asked me my name and what happened. I don't remember exactly what happened here. Eventually Ricky came in with me. I don't know if it was then or in the other room. Another long wait and they put me in another room where a doctor told me it was a second degree burn. There was more, but all the details have turned into a sloppy blur for me. I just remember crying and saying "freaking" a lot, especially when the doctor mentioned a possibility about me losing mobility in that part of my hand. Suddenly everything in my life broke apart then.
He gave me ice and told me it would keep the swelling down. He also gave me a good amount of pain killers and perscribed some antibiotics for me. It was horrendously painful, but he wrapped my hand up with an ace bandage after applying some kind of cream(did he?).
Eventually, we left. I was still in an enormous amount of pain, but I had become accostomed to the throbbing and agony. We had to wait around for another taxi for a while. I'm really glad Ricky was there with me... When we got in the taxi the driver passed back a notepad and apparently wanted a signature from me. After starting at the paper in confusing and disbelief for a moment, I scribbled down some form of initials with my left hand.
Back at my room, feeling somewhat delusional and dizzy, I called my mom to let her know what happened. I kept the ice on my hand all night which soothed the pain a bit and also made that one spot of my bed soggy. I didn't go to work or to my classes for the next couple of days. When I went to see Joan to tell her I couldn't work she jumped right into telling me what my next assignment was before I could say anything. I had to push through her words to exclaim, "I can't work! I burned my hand!" That's when she looked and saw that it was all wrapped up and responded with a worried mother look. She said she's get someone else to handle my work and not to worry about it.
It was a really horrible process. My hand hurt so much that I had to keep it elevated so the blood wouldn't rush to the wound. The pressure was quite uncomfortable. It was hard to get dressed in the morning. Anything with long sleeves was too painful to try to put on. It took me twenty minutes to put a jacket on one night. Several times Ari had to help me get my arm through sleeves to jackets and cardigan-types. It was also incredibly difficult to shower. Or eat. Or...do anything.
Oh yeah. The doctor said that I was to go back to the hospital "first thing in the morning" the next day. How was I going to get there? I positively could not drive. Luckily, JimAndOrJames said he would bring me in the morning. So, we went. We got lost in the building for a good hour before finding the burn clinic, and were then turned away. Yes. When I went to the desk, they didn't know who I was or why I was there. However, they did say that my information was faxed to them that morning. Great! BUT I didn't make an appointment so they wouldn't see me that day and I would have to wait for the doctor to come in at the end of the week. Fine. They also scolded me for having ice on my hand. When I told them that the doctor said to keep it on my hand, they just looked at me with disappointment.
Stay tuned for the conclusion when I'm more awake.
-Lisa
Victim pt. 2
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Posted by Lisa at 8:43 PM
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