Hospitalised

[Stroller]

It's been nearly 2 months since I've been on here, & I've got a lot of catching up to do. I thought it might be worthwhile to post what's been happening to me in the meantime.  It'll take some time, so I'll take a few posts to do it.  I'm not in great shape as yet either, so those posts may be spread out over time.

On 23 July I headed off for a country walk, something I've done regularly all my life.  This time, however, I was ambushed by cattle, resulting in 15 broken ribs, a broken wrist, and an airlift to hospital, where I remained for 2 1/2 weeks. I'm now back home, still on an array of painkillers, slowly recovering.  I'll be off to both the doctor and the hospital tomorrow, for check-ups.

I knew my wearing nappies full-time would intersect with the medical professions eventually, and wasn't expecting it to be a big deal. It wasn't, although the traumatic injuries were, of course, a very big deal. I set off on my walk in Tena pullup with an additional soaker, plastic pants, a onesie and shorts. My dummy was in my pocket. The paramedics who first reached me needed to cut my clothes off to assess my injuries, and were briefly baffled when they tried to remove what they assumed was a T-shirt. I was still conscious so explained I had continence issues. After that it was a bit of a blur.  I was out of it on opiates and other painkillers by then, and in a lot of pain despite them.

So it was into a helicopter and off to hospital.  At some point a catheter went in - that was a first for me. I think they asked my permission first, but it was immaterial really - it had to be done.  That catheter stayed in place for 2 weeks & gave me no trouble at all, apart from the tube getting twisted once.

End of first post - I'm still in a fair bit of pain despite the painkillers.  More to come...

[oznl]

They just CAN'T be trusted, cows I tell you.

At least you've prevailed (not a nappy pun).  Now you have the opportunity of hammering home your victory over the bovine with a series of steak dinners.

Slightly shocked to hear of your adventure but it's good you're on the mend now.  I think a few of us have thought about finding ourselves in a similar predicament.

I've become very wary about ladders...

[Crinklz Kat]

Wow!  I don't have words.  But you survived!   I agree --- as soon as you're able, go and get yourself a big juicy steak.     And go read some Far Side as well.

 

 

[drynot]

Them damned cows.  Best to eat them before they hurt anyone else 😁

Glad to see you on the mend.  All the best.

[Young1]

Ouch glad your alive 

[Fakename4me]

Wow, that is horrible!  But you survived.  Good for you!

[Stroller]

OK I'll try to explain something about what happened towards the end of my spell in hospital, and since then, in particular about getting back into nappies.  First, in case anyone was wondering, I was completely constipated for my first 2 weeks in hospital, despite appropriate medication.  I wasn't eating much, but eventually more drastic action was needed.  Luckily by this time I was able to get out of bed, with the help of nursing staff and physiotherapists, so the eventual result of the inevitable enema was managed on a commode rather than a bedpan.  Immense quantities with no major problem, and a huge relief.  Still pretty much out of it on opioids of course.

So, a couple of days before they were planning to discharge me, a nurse told me they wanted to remove my catheter.  I knew this was coming, and to be honest wasn't too worried about it.  I explained I had already had incontinence issues and would need to wear protection.  As I expected the hospital didn't have anything suitable for patients who are well enough to get out of bed.  They're set up for bed-bound patients only, and didn't have anything I could walk around in.  So I explained my wife would bring in some nappies, & the catheter removal was put off till the next day.  I phoned my wife & asked her to bring in a bag of Betterdry nappies & explained where to find them in the garage.  And all that worked fine.  The next day we were armed with the Betterdrys, and that evening a nurse pulled out the catheter and put on my nappy.  By the way there was no way I was physically capable of putting on my own nappy at this point.

The next couple of days nurses changed me in the morning, and in he evening my wife gave me a bed bath and changed my nappy - the first time this had ever happened.  She was fine with this.  And after that I was ready to go home.  The physios had made sure I could just about walk and get up and down stairs.  We got a rail fitted to our bed so I could get out of bed in the morning.  My wife can't walk well, and certainly wasn't able to help me get out of bed.  And so I was discharged and my wife drove me home.  What a relief that was, although I felt guilty about the extra workload this would place on my wife.  We've managed OK though so far.  After a few weeks I was able to start showering myself, and managing to change my own nappies.  I can now get out of bed without the rail, and that's gone back to where it came from.  A few days ago I went back into washable nappies as well, although only the velcro ones - safety pins are as yet beyond my ability.

I'm still on strong painkillers, but I've started reducing them.  I'm still not able to do much physically, but every week I can do a bit more.  Things are looking up!

[oznl]

Good to see you're coming out the other side largely in one piece with adventures to tell.  My experience with hospitals has certainly been that they are a chocolate wheel of awkward and embarrassing moments with or without adult nappies.

We haven't yet heard how the cows fared from their side of the fight 🤣

[Stroller]

4 hours ago, oznl said:

We haven't yet heard how the cows fared from their side of the fight 🤣

It's not over yet.  They won round 1 on points.  I'll be back...

[PoopyDiaperDude]

Damn cow gangs.  Always moooving around, hoofing it from here to there so quietly they can't be herd.....

 

[Kipzie]

On 9/2/2024 at 7:48 AM, Stroller said:

My dummy was in my pocket.

Wh...what happened to the dummy? 😭

[Stroller]

On 9/29/2024 at 2:19 AM, Kipzie said:

Wh...what happened to the dummy? 😭

It ended happily.  I had to manage without a dummy while I was in hospital - they are OK with someone in nappies, but would probably struggle with an out-and-out AB on the ward.  Mummy took my shorts home, which were still intact, and took my dummy out & kept it safe until I came home & we were reunited. It was in my mouth all last night.

[Little Piglet]

9 hours ago, Stroller said:

It ended happily.  I had to manage without a dummy while I was in hospital - they are OK with someone in nappies, but would probably struggle with an out-and-out AB on the ward.  Mummy took my shorts home, which were still intact, and took my dummy out & kept it safe until I came home & we were reunited. It was in my mouth all last night.

I am glad you got reunited with your pacifier(dummy). That must have been hard to fall asleep without it in your mouth. I know when I go to sleep my paci really helps me fall asleep. 

[Kipzie]

14 hours ago, Stroller said:

It ended happily.

Yayyyy!!

[oznl]

On 9/25/2024 at 5:32 PM, Stroller said:

As I expected the hospital didn't have anything suitable for patients who are well enough to get out of bed.  They're set up for bed-bound patients only, and didn't have anything I could walk around in.  So I explained my wife would bring in some nappies, & the catheter removal was put off till the next day.  I phoned my wife & asked her to bring in a bag of Betterdry nappies & explained where to find them in the garage.  And all that worked fine.  The next day we were armed with the Betterdrys, and that evening a nurse pulled out the catheter and put on my nappy.  By the way there was no way I was physically capable of putting on my own nappy at this point.

That's quite strange.  I know from my experience of Australian hospitals, there seem to be loads of adult nappies laying about everywhere.  I can recall a stack of them on a shelf when I was in ICU (although I myself was catheterized).  I'm confident that they are of some porous, low cost "medical tender winning" manufacture and require a constellation of complementary products to keep the furniture dry but they were "proper" tape-on nappies, not pull-ups.

On 9/25/2024 at 5:32 PM, Stroller said:

The next couple of days nurses changed me in the morning, and in he evening my wife gave me a bed bath and changed my nappy - the first time this had ever happened.  She was fine with this. 

I’m honestly not sure my beloved would do that for me, so strong is her psychological block on this.  I can recall musing about my emerging dependency when a health issue came up a few months ago and her position was of the “you made your bed, you lie in it” school.

How did being changed by her feel?  I know in my case, I’d probably just be embarrassed because the whole “being changed” experience isn’t one that I particularly crave (although as a lazy sod, I’d be open to the idea of saving myself the effort) but I’d know how much she hated it.  That would make things incredibly uncomfortable for both of us.

On 9/25/2024 at 5:32 PM, Stroller said:

After a few weeks I was able to start showering myself, and managing to change my own nappies. 

I can't quite recall where you are on the continence spectrum at this stage.  I'd have to confess that in similar circumstances, I'd consider trying to go without them although I'm not sure how well that would work out when I'm asleep.

If you still are continent at this point in your journey anyway?  Did 2 weeks of catheterisation shift anything there?

As I watch the years roll by, I'm well aware that at some point the world of my nappies and medical circumstance are going to inevitably collide so once again, you are blazing a trail for us.

[Little Sherri]

18 hours ago, oznl said:

I know from my experience of Australian hospitals, there seem to be loads of adult nappies laying about everywhere.

Canadian hospitals are the same. They're universally awful products, designed to tickle the dark little hearts of purchasing managers, but they dispense them with a generosity commensurate with their value, I guess - they practically throw them at you. And there are no dignity considerations - both of my parents were in hospital over the previous year - one made it out - and the nurses stacked nappies on their bedside tables, on the window sills, on a cart, everywhere - there was no doubt about what the situation was in that regard, in either of their rooms. 

I am related to a nurse, and she tells me that they try to get everyone over 50 (50!) to wear one, just to avoid falls from rushing to the washroom or falling out of bed, even if they don't have any continence issues. I was amazed by this. When my dad was wearing them, they had him going to physio, going for tests, walking back in forth in the halls - they certainly didn't say they weren't for people who were active, as much as they performed like they were designed for people with hours to live. 

I'd probably also try to have my own products brought in, and I also question how my wife would do with that - if she'd be sympathetic, or hard-hearted, and, if she'd, A. say arrange your own baby supplies, or B. Bring me what I asked for (something white, heavy-duty and plastic-backed, BeDry's woudl probably ideal, or C. if she'd come to the hospital with a bag full of Mermaid's Tales and Lil' Bella's and then I'd have to navigate constant interactions with medical professionals while wearing giant toddler diapers. 

Would my wife change me...? I'd probably prefer not? That's a barrier we haven't crashed through. If I could do it myself, that's option A, and if not, then I'd probably prefer the cool detachment of a professional, to the mercurial tending I'd get from my beloved. 

But, @Stroller, I'm just happening across this thread. First of all, my condolences, and I'm glad you seem to be getting through it okay. One question that nobody has asked: how the heck did this happen? I've heard of the dangers of Highland cows in particular - is that what this involved? Did you cut across a field and get perceived as a threat, and one or more of them took a run at you? How did you get discovered - did you have to drag your broken body over to the road, did you call someone,  or did someone see it happen?

[~Brian~]

@Little Sherri

from my experience, hospitals always use whatever they have available, and when I had my Colo, they ended up preparing for me at least two days before my arrival because my doctor’s office worked with their social work team in the community health team office to prepare for my arrival. Basically when I roll, then I had people ready for me that were able to whisk me right through admitting and right upstairs.

when we’re talking about diapers  are not made for a person who is severely incontinent, high had a few nurses look at what I brought with me, and I boldly stated “that is a diaper“ meaning that my NORTHSHORE would kick the butt of any other diaper that was probably available in the hospital. I wouldn’t want to try the diaper that they would put on me if it was in the hospital because I would probably end up having a severe problem with my skin.  
 

they said “wow what a diaper that is“ and I said: I had to fight tooth and nail to get that particular one, and that’s what I’m allowed to use, and that’s what I’m going to use! It would be interesting to see if we could change the peoples idea of what a diaper or nappy actually was, and we had very sick, very soft, very crinkly type diapers. That would make sure that if we release we’re not gonna be wallowing in our own mess and we’re going to be comfortable for a while. What I was surprised about what is that everybody looked at that diaper and thought: “man that’s a nice looking diaper” and I said “yeah and I wish that the state and the feds would make better ones for people that need protection”, so the state allows me to have these.

It would be interesting to see what type of diaper would be allowed. If there wasn’t somebody controlling medicare and Medicaid. The decision wouldn’t be based on how many hours they think somebody should sit in a diaper before they’re changed. Well, that is a factor that’s important, the most important factor in my mind is to make sure a person is comfortable, is dry, or can use a diaper and remain dry, or as dry, as possible, without having something happen, where they are dealing with rash or open skin or any of that nonsense, because that can really hurt. 

if that were one of the reasons why they change the diaper, and they made all the diapers so they are nice and thick so that you don’t have to worry about if you have to release everything you’re holding, that would be a heck of a big boost. There are people that are in continent just like me who probably don’t have the ability to hold it, and there are many people here on DAD that probably have that same problem. They know what a diaper is and they know what a quality diaper is, but in my research, I found out that making quality diapers is not cost effective, but I also use the reverse on these companies that make these decisions and say “oh, so it’s good that people end up with red rash skin and broken skin and have it so bad that you can’t even touch your skin?” That doesn’t make any sense. When you’re a kid, the idea is when you were little, you can’t help to use your diaper, so the idea is that you want to keep the child dry, happy and healthy!” That’s the same thing that my doctor told me in a prescription when I first got my mega max diapers is that change five times a day, to remain healthy and clean.

It is my hope that @Strolleris doing better, and it only goes to show that anything can happen! It is important that people understand that a diaper is not just some thing that you throw together that you can put 1000 in together that cost about three cents or less, but the idea is to make quality diapers so people don’t have to worry about using them, because the idea in the end is that you are going to empty everything that you’re holding into it. 

Brian

 

[oznl]

1 hour ago, Little Sherri said:

But, @Stroller, I'm just happening across this thread. First of all, my condolences, and I'm glad you seem to be getting through it okay. One question that nobody has asked: how the heck did this happen? I've heard of the dangers of Highland cows in particular - is that what this involved? Did you cut across a field and get perceived as a threat, and one or more of them took a run at you? How did you get discovered - did you have to drag your broken body over to the road, did you call someone,  or did someone see it happen?

@Stroller is a bit hit and miss on the forums lately which is unsurprising given all this business of trying to heal.  I lived in the UK for 5 years though AND I can attest that this is surprisingly common.

In the UK there are loads of "rights of way" that cut across farming land.  Unlike Australia where there's so much empty space that almost anyone can find enough unoccupied land to hike through, get lost and die alone, walkers there frequently have to cross fields with cows to continue on their path.  At least you don't die alone.

The second part of the puzzle I can also answer.  I grew up with uncles who were farmers raising cattle and spent a fair bit of time as a kid on their farms.  Cows aren't quite as passive as the kiddie books would paint them: especially if they are spooked or even worse, there are calves about.

As children, we were never allowed in a paddock with cattle unless we were in or on a vehicle (we drove farm utes or rode motorbikes as kids because it was the 1970s and safety was a work in progress).

Mostly, the cows were either passively curious or keen to get out of our way but I had a few (rare) moments where nearly a ton of steak decided that it might like to have a go at me.  This is where I learned to take off quickly in any direction on a motorbike.  If I was driving a farm ute, at least I had protection.  The old Subaru Jumbuck ute had many, many scars from cows breaking bad.

[Little Sherri]

On 10/4/2024 at 6:32 PM, ~Brian~ said:

The decision wouldn’t be based on how many hours they think somebody should sit in a diaper before they’re changed

I would much rather spend 10 or 12 hours in a decent diaper, than to wear spray-on diapers, but be administered to every few hours!

 

On 10/4/2024 at 7:46 PM, oznl said:

Cows aren't quite as passive as the kiddie books would paint them: especially if they are spooked or even worse, there are calves about.

I once found myself trying to seduce a small dog back into captivity, in a paddock that turned out to have bison in it, in the company of four young children, and when I saw the bison synchronize and agree on a formation, I said, "Come, children, we'd best be getting back to the house. Does anyone want ice cream?"

"But... Fluffy... aren't we going to bring Fluffy back with us?"

"Fluffy was great, wasn't he? Remember the good times, children. He doesn't want you to remember what's about to happen to him. He wants you remember what he was in his prime, before he was flattened by angry bison." 

[Stroller]

On 10/3/2024 at 5:38 PM, Little Piglet said:

That must have been hard to fall asleep without it in your mouth.

Not a problem with the quantity of painkillers I was on!

On 10/4/2024 at 4:13 AM, oznl said:

I’m honestly not sure my beloved would do that for me, so strong is her psychological block on this.  I can recall musing about my emerging dependency when a health issue came up a few months ago and her position was of the “you made your bed, you lie in it” school.

How did being changed by her feel?  I know in my case, I’d probably just be embarrassed because the whole “being changed” experience isn’t one that I particularly crave (although as a lazy sod, I’d be open to the idea of saving myself the effort) but I’d know how much she hated it.  That would make things incredibly uncomfortable for both of us.

Funnily enough it wasn't really awkward at all. Mentally, that is.  Physically it took some working out.  She knew I was effectively dependent on nappies before the accident.  I think she was OK with it because clearly someone had to change me - I was in no state to do it myself.  She preferred to do it herself rather than have the nursing staff do it.  For me, I had been a bit worried about how she'd feel about it, but it was fine, and the intimacy of it felt really nice.  I'd say it brought us closer together, but then we already were close together.  I started changing myself after I'd been home for a while because I was once more physically able to, and didn't want to place more of a burden on her than I had to.

On 10/4/2024 at 4:13 AM, oznl said:

I can't quite recall where you are on the continence spectrum at this stage.  I'd have to confess that in similar circumstances, I'd consider trying to go without them although I'm not sure how well that would work out when I'm asleep.

If you still are continent at this point in your journey anyway?  Did 2 weeks of catheterisation shift anything there?

I very much doubt I have full urinary continence these days, and I don't think the catheterisation made any difference.  I've not attempted to control my urination in any way since I went full-time into nappies. Not once.

[Stroller]

On 10/4/2024 at 10:54 PM, Little Sherri said:

Canadian hospitals are the same. They're universally awful products, designed to tickle the dark little hearts of purchasing managers, but they dispense them with a generosity commensurate with their value, I guess - they practically throw them at you. And there are no dignity considerations - both of my parents were in hospital over the previous year - one made it out - and the nurses stacked nappies on their bedside tables, on the window sills, on a cart, everywhere - there was no doubt about what the situation was in that regard, in either of their rooms. 

All they had was loose wadding, polyurethane 'pants' that you had to knot at the sides, and waterproof bed pads. Pretty hopeless.  I think this is probably due to cost and to fear of bedsores.

On 10/4/2024 at 10:54 PM, Little Sherri said:

I'd probably also try to have my own products brought in, and I also question how my wife would do with that - if she'd be sympathetic, or hard-hearted, and, if she'd, A. say arrange your own baby supplies, or B. Bring me what I asked for (something white, heavy-duty and plastic-backed, BeDry's woudl probably ideal, or C. if she'd come to the hospital with a bag full of Mermaid's Tales and Lil' Bella's and then I'd have to navigate constant interactions with medical professionals while wearing giant toddler diapers.

It wasn't really an issue.  I had a load of Betterdry's in the garage & I just had to tell my wife where to find them.  And no, I wasn't tempted to ask her to bring in baby prints!

On 10/4/2024 at 10:54 PM, Little Sherri said:

Did you cut across a field and get perceived as a threat, and one or more of them took a run at you? How did you get discovered - did you have to drag your broken body over to the road, did you call someone,  or did someone see it happen?

I did cut across a field, because that was where the public footpath went. By UK standards it was a big field, ie I wasn't within sprint distance of the field edge.  The cattle surrounded me, knocked me down (deliberately), then trampled over me.  I was alone, & I thought I was dead.  I managed to get out, got a few yards, then they did it again. I got out again & reached the field edge. I got under an electric fence & was then safe from the cattle (although I didn't know that for sure). I staggered towards a nearby farmhouse, met the farmer coming towards me, who called the emergency services. I was airlifted to hospital. I had 15 broken ribs, lung damage & a broken wrist, & they had to rebuild my ribcage with titanium.  I'm still on opiates & will be for a while.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone's bucket list.

[Stroller]

On 10/5/2024 at 12:46 AM, oznl said:

I lived in the UK for 5 years though AND I can attest that this is surprisingly common.

Cattle are easily the most dangerous animals in the UK, in terms of deaths per year. More than dogs.  There are more cattle-related deaths in the UK than shark-related deaths in the world, or so I understand. Most of the dead are farmers.

[oznl]

4 hours ago, Stroller said:

Cattle are easily the most dangerous animals in the UK, in terms of deaths per year. More than dogs.  There are more cattle-related deaths in the UK than shark-related deaths in the world, or so I understand. Most of the dead are farmers.

As an Australian, I *am* going to say that we're kind of world leaders in hosting deadly wildlife but I fully concede that 1 ton of homicidal steak is indeed a force to be reckoned with.  I suppose most dead here are also farmers but a close second would be farmer's kids, nephews and nieces who may not be quite as skilled at riding/driving 🤣

So pleased that you've made it out the other side though!

[Little Sherri]

6 hours ago, Stroller said:

I managed to get out, got a few yards, then they did it again.

I'd be contacting that farmer about placing an order for freezer beef.