My therapist , who used to be an on-site phycologist, at Swedish hospital, and therefore is very versed in doctor jargon, offered to translate my hospital notes for me.
We began with notes from the first of the 3 hospitals that I attended (California Pacific Medical Center) which I was airlifted to, directly from the car accident site.
Because CPMC was the hospital that I was intentionally initially sent to (due to the hospital’s reputation for excellence, as well as their prolific experience, treating brain injuries) I figured that delving into the records from there, would illuminate the physical hardships that I had incured.
To me, the hospital notes read like they were composed in a different language (and I’m fairly sure that this is a universal experience for those who have no MD knowledge). I’m quite alright with not understanding the intricacies of what they mean = needlessly emotionally painful.
I just want to know the crux (in large part, in order to share them with you): what injuries I incurred, how my coma was classified on the Glasco Coma Scale…(the doctor’s way of communicating w/ each-other, of a coma’s severity.)
I, still, miraculously have experienced no pain (the doctors have no conjecture as to why), and I’m a-ok with that.
Since my expertise is the sharing of information, here is the extensive list of my injuries, translated from “doctorese” into comprehensible English & pared down, so that this list is no longer extensive = much more appealing to read.
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I was in a Glasco Coma Scale 4 (the Glasco Coma Scale ranges from 1-12, 1 being the most severe ((3-1 = that patient is in a vegetative state.))
Was intubated (given air) in the field & then (once I was in the Coma)
I Had all-around & extensive pelvic fractures
Had fractures in 2 ribs
Had bruising in my lungs
Had a femur (thigh) fracture
Had a humerus (the funny bone -> nothing funny about injuring this bone!) fracture
lacerated (sliced) bladder
lacerated spleen
I love that this is an isolated incident & therefore necessitates little worry or pro-longed concern. (Just anything that neccesitating balance!)
So, forethought, as always, is necessitated, BUT much more imparetively now, (particularly when navigating).
Recovery is certainly extensive enough, and year after year, feels never-ending.
I’m continually reminded, however, by professionals, that it’s not.