I spent six restful, but stressful days in Noel, Nova Scotia convalescing in Minou's driveway. I definitely needed it if anything for a little healing, but without a plan or even knowing how to proceed I was a basket case. Frazzled. My foot is detached from my leg being held together by a very heavy plaster cast. I'm frantically emailing, messaging, and posting of my situation praying someone can come up with an idea. Do I high-tail it back to the states? Do I stay here? How to get back to the states? How to survive in a van in very hot Maine? What kind of doctor will fix my ankle? Where do I find him/her? HOW DO I DO THIS???!!
I had a few offers of help. One very generous woman was willing to drive the van with me in it where I wanted to go as long as I paid for her airfare. I did worry if she'd be fragrance-free or not. Another friend volunteered to let me stay with her after the surgery for physical therapy, but I had no idea where to store the van. Yet another friend contacted her church's Halifax congregation to see if they had any ideas on travel. The pastor asked if I needed food. I thought that was so thoughtful and kind! Food in Canada is abysmal. Trying to get organic or gluten-free is difficult. I doubt very much if that's what he was offering, but I know there are so many people without access to any food so his offer was very compassionate and truly Christian.
Most support from people I know sounded like this, and I quote, "Oh, too bad for you, but let me tell you about the Thai food I had last night!" Minou says I need to ask for help, but I told her I am a non-entity in most people's lives. I'm not in anyway a priority even to the people I consider good friends. Point-blank asking for help sounds like disappointment and I prioritize my requests. For instance, dumping my pee bucket and my human waste is a priority. I avoided asking her for much more! I do appreciate the people in my life sending me well wishes and constantly checking in with me as I know most can't do much else especially since I'm on the other side of the country and not in the country!! My philosophy is if people want to help and can help, they will offer. And, more importantly, too many people stink! So proximity is always a challenge.
Monday I called every podiatric and orthopedic surgeon in Bangor, Maine, and nearby. Only one office actually answered their phones or returned my pleas for help. They also gave me all kinds of wonderful advice knowing I wasn't even a patient yet! I was impressed. When I was a medical assistant I learned if the staff are happy and helpful, that is usually a sign the doctors are good.
Tuesday came and went with no communication from the Canadian surgeon. I thought I'd give him until Tuesday night. I was hoping at least to get a recommendation and a referral. Nothing. The hospital said they didn't have a surgeon on the staff and check another hospital. Wow. Zero help from them although they will be the ones sending me a bill.
Wednesday I call the orthopedic surgeon's office who was helpful on Monday. They need a referral sent from the ER doctor. I call the hospital. Hmmm...no, that is not their procedure. The surgeon needs to request a referral via fax. HOLY FUCK! This went back and forth with neither office budging on policy so I could get fixed. I was in tears.
The surgeon's office suggested I could make a run for the border and at the first American hospital I find get everything done again (and pay for it again!!) and have them send their referral. She said Canadians are notoriously slow and waiting might be a problem as this is time sensitive...if the wait is to long I can't have surgery. I'm in a panic.
Then she suggested maybe I could have my primary care do the referral? I said, "But she really isn't in the loop?" I did message her to ask her advice on how to find a doctor earlier. The surgeon's office said, "Get her in the loop. You should send her the documents, x-rays and labs for your chart anyway." I call primary care doctor and she's not in the office. So I message her with an "urgent". She responds and says she'll have her medical assistant send it! Oh, thank God!!
How can getting health care be so damn hard? If I were laying on the floor dying, they'd all either ignore me or argue about policy!
In the meantime, I practiced driving with my left foot! I did a run to the grocery store thirty minutes away. No one was on the country highways so I alternated slowing down and accelerating to get used to the left foot action. On the way back I had to emergency brake for a few bad drivers and it was automatic which gave me lots of confidence! Having my leg stretched out to the right totally messed with my sense of space. I kept thinking I was driving too close to the side of the road! LOL!
I decided to leave for the states the next day. I can't risk falling off these crutches and ending up back in a Canadian ER. Also, when the Maine surgeon's office wants me there for an appointment, I want to be available immediately. I left the next morning. Beautiful drive through the Nova Scotian countryside. I am so sad and disappointed I didn't get to stay for the whole month seeing the whole province.
On the route, the Maine surgeon's office called! They do want me there immediately and planned to make the appointment the next day, but had to check with the surgeon's schedule first. Later they called me back again...forget the appointment, surgery is scheduled for Saturday (it's Thursday). I have a feeling they just squished me into a non-existent schedule as an emergency. Thank you!! The surgeon I thought I'd be seeing who I researched isn't available, but another is...he got out of medical school last year. Does this give me confidence? Hell no. But I don't have a choice and I'm just thankful I can be seen at all. By anyone. I just hope when this is all over, I can walk again!
I also had to stop twice for gas. The first I asked a customer to go back in the store and ask if there was an employee who could pump it for me. This darling young woman with curly red hair who I had the pleasure of getting gas from on the way to Nova Scotia came out cheerfully and sympathetically took my money then she sent a customer to pump it. At the next gas station there was a woman pumping gas next to me and I asked her. She happily abliged and come to find out she was there on business from California. See, Minou! I can ask for help! LOL!
Got to Bangor. Beautiful town with gorgeous old homes. I found a health food store, but they didn't have electric carts. Thankfully they were willing to shop for me and bring it out to the parking lot. I needed to stock up on food as I'm not sure if I'll be able to get around at all after the surgery. I asked for the cheapest dozen eggs they have...$7.99!! Really? Beggars can't be chosers! They did not charge me for the private shopping so there is a trade off.
I searched for hotels. I risked bodily injury and slowly crutched my way into two of them. Both use air fresheners in the rooms and all rooms smelled of mold. I think it's just too damp here. One hotel receptionist said all of the hotels use air fresheners. Rather than waste my time visiting and smelling them myself (I was so sick after the first one!), I started calling and all cheerfully said, "Oh, yes, we spray the rooms with air fresheners!" I am so thankful I had enough cognitive ability to know I would need my van with me. If I left it in Nova Scotia, I'd be screwed right now. I'll be staying in the van while I recover. I'm not looking forward to the 85 degree weather in a metal roasting oven nor crapping in a bucket when I have only one foot for support, but desperate times...I have no choice.
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