Daily Summary - September

SEPTEMBER 2008:

Monday 1st September ‘08

Appointment with Dr Tran (GP): Had very high pain levels. Increased pain relief to 50mg of Kapanol am and pm.

Appointment with Marion Slatery (hydrotherapy). Painful session.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Albany Creek and back
Milage:

Tuesday 2nd September ‘08

No appointments today. Lots of pain, stayed home.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Wednesday 3rd September ‘08

Lots of pain again. Not coping with the new medication and feeling quite psychotic. Had a big fight with mum, as I felt very out of control and overwhelmed by the constant pain.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Westend (to see a friend for some support)
Milage:

Thursday 4th September ‘08

Appointment with Marion Slattery at 2pm (hydrotherapy). The pain was slightly better today and I had a improved hydro session.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Albany Creek aquatic center
Milage:

Friday 5th September ‘08

Felt extremely groggy this morning from the drugs overnight. Having trouble sleeping through the night due to the side effects of the amitriptyline (dry mouth), waking up with a raw throat during the night.

1st appointment with Lawyer Robert Tidbury.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Spring Hill then City.
Milage:

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th September ’08

Stayed at dad’s. Feeling depressed over lack of ability to socialise with friends due to pain and mobility problems.
Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel: Sunday trip home

From: Spring Hill
To: Dayboro
Milage:

Monday 8th September ‘08

Appointment at 9:15am with Dr Tran (GP). Explained the effect of the new levels of drugs- decided to take levels down slightly, as I was feeling psychotic. Pain levels remained extreme.
Appointment at 2:30pm with Marion Slattery (hydrotherapy).

Remained feeling very depressed about situation following weekend.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Albany Creek
Milage:

Tuesday 9th September ‘08

Appointment with Dr George Hopkins (surgical outpatients at the Royal Brisbane). Very brief appointment, Dr was happy with my progress which was encouraging.
Hydrotherapy appointment with Marion Slattery at 2:30pm.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:

From: Dayboro
To: Royal Brisbane/ Town
Then: Albany Creek to Dayboro
Milage:
Wednesday 10th September ‘08

Exhausted from the pain today and feeling nauseated from the pain relief.

8:45am appointment at the royal Brisbane hospital- Good reports from the Doctors there.
3:15pm- MRI at the Windsor scan centre. Felt extremely sick during this scan.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Brisbane City (Royal Brisbane)
Milage:

Thursday 11th September ‘08

Feeling better than yesterday, but still unable to do much for myself due to the pain.
10:30am appointment with Peter Stanton- UQ physio. Small improvement from the end of painful session.
2pm hydrotherapy appointment with Marion Slattery.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: St Lucia then Albany Creek
Milage:

Friday 12th September ‘08

Had the help of my friend Leah Cowley today to allow mum to work. I went and got my tax done which Leah drove me to. Leah attended to all the domestic cares I was unable to do for myself as listed below.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Chermside
Milage:

Saturday the 13th & Sunday the 14th September 08

Stayed at my dad’s over the weekend.
The relationship I was in broke up over this weekend. Both my ex boyfriend and I finding the new issues surrounding the accident and my constant pain an issue. Obviously a very upsetting experience to cope with on top of everything else.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Spring Hill
To Dayboro
Milage:

Monday 15th September ‘08

First appointment with Sigrid O’Callagham (psychologist). Very teary session, helpful, but very hard to admit to the unhappiness that was resulting from the effects of the accident.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Albany Creek
Milage:

Tuesday 16th September ‘08

Pain levels more tolerable today.
Had an eye check at Samford. Have not been able to see properly/ focus when reading since the accident. Was prescribed reading glasses- $210.

2pm Hydrotherapy appointment with Marion Slattery.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Samford then Albany Creek
Milage:

Wednesday 17th September:

Extreme pain today. Was unable to sleep from it- crying in my sleep from the pain.
1pm Hydrotherapy appointment with Marion Slattery. Good session.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Albany Creek
Milage:

Thursday 18th September ‘08

Appointment with Dr Tran 12:30pm. Feeling slightly more mobile today.
First appointment with Dr Jason Ray at Greenslopes hospital- regarding a cordal injection. I found him extremely unprofessional so I asked to see another Doctor for pain management for subsequent sessions- Was referred to Dr Rice.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Greenslopes
Milage:

Friday 19th September ‘08

Anita Seward (friend of mine) helped me this day. She took me to my appointments, whilst mum had helped me with showering etc this morning.

Appointment at 9:30am physio with Peter Stanton.
Got all hair cut off at the hairdressers, as I was finding it hard to brush and maintain my hair due to the pain.

Feeling very distressed over effect on friends and family the burden of my injuries.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: St Lucia
Milage:

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st of September

Required assistance moving things from the house I was house sitting when I accident occurred.
Hannah, my sister was admitted to hospital for a infected cyst and required surgery. This was very upsetting for her and the family, but also very hard for my mum to continue to help me as much as I required whilst helping my sister. I was still using crutches at this stage and required help for everything including getting a drink of water or carrying my handbag.

Stayed at dad’s over the weekend

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From: Dayboro
To: Spring Hill
Milage:

Monday 22nd of September

Very hard to arrange getting what I needed from Dayboro and then getting to my appointments as my little sister was in hospital and my mother needed to attend to her.
Cancelled my hydrotherapy appointment to be with my sister and help with her dressing. I was asked to do Hannah’s sterile dressing everyday as I am a nurse.
I felt very upset due to the unfortunate event that my sister was in hospital now. It was hard as I still very much relied on my mum and felt like I was taking her away from my sister her needed her too. I was also finding it very hard to cope with the fact that I am the ‘nurse’ the ‘carer’ of the family and I could no longer fulfil that role as I was in so much constant pain I have nothing left to give.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: Royal Brisbane Hospital
Milage:

Tuesday 23rd of September

Appointment at 12noon with Marion Slattery, hydrotherapy.
Appointment at 2:30pm with Hugh English- Orthopedic Specialist at the Holy Spirit Hospital.
I was still feeling quite depressed due to the fact I was so dependant at time which felt particularly burdensome for my family.


Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: Albany Creek, then Holy Spirit Chermside
Milage:
Wednesday 24th of September

Appointment with Psychologist at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
It felt extremely good to discuss the many emotional hurdles occurring since the accident.
Appointment at 2pm with Marion Slattery, hydrotherapy.

Hannah remains in hospital.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: Brisbane city (royal hospital) then Albany Creek
Milage:

Thursday 25th September

Appointment at 12noon with physio, Peter Stanton. Felt increased pain after the appointment. Physio and I devised an exercise plan with physio.
Taken to the appointment by mum, picked up and taken to the royal hospital with a cab.
Appointment at 1:50pm surgical case review- appointment cancelled without notice.
Hannah was discharged from hospital today. Still not coping with the burden I am feeling on the family. The pain remains at a level which is hard to cope with constantly although I am on large amounts of pain relief.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: St Lucia then Royal brisbane
Milage:

Friday 26th September

Appointment with dentist due to sore jaw. I have been grinding my teeth due to the pain, in my sleep ever since the accident. Dentist recommended a jaw guard for sleeping with.
Went to the GP for legal paper. Also discussed increased pain since weaning off Kapanol- decided to not continue decreasing kapanol due to large amounts of pain.

Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
From:Dayboro
To: Newmarket then to Albany Creek
Milage:

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September

Leave for family holidays at Caloundra. Arranged to have bottom level apartment in order to mobilise better. Recommended not to swim in the ocean due to my lack of strength and balance. Only swam in resort pool and did hydrotherapy exercises there.

I was still feeling very depressed that the pain I was feeling was increasing horribly as I was trying to wean down on the drugs. I can barely walk on the gravel without shoes due to the pain.


Domestic Cares:
> Showering
> Cooking
> Laundry
> Driving
> Cleaning

Travel:
No travel related to appointments

Monday 29th September- Friday 3rd October

Away at Caloundra on family holidays. Very high pain level throughout holiday and continued to feel very depressed throughout holiday.