figmo | Why now???

I was doing my KLIV shift this morning. My usual editor was on vacation, and the fill-in editor wasn't scheduled to show up till 8am. It was 7:51am, and I was rushing from the newsroom to the on-air studio to be there in time for my 7:52 newscast when I tripped and fell, landing face-first into a file cabinet drawer. Not having time to react to the pain, thinking "I must get up right away and do my newscast," I scraped myself up and started the newscast, noting that my mouth felt a little weird. "Good morning, you're lithening to fiftheen-ninedy, K-L-I-V, Thilicon Valley'th Newth Thtathun...." WTF?????!? I don't normally lisp, but suddenly I was unable to form words properly.

I struggled through the newscast, started the Economy Report for that hour, then looked down and noticed I was dripping blood. DOUBLE-WTF?????!? After the newscast I walked to the bathroom and noticed a 2in long gash straight across my chin. I opened my mouth and noticed three of my lower teeth had pushed back nearly half an inch backwards into my mouth. No wonder I could hardly talk! As soon as Luke, the editor, was able to, I had him take over the on-air duties and rushed myself to El Camino Hospital.

The diagnosis: The gash in my chin, luckily, didn't go all the way through to the inside of my mouth, but I had a few cuts inside there anyway. The physicians' assistant on duty managed to get the on-call plastic surgeon to come in and do my mouth. I now have 36 stitches. Next, they had a trauma dentist. He was able to move my teeth closer to their correct positions and then glued on supports similar to what they used to call "invisible" braces. The good news: My teeth weren't broken at the roots. The bad news: I appear to have broken my jaw. It's a greenstick fracture, but I am under doctors orders to use my lower jaw as little as possible for the next week.

Warren is taking a test that started at 3pm, so I was careful not to call him (as if I could!). Instead, I called

dimakoi and got her to pick me up. Somehow Warren had figured out that I'd fallen at the station and had managed to drive myself to the hospital. Still, I'm glad he didn't know so he couldn't worry about me ("broken jaw" sounds pretty effing nasty, right?). She took me to the drug store, and they were told my health care coverage had expired on the 31st of last month. TRIPLE-WTF?????!? The folks from the health plan won't be in till Monday, so I can't take care of business till then.

Meanwhile, if there's anything I can do to make the healing go faster, suggestions are welcome! I do not want to have to do a "proxy" concert at Denvention!

Current Mood: in horrific pain
Current Location: Home

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

redaxe.livejournal.com

Owowow. *offers hugs*

I don't need to tell you I think this sucks, especially the nasty healthcare coverage surprise. (But only gently, because it CAN'T bite :-P

Get better; if you can't sing in Denver, maybe you can do what we did for Carla Ulbrich at Contata '05, and have stunt vocalists stand in for you. (There HAS to be some real comedy gold in there somewhere. Really.)

I have never ever heard of a situation more suited to texting than yours, today. Don't sprain your thumbs :-P

*hugs again*

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

I have never ever heard of a situation more suited to texting than yours, today.

I did text two messages to my mother after she called my cell phone. The first was to tell her I couldn't talk to her because I broke my jaw. The second was to tell her that otherwise, things were okay. I can only imagine her reaction....

From:

randwolf.livejournal.com

Sympathies.

From:

yourbob.livejournal.com

Sympathies.
Good Thoughts.
All I can.

From:

howeird

Ouch! Maybe we can do Millie Vanilli in Denver. You play guiitar and move your lips, I'll sing. You've always wanted to hear your songs sung in bass, haven't you?

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

Alas, that wouldn't work because I can barely move my lips. I'm supposed to use my lower jaw as little as possible. Luckily for me, I scored a great buy on a package of 200 flexible straws at a dollar store last week.

From:

jcbemis.livejournal.com

owowowow. see you in denver maybe.

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

You'll see me in Denver. I'm not sure how much you'll hear me.

From:

stevemb.livejournal.com

Damn, that sucks. I'll keep my fingers crossed that things work out for you.

From:

capplor.livejournal.com

Bones? Not a whole lot to do.

BTW, I dug up the old books & showed Tammy "Road Kill Cafe"

She loves it.

Did the horrific pain thing earlier this week. Sucks rocks, doesn't it? (Just don't do your own rock-sucking.)

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

I don't think rocks could get in my mouth at this point to be sucked. :-)

From:

hms42

Ouch!

Since it was on work time, won't they cover the medical expenses? (Worth looking into.)

Speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing you in Denver. (I hope you can sing there too!)

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

Worker's compensation will allegedly cover everything but the plastic surgeon.

If there's any way I can sing at the con, I will, even if it means sucking down lots of pain killers. You won't get to see the stitches at the con because I'm scheduling my flight for Wednesday so the plastic surgeon can remove them (it's the soonest he feels safe doing so).

From:

danceswithlife

Hm. Workers' comp should probably pick up the prescription as well, but you might have to go to the pharmacy your w.c. carrier recognizes.

Piece of advice...if this is billable to W.C (and all of it should be! They can't correct cuts in the mouth without a plastic surgeon, or deep cuts such as the chin), then don't confuse the issue by billing your health carrier. If you do, you will be unraveling it for months. Your employer should fill out a first report of injury (a special form required by the state), and you should carry a copy to any physician you go to--check with them first to make sure they accept workers' comp. Not all doctor do, nor are they required to. Your emergency care is covered, and the hospital should bill the W.C. carrier for you. You may be required to go to the doctors your employer has selected for non-emergency care for the first 30 days. If you ignore that, again, you will be unraveling it for months, and may have to pay stuff out of your pocket (your health carrier *will not* cover this AT ALL since it is work related. Don't even bill them. They will either deny the claims or request any money they pay back from the doctors). Email me if I can answer any more questions for you, Lynn. lolamccrary at yahoo dot com. I know this isn't a time you want to deal with this shit, but please take seriously the fact that not doing so could have bad financial repercussions for you.

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

Thank you soooo much for pointing this out!!!

The plastic surgeon refused to deal with workers' comp claims, so I had to sign a form saying I knew that.

As for the rest, it's on my List Of Things To Do for Monday when the billing dept. is open. Dealing with them when I can barely talk will be a challenge. If there's a way I can do it in email it'd be preferable. As it is I'm going to have fun and games explaining why I need my 17-inch PowerBook at work tomorrow (I've been using a full screen set to 48pt font to communicate with Warren).

From:

dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com

Get another plastic surgeon.

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

Um, it's a little late, as he already stitched up my face.

From:

hillarysherwood.livejournal.com

Ouch! That really sucks. Hope you were at least able to get some pain killers and start feeling better in time for the Con.

From:

patoadam

Ouch ouch OUCH!

I'm terribly sorry this happened.

Wishing you a speedy and painless recovery!

From:

hvideo.livejournal.com

I'm getting twinges just reading about it. Owies.

About the only thing I can think of to speed the healing is to make sure you get nutrition-rich meals. Whatever building blocks your body needs to make repairs, make sure they are there. I realize that this will be more difficult if you are limited to a liquid diet, but get adequate protein, vitamins and minerals and all the amino acids and so on. I expect your doctor has you on antibiotics, so get some pro-biotics (acidophillus, bifidus) and perhaps some caprylic acid (fights the yeast that will want to take over) to keep your intestinal balance OK so you can absorb those nutrients.

Sending good thoughts for a speedy and complication-free recovery.

From:

peteralway.livejournal.com

Ouch!

I wish you a speedy recovery, less pain, an amusing concert, and no more head injuries.

From:

smoooom.livejournal.com

I hope things heal well and quickly. Fingers crossed and all that good stuff.

From:

archiver-tim.livejournal.com

Oouuch!

Check your COBRA paperwork, you may be able to join up to 45 days past end of other coverage.

From:

figmo.livejournal.com

COBRA only applies to employer-supplied health insurance, IIRC. This is stuff I'm paying for on my own.

From:

hrrunka

Ouch! I hope things heal quickly.

From:

frith

I fell on my teeth once, picked them up off the street.

Painkillers: First and easiest, salt water. Dissolve at least two tablespoons of salt in a small glass of warm water. Swirl in your mouth for a few minutes and spit it out. It will also act as an antiseptic (against infection).

Second painkiller: oil of cloves. Probably available at your local healthfood store. Just a dab will do ya -- dab it where it hurts.

From:

duncanmac.livejournal.com

Eee-yoww! What a miserable accident!

I really hope you recover soon. You do not need this just before Worldcon. My sympathies and many ((hugs)).

I've never had this particular injury, but I count myself lucky that way.

I also really hope that some common sense prevails (e.g. Obama wins) this coming November; the situation with U.S. health-care has got to be fixed and the sooner the better!