Changing from Provider to Patient- one NP’s journey

I am writing a series called “Changing from Provider to Patient- one NP’s journey”. At one time or another, we have all been patients within the medical system. This is the third installment of my patient journey- follow me as I balance being a patient and leave my ‘provider hat’ at home.

Because I had to make a public appearance, I needed to make myself presnetable. This meant I needed a shower. This was going to be difficult. I have a long leg splint to my left leg that does not allow me to bend my knee. This meant I needed some help in the shower. Help taking a shower is not something I have needed since the birth of my last child. I have helped many people with bed baths while working as a nurse in the hospital. I was initially uncomfortable allowing my husband to help me with my shower, this was an even more intimate act that goes beyond the usual intimate moments a husband and wife have in their marriage. I had to give control of my care to my husband, something that is not easy for most healthcare providers to do

As I sat in the back seat of the truck on the way home from NC to Florida, I realized that this was going to be a lesson for me. I was going to have to learn to allow others to help me, something I was not used to doing. Sure, I would let Brett help me make dinner or go grocery shopping, but for the most part, I had to have control. Now, I had to ask for help, to get dressed, to go to the bathroom, or even to get a snack in the kitchen. This means you have to give your trust to another human. This has allowed us to find a different level of our relationship. I always thought I would be the one caring for Brett, not the other way around.

Day 3:

Today was an early day- I scheduled my CT scan at 8:00 in the am because my initial Orthopedic appointment was at 10:30. Unfortunately, due to my first appointment being with a physician that was not in my insurance network, that appointment/physician had to be rescheduled.

Not only does Brett have to take me to the various appointments, helping me in and out of the truck, but now he has to fit his other activities and errands in between those appointments. He is still working to keep folks on thier bikes and building some amazing bikes for his customers. I am now dependent on Brett for travel and care. Where I would usually go to church on a weekday, take the dogs for walk or maybe do some window shopping, this has now been taken out of my daily routines.

I was able to visit one of our newer facilities for my CT scan. It is a state of the art faciltiy with imaging, physical therapy, primary care and orthopedic care. There are facilities for the professional and semi-professional athlete to recover from injuries. This excites me as I would like to return to my normal activities of cycling as well as return to my trainer at the local gym.

My visit to Dr. B was very informative. He was a livley fellow that met my energy with some of his own. He really made me feel that the changes that were made in the physician was the best thing to happen for me. Dr. B was able to discuss my injury, let me know that the surgery could be a early as the following day or two and the post-op progress and plan. I am very excited about the way my fractures will be fixated (if able) and the nerve block pain pump for management of post-op pain.

In the urgent care setting, my care often ends with the application of the splint to secure a fracture. I will often tell my patients when they ask me if they will need surgery that the specialist will be able to give them more information. This experience has given me some insite into the next steps my patients will have to travel. Always looking for blessings and lessons, I realize that I will be able to pass along more information to those I care for that have fractures.

So now we wait to see when surgery will be….oh and by the way Hurricane Nicole is just off the coast of Florida. How exciting!