You might have thought that I have died because I haven't posted in quite some time. Well, not to be overly dramatic but I basically did die. BUT I survived to tell the tale of how I almost lost my finger in the north.
Day 1 - Friday November 18th 2016
I woke up in the middle of the night on Friday to go to the bathroom and noticed my index finger on my right hand was a little stiff and a tiny bit swollen. I wasn't too concerned because a) I am very used to strange and uncomfortable things happening to my body and b) my middle finger on the same hand had swollen up for about 10 hours the week prior. I wasn't in pain so I went back to sleep. The rest of the day it felt fine but continued to swell, become more stiff and red and by 4:00pm, a small blood blister/bruise had appeared under the last knuckle and it was beginning to hurt. My good friend Meghan convinced me to go to the clinic and even though it was after hours, I agreed and we went over. The nurse on duty advised me to try soaking it in warm salty water and take an Advil, which I did, the other nurses suggested I cut it off (jokes on you now!!). The nurse on duty also advised me to call her on the emergency number if it got worse. I went home, did my usual thing, followed the advice given and went to bed. By 12am I was in a loooot of pain and I couldn't sleep. I was getting nervous so I called the nurse and asked her to meet me at the clinic.
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| Normal hand |
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| Infected hand at about 8pm |
Day 2 - Saturday November 19th 2016
The nurse met me at the clinic at 12:30 in what was starting to become a pretty heavy snowstorm. She came inside with me and began to examine my hand and asked me many questions, took some blood, made me pee in a cup (???) and tried to see what was causing this mystery swelling and pain. After about an hour she called the doctor on call who came right away. The doctor was picked up and came to the clinic right away. I was keeping in touch with Meghan throughout this time as I was starting to panic a little, the pain was getting worse. The doctor told me she was going to call the hospital in Amos to get some advice and do some sleuthing. After about 45 minutes, she asked me to move to a hospital gurney where I promptly asked Meghan to come to calm me down and keep me company. At this point the pain was really bad and they hooked me up to IV antibiotics and a steady morphine drip. They marked my redness and swelling with a pen to track the growth. Then the fun began. First the doctor tried to drain fluid from my now swelling hand with tiny needles, this didn't work and as I am sure you can imagine, was excruciating. The doctor and nurse were visibly worried but with limited resources, could only do so much. They made me a splint, told me to go home and pack an overnight bag and to rest because as soon as it was ready, I would be medivaced by plane to Amos where I might require surgery.
At this point I was tired, in a lot of pain and getting very scared. By the way the storm was still raging. Meghan was very worried about me and insisted on staying with me through the night. In case I had to leave, I showed her how to feed and give Bobo his needleshots, we had some hot chocolate and then I called my mom to let her know about the situation. I tried to go to bed at around 4:30 am and by 5:00 am I was in complete agony and my middle finger was beginning to swell. I called the nurse back and she said to come to the clinic. I noticed that a small blister had developed on the inside of my finger and was growing fast. This spelled more trouble. At this point the pain was so bad I was starting to get very emotional. They put me back in my room and I spent the next 5-6 hours crying through the intense pain. It wasn't until they gave me a very powerful painkiller that I finally got some relief from the now growing and popping blister, an extremely painful constant occurrence. The doctors in Amos advised the doctor in Wemindji to cut deep into the tip of my finger to relieve some of the pressure from swelling and to try and drain any possible puss inside. So, the doctor inserted freezing needles 3 times into my hand and finger to numb it, THIS was agonizing. Nothing but a small trickle of blood came out and now I had an open wound in my finger.
We arrived in Chisasibi after a short bathroom break at a local airport at around 5pm. I was whisked into an emergency room where I was assessed, x-rayed and then promptly put in an isolation room with Marsha. Since they didn't know what it was that I had (although at this point WEBMD had diagnosed me with Cellulitus) they decided to keep me contained in case I was contagious. No one was allowed in without a gown, mask and gloves (something I would become very used to over the next week) and I was kept comfortable by the incredible medical staff there. By the late evening it was clear there was no plane coming for me as the storm showed no signs of letting up. Marsha and I received a very kind and thoughtful care package from her supervisor who lived in Chisasibi full of delicious sandwiches and fruit. We ate, watched the Friends channel (yes there exists an entire channel for JUST the show Friends in Chisasibi!!) and got some sleep.
Day 3 - Sunday November 20th
By day 3 things were getting a little sketchy. My finger had developed more blisters that were popping, my hand and finger were continuing to swell and now I had developed red streaks running up my arm and around to my underarm. I was getting sick from the pain killers and with so much antibiotics being pumped into my system, my veins were being burned out. The staff at Chisasibi hospital continued to give me the absolute best care I have ever received but were getting worried I wouldn't get out in time. On this day my fingertip turned grey and the doctor quietly excused himself and came back with a nurse who then made me a sling attached to another IV pole to keep my arm elevated since the swelling in my finger had cut off circulation to the tip and if bloodflow could not be returned to the end of my finger, I might lose it. The doctor was very good about keeping me calm and I did not know this was his concern at the time. I was more worried about losing my fingernail. HA!
At this point the storm had STILL not let up and we were told that we would be spending another night in Chisasibi. I was scared but SO grateful that Marsha was there keeping me calm and keeping me company. She left her family, lost sleep and had to stay quarantined with me for days and for that I am forever in her debt. Anyways we passed the time by watching Friends (we never actually turned it off the entire time we were there, even in the night - it was comforting) and trying to keep it light. We had another special delivery from Marsha's supervisor of yummy treats and Marsha also ventured out to the grocery store to get some edible grub.
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| Dinner!! YUMMMMM!! |
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| It was at this moment the doctor realized I could lose my finger due to poor circulation. |
Day 4 - Monday November 21st
On Monday it appeared as though the storm had calmed and SOMEHOW I would be getting out of Chisasibi, whether it be by medivac plane, a charter or a passenger plane. Thankfully Marsha got on a plane around lunch time to take her home and that is when I learned I would be medivaced out only a couple of short hours later! When my plane finally arrived I was strapped into yet another gurney (after of course falling up the steps to the plane and cutting my legs in typical Aidan style) and flown with my doctor and another doctor, another patient and her chaperone, a flight nurse and the pilot. We were literally packed in tighter than sardines in a can, but we were off!! The flight was smooth but uncomfortable. It lasted just over an hour. We arrived in Montreal (conditions were too unsafe to land in Amos) at around 6:30 and I was taken by ambulance to Montreal General Hospital where my mother had just arrived at to meet me there!! I was tired, in pain and scared and seeing my mother caught my breath momentarily. After a quick examination I was x-rayed again, put in a "room" aka a gurney in the hallway and soon enough, whisked away to surgery at 1 am.
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| Inside the medivac plane. |
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| Trying to remain calm and zen and lower my blood pressure before the flight. |
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| Close quarters |
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| Arriving in Montreal |
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| Air Creebec hangar |
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| The teensy medivac plane. |
Day 5 - Tuesday November 22nd
Since MGH is a teaching hospital, I saw about 564885 residents, students and doctors who asked me all the same questions to the point that my answers became quite robotic and rehearsed!
When did this start?
Did you cut or injure yourself in any way?
Is there a point of entry?
Did a dog bite you?
Did you get a papercut?
Did you hurt your cuticle?
Do you have any other questionable points of entry?
Did you ever have a fever?
Everything I answered "no" to. I had no cuts, injuries, bumps or bruises. No infections or secondary wounds that they seemed satisfied by. It was a true medical mystery, an episode of House! I was tested for MRSA a number of times which was very scary to me. I was wheeled through the corridors of this aging hospital to the surgical unit where I was parked next to a container labelled "EYEBALL SPEARS" (apparently these are not spears but rather HOOKS surgeons use to hold open eyelids during surgery, see: A Clockwork Orange). I notified the anaesthesiologist that I tend to get violently ill after surgery and she assured me they would give me something (they always say this and yet I am still ALWAYS violently ill after surgery hmmm.... liars). I took a quick nervous pee (in the bathroom), got up on the table and said goodnight and that was it. My mom was sequestered to some spooky waiting room on another floor to spend the next 2 or so hours. The surgeons (I was operated on by the plastics department) made 2 small incisions in my finger and one in my palm to clean out all the crap that had accumulated inside. They inserted a drainage tube that would act as a method of irrigation to continue to flush out infection post-surgery. When I was being wheeled out, apparently I was chatty as ever, my boobs half hanging out and happy as a clam. I gave a nice wave to my mom and was taken to recovery. Apparently it was a successful surgery except for when they took me off the ventilator and I was unable to breathe on my own, but I'm alive today so I guess they figured that one out... Anyways in post-op it was dark and very spooky and I of course began throwing up anything that was left in my poor belly (although I hadn't eaten since lunch the day before). This is also where my blood pressure began to become a real issue as it got so high I was in heart attack territory.
My mom came to see me in the morning and watched me nap and throw up in my private "Isolation Room" (private only because they felt that because I was from the far north, I could potentially carry some northern germs which could pose a great threat to the rest of the hospital..... hey whatever gets me into a private room with peace and quiet is fine by me!!)
Day 6 - Wednesday November 23rd
Day 6 with a bum finger was much like any other day. I was still getting LOADS of antibiotics, painkillers, heavy anti-nausea medication, blood thinners and blood pressure medications and they were really doing a number on me. I was down to one IV port as literally all my veins had blown out and they were even having trouble finding spots to draw blood (especially since one arm was almost useless and infected so they tried to stay away from that one as much as possible. I had a really nice visit from my principal Shauna (in Montreal for meetings) who stayed for over an hour and caught me up on all the latest school biz and brought me a sweet gift from Starbucks! It was really nice to chat and catch up. On Day 6 I also had lots of visits from Infectious Diseases who were really still puzzled as to how I got this infection and asked me all the same questions again, never satisfied.
Day 7 - Thursday November 24th
On day 7 I had my irrigation tube removed and my wound brutally cleaned by the surgical residents which was really not fun. It was nice however not to have a tube hanging out of my palm! I was still really sick from all the meds but trying to remain positive! My mom washed my hair and I was able to walk around a little to get the blood flowing! I also had a visit from my old teaching partner Stacy (she was coincidentally chaperoning a trip she organized with high school students from Wemindji to check out colleges and universities) and she brought me a bag FULL of delicious Starburst candies which I had really been craving for some reason. I am forever grateful! I also had a visit from Occupational Therapy who made me a lovely splint from melted plastic and taught me some exercises I need to do to regain movement back in my finger. It was on Thursday they thought they might discharge me the following day but my blood pressure was still so high by Thursday night that they opted to keep me for another day.
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| Post-surgery. They also cut away a bunch of dead blister skin. Because there was still so much swelling, they couldn't close up the insicions so they are left to heal on their own. |
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| Overnight my IV vein blew and fluids were pumped into my hand for hours giving it the look of a quaint watermelon. |
Day 8 - Friday November 25th
On Friday I basically spent the day trying to psychologically lower my blood pressure and visualize being in good health so I could return home. By now I had officially burned out all my arm veins and I had an IV in my leg. I was told if I could stabilize then I could go home! If I didn't, then I would be stuck another day and would have to have an IV inserted in my NECK AHHHH. So my mom and I spent the better part of the day trying to hunt down a doctor who would sign off on my work paperwork for a short term disability. I was unsuccessful but told I could ask my family doctor to do so. We were also experiencing a bit of a nightmare with logistics because plastics wanted me to come in on the following Wednesday for a follow up which meant I would have to stay in a hotel for almost a week at my own cost for one 20 minute appointment. We managed to explain the situation and the "team" agreed to hand care over to my GP in Oakville.
I was officially diagnosed with something called Flexor Tenosynovitus which is very similar to Cellulitus in symptom but the location is different. Where cellulitis is a skin infection, Flexor Tenosynovitis is an infection of the tensor sheaths or tendons. That's why I had streaks of red going up my arm, it was infecting the tendons in my hand and then arm. It is usually caused by a deep infection (which I did not have) at the site. Learn more about it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenosynovitis
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2189339-overview
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| Note: I did not put that pillow there but I didn't move it either... |
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| 18th Floor at Montreal General Hospital |
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| Splint |
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| My shower!! They had no showers on my floor.. |
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| Irrigation tube removed |
Day 9 - Saturday November 26th
On Day 9 my blood pressure, while still scary high, was deemed stable enough for me to be released and fly home! My mom and I quickly notified my Auntie Melanie who booked us tickets generously using her points and we were on a flight out of Trudeau Airport at 5pm! I was given a shot of painkiller for the road, my prescription to be filled and one pill of antibiotic. I made it through the flight a-ok, landing early! My Auntie Traci picked us up at Pearson Airport and we went straight to the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions. Well, as you now may have come to realize, I have horrible luck and the pharmacist was unable to read both the prescribing doctor's name and licence number therefore unable to enter it into the system. Since I was being prescribed a Class 2 narcotic for pain, they weren't taking any chances. We called the hospital and were transferred over and over again and no one could find out who the doctor was. I had never met this doctor and was handed the prescription by the nurse. No one at the hospital could write me a new prescription since everyone had gone home and there were only residents present AND as it turns out you can't write prescriptions cross-provincially anyways so that was a bust! The hospital in Montreal (with no pharmacy of its own or I would have filled it before I left obviously) suggested that I either come back to Montreal for a rewrite, or take my chances at a walk-in or ER. I was exhausted, in pain and just wanted to go home so we decided to wake up early and go to the ER and beg a doctor to write me a new prescription in neat and legible penmanship on good faith that I wasn't some drug-seeking creep.
Day 10 - Sunday November 27th
My mom and I got up early on Sunday morning and arrived at the ER in Oakville at 6:45 am. We waited for about 3 hours in an empty ER but luckily a kind and understanding doctor took pity on me and wrote me a new prescription!! I went home, later saw my family and friend Heather, had a shower with much help from Mummy and crashed.
Since then I have been resting lots, trying not to think about how much work I am missing and being treated so wonderfully by friends and family near and far. Mummy has been preparing the kinds of meals that heal the body and soul, Monika bought me delicious sushi dinner while on her trip in New Zealand!!!!, Mike, Hilary and Robin brought me burritos tonight for dinner, all while Meghan has really been a trooper taking on Bobo's shots and extremely fussy behavior. I owe so so so much to my Wemindji family and I don't know how I can even begin to repay them for everything they've done for me while I've been basically dead. While I HATE that these types of crises keep happening where I become completely dependent on the mercy, kindness, generosity and help of others, it really makes me realize how lucky I am to have so many people in my life who drop literally everything to help me and do it without me having to ask and without complaint. Whenever I get bummed about what a crazy world we live in, I stop and realize just how lucky I am to have the most caring friends and family I know, and I wouldn't trade that kind of luck for anything.
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| Day after surgery and yesterday (Monday) |
**FYI I had to type this with one hand which took a total of 3.5 hours. I will also mention that I am left handed thank god, but use my right hand for literally everything, including using scissors and knives.
