Things I've Learnt Since my Cycling Accident

The accident I had on Australia Day, a month ago, was the first serious accident I'd had. Until that time, I'd never had a broken bone, never had stitches, never even had a dental filling! I have learnt a lot of things since then, so I thought I'd write them down so that I remember, and to share with other people who may have a similar experience.

This is a random collection of thoughts, not in any particular order of importance.

Private health insurance is valuable. You never know when something is going to happen to you. I spoke to a lady in hospital who broke her leg from fainting. She was young and healthy. Higher level hospital and extras private health insurance policies give you more options.

Bicycle insurance is also valuable. I'm still waiting on the outcome of my claim (not in any particular hurry as I can't go bike shopping if I can't ride). However, I'm relieved to know that my bike was covered by insurance while in use, that it is a new for old policy including all fixed accessories on the bike at the time, and my insurance company paid out my previous claim with no questions asked. Anyone who owns multiple valuable bikes, I have found that BikeSure is the most cost-effective and comprehensive bicycle insurance policy. 

An ambulance subscription through HBF is the only way to have full coverage for emergency ambulance trips in WA. Otherwise it is $900 per trip, minus whatever contribution your private health insurance fund will make. If you want coverage for non-emergency ambulance trips then you'll need to take out HBF private health insurance and add on the Ambulance Plus option.

The Australian public health system is excellent and so much is covered by Medicare. But be prepared to wait. There is no such thing as a scheduled appointment time in a hospital. Always bring a book.

The best thing about toilets in the hospital is they have single sheet toilet paper so you don't have to tear it off. Much easier to use with one hand!

It is hard to do stuff when you don't have usage of one hand, but it is surprising how much you can adapt. I look at something and think "there is no way I can do that" then I try to see how far I can go and surprise myself when I figure out a way to do it.

Using my left hand for everything has made me realise how much of our society is geared towards right-handedness. For example, go to a restaurant and the cutlery is set up right handed. Even in a café when they bring out my bowl of muesli, it is placed so that the spoon faces my right hand. Don't even get me started on right handed scissors. It does make sense, as the majority of people are right handed. But it still feels like discrimination, and gives that little frission of irritation.

My face and dental injuries and repairs were more traumatic than my broken wrist and grazes, which I attribute to their proximity to my main control centre, and what I identify as "me". Damage to my teeth (before they were repaired) affected how I thought others would perceive me and it significantly changed my pronounciation. 

Having a visible injury like a cast creates an instant bond with other people in the same situation. I've stopped and talked to a complete stranger in a supermarket because we both had casts on our arms. It also (usually) makes people give you a bit more space and be more considerate in public places.

There is no such thing as too much emollient.

The public hospital system has everything divided into different departments, each with their own specialty, and they don't seem to communicate with each other. They are very good at looking after their own disciplines, but not that good at anything else. And there is no one looking after me as an entire person and helping me figure out how to manage the rest of my  body while everything else is healing. You need to ask a lot of questions - they are happy to help and give answers, but it is like they have been in the hospital system so long that they don't realise you don't know the answers. I don't even know the questions! I have realised I need to be more assertive in understanding what is happening now, what is happening next, and what is the plan after that. I also need to be more assertive in seeking outside sources of further care - which has it's own challenges when I have restricted transport options.

On a related note, people who have some experience with the system are often willing to help with advice. While this is appreciated, each person's circumstances are different, and the advice doesn't always apply. Plus, in the first month things are changing so quickly. I just figure out one routine, then a few days later there is a new development in one area and I need to understand and consider the implications and come up with a new routine. It is exhausting and each time I am reminded of restrictions that are still there, which I feel limit what I can do. 

Even though I look a bit different on the outside (with my cast and repairing gash on my lip), even though I don't have full use of my arm or teeth (yet), I still feel like the same person inside. I imagine people who have much more significant injuries and permanent disabilities must feel the same way. 

Yes I will ride again. No I am not concerned about getting back on my bike. 

A support network is priceless. 

Australia Day Antics

Well this was not exactly what I had in mind for Australia Day 2016.

I did the ATTA Hill Climb Championships up Canning Mills Rd. Tough event and I was really pleased to come 7th overall in the women's category - which included National and World level riders.

Coming back down the hill after the time trial I was riding with Annie and Sam Bolton. We soon lost sight of Annie as she was faster than Sam and I. I was riding my hill climbing road bike, which I hadn't been riding that much lately so I wasn't that confident with how it was handling. I was telling myself to relax and it would be fine. Then we came up to a corner that was sharper than we expected and as we got there, a car was coming in the opposite direction so we had no runoff room on the other side of the road.

Sam was in front of me and I could see her braking and struggling to stay on our side of the road, then her bike fish tailed and threw her off into the road. At the same I was trying to brake and avoid Sam and the car. The next thing I knew I was flying through the air then rolling many times across the road and ended up on the gravel on the far side of the road. I sat up and there was blood dripping from my face.

The car had stopped up the road and the two guys came and helped us until the ATTA first aid arrived. Then Janice took over with Jenny assisting. Big thanks to Janice, she got two ambulances on the way quickly and got us patched up and cleaned as best she could.

Then into the ambulance. I went to Armadale hospital as at this point it didn't seem as though I had any broken bones or major trauma.

Sam went to Royal Perth as her shoulder/collar bone was quite sore. Ended up being a dislocated shoulder.

At Armadale hospital I got x-rays and they realised that my scaphoid (bone in my wrist) was broken. Also I had quite a big laceration on my cheek/lip. So they transferred me to Royal Perth hospital to see a plastic surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon.

At RPH the first thing they wanted to do was give me a tetanus shot. Fair enough. But I'm not the biggest fan of needles and bear in mind by this time it was after 1pm and I'd not eaten since breakfast at 5am nor had anything to drink since before the time trial at 7am. They had me fasting in case I needed surgery. So my blood sugar was pretty low and I came close to passing out.

They got me onto a bed and a drip with some liquids. Then eventually I got my Tetanus shot. Eventually the plastic surgeon came and cleaned up my face and stitched it up. That was quite traumatic.

Then a bit more recovery before being moved to the observation ward. Then some soft foods - finally! Mousse and jelly never tasted so good. Then more waiting for a doctor to give the ok for me to leave. Meanwhile I'd been in a hospital gown with gauze underwear since I had a shower at Armadale hospital so I had to scavenge some clothes and underwear from RPH.

Finally we got the ok to leave at about 6:30pm. Headed to chemist on the way home to get supplies then home after 7:30pm.

So that was my Australia Day!

Summary of injuries: broken scaphoid, 4 chipped front teeth, stitches in my lip and big graze on my chin. Lots of grazes elsewhere - both shoulders, both elbows, and right hip are the worst, plus back, knees and hands a little grazed.

I want to say - make sure you wear protective gear when cycling! My gloves saved my hands from any more major damage - grazes on my hands even through my gloves so if I'd not had gloves on the grazes would be much worse. Also my helmet is cracked on the back all the way through, so that saved me from massive head trauma.