{{{{{Kate}}}}}

You know, between the two of us, we must be the bad luck champions.

Those are very severe breaks Kate.  Shock is normal with an injury that
severe.  I hope someone was with you or saw you and helped quickly.  Don't
be shy with the pain meds, especially after surgery.  This is going to take
a while.  Arthur will add another couple of weeks to that 10 week estimate,
so just plan on 3 months minimum.

Now go get some sleep and let us know what the surgeon says.  We'll keep you
in our prayers.

Walt

Oh my serious stuff and painfullll too.  I still say that slips, trips, and
falls are one of our worse enemies.
get well fast.
Harv

{{{{{{{{{{Kate}}}}}}}}}} Prayers for Kate

Ouch! Oh, Sweetie!

Don't be a martyr. Take the pain meds. And  ice it, ice it, ice it!

I had a similar break, without the distal fracture. Shattered the tops of
both bones. Got really lucky that the orthopod on call was a sports medicine
specialist. He did a phenomenal job massaging the fragments back into place.

May your surgeon be even more skilled. May s/he be on the top of their form
and having a spectacular day.

Oh no, Kate! That sounds terrible. Will keep you in my thoughts and
prayers.
    Rose   @}>->--
    Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

    Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Take it easy Kate hope you are feeling better soon.   Is someone at
home who can help you?  Keep in touch we are worried about you.  Huge
hugs.  -- MZ

Visit my website:
http://www.mzuschlag.com

oh, kate, how terrible! i'm aching for you, girlfriend. who do you have
to help you and take care of you?

diane
ps  was thinking about you last night as i read the final print-out of
my next book and saw all the hysterical anecdotes i "borrowed" from you
about new motherhood and taping nipples to bottles, etc.

OMG...I am so sorry to hear this! You poor thing. I hope Alex will be around
to help out for awhile.

I wish I could come up and 'do' for you. ((((Kate)))) Maybe I'll send some
bubblewrap.

Kelly C.

((((((((((((((Kate))))))))))))))))))

I hear ya, I hear ya.  That's even worse than the break I did 11 years ago to
mine  I broke the ulnar head into two pieces and shattered the radial head
into 12 or so pieces (was told it looked like granola in there).  Oh, and I
displaced both arrm bones out over the wrist and it was my right/dominant
hand.  I ended up in an external fixator (Mike called it an erector set for
the arm) for 10 weeks.  It was a royal hassle, but considering how messed up
my wrist was I consider it a miracle that they were able to fix it as well as
they did.

I didn't end up in tears from the shock, but I did get the major shakes and
nausea from it after we got home.  (I was only in the ER for about 4.5 hours)
It didn't help that I'd been out for a bike ride before dinner when I did it
and got home at midnight, still needing dinner and a bath!  Anyway, I
wouldn't worry about the tears, it's a normal effect of the adrenaline,
especially when coupled with 12 hours in the ER, extending into early
morning.

Keep that arm elevated and take it easy on yourself.  You'll be ok in the
end.   Time to be at one with the universe to speed your healing.  
((((kate))))

When you speak with the surgeon ask about treatment to strengthen bones.
I haven't been following this saga but the extent of these fractures is
abnormal for falls in someone with normal bone density. There are a
variety of treatments available, including non-masculinising (low dose)
anabolic steroids such as deca durabolin, bisphosphonates like Actonel,
Zometa, and other hormones such as calcitonin and teriparatide (I'll be
asking my haematologist about the latter two tomorrow). My fractures
still haven't healed after 6 weeks on 3x/week Actonel at the once weekly
dosage :-( Considering the high levels of anabolic steroids I'm on (and
have been on) my bones should be the strongest part of my body now...

*gentle hugs*

Ari

Kate,
Just a gentle hug.  Wish I could do something more useful.  Take care and
rest, rest, ice ice etc.  Hope that surgery is quick.

Kelly

thanks, you guys.  surgeon's appmt.  is at 2pm today.  nervous about a
general ortho surgeon, who isn't a hand specialist.  oxycotin does not work
as well for me as the percocet i received at the hospital.  pharmacist
subbed it for the percocet 'script and told me it was the same thing.  not
working the same for some reason, not helping.  couldn't rest.  bummer.

{{{{{KATE}}}}} I'm so sorry to hear that you fell. Your whole body must
ache!  Even tho' your wrist is causing the most pain, stay alert for
other pains that might be masked by the severity of your wrist. Don't
want to miss anything else (not that I want you to have anything else)
but it took a while for the broken ribs from  my fall to show up since
other areas took priority with their amount of pain. Gentle
Cyberhugs... DianeW

Oh, Kate, you poor thing! I'll keep you in my prayers. Please take care
of yourself.

BIG HUGS,
Carole

{{{{{{{{kate}}}}}}}, this is just awful. im so sorry this happened to
ya. Hope they can mend it without surgery. me and fred(rattlesnake
friend) will be sending
lots of healing vibes your way.
Also i know you might not want to hear this but the only difference
between percocet and oxycodone is going to be psychological. They are
the same drug. I had this problem when generics first came out last
year for oxycontin. I swore that the generic did not work the same even
though i knew it was the same, even manafactured by the same company.
Finally after about six months i relaxed and realized there really was
no difference. The mind is as goofy as it is powerful. Hope you get
enough of whatever it takes to keep the pain at a minimum.

johnie

Owwie!  If you wanted to know how hard a concrete pad is, you could have
just asked Charlie.  Testing wasn't necessary.  Sounds like you did to your
wrist about what he did to his heel.

All those nerves that help to protect our hands are not you friend right
now.  I have some idea what you have been through in the past and I believe
you when you say this hurt more!

Just remember to take the pain meds on schedule.  Don't try to wean off them
too soon.

Hope you have the best surgeon in the world.

Jo

My dear Kate, I am so sorry your flight landed so very hard.  You had a
right to go into shock and cry.  In fact, you can still cry any time you
want to or need to.  It seems to relieve the pressure somewhat.  I'll be
praying for you.  Hope your visit with the surgeon this afternoon went well
and that you can get the surgery over with quickest so you can start
healing.
I have percocet to take for my shoulder which I injured in a fall Saturday
morning; also my hip and my head are very badly bruised.
Dr. said I didn't do any damage to the rotator cuff which he has repaired
twice already.  I was glad to hear that.  I have fallen on my left side
three times during the last two months.  Dr. found today that my left foot
is weak so that could be the cause of my falls.
Carol Ann (daughter) had noticed that the left side of my foot drags at
times.  Maybe you need to have doctor check to see if you have a weakness,
or nerve problem, that causes you to fall.
Love and best wishes, Gwen

Girl - we're gonna wrap you up in cotton and stick you in a closet.
{{{{{Kate}}}}}  Take care of you, would you please?

Love ya! DeeTee

How are you doing now, Kate?  I've had you in my prayers.  Don't wear
out the good hand!

Loujean