Trimalleolar journal's memory board

Fiona Taylor On the evening of the 7th April I fell bouldering. Originally we believed this was just a dislocation that would be fixed quickly as I was not in much pain but the paramedics made it obvious it was likely much worse getting me quickly on morphine and strapping me up. The X-rays in the emergency department confirmed their suspicions, I had broken my ankle and not to do things half arsed I had in fact dislocated my ankle and fractured all three bones - a trimalleolar or trifecta as I like to call it. In the ED they attempted to manoeuvre my foot back into place as best they could before the first plastering. Apparently I would be sedated and therefore be semi awake, feel no pain and likely not remember any of it. At this point I still wasn’t experiencing pain, more like an ache unless it was bumped or moved. I felt nothing as they performed this resetting but I was fully conscious and chatting to them throughout the process. Having only had 15 mg of morphine when the paramedics first arrived and a few sucks on a green whistle they were all rather surprised my pain hadn’t increased once the shock and adrenaline wore off, perhaps Us London folk are just raised tougher! A lack of beds on orthopaedics meant I slept the first hour that night in the plaster room and then was moved to a a neuroscience ward about 4am and was nil by mouth expecting an operation the following day.

Fiona Taylor After little sleep I was awoken to be told my surgery had been cancelled and would hopefully be the following day. Pain still not too bad just managed with Panadol and nurofen, plus blood thinner injections.

Fiona Taylor After waiting nil by mouth for surgery again the surgeon finally came to meet me and take a look and talk through the surgery. It’s not gonna be a simple surgery, screws plates and likely 3 incisions, one on each side and one up the back from heel to calf, they’d need to see the state of the tendons and ligament once they open it up. A plate may also be needed at the front which would likely mean a second op later to remove it. Unfortunately on removing the bandages and opening the front of the cast he advised I’m still too swollen and will be sent home until the swelling has gone down enough to operate. I’m to return on Monday ( 3 days later) to see if it’s reduced enough to schedule the surgery. Leave on crutches for a weekend of rest at home

Fiona Taylor A weekend spent at home with my foot elevated and lots of visitors and help from Andy and friends

Fiona Taylor Planned surgery ( private in public). Admitted at 7am, bumped again at lunchtime, sent home. Opting for fully private tomorrow so I can’t be again.

Fiona Taylor Day of surgery (finally!) After failed surgeries due to swelling and emergencies trumping me I finally succumbed to going fully private. I was initially going private in public to support the quite significant gap for both surgeon and anaesthetist however my surgeon offered a reduced rate as I’d been bumped twice. More calm via the private hospital, you’re admitted quickly at your given time, get changed and the wait in the lounge until surgery. For me this was a couple of hours from arrival. The aneasthetists staff talked me through what was to happen, I had a quick chat with my surgeon and the actual anaesthetist but don’t remember anything after that not even a “count to...”! I woke up in recovery like a bit of a space cadet. Apparently the surgeons registrar had been to see me but I had no recollection of that. I was in more pain than I had previously been so the nurse kindly worked with me to find the right threshold on painkiller before I could be moved to the ward and see my boyfriend. I was in recovery for a good couple of hours and without use of my phone, apparently because you won’t remember what to say or hear anyway at first which was definitely true of my conversation with the registrar. Fortunately my nurse repeated the all clear back to me later when I complained they hadn’t bin!