The result? A lot of bruises and a swollen, pretty immobile thumb. Oops.
The Girlfriend dragged me to the A&E (or ER depending on where you're from), much against my will (you see, I'll literally do anything to get attention), where I was "treated" by a sullen nurse and doctor.
"You didn't go to your GP first?"
"Er ... no... it's 7pm on a Friday evening and he'll tell me to go to hospital for X-rays, I thought I'd save myself the time and come straight here. Plus, this way you guys have the pleasure of being able to charge me for the consultation. How fun is that?!"
"Wait here."
This city, being the metropole that it is, had a very empty A&E. Still it took over an hour and a half for someone to X-ray my hand, a doctor or nurse to come interpret the thing, and then -finally- the first doctor to come back out and tell me the verdict.
"Bruising of the muscles of your thumb, the nurse will put a bandage on your hand" and off she went on her high heels.
"Er... hang on!! Come back! How long am I meant to wear it for? And how long will the pain and swelling last?"
"Ten days, you have to rest it and put lots of ice on it."
And off she went again.
Ten minutes later the nurse came and we were dismissed.
Only afterwards did I realise I'd forgotten to ask if I was allowed to drive (-I can answer that for you today: nope, I can't drive since I can't grip anything heavier than a piece of paper) and if I can't drive, and I'm meant to rest my hand, how the hell am I meant to do my job?
I guess she forgot to write me a note. If I want one, I suppose I'll have to go see my GP on Monday morning. But I don't want to. Firstly because it means paying yet again for a crappy piece of paper, secondly I'm on holiday starting the 21st and I want to wrap up the loose ends at work, and thirdly me home alone with obligations to "rest"?? I'll be going out of my mind by the end of the first day!
Unfortunately this means the Girlfriend will have to drive me to work or I'll have to juggle with - expensive- trains and buses. Don't even ask me how I'm going to get from my one workplace to the next in less than an hour on Thursday. Impossible.
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jamaisneutral- Piglet
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You know, given that we're all meant to be lowering our carbon footprints, it's scary when I hear people in other countries say that their public transport is more expensive than using a car.
I think it's actually cheaper than it is in the UK though. I remember being shocked at th prices of trains back when I was in Britain. But then I was younger than 25 and I had a very cheap tariff. Plus perhaps prices have gone up too much overhere since then, I don't know.
Taking the train to Bruges -where I work three days in the week- is a bit more expensive than the fuel you'd need to drive there. But it's the fact that I'd have to take a bus as well to get to my workplace. Buses are quit a bit more expensive overhere than in the UK. A ticket is € 1.5. It'd cost me € 13 a day for a return ticket bus and train to Bruges, and I can drive to and from work for a little over a week with a full tank of € 45 diesel.
If you're a frequent user of public transport you can get lots of special cards with discounts and whatnot, and it would be cheaper than driving. But since it's only for this week, I'd end up paying more than if I'd just be able to drive to work.
A&E is always a nightmare, in my limited experience of it. In the UK you are meant to call a 24hr phone line very helpful if you are in need of an x-ray!
Allegedly, they have closed said hosptial and the new A and E hospital is very new. I still don't want to find out if it's any better because it will probably still be the same staff.
Taxi vouchers. Talk to your work about them - if you need to get between the places and you can't drive then they'll have to make provisions, which means someone will have to drive you. Which either means someone else from the office or taxi vouchers.
And I hope you get better soon, and keep icing it as much as possible.