Biking and the Unaccredited Hospital
So that I could participate in triathlons here in the Caribbean, I bought a road bike a few months ago. Our roads are quite hilly and steep, as I'm sure we've mentioned. For my first few rides, I rode along the waterfront towards the airport - a nice wide, straight, flat road. Drivers are not used to seeing bikers on the road, and we certainly do not have any bike lanes here. (I think between Dave and I, we know of or have seen only six or seven other people who ride on the island, out of fifty thousand.) It's best to go riding very early in the morning, preferably on a Sunday, to avoid cars.
When I was in Arizona back in July I bought a trainer - something you put your bike on that essentially turns your regular bike into a stationary bike. It's given me a lot more opportunities to ride, as I can train when it's raining or after 7am if I don't want to get up early. I've ridden on the roads just a few times since then, mostly because we kept getting lots of rain. The St. John Love City triathlon is over Labor Day weekend though, and it has plenty of ego-busting hills. So last week I decided it was time to get out and attach some hills.
I usually walk from our home, down the steep driveway, then up the steep one lane road we live on to get to the main road. Saturday morning I decided to try riding up the steep end of our road, but I had to walk the last 10 feet because it was just too steep. I rode for an hour and a half out near Peterborg Point where I like to do my long runs. (I only traveled 9 miles due to all the hills!) Unfortunately, at the very end of my ride, I became stupid. I decided to ride down our road on the way home, rather than walking from the main road. Well, the road has a low spot and it was wet there. So, as I coasted downhill way too fast, I slipped on the wet concrete, fell into a puddle and cut open my knee. Luckily I was only 100 feet from home, so I called Dave who came and walked my bike up our driveway while I hobbled. It was fairly obvious I'd need stitches on my left knee (my white sock turned pink, how cute!) It was really not pretty. But Dave, the photographer, took a few photos to share. I'll refrain from uploading them now.
It should be fairly obvious by now that we are really less than thrilled with the standard of health care around here. The hospital on St. Thomas lost its accreditation in July. That actually made me feel a little better, given my prior experiences there. (It's not really clear to me, but some people think it regained its accreditation about a week later.) While I briefly considered having Dave stitch me up, it just didn't seem like the best idea. We called Olga, the assistant in my office who is super awesome and knows everything. She said we should go to the ER. We didn't listen to her, because last time I was there, I swore I would not return. So off to the only urgent care center that was open on a Saturday. After about 10 minutes at the urgent care center that had one receptionist and one doctor working, with quite a few people waiting, I decided I'd rather go to the ER. At the ER I was taken care of quickly and sewn up. With the exceptions of them getting my right and left legs mixed up momentarily and not checking me out for any other injuries, it wasn't too bad. Dave and I kept discovering more cuts, scrapes, and big bruises as the day progressed.
I'd have to say, the worst thing about having stitches is that I'm not allowed to go swimming for two weeks -- in August! It's pretty darn hot at home in the afternoons without air condititioning. Since the St John triathlon is less than three weeks away, I've got a decent excuse to avoid those hills. I'm still planning on doing a triathlon on St. Croix later in September - it's flatter there!
Dave has been up to very exciting things lately, so I'll try to convince him to post a blog soon!
When I was in Arizona back in July I bought a trainer - something you put your bike on that essentially turns your regular bike into a stationary bike. It's given me a lot more opportunities to ride, as I can train when it's raining or after 7am if I don't want to get up early. I've ridden on the roads just a few times since then, mostly because we kept getting lots of rain. The St. John Love City triathlon is over Labor Day weekend though, and it has plenty of ego-busting hills. So last week I decided it was time to get out and attach some hills.
I usually walk from our home, down the steep driveway, then up the steep one lane road we live on to get to the main road. Saturday morning I decided to try riding up the steep end of our road, but I had to walk the last 10 feet because it was just too steep. I rode for an hour and a half out near Peterborg Point where I like to do my long runs. (I only traveled 9 miles due to all the hills!) Unfortunately, at the very end of my ride, I became stupid. I decided to ride down our road on the way home, rather than walking from the main road. Well, the road has a low spot and it was wet there. So, as I coasted downhill way too fast, I slipped on the wet concrete, fell into a puddle and cut open my knee. Luckily I was only 100 feet from home, so I called Dave who came and walked my bike up our driveway while I hobbled. It was fairly obvious I'd need stitches on my left knee (my white sock turned pink, how cute!) It was really not pretty. But Dave, the photographer, took a few photos to share. I'll refrain from uploading them now.
It should be fairly obvious by now that we are really less than thrilled with the standard of health care around here. The hospital on St. Thomas lost its accreditation in July. That actually made me feel a little better, given my prior experiences there. (It's not really clear to me, but some people think it regained its accreditation about a week later.) While I briefly considered having Dave stitch me up, it just didn't seem like the best idea. We called Olga, the assistant in my office who is super awesome and knows everything. She said we should go to the ER. We didn't listen to her, because last time I was there, I swore I would not return. So off to the only urgent care center that was open on a Saturday. After about 10 minutes at the urgent care center that had one receptionist and one doctor working, with quite a few people waiting, I decided I'd rather go to the ER. At the ER I was taken care of quickly and sewn up. With the exceptions of them getting my right and left legs mixed up momentarily and not checking me out for any other injuries, it wasn't too bad. Dave and I kept discovering more cuts, scrapes, and big bruises as the day progressed.
I'd have to say, the worst thing about having stitches is that I'm not allowed to go swimming for two weeks -- in August! It's pretty darn hot at home in the afternoons without air condititioning. Since the St John triathlon is less than three weeks away, I've got a decent excuse to avoid those hills. I'm still planning on doing a triathlon on St. Croix later in September - it's flatter there!
Dave has been up to very exciting things lately, so I'll try to convince him to post a blog soon!
posted by Kendra at 11:27 AM
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