International Special Events Society
This month I am the Featured Member CLICK HERE for interview
The International Special Events Society (ISES) is comprised of over 4.000 professionals in 40 countries representing special events producers (from festivals to trade shows), caterers, decorators, florists, destination management companies, rental companies, special effects experts, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, balloon artists, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, specialty entertainers, convention center managers, venues and many more.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Two trips in an ambulance in 5 days.
Last week saw my very own "Groundhog Day". It all started at a Taekwondo lesson about 3 weeks ago now. I was holding the crashpad for my training partner, who happens to be a male and very much bigger than I am. He did a side kick and I lost balance and remember being jarred rather badly. Two days after that I was exhibiting at a trade show, and woke up that morning with a neck so stiff and sore I could hardly move. Since I had invested a lot of money in the trade show I decided I was still going, despite the pain I was in. One day after the trade show finished, I noticed that my left thumb and part of my hand and wrist was numb, it was rather disturbing but I thought it would just go away if I did my usual thing - ignore it.
I waited a week and the numbness became worse so I finally took myself to the doctor. This is where things really got weird. After numerous tests and an obvious weakness in my left arm, my doctor told me to lay on the bed, whilst she called an ambulance as she suspected I may be walking around with a cervical spine injury. No matter how much I protested how busy I was, that I had actually ran down to the surgery, and I had been training at Taekwondo since the incident, she still made me lay down on the bed and keep perfectly still. I was very annoyed because I just don't have time for this sort of thing.The story gets better, the ambulance arrived and they carried me out on a stretcher with full spinal precautions, that means in a neck brace and strapped down, I wasn't allowed to move. Oh yes plus an injection in my arm to make sure I didn't vomit in the ambulance as can happen with full spinal precautions. Rather terrifying experience to be strapped to a board, head in a brace and being carried out by two women and a man as they couldn't fit the trolley into the doctor's surgery.
At the hospital I became increasingly annoyed at the time I was wasting but it did cross my mind that something serious may really be going on, and as the hours passed I thought to myself, "imagine if I had to stay like this for days, weeks or even months." It was very uncomfortable and disturbing because I couldn't even watch what was going on around me. Finally a doctor arrived and I told him I was going to discharge myself because I'd had enough. Believe it or not, after examining my neck they sent me home without any x-rays.
So a few days go by and the numbness is worse than ever. Off back to the doctor, who was not very impressed with the hospital and again, I was ordered to lay down on the bed and the ambulance was called with the full spinal precautions. I protested and told her that I drove to the surgery and couldn't leave my car in the council carpark and that I was busy and pleaded with her to let me drive myself to the hospital. No! Was the answer. So once again off I went but this time I decided to listen to the messages that I was given. This time I was much calmer, this time I just accepted this is what is happening today and work could wait. It made assess my life and realise how naughty I am that I don't have a very good work life balance. The hospital did x-rays this time and as it turns out I have damaged nerves on the end of what they call a 'cervical rib'. The numbness is still here at time of writing and it appears I will need some physiotherapy and further investigations.
I think the lessons learnt here is that I am not as invincible as I think, that I do need to respect my own time, and that I need to work smarter not harder with long hours. The wake up call has made me make some very well needed adjustments to my lifestyle. I have been asked by numerous family members and friends to consider stopping Taekwondo, but I'm a person who sets goals and I won't stop until I'm a Black Belt, however long it takes.Take some time to view the
Conscious 1 Media Player Click Here
Last week saw my very own "Groundhog Day". It all started at a Taekwondo lesson about 3 weeks ago now. I was holding the crashpad for my training partner, who happens to be a male and very much bigger than I am. He did a side kick and I lost balance and remember being jarred rather badly. Two days after that I was exhibiting at a trade show, and woke up that morning with a neck so stiff and sore I could hardly move. Since I had invested a lot of money in the trade show I decided I was still going, despite the pain I was in. One day after the trade show finished, I noticed that my left thumb and part of my hand and wrist was numb, it was rather disturbing but I thought it would just go away if I did my usual thing - ignore it.
I waited a week and the numbness became worse so I finally took myself to the doctor. This is where things really got weird. After numerous tests and an obvious weakness in my left arm, my doctor told me to lay on the bed, whilst she called an ambulance as she suspected I may be walking around with a cervical spine injury. No matter how much I protested how busy I was, that I had actually ran down to the surgery, and I had been training at Taekwondo since the incident, she still made me lay down on the bed and keep perfectly still. I was very annoyed because I just don't have time for this sort of thing.The story gets better, the ambulance arrived and they carried me out on a stretcher with full spinal precautions, that means in a neck brace and strapped down, I wasn't allowed to move. Oh yes plus an injection in my arm to make sure I didn't vomit in the ambulance as can happen with full spinal precautions. Rather terrifying experience to be strapped to a board, head in a brace and being carried out by two women and a man as they couldn't fit the trolley into the doctor's surgery.
At the hospital I became increasingly annoyed at the time I was wasting but it did cross my mind that something serious may really be going on, and as the hours passed I thought to myself, "imagine if I had to stay like this for days, weeks or even months." It was very uncomfortable and disturbing because I couldn't even watch what was going on around me. Finally a doctor arrived and I told him I was going to discharge myself because I'd had enough. Believe it or not, after examining my neck they sent me home without any x-rays.
So a few days go by and the numbness is worse than ever. Off back to the doctor, who was not very impressed with the hospital and again, I was ordered to lay down on the bed and the ambulance was called with the full spinal precautions. I protested and told her that I drove to the surgery and couldn't leave my car in the council carpark and that I was busy and pleaded with her to let me drive myself to the hospital. No! Was the answer. So once again off I went but this time I decided to listen to the messages that I was given. This time I was much calmer, this time I just accepted this is what is happening today and work could wait. It made assess my life and realise how naughty I am that I don't have a very good work life balance. The hospital did x-rays this time and as it turns out I have damaged nerves on the end of what they call a 'cervical rib'. The numbness is still here at time of writing and it appears I will need some physiotherapy and further investigations.
I think the lessons learnt here is that I am not as invincible as I think, that I do need to respect my own time, and that I need to work smarter not harder with long hours. The wake up call has made me make some very well needed adjustments to my lifestyle. I have been asked by numerous family members and friends to consider stopping Taekwondo, but I'm a person who sets goals and I won't stop until I'm a Black Belt, however long it takes.Take some time to view the
Conscious 1 Media Player Click Here
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