To not get on the roof to clean out gutters, we got a better gutter ‘system’ where the water drains and the leaves blow off. DH recognized several years ago that he did not want to be on the roof and have a fall (he recognized the risk). We hired a tree service to take out a few trees last year that potentially could have been problematic near the house from our wooded area.
An older friend’s husband, who was diabetic, did have a fall from a ladder - he had a bad decline in large part due to the diabetes, and then died at a too young age (mid-60’s).
Many times, wives can discourage their husbands from reckless or ‘chancy’ behavior. Two years ago, we had bad ice in our area (limited salt/sand trucks in N AL) and roads closed. DH was on a pattern of daily walks and insisted on going for a walk - my words “it is icy, you will fall”, and he said, “I don’t fall” and I said, “you will break a leg” and he said, “I have never broken a bone in my life”. I reminded him that we have a Nordic Track and he can do the exercise w/o risk. He did take his phone (which he normally does not do, but I said he needed his phone and he conceded). About an hour later, he calls me and tells me where he is - yes, he fell, and yes, he broke his leg (distal fibula, right leg). Fortunately, I have all-wheel drive vehicle, and I cautiously drove to where he was. I passed a spot on the slope of our main road where there were 4 cars in the ditch (no exaggeration) - those cars were there for days as people had insurance/wrecker service come for them. I told DH after he got in the car, that I have two words for you, “Nordic Track”. He didn’t need surgery, but it was a recuperation process with crutches and the long Velcro boot - and it was a ‘process’ with the medical people. Went to the orthopedic group urgent care (when we knew it was more than a sprain) and the waiting room was full of people injured from getting out on the ice and falling. I should have studied the specialist list of MDs before we saw the PA - X-rays were done quickly (they had two MDs in the group that specialized in foot and ankle) before we got assigned one (that was when I should have spoken up about getting assigned to a foot/ankle MD) - and the PA couldn’t prescribe for pain (at that point DH was not in extreme pain) and thankfully I worked through the system days later to get him seen by correct MD and get the pain medication. Anyone that knows medical, with diagnostic related group, once they assign the MD, they don’t want to back that out and re-assign. By the time, days later, it was clear DH needed to be seen by the MD and needed pain medication, that assigned MD was in surgery and no way to get seen and get the pain medication (DH has not been seen by a MD yet….appointment days later….). DH was seen/treated previously by a spine specialist in that group so I called his PA to navigate the orthopedic group ‘system’, (a Friday, critical to get in and get the pain medication), and I was able to work through that PA, as well as my phone calls directly to the staff of foot/ankle MD that was working in the main facility that day - and DH being on a blood thinner, was having redness over his lower leg area which I was concerned about - I was thinking possible cellulitis (sent a picture to the foot/ankle MD staff, and MD said to his staff to work DH into the afternoon schedule). DH needed to have his leg elevated higher (which I told him to, but it was painful) but then he got the pain medication - and instruction on progression of care, including foot/ankle exercises and stretch bands for the exercises. MD said highly unlikely for cellulitis, so that was fine (no need for ABX) - MD needed to determine that on exam. Return visit was with the PA and follow up X-rays showed his bone was properly aligned and healing.
DH was starting to understand “against medical advice” AMA, and also AWA “against wise advice, or against wife advise”. DH ‘suffered’ physically for his error in judgement, but thankfully something that did heal and w/o surgery.
