Situations like this do seem to come on unexpectedly. I suppose I imagined that symptoms would develop, but you really can go from perfectly normal day to your body suddenly doing something wackadoo and it all goes pear shaped.
So glad you’re okay. I have recently been trying to increase my water intake, but I just don’t like plain water. I just tried a water from Clear American. It’s a sparkling water and I enjoy the black raspberry and orange pineapple. It’s helping me to give up soda.
I just wanted to mention that in case you too have issues with water intake.
I just hope that it’s actually better for me than soda. I can’t tell by the ingredients list.
Anyway, so glad you survived. Falls are just awful. I watch a lot of shows about the NHS and from what I can tell, they are all just an awesome group of dedicated people.
Heal well and quickly.
I’m usually OK with spotting when I am dehydrated by the colour of my pee. The problem is that doesn’t work when you’re so dehydrated that you don’t feel the need to go. I am still kind of amazed that I didn’t feel it, but I suppose I did, and just attributed the feelings to fatigue rather than dehydration.
One of the worst parts of the whole thing was that we had arrived home after a hot 2 hour drive and I was still sweaty and stinky and I figured it would be best to get the dog walked before showering and getting changed - which was a fine plan except that never happened and I had to go to hospital not only injured and sick, but also feeling about as unwashed as I ever have.
Oh man, I know this all to well from playing volleyball. Good description. I remember once having to crawl to my house from my car (I somehow managed to drive myself home).
Have your toes turned purple from all the blood leaking inside you?
The right ankle is surprisingly OK - I mean, it hurts and is a little swollen, but hasn’t taken too much damage. This is partly because the damage was all done years ago when I turned it really badly jumping down from a set of steps in my early 20s - ever since then it’s had a tendency to suddenly give way on uneven footings - the pain of this incident was mostly just from bottoming-out of the joint hyperflexion.
My left shin, however, looks like a dry-aged steak right now.
This ought to get you out of an yard work for at least 2 days. 
Seriously, I hate being ‘laid up’ but if you can’t do something, well, it just gets done later.