diferently abled flu

been a bit slack this week, and come down with the above, which is even more pathetic than man flu, it seems. Meh! Just found out that the hit counter hasn't been running so please tell anyone who has visited to visit again!

Went for a check up at hospital Weds. I'd phoned on Monday and told them I'd definitley need to see Ade the plaster tech and expected to be x-rayed and see a consultant. I was keen to find out how my arm and collar bone were healing.

The ambulance picked me up and got me there in good time, I was seen immediatley, this was going well. It was the wound nurse, she was the only person I was seeing...

Eh?

My leg had been dressed yesterday by the district nurse, with special anti horrible red tower dressing....

So I had to go down the stairs on my arse, get an expensive ambulance, to see no-one? Ah! At least I can get my leg plastered! Oh, no, they can't fit me in... but... I.. eh?...

It wasn't a complete waste of time. Sensing I may become disgruntled, the nurse had fetched the guy who did my arm and some other bits no doubt. I found out my collar bone shoud be fine and that my forearm wasn't worth x-raying yet. It was plated and showing no sign of mending afer 2 months but it is direct healing apparently, which is much slower... First I knew, so I could easily be in the wheelchair for another 3 months. I thought I might be on crutches in a couple of weeks. Arse.

plaster cast

my leg is currently clearly fucked. so the graft can heal I needed a removable cast and due to the break starting just below the knee, a full leg one. due to a morphine fantasy about driving an automtic at the time, I also asked for a hinge.

I didn't ask for the colour scheme. next time I'm going for borgesque..

anyway, because of this I'll be able to do physio on my knee, ankle and thigh. normally a full plaster cast would be applied automatically and cause all this extra hassle, on a COST BASIS? Surely in the long run it's better to get people on their feet as quickly as possible with the minimum amount of physio. wouldn't this be cheaper?

Let me know if you have had any exerience of this madness

Months in hospital...for trying to help a sick bird - Portsmouth Today

Months in hospital...for trying to help a sick bird - Portsmouth Today
Deer of destiny - looks like I'm not the only one, I wasn't trying to help the deer though. And I wasn't on mushrooms...

YouTube - Gary Thanks The Nation! (Improved quality version)

YouTube - Gary Thanks The Nation! (Improved quality version)

Me at Salisbury a few weeks ago. I was a mess, in more ways than one...

Alcohol Can Inhibit The Formation Of New Bone Cells Called Osteoblasts, Thereby Decreasing Bone Formation

Alcohol Can Inhibit The Formation Of New Bone Cells Called Osteoblasts, Thereby Decreasing Bone Formation: "Donohue added that the evidence also supports the choice of abstinence from alcohol. 'The review underscores the importance of abstinence from alcohol consumption by patients - alc adviedeoholics or teetotalers - with fractures and who may want to drink during their convalescence.'"

Ooeer, so drinking isn't ideal. After three days of acute mild consumption I'll lay off for a few days. The paper is a review on osteoporosis. Pretty sure it's not that, but the cars, that caused the break so reckon I haven't got that but should head the advice re: drinking...

Taxis

I suspected taxis might be a challenge and that wheel chair friendly ones would be rare. I also thought I could probably just sprawl in the back of a saloon, but decided to do a bit of research anyway.

The first firm I called, central in weymouth,I think, didn't have any specialist cars on but gave me two numbers. 07771614555 - no answer - and 07877388577 - works til 4. So just went for a normal cab, no worries, and just as well.

Very good at Sailors once safely in a corner. Crack were excellent as ever but couldn't make it to |George and the Speedway Snails. Too hectic. Had a weeing incident, see previous post...

Lazy?

I'm naturally lazy. My standard posture is lying down, demanding. Conseququently friends forget I'm a bit differently abled and often tell me to fucking get it myself... They're not being cruel, that's the usual sequence of events, and equality I guess. Still, one silver lining I guess is having to relax and do very little for a while. I'm really enjoying it and in a prime location with great care. Sorted. Can't thank my friends enough.

Nurse is here now. They should call in advance, not assume I'm always going to be in. Anyway, apparently she was on an emergency in the area. So my cast is off and we're about to look at the over granulated tissue on the graft, lush.

Having a silver nitrat dressing put on my leg. Hopefully finish of the skin healing...

small things are important

So, one really important thing I noticed whilst being unable to take a crap without 4 people (3 to turn me, one to wipe my arse) for 6 weeks, was how seemingly tiny things become incredibly important. I always feel a complete loss of control over my destiny when in hospital, but this time was hardcore.

So when the people 'log rolling' me treated me casually and made jokes over me as if I wasn't there it really got to me, I felt like a piece of meat and I am now very sensitive and aware of it. Lots of these little things people don't realise they're even doing add up to a huge thing, discrmination.

I was able to sit up 2 weeks ago and shortly after, to get out of bed for the first time in six weeks. Now I'm out of hospital in a lovely house by the sea full of friends who've offered to look after me. It's fantastic and they are all ace and really want to help and are, but some are unknowingly discriminating. I'm sure a few well placed commemts will clear it up and then this will be fantastic. As important as environment is and despite how much I like it, as much freedom of choice and independence as my injuries allow is most important to me.

I'm still getting round what I've survived and have ahead, and I've been on the frontline and am probably on balance the most broadly informed and motivated person there is about my situation. I wouldn't expect anyone else to understand yet. I know a bit about biology and toxicology and psychology and I have in no way damaged my brain. I don't need anyone to decide what I do when and am currently in command of a massive (legal) drugs arsenal directed at myself. I'm also keen to see my mates...

ranting

JAMA -- Abstract: High-Trauma Fractures and Low Bone Mineral Density in Older Women and Men, November 28, 2007, Mackey et al. 298 (20): 2381

JAMA -- Abstract: High-Trauma Fractures and Low Bone Mineral Density in Older Women and Men, November 28, 2007, Mackey et al. 298 (20): 2381

Online at last! Cripplerant

Damn patientline, I'll see those bastards in court! So yeah, patientline is balls, the internet access included in the daily charge of 2.90 consited of a super slow connection with sites such as lloydstsb, flickr, blogspot and gmail being excluded, for some reason, by their content filter. No customer service whatsoever, no discounts for long stays, no clue, and up to 79p/min to call the patient, nice!

So, after 2 months in hospital someone comes to see me, they barely knew what a computer was, bargain!

Now, as of oneish yesterday, I'm home! Well, Greenhill, an awesome spot to recuperate, full of groovy people. Wow. What an improvement on hospital! Simple things like chillaxing with a few friends, fantastic.

The plan is now a rambling, piecemeal rant about those two months, interspersed with live rants. Various insights and morphine enhanced observations of interest to patients and carers alike, may transpire...