BrokeBackButch

I'm still here!

2010-09-13T09:23:00.002-04:00

Hi Kids!
I'm still here.

More to come-soon.

<3
Anna, the brokebackbutch

I

2010-09-13T09:23:00.001-04:00

2010-04-12T09:43:00.003-04:00

Yeah, that last posting *was* a bit premature. I've been feeling pretty dizzy and yucky for the past two days or so. I was pretty fine most of saturday, but sunday hit me like whoa. Oh, and walking on my broken leg feels like stepping on a million daggers. Somebody needs PT!

I see the doctor in the morning. I'll keep you posted.

-A, who is woozy and out of it.

Castoff!

2010-04-10T15:26:00.005-04:00

11:12am Apr 9 2010

So, this *may* be a bit premature, as I probably still have some major painkillers in my system but: HWR has gone soo smoothly for me!

I had to report to the hospital at 6am this morning. I was in and started to get prepped around 7:30.They decided to keep me concious, but I barely was :). I felt a bit of pain at first, but they upped my meds and we moved on painfree.

I will never forget looking over at my doctor, after she finished. She still had a face shield on-she said things went really well. I saw drops of blood all over the shield and her OR gear. I asked her if it was mine. She told me it was. I had sprayed all over her. Well, then it was off to the recovery room.

I was out of the OR in recovery before 9:30...By 10:30, I was in my bed, enjoying a vanilla latte.

The time frame is all a little fuzzy to me, but that's what I recall.I have been given permission to start being FWB! I've taken 5 painful steps, but I did it!!

I'm in a splint until Tuesday, and then I'll get my darth boot and new xrays.I have some photos up on my flicker site of my scar before the procedure. It will be a bit thicker/ more dramatic, as she went in through it to get my large screws out.I have 8 screws and 1 plate remaining, I'm told they are there for life.but I no longer have avatar leg!! YAY!

Hey Brokeback, where are the vlogs??

2010-04-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

Oh, I forgot to mention this-
I have sent my Mac to my cousin in another state. He is also recovering from back surgery.

FYI to folks who have never had the pleasure of having the major stabilizing muscles in your lowerback sliced through, and bone cut away from your spine-lifting things and sitting up is very hard to do. A laptop or a smart phone can help to keep a person sane while they are in pain and/or extremely limited in their ability to move around, etc.

I was very happy to lend it to him, as I know I would have gone batty without access to the internet when I had my back "done" last fall.

I'm using my work computer at home. So-no camera-so no vlogs. for now.

2010-04-02T11:25:00.000-04:00

I broke my fib on January 20th and had surgery on the 28th...I have been in a cast since the post surgical visit and was in a splint before that. I've been NWB the entire time. So, it's been 10 weeks.

Next Friday I'm losing my two Syndesmosis screws, the remaining plate and 8 screws will stay. I'm not sure for how long. My OS plans to put me under for the procedure. I'll then be put in a splint for a bit and my next "step" will be a walking/cam/darth boot.

I have been dreaming about washing my leg...letting it sit in warm water...of being able to see it...of letting it sit in the sun...isn't that all silly?? so simple...but, man, just the thought of these things get me really happy and excited. I simply cannot *wait* to get this cast off and have the ability to wear something that can be removed for bathing, etc.AND the idea of being able to take a step again...or maybe drive...or CARRY something while i'm moving sounds so wonderful! even going into work sounds nice(i'll just say nice).

who knew that this would take so long?? at least the initial NWB healing part. When I 1st went to the ER the night i slipped in the stupid untreated/salted/sanded slippery parking lot, the doctor said 6-8 weeks, tops and no surgery.

Well, clearly, the OS had a different opinion.

one week, one week, one week!!!

we like to talk about freedom in the States

2010-03-21T23:36:00.004-04:00

US House of Reps just passed Health Care Reform-Obama will sign it into law momentarily.

Even though, I feel it was not the best Bill...I just want to pass along a...thought...or something.

In September of 2009, my doctor told me: "if you do not have this surgery, you will eventually
become paralyzed."

I was blessed with health care from my employeer. Had I *not* had access to that insurance-I would have had a much more difficulty\ choice in front of me- 10s of thousands of dollars in debt(that i didn't have, not one bit) or accepting the increasingly agonizing pain and eventual loss of the use/control of most everything below my lumbar spine.

it has me cost thousands of dollars, but not 10s of thousands.

To millions of my fellow Americans, even though you would have had to make that choice yesterday; very soon, you will be freed from that sort of no/win damnation.

*that* is freedom, my friends.

vlog18: out on a rainy day-North Star Cafe

2010-03-14T15:04:00.003-04:00

I wrapped my cast in a plastic bag and my castshoe.

It was the first time I'd been out during "weather" since my fall in January. I slipped a little and stepped on my BL to steady myself...the pain was startling...but honestly, I'm starting to get used to startling pain.

I made a minute long vlog
plus, I had 2 lattes :)

Checkout The North Star Cafe

Help SAVE North Star

a different broken bone diary??

2010-03-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

http://www.brokenbonediaries.com/

Vlog 17: HWR and Dropped the Remote

2010-03-05T14:22:00.002-05:00

Vlog 16: I'm still here

2010-03-05T09:41:00.003-05:00

Still here!

2010-02-24T21:17:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

I'm still here! I just haven't felt particularly inspired to vlog/blog.

We haven't broken-up, promise!

cast cooler?

2010-02-16T23:51:00.001-05:00

I'm thinking of getting one of these little gems!

shoot me up, doc!

2010-02-16T21:08:00.001-05:00

where do I sign up?

WILSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-15T23:31:00.003-05:00

Well, I went to a store and then out to dinner tonight. It was my second non-doctor related adventure out of the house in about a month. Folks were really nice in the store. I had several conversations with other people who were in chairs or on the ridey cycle things(I was in my chair). I got some icy hot for my back. I'm hoping that helps me a bunch.

We looked for a step aerobic set-up for practice. They were $30, so we figured we'd wait and ask at the local university (I used to work there and my partner still does) to see if we could borrow one from the gym/fitness center.I really want to work on my hopping. I almost fell trying to get into the house tonight. I ended up on my ass, dragging myself up again. I've realized that the stairs are at different heights, as the driveway is not level. So whenever I jump, I fall backward, or off to the side. We also only have a railing on one side, which happens to be the side that is the highest :/

The highlight of the evening was when we went out to dinner. We found that all handicap spots were taken, including the one right in front of the door and only ramp. The car was parked backwards and was running. There were two tiny dogs inside and not a single indication that the driver or anyone who may be using the car had any sort of limited mobility (read, no plates, no placard, no signs or notes).

I let the folks at the door know about the offending car(s, dropped me off and I crutched in by myself). They were unable to identify who it belonged to. We were sat by the window, so I saw the very clearly able-bodied person leave after about 30/40 minutes(after finishing her dinner), and drive away. I was happy when a car with a valid plate parked in it only moments later, even though that meant S wouldn't be able to move the car closer when we left. I crutched, and survived. It was tiring, but it also felt good.

I posted a status message on my facebook, and one of my friends posted this link: handicappedfraud.org it's only good in the states, I believe. You can get an ap for your iphone...feel free to check it out. Slightly problematic, as sometimes disabilities are less visible, but it encourages folks to report on non-handicapped identified cars as well as ones that may be fraudulent. It was super easy for me to get my placard. I just asked my doc for a note, which we promptly brought to the BMV to receive the sign.

Oh yea, tonight we gave Wilson life.

Food for thought, casters-

2010-02-14T20:07:00.004-05:00

Want to look at some hot casts w/out people knowing??Check this out

Food for thought, casters:

2010-02-14T20:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Vday!

2010-02-14T12:04:00.001-05:00

I F%*$#ing hate stairs.

2010-02-13T22:16:00.001-05:00

that is all.

The results are in AND a little lecture.

2010-02-13T12:22:00.002-05:00

I'm not pleased...

2010-02-12T22:55:00.003-05:00

that I had to fix my own cast. Mole skin and black duct tape. Yay attentive american

doctors with excelllent training. I am so not happy that this happened at all :( 3 weeks of my life, so far, cut out. the left side of my body is getting the message- it has to pick up the slack for my right side. I'm pretty sure I've already had some muscle atrophy, or loss. I wish I could just walk to the door to get the mail...or to the store to get a cup of coffee...or that going to the rest room wasn't a 20 minute adventure. Stupid icy parking lots.

Google OptOut, take that privacy!

2010-02-12T16:01:00.002-05:00

Thanks JJ: GoogleOptOut

Crutch Muffins????

2010-02-12T14:39:00.003-05:00

Who would not *love* to crutch along on a yummy baked goods??

props to folks on mybrokenleg.com for finding this jem.

My cast sucks.

2010-02-12T11:47:00.001-05:00

So, the doctor actually talked to me on the phone instead of seeing me. She assured me that she made it loose where it is, intentionally.

Well, this morning I had to have a friend go and get moleskin for the part that hits the back of my knee when it's bent...because the padding is all gone and the fiberglass is starting to dig into my skin.

Other folks out there w/ casts, when you got yours did they:
-Wash your leg(didn't wash mine)?
-Use a socktype thingy before applying the cotton(nope again for me)
-Have rounded edges (nope, nice and sharp!)

Cast Update

2010-02-11T10:08:00.002-05:00

Well, she's too loose, my friends.

I am going to the doctor today to get re-casted. I'm able to fit my entire fist into the top of the cast when the leg is elevated and up to the palm when it's hanging down or I'm crutching. This is bad news bears for a broken leg. It could mean a malunion(healed the wrong way) in the long run...or even the need to REBREAK(aaaaaa) the limb inorder to reset(aaaaa).

I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm going to push for blue again. Though I think they were running low :/