Recovery

Recovery is a slow and painful process- tedious is a word that often comes to mind for me. I've mentioned my frustrations with the "system" of healthcare, so I won't get into that again (and hopefully not in the future too).

Sitting on the couch with my laptop desk/ stand is getting old fast. Sitting at the kitchen table though just hurts too much. So the couch it is. Answering the many, many emails that have gotten backed up during this month- so if you've sent me an email and have not gotten a response yet, please don't feel neglected because you've got lots of company. The typing situation is still really painful. I can use my thumb better but having the cast on weakened my forearm/ wrist and it wears out fast and I get massive cramps/ spasms after a little while. Plus I can't straighten the right arm yet, due to all the "soft tissue damage" in the elbow.

The knee feels a lot better, most of the time, but does still hurt. Looking forward to being able to get an MRI of the knee to determine what's going on. My ortho suspects some possible tears in the meniscus of the knee joint. The brace should be ready to come off in about 8 weeks. Hopefully the meniscus can heal on the same time schedule as the bones. I'm really itching to start some therapy and get my leg back- the muscle atrophy is bumming me out.

At least all of me is atrophying; since the accident, I've lost about 20 pounds- though some of it is coming back. Before the accident I weighed around 205lbs and last week in the hospital I weighed as little as 184 (with all the hardware on). So now I can see my ribs again and I'm beginning to have the classic cyclist build- the upper body of a 12yr old girl. The old power discrepancy between my right and left legs will get fixed now too- I doubt my right leg will ever be as overpowering again. This will change my Kilo start strategy... for sure.

I'm currently on such a massive dose of blood thinners and anti-coagulants that I've been instructed to be very careful when shaving... WTF? Dang! I'm in danger shaving? Needless to say, I've been growing a shaggy beard that makes me look like a homeless bike dork. Not to mention the first hair on my legs since just after my daughter was born 7 years ago- I started shaving my legs when I was 12 (and didn't have any hair on my legs anyway) and have only let the hair grow a few times since then. I feel like a Wooly Mammoth! Plus I need a haircut! I'm feeling a little over-sensitive on the whole hair subject right now...

Seeing my General Practitioner today. Hopefully I'll be getting some good news so I can return to work soon. I'm feeling better all the time, but the clots are a big concern still, as are the 3 fractured vertebrae in my neck. I won't be able to drive, but may be able to carpool with a co-worker. I miss the outside world... a bit. Plus, soon our sample bikes for the Fall catalog/ Interbike will start showing up and that's always a very special time for me; there is almost nothing quite like seeing your "ideas" turn into real hardgoods. Those first sample arrivals make me feel like a kid on Christmas day... only a lot bigger and dorkier. So hopefully I get the ok to sit on my ass all day in the office, instead of sitting on my ass all day at home. Beginning to learn that flying overseas could be potentially deadly for me now too; long flights are very bad for causing blood clots and I'm now a member of the "high risk" club. Yeah me! I might have to start wearing special compression garments when I fly and have to get up frequently to exercise and keep the blood flowing. Since I have a really hard time sleeping on planes, this might not be such a bad thing. Maybe.

BUT... I'm planning to get better and get back on a bike and get back to the office to keep working with my product manager (Waynebow) to create a bigger, better and way more badderest line of bikes.

Health is a state of mind sometimes and I am working on staying very healthy... promise.

Tim

Inching along...

FINALLY got a follow-up visit scheduled with the orthopedic surgeon who performed the miracle surgery to reattach the end of my thumb and examined my knee and my other fractures (like my vertebrae, skull and rib). I won't go on a rant about our healthcare system here, but suffice it to say I've been a tad frustrated lately.


Also experimenting with a new computer stand/ rolling desk for my laptop, that my sister Sara gave me. Trying to find a way to work "comfortably"... which is proving to be quite difficult. BUT... I'm still trying, just the same.

Thanks for all the comments and photos sent to me after my "do me a favor" post on Friday. I'll have a new post up soon sharing some of the photos I received and stories that were sent in. Thanks for helping to brighten things up during this recovery.

Ok... it's time for nap #1 for today.

Tim

It's sunny, I'm inside and the Giro has started...

Ok, first slight dose of melancholy today. It's gorgeous here today and I'm unable to ride- of course- and the Giro d'Italia has begun- further fueling my bike jones.

It's gonna be a LONG 3 months of waiting to ride. Those first few rides on the trainer are going to hurt like hell... but will be the best rides of my life. As soon as I can, I'm going to get my daughter on her Trail-A-Bike and go for a ride with her. That's a promise.

If you are able, get out and ride and enjoy (but wear your damn helmet). My mind is wandering all over the world, dreaming of bike rides I've had and hope to have. I look forward to being back on the roads with you all.

Tim

It's gonna take a while...

Recovery won't be easy or quick... sort of like typing for me now- it hurts, it takes forever and I make lots of mistakes. But I'm gonna keep trying. I promise.

First follow-up visit with the hospital today. Should be "fun"...

Grossed myself out yesterday; was checking out my thumb, which is 100% bandaged and in a semi cast. I can't actually see anything- it's mummified. The tip is criss-crossed with tape as well- totally hiding the entire thing. While I was checking it out, I noticed a small "wire" under the tape. I figured it was just there to protect the end of my thumb from being bumped- since the cast is open around the end. But then I noticed that as I wiggled the wire... my thumb moved. I also noticed that the wire was in a straight line... inline with the bone of my thumb. The bone that is held together by metal... perhaps even something that feels like a wire... and might possibly be extending past the tip of my thumb.

(BARF!)

Needless to say, I don't touch the "wire" anymore and the mention of it makes me feel pukie.

Word to the wise- if in doubt... DO NOT WIGGLE any wires or pins sticking out of your bandages/ casts. I'm just sayin'...

Now some pictures to make you feel better about yourself...


The day of surgery for my thumb... don't I look "fresh"?

Thumbs up! (My only working one...) My new Prayer Quilt that my mom got me from her church. Believe me... it makes a difference. Wrapped in warm love always makes you feel better.


Cookies! My very dear friend David Bernstein of The Fredcast and The Spokesmen sent these and they were a huge hit with my visitors, the nurses and ME!


We tried a walker first... but I really couldn't get used to it- it hurt more, it was awkward and it felt wobbly... and it isn't stair friendly and I have lots of stairs to navigate. The Physical Therapy folks at Scripps Mercy Hospital were fantastic and worked so hard to help me become mobile again. I can never thank them enough.


It's a bad angle, but the knee was the size of a watermelon. Double fracture of the Tibia and Fibula, so 12 weeks with no weight on my foot.


Going home! The nursing staff was awesome. Just awesome. I got great care the entire week I was in the hospital. I can't thank these fine folks enough. From the doctors to the nurses, I was treated fantastically.


Gotta represent the team still! My new friends- crutches and a new potty/ shower chair. Oh yeah... I'm a TOTAL rock star. Don't be jealous... but I know you are.

Tim