While I was recovering from my back injury, I could not drive. Therefore, I got a lot of rides from numerous co-workers and friends (thank you to them), and my car was in the garage idle. My car, a 2002 white RSX named Gohan, was not driven for 5 weeks.
After I was given the ok from my doctor to drive, I decided it was time to revive my car. I got into it, and turned the key. It turned, and nothing happened. I tried again, slamming the clutch as hard as I could into the floor of the car. Nothing. So then I decided that the battery was dead. Apparently it is not a good thing to leave your car idle for 5 weeks. So I decided to call AAA. They said the jumper dude would be there in an hour.
I decided that it would be much easier for the AAA guy to jump my car if it were out of the garage. So I decided to push the car out of the garage just enough to at least get the hood of the car outside. With back brace and all, I put all my weight into the car, and it didn't budge. Hmm...it's not supposed to be like this. I got into the drivers seat, and with the strength of one leg, tried to ease the car out of the garage. Still nothing. Ok, fine. So I decided to get back to the front of the car and give it one more shot. I heaved again, and it moved, about 2 inches. Great. So I gave it one more heave. It moved again 2 inches. I tried getting into the drivers seat and pushing again with my foot. Nope, nothing. So I decided to give it one more heave. It moved!!!
Unfortunately, it moved very quickly. It rolled down the driveway. It was going to roll into the street!!!!!
But no...
My drivers side door got jammed into the space between the garage door and the garage wall. Phew...
I got around to the back side of my car and tried to push it forward back into the garage. With all my crippled strength, I pushed as hard as I could to try to roll the car back into the garage. Nothing. Crap...
So I sat there for the next 30 minutes waiting for the AAA to rescue me from the dead battery and the car wedged into the garage. The AAA guy came, and he pushed my car back into the garage (quite easily, in fact). My the paint on the side of my door was a little scratched, but otherwise, it looked ok for having been jammed between the garage door and the building. He kindly jump started my car, and told me that if I ran it for 20 minutes, it would be fine. So I decided to drive it to work, and thanked the AAA guy. I was back in my car! Woo hoo!!!
Or so I thought...
On my way to work I realized that there was a lot of road noise. I thought a window was open somewhere, but I soon discovered that the garage door had bent the corner of my drivers side door back enough so that it would create drag and let in a lot of road noise. Sigh...
So I took it to the body shop, and they told me that not only was door corner bent back, but the entire door was bent the other way. I couldn't tell the difference, so I told them to just fix the corner. That turned out to be about $50. I got a new battery installed for about $60. All in all, my back injury and my stupidity cost me $110. So the lesson learned is don't break your back, and don't try to push your car out of the garage with a broken back =)
26 December, 2006
24 December, 2006
Friendship: The greatest gift of all!
During Thanksgiving weekend, 2006, 25 November 2006, I went out to lunch with my friends John, Alice, Steve, and Cecilia. I showed off my awesome back brace, and told them the story of my surgery and such. They then presented me with a present that 30 of my friends put together for me. It was a check from the Amy G fund.
http://www.johnchou.com/amyg/
I had no idea that this was going on behind my back (haha, pun!), but it was happening. It was all my friend's Conor's idea, and he and John were able to spread the word. And within a few weeks, my fund was huge! When I was presented the check, I was speechless. I actually thought that they were going to give me a palm, because the last time my friends got a gift for me, it was a palm, and since my palm had recently broke, I thought that it was a palm. But I was not exactly disappointed. I was blown away. First, I didn't realize that I even had 30 friends. =) Second, I couldn't imagine anyone putting together something like this, and doing something like this for me. I never ever expect anything in return for my friendship, and knowing that so many people cared about me was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I feel very loved, and very grateful. I am grateful everyday that I can walk and that I am recovering smoothly from my surgery. I feel grateful that I have so many people looking out for me. It's amazing!!
The money has helped me pay for my medical expenses, which were quite amazing. I am worth a lot right now according to the insurance company. =) It also went towards buying a smartphone, which is kind of like a Palm =) So yeah, it is amazing. I still can't thank my friends enough for their generosity.
So one of things that I decided to do was to visit each and every one of my friends, especially the 30 friends that contributed to the fund, as much as I can this year. The plan is to travel to as many destinations as possible, and to spend some quality time with all my friends. The plan is to write about each of those places, and the experience that I am able to have with my friends. So this blog will actually be updated more than once a year =).
Once again, to everyone who contributed to the Amy G fund, and to all my friends out there rooting for me, thanks so much for everything. I love you very much, and I will see you very very soon!
With Love,
Amy =)
http://www.johnchou.com/amyg/
I had no idea that this was going on behind my back (haha, pun!), but it was happening. It was all my friend's Conor's idea, and he and John were able to spread the word. And within a few weeks, my fund was huge! When I was presented the check, I was speechless. I actually thought that they were going to give me a palm, because the last time my friends got a gift for me, it was a palm, and since my palm had recently broke, I thought that it was a palm. But I was not exactly disappointed. I was blown away. First, I didn't realize that I even had 30 friends. =) Second, I couldn't imagine anyone putting together something like this, and doing something like this for me. I never ever expect anything in return for my friendship, and knowing that so many people cared about me was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I feel very loved, and very grateful. I am grateful everyday that I can walk and that I am recovering smoothly from my surgery. I feel grateful that I have so many people looking out for me. It's amazing!!
The money has helped me pay for my medical expenses, which were quite amazing. I am worth a lot right now according to the insurance company. =) It also went towards buying a smartphone, which is kind of like a Palm =) So yeah, it is amazing. I still can't thank my friends enough for their generosity.
So one of things that I decided to do was to visit each and every one of my friends, especially the 30 friends that contributed to the fund, as much as I can this year. The plan is to travel to as many destinations as possible, and to spend some quality time with all my friends. The plan is to write about each of those places, and the experience that I am able to have with my friends. So this blog will actually be updated more than once a year =).
Once again, to everyone who contributed to the Amy G fund, and to all my friends out there rooting for me, thanks so much for everything. I love you very much, and I will see you very very soon!
With Love,
Amy =)
Doctors orders as of 29 November 2006
For the next 2 or 3 weeks, I will get to wean myself off the brace. I need to gradually gain strength back in my back. So when I'm indoors, I'll probably go without my backbrace. When I'm out and about, I'll probably put it on. As it gets stronger, I will be able to go for longer periods without it. Six weeks from now I will be re-evaluated, and hopefully I will get to start physical therapy then.
Until I get some strength and a little bit of mobility back in my back, I won't be able to do much physical therapy. I will still make a full recovery in 3 to 6 months. =) So in the next few weeks, I will be able to drive for
myself again, lift some things (not too heavy, only with thd start
walking without the brace.
**It's been 3 weeks, and it's good to get some mobility back. I can do most things now except the lifting of heavy objects. I can't run or snowboard or jog or throw overhead passes in basketball, but I can do most things. Next doctor's appointment is 10 January 2007. Hopefully everything will look good, and I can start physical therapy then. I'll also be starting some pilates in order to get some core strength so that I don't have to rely on my back so much.
Here are the xrays of my back:
This is the back side of me. Two rods on either side of the vertabrae with screws in it to keep it in place.
This is the side view of me. The bone that doesn't have any screws in it is the one I broke.
Until I get some strength and a little bit of mobility back in my back, I won't be able to do much physical therapy. I will still make a full recovery in 3 to 6 months. =) So in the next few weeks, I will be able to drive for
myself again, lift some things (not too heavy, only with thd start
walking without the brace.
**It's been 3 weeks, and it's good to get some mobility back. I can do most things now except the lifting of heavy objects. I can't run or snowboard or jog or throw overhead passes in basketball, but I can do most things. Next doctor's appointment is 10 January 2007. Hopefully everything will look good, and I can start physical therapy then. I'll also be starting some pilates in order to get some core strength so that I don't have to rely on my back so much.
Here are the xrays of my back:
This is the back side of me. Two rods on either side of the vertabrae with screws in it to keep it in place.
This is the side view of me. The bone that doesn't have any screws in it is the one I broke.
The trials and tribulations of having a back brace
These are some of the things I've discovered in my experience of having a back brace:
1. I look like Robocop. Or someone with a bullet proof vest. I get looks like "why are you wearing a bullet proof vest?" "what bomb do you know about, that I don't..."
2. I sit with terrific posture. having a back brace that prevents you from slouching is probably the best thing that you could do for your posture. (Having titanium rods in the middle of back probably helps too)
3. It's a great way to discourage clothes shopping. Can't take it off, can't bend over. So can't try on shoes, shirts, or pants.
4. Metal detectors at the airport can't detect titanium rods embedded in me. At least not the ones in the domestic terminals. I have yet to go through an international terminal with it.
5. Sitting is difficult. It was hard to sit for any length of time with the back brace.
6. Bending at the knees is crucial. I think I did about a million squats while I was with the back brace. I think I still do, just because I'm so used to it.
7. The Beaverton Pharmacy is the coolest store ever. They have every medical supply that one could possibly need. From walkers to ankle braces, they have it. They even had my handy dandy sock putter onner. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I will show you sometime. =)
8. Sitting in a car is difficult, depending on the car. Trucks are ok. VW bugs are ok. Integras are ok. Mazda 6's are ok. Acura TL's are ok. Camry's are not. Elantra's are not. Civics are not. RSX's are ok, as long as you're in the drivers seat =).
9. Getting a taller desk was cool because then I could stand or sit while working at my computer. I am also taller than my coworkers at that point too =)
10. Basketball is doable, sometimes. Chest pass, Ok. Bouce pass, Ok. Overhead passes, not ok. I didn't know that utilized the back so much, but it does. Shooting is ok.
11. Your body is the only one you've got, so take care of it!!!
12. Putting on the back brace is difficult when you are laying down and someone has to do it for you. When you are sitting up, it is fine.
13. If you can't bend over for whatever reason, get a reachy grabby thing. They may look corny on the infomercials, but they really do work!
14. The doctor didn't give me a handicap sticker thing to use on the car because he said that walking would be the best way to recover. I understand he was looking out for my health, but sometimes, in the middle of xmas shopping, you wish you can just pull into the first open spot you see, and not have to pay the meter...
15. I am not sure if the weird looks I got from people were because I was wearing a back brace and carrying around a cane...or because I was just me. =)
16. The back brace is hot. For the first few nights, I slept with it on, only later discovering that I didn't have to sleep with it. But during those nights, I sweat up a storm. It was a good thing I got injured in the fall because if it had been in the summer, I would have had major rashes and been incredibly uncomfortable.
17. After having it on for 6 straight weeks, it didn't feel that constricting. It felt like a security blanket.
I am sure there are more trials and tribulations...but those are the ones that come to mind right now =)
1. I look like Robocop. Or someone with a bullet proof vest. I get looks like "why are you wearing a bullet proof vest?" "what bomb do you know about, that I don't..."
2. I sit with terrific posture. having a back brace that prevents you from slouching is probably the best thing that you could do for your posture. (Having titanium rods in the middle of back probably helps too)
3. It's a great way to discourage clothes shopping. Can't take it off, can't bend over. So can't try on shoes, shirts, or pants.
4. Metal detectors at the airport can't detect titanium rods embedded in me. At least not the ones in the domestic terminals. I have yet to go through an international terminal with it.
5. Sitting is difficult. It was hard to sit for any length of time with the back brace.
6. Bending at the knees is crucial. I think I did about a million squats while I was with the back brace. I think I still do, just because I'm so used to it.
7. The Beaverton Pharmacy is the coolest store ever. They have every medical supply that one could possibly need. From walkers to ankle braces, they have it. They even had my handy dandy sock putter onner. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I will show you sometime. =)
8. Sitting in a car is difficult, depending on the car. Trucks are ok. VW bugs are ok. Integras are ok. Mazda 6's are ok. Acura TL's are ok. Camry's are not. Elantra's are not. Civics are not. RSX's are ok, as long as you're in the drivers seat =).
9. Getting a taller desk was cool because then I could stand or sit while working at my computer. I am also taller than my coworkers at that point too =)
10. Basketball is doable, sometimes. Chest pass, Ok. Bouce pass, Ok. Overhead passes, not ok. I didn't know that utilized the back so much, but it does. Shooting is ok.
11. Your body is the only one you've got, so take care of it!!!
12. Putting on the back brace is difficult when you are laying down and someone has to do it for you. When you are sitting up, it is fine.
13. If you can't bend over for whatever reason, get a reachy grabby thing. They may look corny on the infomercials, but they really do work!
14. The doctor didn't give me a handicap sticker thing to use on the car because he said that walking would be the best way to recover. I understand he was looking out for my health, but sometimes, in the middle of xmas shopping, you wish you can just pull into the first open spot you see, and not have to pay the meter...
15. I am not sure if the weird looks I got from people were because I was wearing a back brace and carrying around a cane...or because I was just me. =)
16. The back brace is hot. For the first few nights, I slept with it on, only later discovering that I didn't have to sleep with it. But during those nights, I sweat up a storm. It was a good thing I got injured in the fall because if it had been in the summer, I would have had major rashes and been incredibly uncomfortable.
17. After having it on for 6 straight weeks, it didn't feel that constricting. It felt like a security blanket.
I am sure there are more trials and tribulations...but those are the ones that come to mind right now =)
Day 7 and counting...
Warning: This is a very personal and quite disgusting post, so you can skip it if you don't want to or don't know me that well period. But...it is quite entertaining...
So possibly the most uncomfortable aspect about recovering from surgery, was the fact that I was constipated. By the time I had gotten home, I had not gone no. 2 in 4 days. I thought this was not good, and did my best to go. I sat on the toilet for several minutes, but everytime I engaged certain muscles, my back would hurt like no other. Great. Just great. I have a broken back AND I'm going to die from constipation or infection of the intestines or something.
So my mother bought prunes. And metamucil. And I took laxatives. Nothing worked. Day 7, still no sign of No. 2. So my mom went to Uwajimaya (local asian grocery store) and bought the Chinese diet tea that makes you go the restroom all the time. I drank one bag. Nothing. I drank another bag. Nothing. This was not good. This was definitely not normal. I didn't feel good. I felt like I could explode. Trips to the bathroom were disappointing and uncomfortable. I could have had backissues of SI and ESPN the magazine in there, and nothing would have happened. I thought..Shit!...not literally...but Shit!
Day 8...So Tuesday night I asked my roommate Kelsey to call her mother, who was a nurse health practitioner, asking her if there was any way I could release the bloated feeling that I was having. She gave us two recommendations: Ducolax, up the butt style, and Fleet, an enema. Mom went to Walgreens and returned with the two packages. The Fleet system looked complicated and very invasive. The Ducolax was slightly disturbing as well, but less invasive. My mom had the unfortunate duty of sticking the Ducolax in me. Great. I was supposed to keep it in as long as possible. At this point I was praying that it would work and that I wouldn't have to go to the Fleet system.
Within 30 minutes, I was on the toilet, relieving the pressure from my body. It was PURE BLISSS!!!!
From then on, I vowed never EVER EVER EVER to become constipated again. I haven't been since. I never will be. Take your metamucil folks! Eat your fiber! Go regularly folks! Your bowel is counting on you!!!!
So possibly the most uncomfortable aspect about recovering from surgery, was the fact that I was constipated. By the time I had gotten home, I had not gone no. 2 in 4 days. I thought this was not good, and did my best to go. I sat on the toilet for several minutes, but everytime I engaged certain muscles, my back would hurt like no other. Great. Just great. I have a broken back AND I'm going to die from constipation or infection of the intestines or something.
So my mother bought prunes. And metamucil. And I took laxatives. Nothing worked. Day 7, still no sign of No. 2. So my mom went to Uwajimaya (local asian grocery store) and bought the Chinese diet tea that makes you go the restroom all the time. I drank one bag. Nothing. I drank another bag. Nothing. This was not good. This was definitely not normal. I didn't feel good. I felt like I could explode. Trips to the bathroom were disappointing and uncomfortable. I could have had backissues of SI and ESPN the magazine in there, and nothing would have happened. I thought..Shit!...not literally...but Shit!
Day 8...So Tuesday night I asked my roommate Kelsey to call her mother, who was a nurse health practitioner, asking her if there was any way I could release the bloated feeling that I was having. She gave us two recommendations: Ducolax, up the butt style, and Fleet, an enema. Mom went to Walgreens and returned with the two packages. The Fleet system looked complicated and very invasive. The Ducolax was slightly disturbing as well, but less invasive. My mom had the unfortunate duty of sticking the Ducolax in me. Great. I was supposed to keep it in as long as possible. At this point I was praying that it would work and that I wouldn't have to go to the Fleet system.
Within 30 minutes, I was on the toilet, relieving the pressure from my body. It was PURE BLISSS!!!!
From then on, I vowed never EVER EVER EVER to become constipated again. I haven't been since. I never will be. Take your metamucil folks! Eat your fiber! Go regularly folks! Your bowel is counting on you!!!!
I love my mom, dad, and sister!
So I was at home for the next two weeks after the accident. I had been in the hospital for 3.5 days. The afternoon I arrived home, my mother and her friend Heakyu ran around town getting various items for me. My prescription pain medication, oxycotane, and prescription laxative (I hadn't gone since Monday). They went to walgreens to get me a cane, a toilet seat raiser, and a thing that could reach 3 feet so that I didn't have to bent down to get anything.
My sister, Marie, came up from Corvallis to see how I was doing. I am pretty sure I looked pathetic. I called my dad and told him that everything was ok, and that mom was helping me out. I tried to describe what had happened, and I wasn't sure what to tell him. I was supposed to get my dressing changed at some point. I had to take a sponge bath in bed. But I was not capable of doing all this. So my mother took care of me. She bathed me like a small child. She even got a waterless hair washing cap thing that was a showercap that had some chemicals in it that would wet my hair and clean it. (The things they have no days.) My mom took pictures of my scar without the dressing. My mom helped me use the toilet for the first few days. My mom got food for me. My mom cooked for me. My mom cleaned for me. My mom cleaned me.
I am incredibly thankful for my mother. She was there for me for two weeks doing whatever it is I needed to do. She drove me to work so that I could say hello to my coworkers and reassure them that I was ok. She did everything for me, and I am forever grateful for it. I love and appreciate my mother very much, and I am so lucky to have a mother like her.
Marie taught me which bone I actually broke, since I had no real concept of what broke. She told me it was the vertebrae under my last floating rib cage, and it made all the difference in the world. It was RAINBOOOOWWWWWWWSSSSSS! all over again =) I love my sister!
Dad was always calling to make sure I was ok. He made sure that my mom had a rental car for her every day throughout her stay. I love my dad!
My sister, Marie, came up from Corvallis to see how I was doing. I am pretty sure I looked pathetic. I called my dad and told him that everything was ok, and that mom was helping me out. I tried to describe what had happened, and I wasn't sure what to tell him. I was supposed to get my dressing changed at some point. I had to take a sponge bath in bed. But I was not capable of doing all this. So my mother took care of me. She bathed me like a small child. She even got a waterless hair washing cap thing that was a showercap that had some chemicals in it that would wet my hair and clean it. (The things they have no days.) My mom took pictures of my scar without the dressing. My mom helped me use the toilet for the first few days. My mom got food for me. My mom cooked for me. My mom cleaned for me. My mom cleaned me.
I am incredibly thankful for my mother. She was there for me for two weeks doing whatever it is I needed to do. She drove me to work so that I could say hello to my coworkers and reassure them that I was ok. She did everything for me, and I am forever grateful for it. I love and appreciate my mother very much, and I am so lucky to have a mother like her.
Marie taught me which bone I actually broke, since I had no real concept of what broke. She told me it was the vertebrae under my last floating rib cage, and it made all the difference in the world. It was RAINBOOOOWWWWWWWSSSSSS! all over again =) I love my sister!
Dad was always calling to make sure I was ok. He made sure that my mom had a rental car for her every day throughout her stay. I love my dad!
Getting kicked out of the hospital
Thursday night I was informed that if in the morning, the doctors gave me the ok, I could go home Friday afternoon...2:00pm. Otherwise I would get charged another night, and the insurance would not cover it. Is this a hotel or something? Home? Already? Am I not cripple? I can't even go to the bathroom by myself...
So Thursday night was experimentation night. I used the bathroom by myself, but just barely. The first time I used the nurse call button but no one came. I thought I would have to stay there all night, but I rang the bell again, and someone came. I wonder if they would have noticed if I hadn't rung the bell again...
Friday, the doctor came, and told me that everything looked good. I had my back brace, and all I needed was for the physical therapists to come. The physical therapists came eventually..Around 10, and I would be discharged at 2pm. Great. So the first therapist came, and asked me to walk. So I took the bedside walker, and showed him how much I could walk. He said great, and promptly threw the walker aside and made me walk by myself. (At this point I was thinking...you want me to walk under my own power. haha!!!! funny...)
He decided that I was capable of walking, so he made me sit in the wheelchair, and carted me to the emergency stair case and dumped me at the foot of the staircase. He said, use the handrail and go up, and make sure to plant your whole foot on the stair. Fine. So I did that, and amazingly, there was no pain or anything. Cool... And coming down didn't seem to be a problem either. Awesome. I went back to the wheelchair, and I was carted back to my room.
That was my physical therapy session.
The occupational therapist was there asking me if I needed assistance doing anything. Embarrassingly, I admitted that I couldn't use the bathroom by myself, so she handed me some tongs. "This will help you reach..." Great. Thanks. She also suggested that I get a long shoe horn and such, and I thought, that's ok, I'll wear my flipflops. (Little did I remember that I lived in Portland, and the life of flip flops is short lived)
That was my occupational therapy session.
So that was it. Physical and occupational therapy was over. The nurse taking care of my section of the ward then gave me my prescriptions, and then asked me if I knew how to put on my brace. I said no. So she showed me, and told me that I should not be upright without it. Great.
She was about to walk away when I realized that I didn't really have any other instructions as to what I could or could not do. So I stopped her and asked if I could drive. Umm....probably not. Ok, I figured that much. Can I go to work. Um...no, probably not. Ok, yeah, duh... That was it. No explanation. I was supposed to meet my mom by the pick up area. Should I undress my gown? Oh, right. Yes, that would be great so that I don't have to expose my back side to the world. So my sweats went on, and I was on my way home. 2:00...on the dot.
So Thursday night was experimentation night. I used the bathroom by myself, but just barely. The first time I used the nurse call button but no one came. I thought I would have to stay there all night, but I rang the bell again, and someone came. I wonder if they would have noticed if I hadn't rung the bell again...
Friday, the doctor came, and told me that everything looked good. I had my back brace, and all I needed was for the physical therapists to come. The physical therapists came eventually..Around 10, and I would be discharged at 2pm. Great. So the first therapist came, and asked me to walk. So I took the bedside walker, and showed him how much I could walk. He said great, and promptly threw the walker aside and made me walk by myself. (At this point I was thinking...you want me to walk under my own power. haha!!!! funny...)
He decided that I was capable of walking, so he made me sit in the wheelchair, and carted me to the emergency stair case and dumped me at the foot of the staircase. He said, use the handrail and go up, and make sure to plant your whole foot on the stair. Fine. So I did that, and amazingly, there was no pain or anything. Cool... And coming down didn't seem to be a problem either. Awesome. I went back to the wheelchair, and I was carted back to my room.
That was my physical therapy session.
The occupational therapist was there asking me if I needed assistance doing anything. Embarrassingly, I admitted that I couldn't use the bathroom by myself, so she handed me some tongs. "This will help you reach..." Great. Thanks. She also suggested that I get a long shoe horn and such, and I thought, that's ok, I'll wear my flipflops. (Little did I remember that I lived in Portland, and the life of flip flops is short lived)
That was my occupational therapy session.
So that was it. Physical and occupational therapy was over. The nurse taking care of my section of the ward then gave me my prescriptions, and then asked me if I knew how to put on my brace. I said no. So she showed me, and told me that I should not be upright without it. Great.
She was about to walk away when I realized that I didn't really have any other instructions as to what I could or could not do. So I stopped her and asked if I could drive. Umm....probably not. Ok, I figured that much. Can I go to work. Um...no, probably not. Ok, yeah, duh... That was it. No explanation. I was supposed to meet my mom by the pick up area. Should I undress my gown? Oh, right. Yes, that would be great so that I don't have to expose my back side to the world. So my sweats went on, and I was on my way home. 2:00...on the dot.
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