I'm still here!

Hi Kids!
I'm still here.

More to come-soon.

<3
Anna, the brokebackbutch

I

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!

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??

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.

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

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

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??

http://www.brokenbonediaries.com/

Vlog 17: HWR and Dropped the Remote

Vlog 16: I'm still here

Still here!

Hi Friends,

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

We haven't broken-up, promise!

cast cooler?

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

shoot me up, doc!

where do I sign up?

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

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-

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

Food for thought, casters:

Happy Vday!

I F%*$#ing hate stairs.

that is all.

The results are in AND a little lecture.

I'm not pleased...

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!

Thanks JJ: GoogleOptOut

Crutch Muffins????

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.

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

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 :/

It's your civic duty to vote.

I need your help!

People of the world(we have folks reading in from all over the States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, England so far!) I need your help!

What should I name my cast?

We'll be living together over the next several weeks. It seems only fitting that it should have a name. It will make vloging and blogging more easy...AND it will allow me to further anthropomorphize a human made thingy attached to my body(And we all know I love doing that).

The poll will be open from now until Saturday at the top of the page. Vote, and vote often. If you don't like the options, never fear, add one to the comments area. If I like it, I may add it to the poll!

Cheers and be safe on that damn ice.

Cast Adventure.

Stairs are now my enemy. I only have 5 steps to get into my first floor apartment, but they totally kick my ass. Both ways. Basically, I stand, staring at them for...3-5 minutes, while getting words of encouragement from my partner/parents/friends. I think about jumping-good go up, bad go down. Then I get nervous. I make someone hold one crutch...then the other. Maybe I'll ask for one back, or both. Then I maybe hop to the railing...or slink back to the car. Maybe I push away the crutches again...and then decide to crawl up, or down the steps. I pull myself up, or slide down the stairs. I then use a chair to claw my way back up to the height needed to actually get back on my foot and use the crutches to hobble to my next location. It's awesome. I'm so brave. By the time I get into the car(if I'm going down the stairs) I'm sooooo exhausted, and my leg/foot/ankle is sooooo pissed off at me. It becomes ThrobbyMcThroberson, taunting me to lay back down....enticing me to take more pain meds. Bastard leg.









after some xrays, i was wheeled to the casting room. I stayed in my chair. the doctor met me after a few moments. She explained that she wished to put me in a hard cast and why. I understood, thus we were in agreement, so onward to staple removal and casting we went.




Here they are, in all of their glory. 29-30 staples. I had been feeling like an Office Depot. It felt really good to get these suckers out of my skin. It hurt like hell. The doctor used tweezers to pluck them out, one by one. They oozed with blood. She covered the incision with tape as she worked.











The doctor wrapped my incision in a new dressing, layered my leg with fresh cotton and then started the process of wrapping my leg w/ the casting. She dipped each piece in water w/ fiberglass somethin' and pressed it to my leg.


As she wrapped the layers, I felt the cast heat up, as the fiberglass activated(like some sort of radioactive super hero). Before it dried, the doctor forced my foot into a 90 degree angle. She told me that it would help me when I started walking again. My ankle would be less stiff, easier to bend. I was left with a rather thick, but lighter than my previous splint, cast. Patriot blue. We'll be spending at least the next 4 weeks together. I know we'll be great friends.


Ms. Joanna Testa was the first to sign it.

Vlog 11: Castaway

I'm vlogalicious today.



a picture post is coming :)

YAy! It's Post-Op Day!

oh, oh, oh- and staples come out today!!!!!

Need to keep clean, and protect that cast?

I cannot speak highly enough of Curad Cast Protectors

It keeps my plaster cast bone dry(heh).

Available at local drug stores.

Have an ouchie?

RICE it, Baby.

There is a lot of common sense in cast care...

Cast Care

Dear S:

I am so sorry that, again, I will be unable to laundry for months.

I owe you.

Love,

-A

SuperBowl Vlog: Go Saints

Don't forget, the Gulf Coast still needs our support:
http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/

"I'm goin' hoooommmmee"-rhps style

I'm super excited to be returning home tomorrow! Watch me say that in different ways, over and over w/ bad lighting for 4 minutes ;)

advil can prevent bone growth

Effects of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Bone Formation and Soft-Tissue Healing

my hair

i keep my hair rather short...and sort of flip it up at the end near my forehead. I haven't used product for 2 week, and I had a shower 2 days ago. I haven't been sleeping on my face or side(just on my back) and have only worn a hat 1 time since the showa...check out my "do". My hair SOOOOOO wants to get back to normal!

1...2....3....

I'd really love to have this leg thing over. Let's get the cast on. Let's just go. I just zoomed in on a photo of my leg when the OS was rewrapping it...I counted 30 staples. I'm like a swingline.

Anna Moved to Blogspot

won't play for you?
watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/a/u/0/u_B2cbAwBIk

"it's totes not my fault, like 4 realz"

So, folks know that basically, I can't feel my right foot. Right? well, now you know.

It's not swollen, but it's numb...all along the top and sides. My OS saw me yesterday to rewrap the post surgical splint/xray/take a look. She wanted to make sure the stuff wasn't too tight(It wasn't). She strongly felt that this had to do w/ my back. And, after all of the crazy stuff my back did, I was certainly willing to consider that. She made it very clear that she had been "no where near any nerves that could result in what I'm describing"-she said she'd send her notes to my back doc. I have my actual post op w/ her next Tuesday.

I called and left a message w/ my back surgeon. They promptly called back 1st thing this morning. The doctor had reviewed the MRI done on the 27th(a day pre-op) and said that he saw "nothing that would contribute to what i was describing". His nurse expressed that the logical conclusion to "my foot wasn't numb, then i had surgery on my leg. Annnnnd now it is" would be: something  happened during the surgery. Or that the hardware was compressing a nerve (if you've seen my xray- basically, my right fibula is almost all metal now-look at the top of the page). She recommended that I, again, talk to the leg doc.

So, I, being the "Type A when it comes into question if I'm going to be able to walk again" personally that I (apparently) am,  called the leg doc and left a message. She called back and AGAIN asserted that she really didn't think she did anything to my nerves and that it make perfect sense that my back is back in play or I'm swollen. We agreed to wait until next Tuesday. If my foot is still numb, "we're" going to order an EMG. Well, at least she calls me.

So, yep. I'm going to stop talking about my numb foot until tuesday. Unless, it stops....or something terrible happens. Then you won't be able to shut me up :)

a new approach to encouraging inclusive hiring practices...?

ny times

Link to photos from my awesome leg!

http://www5.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=965571026/a=2031487026_2031487026/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Vlog 7: Broke Back Butch

Won't Play ?
Check it out here, too:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/a/f/0/v3KnVz1JX78

Vlog 6: BrokeButch-Anna is ouchie

not working?
Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/1/ksidOpSi64w

Vlog 5: BrokeButch-Post Op Eve

Not playing?
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http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/2/xNzil90adT0

Vlog 4: The Night B4 Surgery & All Through the House

can't see it?
check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/3/I881eIoeSc0

Vlog 3: BrokeButch-sirshopalot

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http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/4/PcDE25Iq0LY

Vlog 2: BrokeButch:OrthoVisitNews

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watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/5/SPsgo55F42E

Vlog 1: broke butch

Please enjoy my first vlog post :)


not playin'?
check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/orwhatuwill#p/f/6/P-qE-j6ssAI

Virgin Entry

Well, I've decided to take the plunge and create a blog.

How exciting.

This will be a place for me to vent about my struggle with my body and its internal frame. Frankly, I am starting to think my bones and soft-tissue have it in for me.

I’ve kinda done something like this before. I actively used LiveJournal for many years-I covered many varied topics: love, school, money, my job, etc. I eventually found it pretty tedious to update. And found my own writing pretty drab. Now, I’m not saying that I will not eventually feel similarly about this blog; and while I struggle with my clear admission of narcissism and self-importance, (as I feel is evidenced by the mere creation of a space like this)- I really think need it. This blog, I mean.

Consolidating all of my wacky media (vlogs, pictures, links to research and resources) about my back and leg break to one primary location will allow you, precious reader, to get your unadulterated broke Anna fix, much faster. Think of this blog as... Anna espresso. If you dig the drip Anna (ok, that even creeped me out a little), feel free to continue keep track of my journey as/if you have done so previously. But if you NEED Anna fast, all at once...add this to your favorites/bookmarks.

It's really all the same story...just depends on how hard *you'd* like to work to make sure you keep track of all the important pieces. And I *know* you want to know all about this Bored, Broke Butch.

Oh yeah, I learned to write in Maine in the 80’s. I’m really bad with grammar and spelling. AND I may be on a doctor prescribed prescription that could make me fuzzy at the time of entry conception. I’ll spell-check, but I’m not going to stay up all night editing. I’ll make mistakes and you will see them. If you can’t stand that, it might be a good idea to look for another bored, broke butch blog to read.

well. let's do it, my friends.