How is it going...difficult to say. I am only recently beginning to understand--thanks to my latest visit with the spine surgeon--just how grave my injuries were. As my spine was smashed in the lower area near the base, and snapped in two in the middle to upper part of the spine, I was basically squished, for want of a better term. In other words, nothing was holding up my rib cage and torso. Because the surgeon performed spinal fusion, and I have to say, thanks to my consistent efforts to push myself over the edge, I am now taller than I was on the morning of September 5. My spine was lengthened. Formerly 5 11, I am now 6 1, and growing!!! Very kewl--by May I should be Avataring it around campus. Returned to Norwich U for the Spring semester. Four courses, three preps. This past week was hard, hard, hard. Positives: Seeing the students and colleagues. Everyone is thoughtful, and once I get in front of the students and we start the class, I forget all about me for a change. They energize me. Negatives: Walking around campus; peeing my pants (I keep extra pairs in the car). Flatulence from the medication and the fact that my bowels and bladder were smashed. Feeling humiliated and ready for a nursing home. I have the wheelchair, but it was a pain in the ass, so I left it in my cubicle. I am anxious about whether I will make it through each day. Very, very hard to deal with paperwork for Social Security (Supplemental Income), appointments with specialists including but not limited to the endodontist, orthodontist (several of my teeth were smashed in the fall) maxillofacial surgeon (he will cut into my jaw, push it forward, and then downward), psychiatrist (hooray for Ritalin!), urologist, etcetera and so on. The new insurance plan at NU sucks, frankly. Finally, someone please tell me how I am NOT supposed to fall down when I live in Vermont and it is the middle of January! There is ice and snow everywhere. Fell down three times on Friday. The good part of all this: Despite my mishaps, the titanium spine I now have is in great shape. Sit ups are so easy now, I am shooting for a six-pack by April. Plus, hold on to your bongs, people, The Department of Public Safety of the State of Vermont has made me a Certified Patient of Vermonts Marijuana Patient program! Very amusing. Very effective, so I hear. I havent started yet. Eat your hearts out, New Yorkers!
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 08:48:25 +0000
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