Like a dream sequence... It looks
normal from this angle...
The way
the wound is I could not get the
guaze to stay on the wound and wrap
it up correctly. Enter
Bulwisz. I texted Gary and
with four hands we were able to wrap
it properly. How they expect
people to do this on their own is
beyond me. How people in 2016
can call for a nurse visit and not
even get a call back is also beyond
me though. Let it be known
throughout the land and the humble
kingdom of Metuchen/Edison, Gary
Bulwisz of Hickory street (formerly
Maple) is more reliable than JFK at
home nursing.
---
Game seven. Time to make some
soup and get ready for the baseball
methinks... What a day...
9pm:
Just put in my
Vancomycin IV. Tribe just tied
it. Now Cubs have 1st n 2nd w
no outs though. 1-1 Game Seven
as of 9:10pm... Ooops, Cubs up
2-1... Now Zobrist scores,
3-1... Howie is going to take
me to Dr. Ramasubramani (from here
on Dr. Rama... jeez) tomorrow
afternoon so I have that ride to the
infectious disease doctor problem
licked! Nurse visit at 9:30am.
No rest for wicked. Am
likely going up after my vanco ball.
I do not think I have ever
cared less about a game seven in my
life. Not the Mets, not the
NFL, not the Islanders, who cares.
I'm in ther dining room
putzing around on the computer with
this blog and other stuff, just have
the TV on in the living room.
These new Vanco balls are
massive...
Now 5-1... Goodbye Goat... Tribe
choked. Loser club vs loser
club and the Tribe was worse.
Meh.
Howie came over and brought coffee.
Still in dining room.... Until
the Davis HR...
Then the rain delay... but still a
Tribe loss, and still meh...
Lets get to April and start
this over, shall we?
By April I might be walking and the
Mets will be in contention.
Hot damn... Lets get to
April....
Thursday,
November 3rd, 2016 :
It is not easy to sleep when
you have an exposed bacon strip on
the side of your leg, therefore I am
downstairs early and waiting for the
infusion nurse...
Carol the infusion nurse came today
(Karyn had a meeting so Carol filled
in) and she was very cool. She
redid the dressing for my PICC line,
discovered that it was sluggish as
far as drawing blood and ordered a
de-clotting thingy for Karyn's next
visit and then she drew some blood
the old fashoined way. Only
took about an hour and the time went
quickly because she was so pleasant.
Given my recent luck there's
no way the day continues this
well...
Did some work stuff, wrote some
emails and now I think I''m going to
take me and my big Vanco ball
upstairs to try and steal a few
hours of ZZs before going to see Dr.
Rama in Somerville. I called
ahead and got the appt time changed
from 4:30 to 4pm so if H and I leave
at 3:30 we're good to go...
Went upstairs, passed out w
Vanco ball. Woke at 2:45.
Better get ready. Went
downstairs. Howie texted, he
has a flat!! He changed it
though and we were on the road to
see Dr. Rama by 3:45 and in her
parking lot by 4:10... not too
shabby.
Good/Great news. She thinks
the 3 grams a day is good. My
white counts are all good.
There's nothing going on with
the wound. I got her up to
date with all the surgery related
stuff (follow ups, what they think,
etc). OK. Follow up
visit in two weeks and then I can
get off of the antibiotics!!
NICE!!! Can I go back to
work? She said go easy.
That hits my ears as yes so I
think I'm going in next week!
Thank God. Being cooped
up here like an experiment is mind
bending. I talked with the
doctor for a little longer, promised
her I'd be good and got out of there
by 5.
Howie and I went to Rite Aid to get
some surgical dressings but all they
had was generic shit and not the
telfa bandages we were looking for.
"We're professionals with
professional maladies here Rite Aid,
save the generic shit for the
tourists, we're real screw ups and
need industrial strength stuff!"
I still got some surgical tape
and some guaze. I will see if
Tushar is in Edison tomorrow and
just bum rush the shop, asking them
to change my dressing for me and
hopefully steal some of their telfa
on the way out. That's how we
change surgical dressings in New
Jersey. We steal them.
Tony's is next door to Rite Aid.....
ahhhhh..... of course we got
dinner. Marinara and
meatballs. Good as always.
H and I talked about how
someone is going to make a killing
one day by renting cars to people w
no legs or ambulation issues like
me. Driverless is a ways off,
the messed up leg rental business
has wheels! What I need to do
is
<law
enforcement do not read>
get an automatic trans car, sling my
gimpy right leg into the center
console area and drive with my left.
Very doable as I did it with
my pick up truck when I had my ACL
done in 2003. Thing is, my
Jeep is a manual so I can't work a
clutch. I have to find a way
to drive even though it's nowhere
near legal to do so
</law
enforcement do not read>
Home after another day's medical
adventures. Good news though.
Next week is my second recon
follow up and I get half of my
stitches out of frankenfoot. I am
going to try to steal over there
tomorrow and get the back of my leg
cleaned up right and try to steal
some supplies on the way out.
Now that Dr. Rama has cleared
me (sort of) I'm going back to work
next week (will likely shoot for
Wednesday, I have advising hours
from 2-4), my bacon strip on my leg
will be well on the way to healing
(past the 24 hour mark now, been
exposed to air since home surgery
yesterday) and after two and a half
weeks of complete insanity I think I
can start living my life again...
We'll see. I need to find a
way to drive. If someone wants
to trade a Jeep for an automatic
with a console low enough (or non
existant) that I can throw my right
leg over to the passenger side while
I drive w my left then email me.
Friday,
November 4th, 2016: OK...
started out the day by being woken
up by the infusion nurse people
pounding on my front door.
Usually this is not a hassle.
Get up, run downstairs, open
door. In my present state this
process becomes... wake up,
roll eyes, roll over exposed bacon
strip, wince in pain, get out of bed
balancing on one leg. Hop to
dresser. get shorts, get
shirt, hop back to bed, yell "I'm
coming" as loud as you can, get
dressed, get up on one leg, hop to
iWalk 2.0, put on pirate
leg, walk to stairs, go down
stairs backwards slowly (this is the
best way w iWalk), open door.
I got my antibiotocs and all the new
lab stuff so all was well at the end
of the day.
Operation shower went OK, I have
that process down pretty good at
this point. Bagged leg, bagged
PICC (even this is better) and took
a long hot shower. I stood up
on one leg for a while just to feel
normal for twenty seconds.
Something as trivial as
standing up in the shower makes you
feel like a normal person, it's like
John Merrick (real name was actually
Joseph the silly blogger found
out after Wikipedia-ing Elephant
Man) sleeping on his side even
though it'll kill him, you just want
to be normal.
Today has three goals. One,
get a God damn haircut. I was
due for a buzz three weeks ago and
have had to postpone for obvious
reasons. Today I want to get
it done. Second, get the right
medical supplies for my bandage
cleanup. Went to Rite Aid last
night and got skunked. Called
Tushar's office today and found out
that they are in Shrewsbury today
(these doctors have 7 different
offices, more on this phenomena
later) so I won't be crashing in and
getting an impromptu dressing clean
up, I have to DIY this bad boy.
That means a ride to the
surgical supply shop in Fords to try
to get my Tefla guaze. Once I
get some of that then clean up
later tonight and a dressing change
should be easy and will hold me over
until my doctors appoitnment on
Monday. The last thing, and I
can do this later tonight, is that I
have to start cranking out stuff for
my Python class (through this whole
process I have been teaching my
computer programming class for the
Rutgers graduate school online, it
needs some TLC tonight). I
need to do a few YouTube videos and
prepare some resouerces for my
students. Let's see if we can
get it all done....
4:15
Update : 2 outta 3 ain't bad....
: Ok. I need to
get downtown from my house on
Hickory str in Metuchen. My
friends are all busy and I've been
hitting them up for stuff too much
lately anyway. I've been
blessed with a ton of really good
and loyal friends, I must have done
something right in a previous life,
but if I don't start to find ways to
take care of my own business I would
not blame them for disowning me.
Because of this I will find a
way downtown without bothering them.
Enter Lyft.com. I have been
thinking about trying Lyft or Uber
for a while now. Today I will
pull the trigger. I have been
looking at the rates and comparing
them and it seems that Lyft has
cheaper fares (but possibly longer
wait times as Uber has more drivers
it seems). Takes me 5 minutes
to load the app on my iPhone and
punch in a credit card. OK...
I'm ready to go downtown to get a
haircut... I press the button
that says Set Pickup...
Snazzy. Abraham the Lyft
driver was in Woodbridge, but now
he's coming to get me. I only
have to wait 6 minutes (took the
picture above as he was driving to
me). Pretty good. He
came right to my door. Opened
the door for me, took my crutch,
really good kid. He drove me
the four mintues downtown to the
front of Pete's Barber Shop.
He sat w me and showed me how
he ends the ride (it was only
$1.75... you HAVE to be kidding,
Metuchen taxi charges $10 for the
same ride I hope this puts those
theives out of business, you hearing
me taxi theives, I wish you ill) and
then I tip and rate him. Turns
out he rates me too. Funny.
I gave him a 5 and gave hime a
$5 tip on a $2 bill so I can build
good karma w these Lyft fellas, I
think I may be using them more often
now...
Went to Pete's. Saw Jack and
Lou. Lou cut my hair.
Fast, short, sweet.
Pete's doesn't take credit
cards (never knew) so I went to
Kraussers (or whatever the hell it
is now) and got them the haircut
money there. First item, done.
Second item. Don't think I
want to Lyft it to Fords and the
surgical supply shop, so I do the
next best thing and walk over to
Boyt's Drugs. I used to work
for Boyt's when I was in high school
and I know they have a decent amount
of wound care stuff in the back.
I was not disappointed.
While not Telfa I found a
pretty good dense non stick telfa
facsimile. Grabbed two boxes
and was done. Second item,
done.
Figure I'll walk for a bit as I need
to take advantage of being outside.
I walk down to Roberto's
Pizzas and sit. If I were not
on antibiotics I would be in Haileys
drinking a Blue Moon so fast your
head would spin, but I gotta be a
schmarty and not knock down the
antibiotic's effectiveness w a glass
fulla booze. Soon I
shall return to functional beer
based alcoholism, but for now I must
mend. So I sit for a spell and
figure I'll walk a little towards
home and see how I feel. This
experiment ends quickly as I walk up
the main street hill by the post
office. Took me forever.
Screw this. Hello Lyft.
I sat in front of the Metuchen
Post Office and took out my iPhone.
Driver named Kyle was 10
minutes away. Click.
Same experience. Good
kid, skateboarder from Somerset.
Ride took 5 minutes and only
cost $1.75. I tipped him $5,
gave him a 5 rating and before 4pm I
was home and done w two of my three
obejectives of the day, a fresh
buzzcut so I can feel normal again
and some non stick surgical supplies
for my busted ass leg.
Progress...
So, vive le Lyft. That service
is a keeper. I may try taking
it to Rutgers next week. Feels
good to have no hair. Now I
will make some spaghetti for dinner
(too much pasta this week) and spend
the night cranking out YouTube
videos for my Python class.
More later...
Still need to trim that beard and
shave the cheeks tho.... baby
steps...
Saturday,
November 5, 2016 :
Missing a Rutgers home
game. That always sucks.
Been a season ticket
holder since 2005. My good
buddy Edwin Diaz Esquire has my
ticket so it is being put to
good use at least.
Had a restless night of sleep as
I was worried about the leg.
I undid all of the
bandages to clean it last night
(change the dressings every two
days were my instructions) and
what I found looked horrible.
I'll spare you the
pictures. Now I am unsure
as to whether this is healing
the way it should or whether
something popped stitiches.
After the last go round
I'm scared to death of an
infection (which is silly as I'm
pumped full of antibiotics right
now) and I want this to go well.
Now I'm worried. I
clean it, take the surgical tape
off, now it starts to bleed a
bit. Ugh. Should a
surgery like this be bleeding
after 9 days? I have no
idea and of course it's the
weekend so I can't run to the
surgeon tomorrow. You're
always guaranteed to get a
toothache at 5pm on Friday...
---
Fast forward to today and I'm a
little less worried. Howie
drove over and woke me up to see
if I still needed a haircut (he
didn't read the Friday entry)
and I told him that I had to
stay put. Last night Dr.
Rama changed my prescription
AGAIN and is taking me off of
Vanco and Karyn is visiting
later so I have to stay put.
That, and I fear having to
run back to the hospital with
the leg. So Howie goes to
get a haircut and get some
coffee and I sit down to look at
the leg again. In the
bright noon light of the day and
with a bunch of cleaning stuff
around I feel much better.
There's obviously no
infection or bad stuff going on.
A few wipes of water to
wash away some brownish dead
skin reveals pink/purple healing
bruises and a big half moon
opening near the main incision.
The main incision is as
clean as a whistle, it's the
half moon that's troublesome.
It almost looks like it
was stitched together and
popped. But if it popped
it would be bleeding, this guy
has never been a bleeder.
And it's TOO wide and well
covered underneath to have been
an accidental pop. This is
an area with the graft
underneath in the well and I am
not sophisticated enough
medically to realize it.
Also, when I revealed
it on Wednesday the surgical
tape that the surgeons put there
Monday was over the open wound,
as if it was already half mooned
when they examined it. This may
be a case of me being nervous
Nelson, I have a funny feeling
the leg is supposed to be this
way but it looks so crazy that a
normal person wouldn't think so.
I'll put
up the picture later...
So I cleaned it with some water
and the dermal surgical cleaner
stuff I have. Wrapped it
up. It feels fine, just
sore as those bruises would
feel, but I am in a much better
place than I was last night.
There's no infection so
whatever the F is going on it'll
keep til my sugeon's appt on
Monday. Need to do a video
for Python class. Did one
last night and put it online.
So out of practice that I
forgot to turn on the webcam so
the students couldn't see my
face... lucky for them... They
will not be so lucky today!
Also Karyn coming over at
3:30 to clean my PICC and get me
started on my new antibiotics
(which have not arrived) so that
adventure is coming as well...
BUT THE BIG event of the
day is, of course, the monthly
poker game. It's the first
Saturday of the month so the six
plus (Lars, Ken, Dar, Cliff,
Howie, Eddie, sometimes Marlon,
sometimes Pete) are playing
cards tonight in the gaming
epicenter of Middlesex county
NJ, the basement of casa de
Diaz. More on this later
as well....
So Howie comes back and got me a
meatball sub! He's the
man. He's gotta go because
Devlin, his son, has a football
game today and he's going to
watch so I decided to shoot my
Python video. I did that
and start producing it.
Cool... Then Karyn
came...
Late last night, for a reason
unbenounced to me, I was taken
off Vancomycin. Dr. Rama,
even though I saw her Thursday
and she had supposedly seen the
bloodwork, doesn't like the
levels. So now I'm contact
caution again. So long
poker night. And my PICC
does not let you draw blood from
it. This could be
something simple and we just
need to hit the line with an
anticoagulant or it could be
pinching somewhere. It
never ends. She gives me
an IV ball of my new poison,
Cubicin, and she watches to make
sure I do not have a reaction as
it gets sucked into me (PICC is
OK for going in, just going out
is messed up...). So now
we have to wait for new blood
work. If it comes back w
bad levels I may have to go back
to the hospital. This is
getting nuts. So two days
after thinking I turned a corner
and I now am unsure that the leg
graft is healing correctly and
won't know for sure until Monday
and my antibiotic got switched
up because the old one was not
knocking down the killer bug in
my bloodstream enough.
Wonderful...
Not really a rally, but the day
ended up OK. Poker got
cancelled, the boys scattered so
we'll probably play next week.
Howie, the good egg he is, ran
over to Jade Dynasty to get me some
Hunan Beef and then ran home to take
his wife to dinner so he was a mench
and I gobbled down dumplings and
hunan beef while binging season 2 of
the Fall on Netflix (now that season
3 is out I gotta catch up).
Soon I have to lose this "eat
whatever you want cuz you're hurt"
shitty attitude and knock off all
this food before I weigh 300 pounds.
What's worse for the leg.
Bad enough I can't swim or
ride my bike w this leg, I don't
want the good leg to have to deal
with extra weight. Might have
to knock off the eating soon, get
down to 205 (I'm 228 right now, they
weigh you before surgery so that was
as of 10/26, the plastic surgery).
I did some more googling of leg
reconstructions and plastic surgery
and found a few pictures of "free
flap inserts" that looked just like
my leg so I'm thinking my leg is
supposed to look that crazy now.
Over time that middle area
will go skin color (albiet darker)
and be fine. By comparison
it's not a huge one either, some
people have had some REAL crazy shit
happen to them over the years, I am
just a piker in in the ocean of
reconstructive surgery my friends.
Extra hour tonight as 2am goes back
to 1am. Love it. May use
the time to do a Python recursion
video and take a shower before NFL
Sunday kicks off tomorrow...
Sunday,
November 6th, 2016 : NFL
Sunday and for the first
time in two weeks I am home
where I belong. I do not give
those theives at DirecTV $300 a year
NOT to watch the games after all.
Two weeks ago I was in the
hosptal. A week ago I
was at my sisters. Today
I am home, but I am MRSA man and do
not want to infect people so I am in
limited action. Being NFL
Sunday, Spider came over for the
Jets but I told him about the MRSA
so he said he would not stay long.
He brought the KFC bucket that
is his trademark and we watched the
Jets and the Cowboys.
Dallas beat the stuffing out
of the Browns 35-10 (ET would have
won $100) and have opened the season
7-1 so all is well in Dallasland.
It won't last though.
The defense is so crappy and
built upon the offense performing
well that it will catch up to them.
The first time idiot Sean Lee
concusses himself it'll turn into
the 81 Chargers and they'll start
losing games 33-32. Then Romo
will come back in and there will be
a split locker room and all hell
will break loose. I just hope
they wait until Thanksgiving and
split w the Steelers and Ravens.
Go into Turkey Day vs the
Deadskins w a record of 8-2 and how
can you complain? Dak and
Elliott looked great again.
Looks like we stepped in shit
and will be well healed for the next
six or seven years.
Spider bolted afetr the Jets blew
the Dolphin game and I did a Python
video for my course as none of the
4pm games were super compelling to
me (I may watch Packers/Colts second
half). I do want to watch
Raiders v Broncos tonight.
Rooting for Raiders this year,
they have been down too long.
I like Derek Carr.
Healthwise it's a holding pattern
day. I did my new cubicin
antibiotic (the replacement for the
vanco), did my cefipeme. I now
have a rash on my chest and arms but
I think it has to do with the PICC
and not the medicine, I was getting
it right before the switch and not
after. Will tell Karyn about
it tomorrow and I'm sure it will set
off alarm bells and insanity.
The leg feels OK today.
I am going to surgeon to get
"every other" stitch removed from
the back of leg tomorrow. I
will also get the chance to hit the
doctor with 20 some odd questions...
Is
this how it is supposed to look?
When
can I get it wet and clean it
normally?
How
long until I do not need a
bandage?
Can
I put weight on it in a boot (I
still have no functioning AT in
this leg) eventually?
If
so, when?
Can
I drive with it?
When
can we start to seriously think
about doing an Achilles tendon
recon? January?
February?
I want to swim ASAP. Can I?
I want to ride my bike in spring
2017, lets get fkn moving here...
Two weeks ago I was worried about
losing my foot. Doc said it
was a close one. Then I'm
worried about MRSA. Now I'm
just fed up and want to get back to
normal. Three weeks of
hospitals and surgeries and nurse
visits and antibiotics and all this
nonsense is starting to wear thin.
Time to start getting better
and getting back on track.
Monday,
November, 7, 2016 : Mixed
bag day...
8am - Karyn comes over. I am
covered in a rash now. Seems
I'm alregic to the Cefepime.
Took two weeks for it to
manifest. Now getting
antibiotics changed yet again.
Told to go load up on Benedryl
and Zyrtec to get rid of rash.
Up side is that I am no longer
contact precaution, but now with yet
another antibiotic switch who knows.
Karyn cleaned out the PICC and
drew blood from it so I don't have
to go back to the hospital for that.
This is getting old. I'm
one step from stopping everything
and getting a second opinion here.
All that drama ends and I call Dr.
Patel (Tushar, the plastic surgeon)
to confirm that appointment.
They can get me in at 1:45 in
their East Brunswick office so
that's set. I go upstairs,
catch an hour of Zs and get back up
as Howie is going to take me to East
Brunswick at 12:30 after we go to
Rite Aid and get my Benedryl and
Zyrtec. That done we go to the
docs. Early (1:15p) it turns
out but they saw me anyway.
Again, a mixed bag. I asked
all my questions and got
everything explained to me again.
No swimming in near future, I
can shower without the bag (this is
huge), I was able to swipe some
medical supplied for the next time I
change the dressing. The leg
IS how it's supposed to look.
The only problem is that in a
few spots the top layer of skin is
dying off and is brownish. Dr.
Patel is on vacation and his
assistant Anna, also an MD, didn't
want to mess w the sutures without
Dr. Patel seeing this so she balked
on the planned removing of every
other stitch from the big closure.
So am I worried about that or
am I happy as if she said to wash
the damn thing in the shower how bad
can it be? The question I did
forget to ask is if there is weight
bearing, even in a boot, in my near
future. I can drive in the
boot. Anyway, Anna seemed
happy w the progress (save the brown
spot), said there was nothing acute
and nothing bad going on where the
graft was done so she was happy.
I made an appointment for the
Edison office for 10am next Monday
to go back and have Dr. Patel see
the leg. This will never
end... More later...
7pm: Karyn coming over to administer
the first dose of my new antibiotic.
The infusion folks sent a new
box over. So now I throw away
all of the Cefepime and start some
new stuff. I took the Zyrtec
and the Benedryl before and the
Benedryl got me. Slept on
couch fm 4:30 until 6... Jeez.
I'd heard it knocks you out
but Jesus Christ. Zonk.
Karyn came over and gave me my new
medicine. Azactam. It's
to replace the Cefapime they think
I'm allergic to. Karyn also
brough some beef stroganoff so that
was a good thing. I sat and
did my medicine like a good boy and
she took off around 7:40p. I'm
exhausted but I do not want to mess
up my hours too much so I am going
to force myself to watch the first
half of Seahawks and Bills before
going upstairs and popping two
Benedryl. If experience is any
guide the Benedryl is going to put
me right to sleep. What a day.
Oh, almost forgot. Dr.
Rama wants an appointment to see me.
She suggested Wednesday but I
said no, I am going into work
Wednesday come hell or high water.
We settled on 5:30pm on
Friday.
Tuesday,
November 8, 2016:
Wow. Benedryl knocks the
snot out of you, yes? I slept
until 11. I woke to find a
message on my phone from my Ortho,
Nilesh. Just checking in or
did Anna call him and tell him to
get a look at my leg? Don't
know. Called back and everyone
was at lunch. We shall see.
So after that it's time for
all my med stuff. Benedrty,
check, Zyrtec, check, Pepsid, check.
This is all to control the
rash the last antibiotic gave me.
Now I stick the Cubicin in my
arm and get my daily dose of that.
Next will be the Azactam.
That's three times a day so
I'm off schedule w/ it now.
Maybe I'll wait til 4pm.
Election day. I need to go
vote later. My polling place
is my old elementary school and it's
only two blocks away. I am
going to write in Ace Frehley.
He's more qualified than the
two choices we've been given this
year. This country has hit a
new low. Still, I want to go
vote so that's what I'm going to do.
I will hum "Cold Gin" or
"Shock Me" while I'm in the booth...
Hold
on
to your hats! Some good
news. Nilesh called back.
He just wanted to check in
because it's been a few weeks.
I told him I was at the
surgeon yesterday and explained
all that's going on. He
said to have Tushar (plastic
surgeon) call him after next
Monday. He wants to keep
me non weight bearing as long as
Tushar recommends and then....
then.... wait for it.... PUT ME
IN THE BOOT!!!! The Boot
means walking! The Boot
means driving (though not
legally, keep that on the down
low, yeah?). BOOOOOOOT!!!!
He wants a recon of the AT to be
a last resort and wants to let
it grow back naturally and try
to rehab from there. I do
not know the time table but I
agree with the plan. After
what I've been through and seing
as I just turned 49 the goal is
not to return to hardcore
crashing basketball, the goal is
now to be able to walk normally
and go swimming and biking.
Sure, I'll play hoops from
time to time, but I won't be a
dick about it (I say that
now....). I just want to
be able to get around.
Anyway, Nilesh is a good
egg. We talked for a few
more minutes and I promised him
I'd be in touch next week.
OK. Things are OK on
the leg front, now we just have
to get rid of these antibiotics
and this rash stuff...
May you live in interesting
times. President Trump.
The President once fired Gene
Simmons.
I am done laying around so I decided
I was going to work today.
Slept til 10 (was up til 4am
watching election coverage) and then
took a shower. Karyn got me
some more bags that are meant to
protect the PICC but I used one for
my foot. Seems to work well.
I could have gone in the
shower w/o it but I am going to wait
until tonight to unwrap the leg and
expose the stitches and sore skin to
the air for a spell. So, the
shower done I went
downstairs to do my IVs and get some
oatmeal. This takes about an
hour. I also took all my
allegy stuff meant to clear up the
rash that the antiobiotics gave me.
Then I sent out an APB to the
boys to get a ride to campus.
Howie answered the call and he
hauled me into Rutgers...
Me in my office in the Hill
Mathematical Center at Rutgers
I
have advising hours on
Wednesdays from 2 to 4 and I was
determined to do them in person
this week. Mission
accomplished. I am going
to hang here for a while after
four to get some more work
done. I may Lyft it home
to spare my buddies having to be
taxi service. Hopefully
this is a first step towards
becoming normal again.
Caught a ride home with Howie
after I rang up Lyft and they
wanted $32 for a ride!!
That's the rub I guess.
Try to get a ride during
peak hours and you're up shit's
creek. I got home, got a
quick bite to eat and then it
was time to clean up the leg.
Every other day I need to
change the dressing and it's
been feeling like it's mending
the past few days. I was
pretty happy when I unwrapped
it... Here...
Not for the
squeamish number three...
So that actually made me happy.
I started my second Azac
ball of the the day.
Realized I needed paper
towels and tp so I texted Gary
and he took me over to Stop
& Shop at 9pm to grab some
groceries. Been a decent
day. I feel like the leg
is making progress. I went
to work today. I'm
chugging along with the
antibiotics. Keep
chopping. Need to be able
to walk and drive. Will
get there soon...
Thursday,
November 10, 2016 : Slept
in. Woke around 11.
Leg feels good today.
Still no weight bearing
but Nilesh saying the "B" word
the other day (Boot) got me
excited. I want to walk
and drive badly, I need my life
back. Went downstairs,
coffee and a bagel dropped off
by the ever helpful Howie and I
started reading blogs and doing
some work. Sick of
election stuff already so I'm
trying to read science stuff.
Confirmed Doctor
appointments for 5:15 tomorrow
(Rama for infectious disease)
and 10am on Monday (Tushar for
plastic surgery). Did my
two antibiotic balls (cubicin
and azactam). That takes
an hour but the cubicin is only
once a day so it's not so bad.
I didn't mention this the other
day, but I dropped my last good
left eye contact lens down the
sink drain two days ago.
I'm near sighted, so I can
read and I can make out stuff
within four or five feet of me,
but further than that?
Forget it. I'm not
driving right now so I have been
able to procrastinate, but I
have to go get set up soon.
Because I live in New
Jersey I can't just buy more
contacts. I need a
doctor's exam EVERY time I get a
new batch. Eye doctors
paid lobbyists and NJ pols got
payola to create a law that
forces me to either buy bootleg
lenses (NY, Dark web) or go get
an exam. I'm an old fart
at this point so I am going to
save my lawless behavior chits
for bigger things and just go
get an exam, but that doesn't
mean it's not bullshit.
Friday,
November 11, 2016 : Good
Day. Today was the closest
to normal I have been in three
weeks and it felt good. I
got up at 10, showered, messed
up the bag around my PICC and
got it soaking wet, but que sera
sera. Had my oatmeal, did
my email, did some work and then
caught a ride into Rutgers with
buddy Doug. Got into the
office and got some paperwork
done, met with a few families
who came for a tour of the
department, caught up with a few
friends, met with a few students
for advising, felt good to be in
the Hill Center. I did not
get a chance to go to the CAVE
which sucked. I got caught
up with the visitors and then
had to go at four because I had
an appointment with Dr.
Ramasubramani (I know, I spelled
it all...) at 5pm across the
street from Kennedy hospital.
Howie drove to Rutgers and
picked me up. We went to
98 James Street and I went to
Dr. Rama's office on the second
floor. The rash is gone so
no more Benedryl (Thank God) and
no more Zyrtec either. I
only have to do the antibiotics
for another week and I even got
a perscription for the PICC
removal! I can't wait to
get this shitty tube out of my
body. Dr. Rama said she
will get in touch w Tushar and
Nilesh. I have an appt
with Tushar on Monday so he can
see the leg. Speaking of
the leg...
It's two days since the last
dressing change so it's time to
clean up the leg....
Not for the
squeamish number four!
Soon I will just put
these up as it's getting a
little better...
Not too shabby. Feels OK
too. Progress. Even
better it seems the boys are
rallying and we're going to get
the monthly card game in
tonight. Can't complain
today. Light at end of
tunnel with my mrsa and
antibiotics. PICC out in a
week. Got some work in,
got out and about... Pretty
good...
Saturday,
November 12, 2016 : Finally,
a lazy day to catch up...
Played cards last night
(lost $40. Was break even
before the last two rounds and
then didn't place. We had
seven players. We throw in
$20 each and play Hold em.
Winner and second place
divvy chips according to what
they have when there are only
two players left. We got
six games in last night. I
had two seconds, $35 and $55,
after four rounds so I was even
(stake for 4 games is $80) but I
got skunked in the last two
games (I was in the last three
for the final round but got no
cards ;-) ) We played from
10pm to 3am so it was a late
one, but super fun.
I slept in today (11ish) and
then got up to do homey stuff.
Laundry, dishes, guzzled
coffee, did my antibiotics.
I also need to use today
to catch up on all the stuff I
need to do for my Python class.
I need to do grades for
Unit 3 as Unit 4 is ending this
weekend, I need to prep Unit 5
as it starts this Monday, I
needed to create the Unit 4 quiz
that goes out to the students
tonight, no rest for the
infected. Want to get it
done in afternoon so I can spend
time reading tonight.
Got some emails from my nephew
Matt as he is trying to teach
himslef Python. He's only
thirteen. It's a nice job.
More later...
Sunday,
November 13, 2016: NFL
Sunday. Paying some bills, doing
school stuff. Trying to
catch up. Have a busy one
set for tomorrow. Nurse,
visit to surgeon's office for
leg, going to work, need to get
back to normal even if I can't
walk. I hope to have all
stitches removed tomorrow and
get a date when I can walk in
the boot so I can plan.
Boot means I can drive
(even though I shouldn't) so
instantly things approach
normal. You still need to
plan on things taking longer
because you're literally
dragging an anchor around.
You still can't ride a
bike or go swimming or anything,
but the ability to get to and
from Rutgers without having to
ask for a ride is the key.
Back and forth to RU means
I can spend all my time w/
school, class and work, so
that's not a bad thing.
We'll see... It's
coming up on six weeks since the
second surgery and a month since
it was found to be infected
(10/17) so it feels like the
wild ride is slowing a bit.
Three surgeries in the
past 44 days (9/30, second AT
repair, 10/18, emergency
debridement, 10/26,
reconstruction and wound close
for back of leg). All this
while dealing w the antibiotics
and the MRSA bullshit as well.
I'm tired. Got shit
to do though. Rest later.
NFL Update. Was not until
today that I genuinely thought,
if they stay healthy, that
Dallas could be in Super Bowl.
Today was a loseable game.
In Pittsburgh where they
have tons of trouble (so does
everyone else) they could drop a
game and not get killed for it.
The refs were CLEARLY on
the warpath. They were calling
ticky tack shit against Dallas
all day. It wasn't just
the stuff they called (10-98) it
was the stuff they did not call
(missed the first facemask w
Beasley in last drive, the
second Pittsburgh TD was clearly
a drop, etc). It got to
the point where Pittsburgh was
begging for a flag after every
play. Anyway, Dallas had
every excuse in the world lined
up if they dropped this game....
and they didn't. They
fought through and won anyway.
8-1 with quite a few
quality wins (In Green Bay, down
10 vs Eaglits, this game...) so
things are looking good. Take
care of business vs a Ravens
team that you should beat and
you are 9-1 going into Turkey
Day vs the Deadskins.
Gotta be happy if ur a
Starhead. Elliot going up
the middle remind you of Emmitt
doing same vs Eagles on Monday
night in 95? Best game of
the season, easy.
Hey, it's leg cleaning day.
Going to see surgeon
tomorrow but I needed to clean
up tonight. Running out of
guaze... Going to forget
the squeamish from here on out
and just throw the leg out
there... ready...
I
hope tomorrow to get some
stitches out. I think
once I'm done w the
antibiotics (this Friday) my
system is going to make
short work of this thing and
it's going to heal right up.
As gruesome as it
seems I think it looks good
and it's only 2 weeks and a
few days out. These
things take time so I think
I'm in OK shape. We'll
see if the doctors agree
tomorrow.
Seattle 12 - Pats 7... Good
one so far for the Sunday
nighter...
Seattle 22 - Pats 21 now...
end of third. I am
doing my last Azactam ball
before going to bed (need to
be up for Karyn early
tomorrow morning) so the NFL
is doing a good job keeping
my busy (as well as my
Python class, end of Unit 4
tonight)
Wow. Seattle won...
Cool... Going to
bed...
Monday,
November 14, 2016 :
JFK III - Return of
the Hospital
Welcome back to the
jungle.
OK.
Today
started OK... Got up
early to see Karyn, she
was coming to get blood
and clean up my PICC.
I went downstairs
at 8am, made some coffee
and tooled around the
web reading NFL box
scores and checking out
what my day held not
knowing it would all go
to shit.
Karyn is about to take
blood when I mention
that my arm felt swollen
last night and seems
puffed up this morning.
She measured it
and it was a cool 4 to 5
centimeters larger than
the other arm. In
PICC land this means
fear of a clot.
Karyn wants me to
go get an ultrasound
somewhere. I am
furious, when will this
bullshit stop? I
say no, she pleads and I
say I will mention it to
Tushar, I'm going to see
my surgeon at 10am.
Karyn leaves and
like the pro she is she
ratted me out to Dr.
Ramasubramani... It's
all good though, keep
reading...
Kenny comes and gets me
at 9:40 to get to the
doctor's office on James
street by 10. I
get there and sit in the
waiting room for an
hour. At 11 when I
get in it's all roses
though. The leg
looks good. Tushar (who
was on vacation last
week) likes what he
sees. He's not
only good for taking out
half of the stitches,
he's onboard with
putting me in the boot!
BOOOOT! That
means walking!
That means
(quasi-legal) driving!
BOOOOOT! I
am going back next week
to get the rest of the
stitches out and so he
can examine how the back
of the leg held up to
five days of walking,
cuz I'm going to be in
the boot!
This happiness is short
lived. In the
waiting room I come to
my senses and realize
that a swollen arm w a
PICC in it is serious so
I have to do what Karyn
said. I text her
and ask her to call Dr.
Rama and ask for a
script at University
Radiology. Dr.
Rama tells her to forget
the script and just
bring my sorry ass
across the street to the
JFK emergency room to
get checked out...
Ugh... the spider
web. Once they
get you they keep you...
forever... useless
tests... bloodsuckers
looking for consults...
they want to take my
bacon... But I
have to do it so I leave
the surgeon's office and
have Kenny drive me
across the street to
JFK's emergency
entrance.
My POV as I am carted
from test to test...
I
limp to the desk in
my pirate leg.
I tell them my
tale. They
bring me into the
emergency room
pretty quick.
They dump me
in the corner of the
A wing, in the
hallway in front of
room A7. In
fact, A7-A is my
designation.
The first of
the hall dwellers
near A7. I
speak to the
attending.
They call all
my doctors.
They take
blood. Within
a half hour they
roll me down to
ultrasound (great
name for a comic
book villian).
The tech is a
Cowboy fan with a
big star on her
gown. Funny.
We talked
about the Pittsburgh
game. She is
not allowed to give
me results, but she
does tell me that
the PICC is likely
coming ot today.
UGH....
I
have a blood clot in
my arm. I was
on blood thinners
post surgery
forever. I was
sticking Lovenox in
my stomach at home
for twelve days post
op, that only
stopped a week ago.
Today I have a
blood clot.
Shit.
Doctors put me on
Heperin drip.
PICC nurses
come and take their
evil device out of
my arm.
Doctors set me
up for a bunch more
tests. They
take more blood.
They tell me
I'm staying the
night. Jesus.
This never
ends.
I have a
new braclet for
the collection
thanks to my clot.
Helen the
nurse was really
good to me seeing
as I was stuck in
a hall...
They
do
more
ultrasounds.
This time
on my legs.
They do a
nuclear test for
my lungs.
They do a
chest xray.
I am
admitted, but I
do not have a
room. I am
in the hallway
in the corner of
A wing in
emergency (I
remain here at
11:27pm as I
type this).
They run
me all over the
place.
People
recognize me
from previous
stays and yell
"Hi Lars!" in
the halls.
When that
is going on in a
hospital you're
in trouble (it
usually occurs
in the local
bars).
More fun?
There's a
clot in the leg
too. Only
the bad leg and
it's because it
has not been
used in seven
weeks (since
reinjury 9/25).
This was not a
shock but now
everyone is nuts
because clots
from the leg
break loose so
now I'm being
watched real
close.
Howie came
and visited
(with a coffee
thank god) and I
am still in the
hall. I
think tomorrow
will bring a few
more tests.
Someone
will
procrastinate
and I will end
up here all day
tomorrow.
So much
for getting back
to normal.
Still, I
should be OK.
This does
not change the
plans to get me
in a boot three
weeks post op so
on Wednesday
this mrsa filled
clot havin' fat
Norwegian is
walking around
come hell or
high water.
I will end
up on blood
thinners for a
cool four to six
months though,
once you get a
clot they have
reason to rope
you into
"sickland" and
it is serious so
you're a dope to
ignore the
doctors and
warnings.
Que sera
sera.
Getting
old and shitty
sucks.
One
cool
thing about
today is that
my gadgets
kept me knee
deep in NFL.
I was
able to stream
highlights and
game replays
all day via my
phone and when
Kenny brought
me my gear
from home I
setup a
hotspot and
streamed the
Monday Night
game for all
the people in
A wing.
Viva le
tech and viva
le NFL!
I got a
few extra
applesauces
from the
staff.
Making
friends in the
right places
yall...
So that's
where I am at
the end of the
day.
11:39pm
and I still
sit in the
middle of the
hall by the
nurse's
station (Hmmm,
maybe that's
by design,
never thought
of that)
waiting for a
room. I
jumped online
and did my
email at
halftime.
Almost
midnight and
another psycho
day in the
books.
It
occurs to me
that none of
what has ailed
me in the past
few weeks and
months has
anything to do
with my
injury.
I got
mrsa from a
surgery (we
think the
first one
now), I got an
alergic rash
from the
antibiotics.
I got a
clot in my arm
from a PICC
and a clot in
my leg from
lack of use
because this
process has
gone on for
the past seven
weeks...
They
absorb you and
keep you in
this sick
health care
web.
Cascading
compensation
injuries and
lack of proper
usage corrodes
your body.
I need
to fight it
and break out.
More
tomorrow I'm
sure (if my
AT&T data
plan hasn't
popped like a
tick).
LATE
NIGHT UPDATE:
I can't sleep
in hospitals.
They got
me a room.
3 South.
Thank
God. If
it were 2 east
I would have
made a break
for it.
On the
way there they
took me
through
hospice...
I
hate JFK
hospice.
They
off'd my
mother.
Well,
off'd is
strong, we
kinda signed
her up for it
when she was
in no shape to
care. I
don't like it
one bit
though.
Just a
reminder that
this building
is where
Metuchen/Edison
people come to
die.
When we
went into
hospice I
looked at the
nurse and
said, "Don't
leave me
here." and
that made her
smile.
God, I
hope I don't
see it coming.
Why is
it preferable
to die with
carpeting?
Looks
like Felix and
Oscar live
here. Is
this the
beginning of a
Christmas
Carol type
dream...
Christ,
I hope not.
Only a few
doors down
(3116) from
where I spent
Oct 18th to
the 23rd
(3135) I sit
staring out
the window
into the
parking lot.
I get my
phone setup as
a hotspot and
fire up my
laptop.
I do
some stuff for
my Python
class, Unit 5
starts
today...
Coffee and my
laptop.
My
security
blankets.
The
nurse
came in and
she asked me
fifty
questions.
They set
up my
antibiotics,
the put on a
heart monitor,
they got me
some tylenol
and it's five
to two so I am
going to give
sleep and
honest try.
No
promises, I
really can't
sleep in these
places, but I
will try.
Tomorrow
I get my left
arm
ultrasounded
(just for
shits and
giggles) and
then I try to
gauge when I'm
getting out of
here.
More
later...
Tuesday,
November 15,
2016 : Hospital
Day Two
Not even 9am
and I have
already seen
the
hemotologist
and Nilesh
(Dr. Patel, my
ortho).
The
Hemotologist,
Dr. Canavan,
explained all
that is going
on with my
clot
situation.
He says
both are
likely
explained by
the PICC (for
the arm) and
the surgery
(for the leg)
but that they
will do a
workup to make
sure it's not
some genetic
factor rearing
its head so I
will likely be
on blood
thinners for
the next three
months with
hopes to get
off of them if
things clear
up (this is
what getting
old is like,
huh?)
Dr.
Caravan says
that the newer
meds aren't
like coumadin
was (have to
wait and see
what a good
level is) and
I might get
stuck on
Xerelto or
something and
get bounced
soon. I
like it.
Nilesh came in
and just shook
his head.
It was
nice to see a
familiar face.
We
talked about
my visit to
the plastic
surgeon
yesterday and
he made me
promise to get
the clot
people on
board with the
weight bearing
before I go
trapsing all
over the world
in my boot.
I
promised I
would (and I
will).
The
breakfast guys
came by and
when the saw
me they shook
their heads.
We
laughed and I
updated them.
Yes.
I
ordered bacon.
More
later...
I ate my
breakfast and
then I went to
get an
ultrasound on
my left arm.
Just
want to be
thourough I
guess. I
go and see
Suzanne, she
was the tech
who's a Cowboy
fan, and get
my arm
checked.
No clots
in the left
arm.
Back in
my room by
11:30am.
I
finally get a
chance to
catch some
sleep. I
am woken up
every now and
again for
vitals, but I
catch a few
hours of
sleep.
Lousy
day out
anyway, yes?
May as
well get all
this handled.
Nurse came in
and told me
that the
hemotologist
has taken me
off of Heparin
and put me on
Eliquis.
Eliquis
is a pill so
goodbye IV (at
least when I
am not doing
an
antibiotic).
Free of
the IV I get
up, put on my
pirate leg and
walk around.
I talk
with my
roomate Kenny,
he used to run
a garage and
had to give it
up when his
health
problems
persisted.
Stories
like this
scare me now.
It's so
easy to get
gobbled up by
this shit.
I ask the
nurse what the
plan is.
Hemotologist
is OK w my
going home.
Nice.
Dr. Casale
(main
attending in
hospital) is
OK w that too,
but she thinks
my bp was too
high on a few
occasions and
wants to put
me on a small
dose of a bp
med. I
say no.
Once you
go on a bp med
you never get
off and I have
blown 135/85
my whole life.
It was
normal in
1986, slightly
hypertensive
in 1999 and
now it's high
and needs
medicine?
Horseshit.
To be
honest a few
readings were
high but this
is likely due
to my not
being able to
sleep and my
being furious
with this
entire
situation.
I think
about it and
decide to play
ball.
This one
is on me.
I agree
to her small
dose for a bp
med. I
know this will
end up being a
mistake.
When I
go off the med
the bp will go
up, likely
past my usual
135/85, and
now I will be
considered
hypertensive
and they'll
have given me
another
ailment to
join the mrsa
infection,
allergy rash
and blood clot
as maladies
stemming from
treatment and
not the
underlying
problem (which
is just an
Achilles
tendon).
I say it
again.
This
cycle needs to
be broken..
A happy grump
- Like the
crazy beard w
the buzz,
people know
you're going
grizzley adams
on purpose.
Tried
the
pasta for
dinner and it
was decent.
Did some
emails, did
some student
advising
stuff.
Pretty
sure (95%)
sure I'm
getting out
tomorrow so
there's
nothing left
to do but
relax and
absorb this
shitty
situation.
Again,
vive le tech.
I have
my AT&T
hotspot setup
w my phone so
I have
uninterrupted
internet.
I was
able to do my
email, a
little
advising work
and I just
paid my
mortgage from
my hospital
bed.
Pretty
snazzy.
I do
have to see if
I can easily
buy data for
my AT&T
plan (I only
get 5gigs a
month and
never use it,
but these
hospital
visits have
gotten me
close.)
If it's
like $10 for
another 10
gigs I would
do it. Need to
look into
it... As
usual AT&T
makes nothing
easy. If
I burst over
5G it will
likely cost me
$25 bucks or
some crazy
punitive fee.
I'm only
at 1.3 of 5
gigs for the
month so I am
likely fine,
but I am
curious.
I never
use the
hotspot if I'm
home (why? I
have wireless)
so it's not a
big deal.
Still, I
need to look
at Verizon or
Sprint.
Update:
I was
re-reading
this on 11/18
at home.
One
night in the
hospital Howie
came by and we
were talking
about plans
and data and
he gets a
family plan
for him, his
wife and two
kids so we
were comparing
them. We
did some
investigstion
and found that
AT&T and
Verizon are
like
criminally
guilty of
gauging
customers for
data plans.
If
you're a tech
person you
know how cheap
this stuff is,
and they want
like $10 PER
GIG extra.
I threw
out $10 for 10
gigs before
and thought
that was too
much.
Now I
find it's $10
for JUST A
GIG. I
may cancel my
phone just on
principle.
WTF
AT&T, the
mafia earns
their money
more honestly
than you.
Even if escape
is not
utilized, it
must be
planned.
A six
minute wait, a
$6 ride and
I'm home.
Too
easy..
Early
AM Update :
12:45a.
I can't
sleep. I
have not
gotten more
than an hour
straight since
yesterday
morning.
Is it
any wonder my
bp is high.
I had my
second dose of
eliquis and my
first dose of
the bp med
(name escapes
me). Dr.
Ramasubramani
came in while
Howie was
visiting and
says that she
is OK for me
to leave
tomorrow.
She is
going to forgo
the last two
days of
Azactam and
just have me
finish out
with the
Cubicin.
I will
likely go home
with an IV in
my hand and
Karyn will use
that for two
days to give
me my
Antibiotics.
Then,
after Friday,
I'm done.
The
vascular nurse
who works with
the
hemotologist
came in.
She said
they are OK
with weight
bearing.
I told
her to tell
the nurse.
Tomorrow
when I get
home it's into
the boot and
getting used
to some weight
bearing.
Things
would actually
be awesome
were it not
for this
latest
bullshit, now
I'm stuck on a
blood thinner
and bp meds
for the next
six months.
WTF.
Turns
out Dr. Casale
put me in for
a consult with
a cardiologist
because of the
bp thing.
I don't
know if this
is another
money grab or
what? I
don't know any
of these
people.
I'm sure
she is just
covering her
ass (and mine
perhaps), but
I'm getting
sick of seeing
every
specialist
they can throw
at me.
If I
stay here long
enough I will
have diabetes,
cancer and
yellow fever,
I just need to
get the F out
of here.
Going to
make another
attempt at
sleep around
1:30a.
Until
then I will
surf around
and read for a
bit.
More
tomorrow,
should be an
interesting
one. Leg
wound
cleaning,
cardiologist
consult,
discharge?
Sign
out? We
shall see.
My
having to eat
another
shitburger for
some reason
and staying
for another
night?
Hope
not.
Again,
we shall see.
Wednesday,
November 16,
2016:
Going Home?
9am: That's
what people
are telling
me.
Didn't
sleep much.
In and
out from 4am
to 7am.
Better
than nothing I
guess.
Dr.
Canavan, the
hemotologist,
was by this
morning.
He's
good with 10mg
Eliquis for a
week and then
5mg until I
can get in to
see him in
December.
He's
good for me to
go. Did
my
antibiotics,
that's done.
All I
have to do now
is see Tushar
(leg surgeon,
he got on the
rounds list)
and the
cardiologist
that Dr.
Casale put on
the agenda
yesterday.
We shall
see... I
would not mind
getting out of
here at 2pm
versus 7pm...
We'll see...
OK. 2pm
now.
Just got
my last
Azactam, they
did put me in
for an
afternoon one.
Still no
Tushar.
Cardiologist
looking for an
echo they did
of my heart
thre weeks
ago. I
need to get
out of here
today, they
need to get
moving.
Already
making plans
with Karyn to
get the
Cubicin via IV
tomorrow.
Dr. Rama
is foregoing
the last two
days of
Azactam so all
I need is the
last two
Cubicins (Thur
and Fri) and
that's only
once a day.
Snazzy.
That,
and I can walk
today. I
just need to
get out of
here.
More
soon.
Some progress.
Tushar
in surgery.
He told
nurse how to
dress the leg
so that part
is taken care
of.
Chrissy
the nurse came
in and changed
the IV line so
I can go home
with it.
That's
how Karyn will
give me the
Cubicin for
the next few
days. No
more
Antibiotics
after Friday
so I have that
to look
forward to.
She also
re-dressed the
leg. It
looked good...
Well,
good
is strong.
Looks
like it's
healing and
it's not
infected.
It's a
crazy world
when you can
look at that
picture and
say, "Looks
good!" but
that's what
all the docs
say.
So now I just
wait for the
Cardio
consult.
Chrissy
is doing my
paperwork for
release.
Hopefully
we get this
process moving
and I get out
of here
soon....
4:45p - Saw
Dr. Casale.
She said
the old cardio
dopler they
did was
negative for
anything
troubling.
She said
that there
seems to be no
damage laying
around due to
long term
hypertension
so she is more
likely to buy
my version of
the story,
where I'm
blowing high
because I'm
not sleeping
and am
incredibly
frustrated by
this whole
situation.
I had a
few lower
readings since
last night,
but she says
to be safe I
should stay on
the meds while
I'm on the
Eliquis.
I will
do so.
After
that it's
gone.
Dr.
Casale told me
to go see Dr.
Elber next
week (he's my
primary but
does not do
hospital
visits
anymore).
Next
week is
Thanksgiving
week though.
I may be
seeing Tushar
on Monday and
doing the rest
the week
after.
5:49p - Still
waiting on Dr.
Cana.
He's the
cardio guy.
6:10p - Saw
Dr. Kana.
He was
great.
He does
not think I
need to be on
bp meds.
He wants
me to take my
bp in the
morning (need
to get a
machine over
the next few
days) and if
the systolic
is over 140
take a pill.
If not,
don't bother.
Sounds
fair. He
said all of my
other cardio
stuff looks
good and
normal.
OK.
He then
released me
and my file to
the discharge
nurse.
I'm
going home.
Kenny came and
got me.
Home by
7pm. Got
in the boot.
Walking
slowly.
Boot is
tight on skin
graft.
Take off
boot, put on
sneaker, use
cane. A
little better,
but not really
as safe as the
boot.
Will
have to try it
everyday until
it is
tolerable.
Will
unwrap it
later to make
sure all is
well.
Right
now just happy
to be home.
Shower
and bed... I
can't wait...
Of
course I got
in the Jeep
and drove to
McDonalds.
It felt
good, even
though I can't
see (still no
contacts).
Safety
first!
Need to treat
the leg
carefully so I
don't have
another
setback, but
do not want to
go soft on it
either.
Will
play it by
ear.
Tomorrow
is
a big day.
Karyn in
morning for
penultimate
cubicin.
Then I
need to go
down to Rite
Aid and fill
my two
perscriptions
(Eliquis and
the bp meds in
case I go over
140).
Then I
may go to my
old contact
place and set
up an
appointment.
That or
go to the one
near Bridge
street.
Then I
want to go
into work for
a while.
If I can
tolerate the
boot I can
drive and go
into campus.
We shall
see.
10:30p : Going
upstairs to
get a shower
and to get
into bed by
11. 9
hours of
sleep.
My own
bed. I
have not slept
more than two
hours straight
since Sunday.
Being in
my own bed is
going to be
like morphine.
I can't
wait...
Thursday,
November 17,
2016:
Sleep
I am home and
can finally
sleep. I
got a solid
eight hours
last night.
Karyn
the nurse came
at 8:30.
She gave
me my
penultimate
cubicin ball
and I signed
all my
discharge
stuff.
All I
have to do is
give myself my
last cubicin
ball tomorrow
and take out
the IV.
Done.
She gave
me
instructions
on how to take
out an IV and
we were done.
Karyn
was a good egg
and people who
get her as a
nurse are
lucky.
We did my BP
and it was
144/91...
Ugh.
So when
I get my meds
at Rite Aid
later I will
take the
Novasc today.
Do not
want that to
become a habit
but I will
listen to the
doctors for
the time
being.
All this
done I went
upstairs to
get some more
sleep.
Zonked
out until 1pm.
I have to go
to Rite Aid to
get my eliquis
and amlodipine
(Novasc) but I
am testing out
the boot for a
while.
If there
is a full ace
bandage
dressing on
the leg and I
stick it in
the boot the
pressure is
too much on
the surgery
area. If
I reduce the
bandages down
to just
covering the
wound and lose
the socks then
it's not so
bad. I
add the cane
and I can take
some pressure
off of it too.
This
combo seems to
work well.
Did some
email.
Time to
go down to the
drug store.
Might
bite the
bullet and go
see about
getting my
contacts
replaced today
too...
The
Tale of the
Pharmacies:
As
the
past month
(this blog is
a month old
today...
hopefully soon
it becomes a
once or twice
weekly
endeavor, but
for now it is
a daily
affair) shows,
nothng in this
life is easy.
I needed
to fill two
prescriptions
today.
One for
eliquis, a
blood thinner,
and one for
amlodipine
(Novasc).
A little
after 3pm I
hop in the
Jeep and drive
down to Tano
Mall in
Edison.
Go back
and re-read
that sentence.
Driving.
It's
really the
key. I
can do things
myself now
without Kenny,
Howie or Eddie
having to come
pick me up and
wreck their
own schedules
to help their
friend.
It's
nice.
Anyway, for
folks who do
not know, Tano
is three
minutes away
from my house
and is always
good for what
ails you.
Walgreens,
Dunkin Donuts,
Tony's Italian
Restaurant,
Sushi Saga,
Carvel,
Grocery store
(formerly
A&P, now
Super Fresh),
you name it.
Everything
from a towel
to a turkey
can be
acquired at
trusty Tano
Mall. Or
so I thought.
I go to
Rite Aid to
get my
prescriptions
filled.
I go to
the counter
and hand them
in. They
will take ten
minutes to
prepare so I
decided to
handle another
problem I
have.
Tano Mall is
also the home
of Dr. Janet
Wosck,
Optomologist.
I need
my contacts.
She is
behind the
desk as I walk
in. My
last time
there was 2014
so I need the
exam. I
make an
appointment
for 11.29 and
she gives me,
wait for
it...., a
replacement
lens!!!
I will
be able to see
(I think, more
below)!!!
This is
cool. I
grab my -1.75
left eye lens
and make my
way back to
Rite Aid.
I'm
killing birds
with only one
trip to Tano
Mall.
This is
great!
Then the
trouble began.
Rite Aid in
Tano Mall does
not have
Eliquis in
stock.
I'm not
a pharmacist
so I don't
know if this
is bad or not.
I know
Eliquis is
pricey and
Rite Aid is a
blue collar
knock-around
kinda place so
I get it, but
this sucks.
The
pharmacist was
polite and
asked if I
wanted to go
to another
Rite Aid in
Edison (Inman
Ave).
Ah, no
thanks.
Now, I
can't miss a
day, this is a
blood thinner
that I'm on
after having a
clot, you
don't mess w
this. I
have to go
somewhere
else.
Shit.
Then she
says the
amlodipine is
ready. I
look at her
like she has
five heads.
If you
can't fill my
eliquis what
makes you
think you're
getting my
business for
the other one?
I told
her to cancel
it and give me
back the
scripts.
She said
it was ready
already and I
told her I
didn't care.
She
cancelled it
and gave me
back my
scripts.
After my
first hospital
stay Rite Aid
did not have
Lovenox.
Now they
don't have
Eliquis.
What do
you have?
Rite Aid
in Tano Mall
lost my
business
today.
It's a
shame too
because it was
convenient,
but enough is
enough.
So then I
quasimodo over
to Walgreens.
I hate
Walgreens as a
Pharmacy.
They
make you wait
five hours for
simple things.
There is
always a line.
The
people behind
the counter
are mean to
customers,
it's actually
hilarious.
So I go
over there and
there is a
line three
deep. I
get in line
and wait.
And
wait.
And
wait...
There's
no one being
helped, the
counter is
empty.
This
goes on for
five minutes.
I can't
do it. I
walk out of
line and to
the door.
Is it
any wonder why
I have high
blood
pressure?
I rally by
going old
school.
When I
was seventeen
I drove for
the local
Metuchen Drug
store, Boyt's,
delivering
prescriptions.
Today I
went home
again
(FU T.
Wolfe) and
brought my two
prescriptions
to Boyt's.
A short
drive from
Tano, downtown
Metuchen is
not that
crowded this
afternoon.
I walked
up to the
counter at
Boyt's and
handed them my
prescription.
Ten
minutes later
I have my
drugs.
Nice.
I looked
at the #s and
see that the
price of the
Eliquis
without a
prescrition
plan is $501.
Jesus
tap dancing
Christ.
That's
ridiculous.
I only
paid $10 for
it. I'm
lucky. I
feel shitty
for people who
are not as
lucky as me
with my health
plan and
prescription
plan.
It's
really been
something I
haven't had to
worry about
through this
whole ordeal.
As I am
walking out
the door,
ready to sing
the praises of
Boyt's and I
look down at
the
prescriptions
one more
time...
Shit...
The inside of
Boyt's looks
the same as it
did in 1985.
I
am listed as
Lars Sorensen
Jr of 30
Orchard
Avenue,
Metuchen, NJ.
Sounds
OK, but that's
my Dad.
If my
Dad is buying
drugs it's a
really neat
trick as he's
been dead for
two years.
I went
back to the
counter and
told them that
they have the
wrong Lars.
Life
long Metuchen
residents, my
whole family
is in the
Boyt's
database so
this is
understandable.
I'm Lars
the third on
Hickory
Street.
They
make the
switch and I'm
on my way...
So, I have my
drugs, I'm
driving (not
legally, in
the boot), I
have a
replacement
contact lens,
I AM
WALKING!!!
Cannot
slice this any
other way,
it's a good
day.
First
day post
hospital visit
number three.
One more
day and I am
OFF
ANTIBIOTICS.
The leg
seems to be
holding up.
The knee
tweaks me
every now and
again but
that's to be
expected.
A) It's
my ACL rebuild
knee, B) I'm
walking
sideways so I
do not hinge
the foot and
C) I haven't
been weight
bearing on
this leg for
seven weeks
(2nd AT
surgery,
debridement,
recon... all
two weeks
after the
other..) so
the leg has
atrophied to
nothing.
It'll
come back
fast, the ACL
leg did, but I
am still
without a
functioning AT
in that leg so
I need to be
careful.
I went
upstairs to
confirm that I
kept my right
eye contact.
I DID!!
but it's
dry and
shrivelled as
the RENU dried
out. I
fill the
capsule with
RENU and leave
the shrivelled
contact in
there so it
comes back to
life. I
expect it
will.
I have the leg
out of the
boot as I type
this and I'm
slurping
coffee so how
bad can it be.
I'm
going out
driving later.
I have
no idea where
I'm going.
The
simple things:
I
could have
driven
anywhere I
wanted
tonight.
I went
to China House
for Hunan
Schrimp and I
went to Stop
& Shop for
Ketchup and
Half &
Half (OK, I
got some ice
cream too...).
NOW I FEEL
NORMAL...
Ate my
chinese,
watched a few
episodes of
Blacklist (no
spoilers, I'm
only on season
three) and
drank coffee
and read.
It's the
closest to
normal I've
been in a
while and it
felt real
good...
Friday,
November 18,
2016:
Back to
normal?
I'm typing
this entry
from my office
in
the Hill
Center.
That
makes me
happy.
More
soon...
When I don't
get to this
blog until 2am
Saturday
morning it was
a good day...
This
morning was
the last of
the
antibiotics...
You can see
the saline
seeping out
from the wrap
after I
flushed it.
After I
was done with
the Cubicin
ball I took
the IV out of
my arm for
good.
Goodbye
antibiotics.
Good
riddance.
OK.
Done.
I can
walk in the
boot, no more
antibiotics, I
can drive,
this is
looking up.
I take
my blood
thinner.
I take
the bp
medicine
because I have
not gotten a
machine yet
(no Karyn this
morning) so I
conservatively
act as if I
was no good
and take the
pill.
I'm
tired, the
antibiotics
get to you
after a while,
but I'm going
to work today.
I clean up,
get some
coffee, do the
initial email
wave from
home, but then
I drive into
Rutgers.
Not
gonna lie,
walking was
slow, but it
was doable.
Saw my
co-workers,
got some stuff
done, it felt
nice and
normal.
I didn't
call any
doctors today.
That
alone is a
feat.
More on
the that
tomorrow.
After
dinner I set
about sending
out grades to
the students
in my Python
class and
doing a video
for YouTube.
Going to
be a whole lot
of Python
going on this
weekend.
More
tomorrow.
Super
tired...
Need to
get a look at
the leg after
walking on it
all day...
Saturday,
November 19,
2016 : Tired
Today is the
day where it's
catching up to
me.
First
day with no
antibiotics,
no doctor, no
work, and I am
exhausted.
I slept
until noon and
it was great.
I am
going to catch
up on my class
stuff this
weekend so I
start grading
midterm
assigments (I
teach a
programming
class but I
make the
students write
a paper for
their midterm,
much to their
dismay,
because they
have to learn
how to
communicate as
well as code).
I also
need to make a
YouTube video
for them later
in the day.
It dawned upon
me today that
the leg
injury/wound/area/whatever
is more akin
to a burn than
anything else.
I have
the graft, the
stretched area
of skin
between and
the major
incision that
runs up the
back of the
leg.
When
weight is put
on it things
hold up well,
but there is a
tightness, a
rawness,
something I
was lacking
the ability to
explain until
now.
Now, as
I think upon
it as a burn,
things make
sense.
What is
a burn at the
end of the
day.
It's
skin in
crisis.
Well
that's what
sections of my
leg are.
When I
take the
bandage off I
probe it to
see what areas
are causing
the pain I
feel.
It's not
the ones you
would think.
The open
graft feels
fine.
The
incision feels
fine.
It's the
areas around
the graft and
incision that
have been
stretched or
tightened that
are causing
the most
discomfort.
It gets
better
everyday
though.
Having
stolen an
ample supply
of gauze and
tape from the
hospital two
days ago I
clean and
re-dress the
wound daily
now.
It's
starting to
look better
and I can
envision what
it will look
like healed.
Things
are going to
be OK. I
can see the
graft area
getting
smaller and
assimilating.
I see
the big
incision
closed up
perfectly
where the
stitches have
been removed.
I walk
around the
house with the
boot but I
walk to the
dining room
table to the
bathroom
without it
(yes I'm
careful ) and
it feels fine.
The leg
(the heel,
ankle) is
getting used
to bearing
weight once
again.
Things
are looking
up.
Missing
Rutgers/Penn
State.
8pm
start at
Rutgers.
This
sucks, but
there's
nothing I can
do, I am not
at the point
where I can go
to an event
and be
comfotable.
Probably
a week or two
away from
that, so
brains won out
over emotion
and I stayed
home to do
Python stuff
instead.
Think I
may drown my
sorrows in
some Tony's
later ;-) and
then gobble
down some ziti
in from of
season three
of the
Blacklist (no
spoilers damn
it)...
More
later.
Sunday,
November 20,
2016 :
Sorry
Peter
Dear Peter,
Your
Uncle is very
proud of you
for fighting
the urge to be
a Giant fan
like your
mother and
your filthy
brother.
Being a
Ravens fan is
a bold move
that is to be
encouraged and
rewarded.
Were it
any other year
I would have
rooted for the
Ravens to beat
Dallas today
(because we're
usually 3-6
around now and
I would want a
high draft
pick) but this
year we have a
shot so I had
to root for
you to take a
beating.
Dallas
27
Baltimore
17.
Baltimore
is a cool
choice for an
out of market
team, you're a
smart guy.
I will
get you Poe
and Mencken
stuff when
you're older
and know who
those guys are
;-)
Your broken
Uncle,
L-
Ok.
A week
ago tonight I
thought I was
getting back
to normal.
Then the
tale of the
blood clot
began and JFK
sucked me back
in. Now
I'm trying
agian. I
have a
surgeon's
appointment
tomorrow at
10:15a and
then I'm going
to work.
I'm
walking in the
boot (still
hurts a bit,
been cheating
and walking
without it in
the house) and
I can drive
(take off the
boot and put
on a sneaker
to drive.
Works
well, just use
leg as a club,
do not have to
flex the right
foot) so
things are
good right
now.
Tomorrow I
need to make a
ton of phone
calls to wound
vac people,
nursing
people, moving
my primary
from the
people I was
with when I
was a kid to a
new doctor
(actually
someone I knew
as a kid...
funny) in
town. I
still do not
have a BP
machine so I
need to go and
get one of
those after
work.
It's a
long one, but
I'd rather be
busy than
bored and
injured.
Need to
keep moving
forward.
More
tomorrow.
Late
Night Clean Up
:
12:45a
I have an
appointment
tomorrow at
10:15a, but I
took a shower
and the
bandages got
wet so I
changed em
up...
Except for
some scabbing
in the center,
the main
incision is
pretty much
closed up.
The
stretched skin
between the
big incision
and the graft
is still
working out
what it wants
to do. I
think it's a
good thing
because it
seems to be
spreading out.
This leg
has borne
weight for the
past four days
as well.
Looks
like it's
holding up OK.
We'll
see what
Tushar says
tomorrow, but
it looks OK to
me.
Tomorrow
we may be
stitch free,
we'll see what
he wants to do
with the ones
in the middle.
Monday,
November 21,
2016:
Good
Day, but long
and tired...
Hey Ma, no
stitches.
It looks
like hell but
it's better
than having a
hole in the
back of your
leg
Tuesday,
November 22,
2016 :
Stop
& Shop
Hey, two days
in a row and
no time to
blog.
Yesterday
I had the
stitches out
as you can
see.
Today I
went to work.
No
doctors, no
craziness,
just went to
work like a
mormal person.
It was
nice.
I got home
late, but I
had to go to
Stop &
Shop to get
light bulbs
and some other
stuff.
When I
drive I take
the boot off
and put on a
sneaker.
When I
arrive at
S&S I do
not feel like
putting the
boot back on,
so I limp into
the store with
my right leg
pointed to 2
o'clock (so I
don't flex
forward on it
and put all
the weight on
the heel).
It's not
super safe,
but if you are
careful and
semi-coordinated
it works.
Ok.
Clear
your mind.
We're
going to paint
a picture
here...
Imagine
you
turn the
corner into
the frozen
foods section
of your
grocery store.
Imagine
you find
someone
talking to
themselves.
Imagine a
portly gent in
old sweatpants
and a
sweatshirt.
He has
on a long dark
coat and a
scarf as well.
He has a
hygenically
challenged
scattered
beard and a
crew cut, an
odd
combination
unless you're
in a biker
gang or ISIS.
He is
muttering "No
diet, never
diet, no
sugar" and he
is limping in
circles.
His
sneakers are
different
colors.
Then he
looks up at
you and
squints,
looking
confused.
How to say
this
delicately so
as not to
offend?
You have
stumbled upon
a special
needs adult,
yes? Hot
water burn
baby, hot
water burn
baby!
Three
minutes to
Judge Wapner,
yes? No.
Tonight it was
yours truly in
the S&S
frozen foods
aisle.
They
never have the
diet pops!
See the
empty shelf
above the
sugar pops.
It
pisses me off.
The non
sugars taste
just as good
and they are
zero calories,
BUT THEY ARE
NEVER THERE!!
And they
are always on
sale!
They
mock me.
I have
different
shoes on
because only
my old NBs go
wide enough to
accomodate the
wrapped up
foot and not
hurt.
You can
see the
minimal
bandage I was
going with
today.
This is
because I was
in the boot
and a big
bandage would
be too
painful.
I was
alone in the
aisle talking
to myself when
a poor woman
turned the
corner and
stopped dead
in her tracks.
I looked
up quick and
squinted, I
didn't have my
contacts in.
I was
still talking
about the
popsicles.
She
quickly turned
and left the
area.
Like
quasimodo me
and my
mismatched
sneakers began
the journey to
the check out
counter, I
bought my
light bulbs
(and yes, I
got the God
damn sugar
pops) and made
my way home.
Here. I
have a new leg
picture...
I took it
today.
No
stitches.
Tushar
gave me
ointment to
put on it,
said I can get
water on it in
the shower and
that when I
wanted I could
take the
bandages off
and just let
the air hit
it.
Thinking
it will heal
up more
quickly now.
Going to
Kirsten's for
Turkey.
Going to
pack a bag and
leave for Mt.
Laurel right
form work so
the next time
I update will
likely be from
down there.
More
soon.
Thursday,
November 24,
2016 :
Thanksgiving
As much
ungodly
insanity as I
have been
through this
autumn there's
still a ton
more to be
thankful for.
After
everything...
I can walk
today. I
am going to
watch three
NFL football
games today in
a warm house
full of family
and an endless
supply of
food.
After
you get out of
your early
teens and
don't give a
shit about
gifts anymore,
Thanksgiving
EASILY becomes
the number one
holiday on the
calendar.
ESPECIALLY
when you don't
have to cook!
Happy
Thanksgiving
everyone.
I'm
bringing all
my gear down
to my sister's
as I will
likely stay a
few days down
there so
perhaps there
will be an
update later.
I have
to get going
because I need
to get bagels
(you can take
em out of NJ,
but you...) so
Me, Matt and
Peter have
something to
nosh on while
we make fun of
the people in
the parade.
it's a
tradition.
Sunday,
November 27,
2016 : Finally
got there...
Thanksgiving
was good.
Stayed
until late
Friday and
then drove
home in no
traffic at
like midnight.
Stuffed
w Turkey.
Vive le
Cowboys.
Slept
like a baby on
my sister's
couch, that
never happens.
I guess
this eliquis
is good for
something.
I think I'm
finally at the
point where a
post everyday
is too much.
Nothing
is really
changing in
the land of
the leg.
I'm
resting while
the eliquis
and time work
away the clots
in my system.
It makes
me tired, I
have no
energy.
I have
plans to get a
new primary,
will make the
call tomorrow.
I must
be a dream for
a doctor, good
insurance and
fifty
maladies.
I have
packed up the
portable wound
vac and just
have to drop
it off at a
UPS drop off.
Missed
Nextron, they
came to the
house while I
was at work.
Need to
call them.
Took a
standing
shower this
morning with
the leg
completely
unwrapped.
I will
spare you the
pictures.
I am
going to wait
until I'm at a
point where
the leg is
demonstrably
different and
you can see
it. It
is going to be
a cool
sequence when
I get the
pictures lined
up from hole
in leg,
franken foot
purple,
healing w
stitches,
healing w no
stitiches...
Am
typing this at
my dining room
table and have
the leg out in
the air and in
a flip flop.
Feels
OK.
Still
some pain at
the heel
because I'm
not walking on
it properly
(can't go heel
to toes w no
Achilles) but
that's not so
bad.
Still
some numb skin
areas from
where the leg
was cut.
That may
be permanent,
cut nerves are
cut nerves,
but we'll see.
Will make appt
w. new primary
tomorrow (will
tell that
story later)
and have appt
to do eye exam
Tuesday
morning.
Soon it
will be
December and I
will need to
make promised
follow up
visits with Dr
Kana (cardio)
and Canavan
(hemo).
Never
ends.
Nah,
it'll end,
just not soon
enough.
As long
as I'm riding
my bike and
swimming by
springtime
I'll be OK w
things...
More
later...
Tuesday,
November 29th,
2016:
Bug
Eyed...
Today I spent
the morning at
Tano Mall in
the the
offices of
Janet Wosk,
optomologist.
Finally,
I am getting
my contacts.
First I
had to do an
eye exam
though.
It was
fast and Dr.
Wosk does a
good job of
explaining
things along
the way.
Took
pictures of
the eye,
glaucoma blast
of air into my
eye (pressure
was OK),
reading the
eye chart and
futzing w the
prescription,
looking in the
viewmaster
thingy and
clicking when
there were
wavy lines,
the usual.
There's
a change in my
prescription
because I'm
getting old
and shitty.
I'm
-2.25 in both
of my eyes
now. She
suggested that
I try the
bi-focal
lenses.
What the
hell. I
put them in
and they seem
fine. I
will try them
out for a week
before she
orders me
some.
Progress.
I need
to try out my
reading
glasses and
see if they
are better or
worse w the
new
prescription.
Back
to
Rutgers.
I have
advising hours
from 1pm to
3pm and I
teach tonight
(my hybrid
course meets
once a month
and tonight is
one of those
classes) so
the rest of
the day is
filled with
academic
goodness.
Nice to
get back to
normal a
bit...
Thursday,
December 1,
2016 : Lucky
Guy
I am a very
lucky guy.
I have
been able to
go to work
every day this
week. I
taught Tuesday
night.
Today I
was in my
office and my
kids stopped
by. They
know I've been
banged up for
a while so
they all
pitched in and
got me a gift,
a Norwegian
drinking horn.
It was
really
thoughtful and
it was hard to
maintain my
tough guy
shell in the
face of it (I
did though ;-)
). It
was really
cool. My kids
are awesome,
they were/are
a special
bunch.
Once I
get off the
blood thinners
and the BP
meds I will
usethe horn
for its
intended
purpose!
Some of my
kids, Tim,
Eric, Jon,
Alison, Aedan
Then
I
get to come
home and watch
Dallas play a
GOD AWFUL
football game
where all they
did was make
mistake after
mistake after
mistake.
Whitehead
fumble,
Elliott fumble
(he recovered
it but it blew
a down), Dak
fumble, bad
exchange on
last drive,
Asshole
Escobar is
allowed to
come back on
after a hold
and decides to
clip someone
and kill
another drive.
ALL
NIGHT the
Vikings can't
put the ball
in the end
zone so the
defense lets
them walk down
the field and
do it in less
than two
minutes at the
end of the
game. All
unreal.
THEN
THEY COMMIT A
PERSONAL FOUL
on the two
point
conversion.
It went
uncalled and
they won
17-15, but
man, did they
try to lose
this game.
Good sign when
you can play
like shit and
still win.
Ten days
off and then
the Giants.
If NY
loses to
Pittsburgh
then that game
may be for the
division
clinch.
All and
all it's been
a pretty good
day.
Almost forgot.
Esteemed
professor of
Computer
Science Dr.
John-Austen
Francisco has
talked me into
getting my
Diablo up and
running again.
Who am I
to say no?
I had not
logged in for
quite some
time (I have
been playing
Minecraft and
Farmville, the
latter for
research) so
Battle Net had
locked my
account.
Whomever
I put in as my
"favorite
teacher" could
not be
remembered as
I could not
answer their
security
question and
had to go home
to find my old
D3 box so I
could give
Battle Net my
serial number
for the game
and get back
in the good
graces of the
folks at
Blizzard.
I may
run around
with my
Barbarian
Largantuan
later
tonight...
Will get a new
leg picture up
soon, it's
looking
better.
Will
also need to
go see some
doctors soon.
It's
been two weeks
since I got
out of the
hospital so I
have to keep
my promises
and see my
primary,
cardio and
hematologist....
More over the
weekend...
Monday,
December 5,
2016 :
Progress
is steady
Reporting live
form my dining
room after
going to a
morning
appointment at
the office of
my esteemed
plastic
surgeon Tushar
Patel.
After
two weeks of
more healing
and weight
bearing he and
Anna are happy
with the
progress.
The
silvadene they
gave me to
break down the
big section of
skin in the
middle of the
rebuild is
working and
they said,
"Keep doing
what you are
doing and come
see us in a
month."
Can't be
in bad shape
if they are
setting you
free for a
month, yes?
It's
funny because
we are jumping
through fire
hoops to put
the leg back
together again
just so Nilesh
can cut it
back open
again in the
spring to do
another
Achilles
surgery.
That's
for the future
though.
Now I
have to do
some
housekeeping
in the next
few weeks and
make followup
visits for the
cardio (Kana),
hemo (Canavan)
and primary
(trying a new
doctor,
Misko).
Will
likely keep
Monday and
Thursday
mornings free
for doctor
stuff going
forward.
Walking back
to the Jeep
after my visit
this morning I
realized that
I need to give
myself a
chance to
recover.
I was
thinking that
if I were
eighteen the
damn leg would
be healed up
already, but
then I thought
about it and
realized that
in the past
two months
I've had three
surgeries,
dealt with an
alergic
reaction to
antibiotics
AND dealt with
a blood clot
in my arm.
That's a
lot of stuff
and it's only
a few weeks
since my last
hospital stay.
I need
to give myself
a break and
rest.
I also figured
that part of
the issue with
hoops and
running around
ripping
Achilles
tendons is my
weight.
I was
235 when they
did my last
surgery (they
weight you
like a hunk of
meat before
they operate).
I'm
going to be
Bacchus for
the holiday
season and
then go
Spartan
January 1.
Last
January I quit
smoking cold
turkey and it
stuck (just my
pipe, but it
was not easy.
I smoke
NOTHING now)
so I figure
I'll make the
weight the
cause of the
year and that
will make me
stick to it.
The
"guts gotta
go" tour 2017
will kick off
in January.
Other than
that it was a
good weekend.
We had
to can poker
cuz two of the
guys were out
of town.
I did a
bunch of stuff
with my Python
class and some
video game
stuff
(research, not
just playing
;-) ). I
had breakfast
w the boys on
Sunday as
Cliff had to
move some
furniture.
I
couldn't move
anything but I
could be at
the Edison
Diner for a
hunter's
special!!
No poker
but I got a
chance to hang
out w Eddie,
Cliff and
Howie anyway.
Football
was good as
the entire NFC
east lost
yesterday and
Dallas
clinched a
playoff spot.
Be tough
to mess up
home field for
the NFC but
I'm not
counting
chickens.
Atlanta
loss was big.
Seattle
losing Thomas
to the busted
leg was big,
that defense
needs him.
In closing for
this post the
recovery is
slow and
steady.
I feel
OK, I'm not as
tired anymore
so I think my
body is
getting used
to the
Eliquis.
I want
to start
exercising and
may go to the
Y one night
and just ride
the bike,
hiding my
surgery w a
high sock and
then going
home to shower
like a dirtbag
(do not want
to expose
wound to Y
locker room.
For all
I know that's
where I got
the fkn MRSA).
We'll
see.
Slowly
getting the
leg repaired
to cut it open
again and I
now have a
plan to get
thinner.
It's all
good. I
have plans to
get dinner w
some of my old
students on
Wednesday so I
will likely
report back
after that and
have some good
pictures.
Later.
Fantasy
Justice
When the
Chiefs
intercepted a
2-point
conversion try
by Atlanta
yesterday and
ran it back
for 2 points
of their own I
laughed and
laughed.
If
Atlanta loses
then they will
fall out of
contention for
the NFC's 1
seed and
that's good
news for
Dallas.
Then,
this morning,
I checked in
on fantasy...
As we all
know, the
Metuchen
Maulers are
America's
favorite
fantasy team!
Anywho,
I got knocked
out of the
playoffs (top
4 make it) and
will switch
spots with
Raise the
Jolly Roger
because of 1
point!!!
I lost
by 1 point!!!
Then, I
found out
WHY!!!
IT WAS THE XP
INT RUNBACK!!
I was
laughing at my
own demise!
Oh,
sweet irony.
That
single play
has knocked me
out of the
playoffs!
I still
have one week
to get back in
so hopefully
things work
out, but
Jesus....
Fantasy
(In)Justice
Update:
My
1
point loss
dropped me
from 4th to
7th. The
new Yahoo
playoff format
has the top
six teams
playoff with
the top 2
getting a bye
and 3-6 facing
off. The
returned extra
point didn't
just cost me a
game, it cost
me the
playoffs.
If I
beat Jolly
Rodger by a
point I'm in
the playoffs.
Unreal...
Thursday,
December 8,
2016 :
Chugging Along
Late on
Thursday and I
figured I
would do an
update.
One last
weekend of
rest and I am
going to start
my central NJ
doctor tour by
going to see
all the folks
I met when I
was in Kennedy
for the blood
clot before
Thanksgiving
(Kana,
Canavan, Etc.)
The leg
seems to be
healing well.
I'm
putting
Silvadene on
the hardened
dead skin in
the middle of
the healing
scar and it's
getting
smaller by the
day. I
walk around
the house with
the leg out in
the open as
the big wound
is completely
closed and
without
stitches and
the graft is
healing.
Still
looks like
hell:
but
it
actually feels
fine when
there's no
pressure on
it. The
only time it
bugs me is
when it's
wrapped up and
in the walking
boot or at the
end of the day
when the leg
is all shot up
from walking
funny for
fourteen hours
straight.
It'll
pass.
Gonna
heal up in the
next month and
then start
thinking about
getting the
Achilles
tendon
repaired so I
can ride my
bike and swim
and be normal
by summer.
Some of my
kids who
graduated took
me out to
dinner last
night.
Ed (With
his new Elvis
haircut),
Shahan, Eric
and Tobias.
Went to
Hibachi and
got Sushi
(Shahan thinks
this place has
jumped the
shark, I'm not
enough of a
foody to know
the
difference,
tuna rolls
were OK to me)
and chinese
food. It
was good to
see them.
It's
only been six
months and
they are
already sick
of working!
Hahaaaa...
Half of them
are coming
back to go to
grad school
(Eric is
already signed
up and Tobias
is applying).
Good
time had by
all.
Some
generations of
kids that go
through
Rutgers
Computer
Science are
good, some
bunches are
great.
Ten
years from now
I'll still be
friends with
these guys.
Premo.
Edvis,
Shahan
Tobias,
Me, Eric, Ed
and Shahan
Not
a
lot of time
now, but
hopefully over
the weekend I
will have time
to tell the
tale of the
hole in my
roof. I
will be in the
CAVE all
weekend
(there's a
Ludum Dare
(google it)
this weekend
and a whole
bunch of game
makers will be
in the lab Fri
and Sat as we
host it) so I
should have
some time to
stop and blog
for a spell.
More later...
Saturday,
December 10,
2016 :
Feeling
Good...
Will have to
wait on the
roof story,
I'm a little
pressed for
time.
There is
a game
jam/hackathon
that takes
place three
times a year
called
Ludum
Dare.
We are
hosting it in
the CAVE (my
lab) this
weekend so I
will be at
Rutgers doing
game dev stuff
(and catching
up on Python
grading)
tonight.
I'm sure
to put up some
pictures later
so stay tuned.
Also, I was
curious the
other day
about what my
leg looked
like when
compared to a
month ago.
It looks
a lot better.
When
people ask me
what it was
like I don't
want to just
send them here
because it's
long and the
pictures are
hidden on "for
the squeamish"
pages and so
forth.
Because
of this I did
a real quick
timeline page
with mostly
pictures.
It's
quick and is a
better way for
people to SEE
what's going
on without
having to read
this crazy
blog.
Check
out the
timeline.
Cleaned the
leg up this
morning.
I now
take a
standing
shower every
morning as
usual (It's
nice. It
really is the
little things
you
appreciate)
and I am able
to actually
scrub up the
wound site
now. I'm
guessing all
the dead skin
we have the
silvadene
working on
will be gone
in a week.
Things
are really
looking better
(uh oh... this
is when
something
crazy
happens...)
More soon
Saturday,
December 17,
2016 : Rehab
Math
A week.
Wow.
The
state of a
recovery is
proportional
to the amount
of time betwen
posts.
That's a
good thing
methinks, but
some people
are
complaining
that there
have been no
updates of
late.
They
have expressed
that they were
worried and
thought that
something new
has occured.
After
reading about
infections and
rashes and
blood clots
who can blame
them I guess.
The
opposite is
true. I
am slowly
getting back
to normal.
Not
there yet, but
close.
When you
get bashed up
you close
down. In
my case I
stopped doing
work,
research,
hobbies,
everything in
order to
concentrate on
getting well.
On the
other side of
this is the
inevitable
expansion of
the accordian.
As you
feel better
you begin to
add things
back.
I have
only been
walking for
four weeks.
Seems
longer, but I
only got
weight bearing
back around
mid November.
It's
great to start
walking again,
but it makes
you tired.
You do
not know it or
admit it, but
you need to
take things
slow because
healing from
the surgeries
takes a lot
out of you.
Add the
blood thinner
meds and I was
walking dead
for the last
two weeks of
November.
I hated
it and was
concerned it
was going to
be a new
normal.
Thank
God it wasn't.
I began
to get my wind
back in the
first week of
December and
now I think my
body is used
to the blood
thinner meds.
I still
need more
sleep than I
used to need,
like 8 or 9
hours.
ALL THAT SAID,
things are
good. I
did Ludum Dare
w my kids in
the CAVE last
week. I
went out to
get beers with
the guys on
Monday for the
football game.
I am
going to work
everyday.
The leg
adds time to
everything, I
have to clean
and wrap it
twice a day,
putting the
boot on and
off takes
time, etc, but
I can shower
easily
standing up
now, I can
walk in the
house (even
though I
should not, I
still have no
Achilles
tendon in my
right leg) and
I am in good
spirits.
The plan now
is to let the
leg heal more
and start to
think about
what to do to
repair the AT
in mid
January.
The dead
skin in the
center of the
wound is
getting
smaller daily
and if you
look at the
timeline and
see what oit
looked like
just a month
ago compared
to now you'll
see the
progress.
In a
month's time
it will be
even better
and I can
start thinking
about getting
the AT fixed.
I have
an appointment
with Dr.
Canavan on
Friday the
23rd, he's the
hematogist.,
so I am
starting to go
see the
doctors from
my blood clot
adventure.
After
the holidays I
will go see
Misko and
Khanna
(discovered
it's not Kana)
so I get a
check in with
primary and a
look see from
cardio done.
Never
ends.
Enough for
now.
Don't
want to get
pedantic.
More in
a few days.
I still
need to tell
the tale of
the hole in my
roof.
Ludum Dare
last weekend
in the CAVE.
These pictures
are from
December 15th.
Still a
two centimeter
length in long
wound that
needs to close
more and the
dead skin
where the
stretch was
(the surgery
"stretched
this section
between the
graft and the
closing and
expected it to
die, but it
heals
naturally that
way as it's
doing).
Pain is
not bad, just
discomfort and
I can walk
around in a
flip flop to
get it air now
and again.
Tuesday,
December
27th, 2016 :
I am a
Mutant, and
Xmas
Greetings all.
Sorry it
has been so
long. I
had a busy
week at work
getting the
semester
cleaned up.
I had
to do all of
the grading
for my Python
class, the
final unit,
the last final
project, it
was a lot.
I got
all of the
grades loaded
on Friday the
23rd and was
ready for some
Christmans.
But
first, let me
tell you about
Dr. Canavan's.
Got up super
early on
Friday
morning, the
morning of the
23rd. I
drove twenty
minutes from
my house in
Metuchen to
Dr. Canavan's
office in
North Edison
off of Inman
Ave (for those
of you from
around here).
I got
there at 8am
for my 8:15
appointment.
I had
forgotten to
fill out all
of the
paperwork so I
sat down and
got all of
that done.
I
finally got
called into
the office and
waited for the
doctor.
Dr. Brian
Canavan is
about my age
and and
carried a
bunch of
paperwork into
the
examination
room with him.
He was
the
hematologist
that was
called in when
I had my blot
clot incident
in the middle
of November.
He put me on
Eliquis and
said that I
should visit
him after
Thanksgiving
but before
Christmas. He
said he would
have a workup
done of my
blood and we
could discuss
it then. Well,
that then is
now.
He
tells me that
the body has
three major
clotting
factors,
Protiens C, S
and anti
Thrombin.
These
guys race in
when you need
to clot up.
Now, you
can't clot up
forever so now
we need
something to
say enough is
enough, let's
get back to
normal.
These
are Factors,
like Factor V
and Factor
VIII. These
guys signal
the clotting
factors and
tell them to
stop clotting
and go back to
normal. Here's
the fun part.
Northern
Europeans,
which your
humble Viking
narrator is a
member of,
have a 5%
chance of
having a
genetic
mutation that
messes up
Factor V. You
can get it
from one or
both parents.
If you get it
from both it
increases the
chances of a
blood clot
developing by
80 times. If
you get it
from only one
parent
(heterozygous)
then the
chances of
getting a clot
are only
quadrupled.
This is not a
bad deal as
the chances of
getting a
blood clot out
of the blue
are only 1 in
1,000.
Wait
for it... wait
for it... Yes.
I have
the mutation.
It's
called Factor
V Leiden (from
the dutch
town, I think
it's where
they
discovered
it). My Factor
V is out of
whack so when
I get a trauma
(surgery, a
PICC line in
my arm) I have
a greater
chance of
developing a
clot than your
average bear.
I am the
single parent
variety so I
am not that
bad, and Dr.
Canavan says
that we do not
have to put me
on blood
thinners for
the rest of my
life, but when
something
kooky occurs
(surgery, bad
injury, etc)
he's got to be
on the list of
people I let
know. So I'm a
mutant. My
power is that
I make blood
clots. Do I
get to teach
at Xavier's
School for
Gifted
Youngsters
now? If so
I'll give
Rutgers my
notice. This
is good to
know I guess
as I can keep
my eye on it,
but jeez, I
need to catch
a break with
all this
nonsense. Just
one more
thing...
Not sure
Christmas
could have
been better. I
got down to
Mt. Laurel to
hang out with
my sister,
brother in law
and my two
nephews. Tons
of food,
presents,
dessert, NFL,
it was great.
The kids got a
PS4 so we
played video
games in
between the
football, It
was a great
time. We are
Scandinavians
so we do XMas
on the 24th.
We got up the
next day and
did Jewish
Christmas too
as we went to
see Star Wars
Rogue One and
then got
Chinese food.
Just perfect.
I crashed on
the 24th and
drove back
home late on
the 25th.
Perfect
Christmas.
Me and
Peter.
He's not
happy because
the Steelers
won. Go
Ravens.
More
soon.
Still
need to tell
tale of roof.
More on
Dallas and
scary
football.
Movies are
cheap on
Amazon right
now. Went on a
Fincher binge
and bought
Fight Club and
Zodiac (can
Se7en be far
behind?).
And of
course more on
the leg.
I will
take a picture
at the end of
the week.
It is
healing up
nicely.
I still
clean it twice
a day and keep
it wrapped. I
want to start
getting it
more air. The
back is pretty
much all
closed up now,
it's just a
matter of
getting the
middle section
cleaned up.
I'm coming
down with a
cold too.
Hopefully the
next time I
chime in I'm
feeling
better. More
soon...
Sunday,
January
1st, 2017
Happy
New Year.
A lot of
people have
been saying
it, but I have
about six
months of data
that lead me
to firmly say
that 2016
ending is a
good thing for
me. I'm
hoping that
2017 is going
to be about
getting back
to normal for
me. I
had a good
break so far.
I went
back down to
my sister for
New Year's so
I just got
back in time
to watch the
Cowboy game
here at home.
Will put
up some
pictures
tomorrow.
Will do
another update
tomorrow as I
will take some
pics of the
leg during
clean up
tonight.
New year
will see me
going to the
doctor some
more and
devising a
plan to
get a working
AT in the back
of my leg.
I need
to spend the
year cleaning
and
simplifying
things.
More soon...
Tuesday,
January 3,
2017
OK.
Learning a new
editor for the
web.
Kompozer was
not keeping up
so I did some
surfing and
installed
BlueGriffon.
Decent
interface,
fairly easy to
use, we'll see
how things
go. I am
not doing
anything
complicated
here HTML wise
so all should
be well.
I promised to
get back to
things
yesterday but
got caught up
reading and
doing other
things.
New years was
good. We
ate a lot
(that's all
done now as I
have to diet
and get slim,
more on that
in a sec) and
watched the
Twilight Zone
and everyone
played their
computer games
and Matt and
Peter got
Steam accounts
for XMas and a
great time was
had by
all. We
saw Mariah
Carey implode,
we saw all the
old hip hop
guys on FOX w
Pitbull, it
was
funny.
Batman Arkham
Knight was on
sale at Steam
for like
$8. No
brainer,
right? I
bought it, did
the 40 gig
download and
installed
it. It's
giving me
problems
because my
graphics card
(Nvid GTX
860M) only has
2 gigs vram
and my proc
(i7 5500u at
2.4) is
getting to be
slow when it
comes to
gaming.
Amazing as the
machine is not
even two years
old yet and
I'm starting
to run into
games I can't
run without
futzing around
with
things.
I got it
running, but I
may just keep
the Diablo and
Minecraft in
the PC realm
and get a PS4
for
Batman.
Belongs on the
big screen.
Above
you see
Matt. He
got all bent
out of shape
because his
brother got on
the blog and
he
didn't.
Equal time for
the twins so
here you go M.
Here's the leg
as it looked
January
1st.
Pretty good,
yes?
Only a small
area of dead
skin left to
get debrided
away. Am
going to see
the plastic
surgeon on
January 9th
and we will
discuss next
steps
then.
Met with Dr.
Canavan
(hematology)
before Xmas so
next week I
will make an
appointment
with my new
primary and
get that ball
rolling.
I am still in
the boot when
I am not home
and want to
start doing
things (riding
a bike,
swimming) so I
need to get
going.
When I
chime in next
I'll tell you
about the STFU
diet and how I
need it now...
Saturday,
January 7,
2017 - Winter
Weekend
Things
are going slow
here at the
leg
blog.
Just healing
and biding
time. I
have an
appointment to
see Dr. Patel
(Tushar) on
Monday morning
so weshould
get some news
and/or new
results
then.
It's that
quiet calm
time after the
holidays but
before the
students come
back to campus
at Rutgers, so
things are
quiet and calm
there as we
prepare for
the kids to
come back on
Jan 17.
I'm teaching
two classes
this
semesters, my
Python course
and a course
on
demonstrations
and technology
in science
teaching over
at the
graduate
school of
education.
Should be a
fun
semester.
I'm currently
trying to get
the schedule
together for
the CAVE (my
lab at the CS
department) so
life is
proceeding at
work a little
bit now.
Only six weeks
removed from
the blood clot
hospital stay
and the
inability to
walk and it
seems like it
was six months
ago
already.
Need to
appreciate my
luck and be
careful, but
it feels so
much better to
walk around
and live my
life than when
this insanity
went
down. I
go back and
look at what
happened from
Oct 17th
(finding out
second surgery
was infected)
to November
18th (release
from hospital
after second
blood clot)
and realise it
included three
hospital
stays, two
surgeries,
MRSA, a
reconstructed
leg, wound
pumps, blood
clots, just
crazy.
And it was
only one
month.
Nuts.
Hopefully the
road to
recovery is a
lot smoother
from here on
out.
The books I
got with all
my amazon gift
certificates
Anyway, it's
snowing pretty
good here in
Metuchen right
now (2pm
Saturday).
Tonight is
poker night
and I think
we're still
on. I am
starving
because I put
myself on the
STFU.
The STFU is
what it sounds
like.
It's the name
of my
diet. I
did it in 2009
and dropped
like 50
pounds.
Time to do it
again. I
got weighed at
Dr. Canavan's
office and
they said I
was 245.
That's way too
heavy for me.
STFU is
easy.
Oatmeal,
banana for
breakfast, two
pieces fruit
and yogurt for
lunch, one
piece of four
oz chicken (I
broil thighes
usually), half
a baked potato
and veggie for
dinner.
You do this
five days a
week.
Thursday is
cheat day, eat
anything you
want.
Sat or Sunday
is cheat night
(as long as
you did
exercise, this
is what allows
cheat
nights).
No soda.
No
bread.
No
pasta.
All the coffee
u want.
All the
seltzer you
want.
All the beer
you
want.
Exercise for a
half hour
three times a
week (when I
was younger
this was easy,
now with the
hurt leg not
so
much).
All the fruit
that you
want.
It's not
Atkins cuz I
get my potato
and you're not
a carb nazi,
it's mostly a
calorie
counting diet.
I short
myself 1,000
calories a
day. At
the end of the
week that's
7,000 calories
or two
pounds.
Do this for 20
weeks and
viola!
This chunkey
monkey bcomes
205. I
have been good
for the first
week, no
breaks or
violations.
Had Hunan beef
from Cheng's
Kitchen on
Thursday.
Been hungry at
night but
toughing
through.
I want ice
cream.
STFU. I
want
doritoes.
STFU. I
want to eat a
whole
pizza.
STFU!!
That's the
idea.
Dieting is
temporary
privation so
just shut up
and take it,
it's not
forever and if
you do a good
job you'll be
splurging on
all the crap
food you like
in no
time.
The key is
that it's
temporary, you
just need to
reset the
system.
Another key is
no
exceptions.
That just
leads to even
more
exceptions and
then you fall
off the wagon
and you're
eating out
every other
night.
Not
good.
Stick to it
and you're
good.
Will be
reporting in
as the leg
blog proceeds
with diet
updates I'm
sure. I
have not done
a weigh in
yet, I will go
a week or so
before doing
that. I
will report in
when it
happens.
Ok, be
good
now. I'm
going to clean
up a bit and
then start
watching
football.
Wild card
weekend.
Looking for
Raiders and
Seahawks today
but would not
be surprised
if the Texans
find a
way.
Can't believe
the luck of
the
Patroits.
Bye week and
then winner of
a game where
both teams
have crummy
QBs. The
luck.
Instantly NE
is in the AFC
championship
game.
Must be
nice.
Dallas will
have to deal
with the
Packers or the
Giants (the
Lions are
dead) so they
have a tougher
road to the
NFC
championship.
I
digress.
Let's see how
this weekend
shakes out and
then I'll rant
about the
idiot Cowboys.
Have a good
weekend, more
after my
doctor's
appointment
this coming
Monday...
Sunday,
January 15,
2017 - Cowboys
- School
almost here
Been
a week, more
than a week,
so I thought I
would jump in
here quickly
and give
everyone an
update.
I went to see
Tushar on
Monday morning
and all is
well.
They changed
me from
Silvadene to
Santyl to go
on the leg
wound and it
seems to be
healing
quickly
now. He
also told me
to make an
appointment to
see
Nilesh.
It's time to
see what we
are going to
do about the
Achilles.
I think
something is
going on down
there. I
have range of
motion.
No pain when I
try to walk
normally.
I can feel
some movement
in the calf
when I flex it
up and
down. I
am not an
expert and
reserve the
right to be
terribly
wrong, but I
think
something
might be
coming back
naturally.
We will
see. I
am going to
let the
semester start
(Tuesday), get
organized and
make an
appointmet to
see Nilesh
either Friday
or next
Monday.
I should know
more
then.
Until then I
diet, take my
Eliquis and be
a good boy...
Cowboys
v Green Bay in
an hour.
I can't help
but think that
all these
rookies are
going to bite
us in the ass
very
soon. I
just want to
get this
game.
Progress.
Went to
divisional in
14. Last
year was when
Romo was hurt,
and now we get
back to the
divisional.
We need to get
to the NFC
championship.
That will not
be easy as
Atlanta looked
real good
yesterday.
I think Dallas
has a 55, 60%
chance of
getting a win
today, but it
won't be easy.
More
soon.
I'll get some
new leg
pictures up
(no more dead
skin patch,
big ulcer is
closing
fast...) and
some pictures
from the CAVE
on opening
day...
Saturday,
January 21st,
2017 -
Beginning a
new semester
Starting a new
semester is
always
insanely busy
and the past
four days have
shot by very
quickly.
Dallas lost
but it was a
classic game
and we had a
lousy defense
and two
rookies so I
didn't expect
to win a Super
Bowl.
Still, would
have been nice
to go
further.
I have not
gone to see
Nilesh
yet.
Next
week. I
have had so
much hit me at
work. I
am teaching
two classes
and needed to
get them up
and running, I
am advising
for the
department and
tons of
students had
issues trying
to put
together their
spring
schedules AND
I have to get
my student
staff ready to
man the CAVE
(my lab) this
semester so I
was there
everyday as
well.
Here's a
picture of the
leg as it
appeared a
half hour
ago...
The leg is
healing
nicely.
The dead skin
spot is
gone.
The wound
where the skin
stretch was is
getting
smaller and
getting the
same
consistancy of
the graft
section.
Even the graft
section seems
to be getting
smaller.
When I go to
work I wear my
walking boot
like a good
boy, but at
home I go
without and I
do not have
that much
pain.
Now, I am not
a doctor and I
reserve the
right to be
100% wrong,
but I think
something is
growing back.
I can
move my calf a
little.
I'm not sure
if I could do
that without
an AT or at
least the
beginnings of
one. It
feels a little
tighter in the
back of the
leg and seems
to be forming
a bent peak
like a healthy
leg, but that
could be the
fact that
there is not
enough skin to
do anything
else! I
just don't
know. I
am likely
being too
optimistic.
I'm like a
puppy. I
REALLY don't
feel like
going through
another
surgery and I
desperately
have to have a
normal
semester with
work and class
and research
to tend to so
I am being
cautiously
optimistic and
not pushing
things.
Nothing
to really
report
though.
I take my
Eliquis.
I redo my
bandage once a
day (down from
two since
seeing Tushar
12 days ago)
and I try to
stay off of it
when I don't
have to go
somewhere.
The STFU is in
full effect
and I have not
fallen off the
wagon in 21
days.
Feeling
better.
Sure I'm
lighter but
still have not
done a weigh
in so who
knows.
Who cares too,
not interested
in weighing
myself
daily.
Will need to
do it soon
though.
Once every few
weeks to make
sure the STFU
is taking off
the 8 pounds a
month (that's
forty pounds
in just 5
months!) and
working
properly.
I worry as I
can't really
exercise and
that used to
allow for the
cheat
days.
Now I have
cheat days but
no YMCA
sessions to
take off some
extra
cals...
We'll
see. I
definatley
feel better.
OK, enough for
now.
More next week
if something
happens.
My life seems
to be coming
back to me
though.
Sunday,
January 29,
2017 - Cars,
Batteries and
Toilets
Funny how real
life just
grabs you
every now and
again. I
was walking
out of the
Graduate
School of
Education at
Rutgers
Wednesday
night after
teaching my
new class,
Demonstrations
and Technology
for Science
Education, and
the Jeep
refused to
start.
Felt like a
battery issue,
but I just
replaced my
battery less
than two years
ago.
Could be the
starter,
voltage reg,
no way to know
in the dark on
a Wednesday
night. I
had brother
Gary come get
me, jumped the
Jeep and all
seemed
OK.
Maybe I just
left the
lights
on? (Not
likely, I
arrived at GSE
at 4pm, it was
light
out).
When we got
home (Gary
lives on
Hickory Str in
metuchen as
well) the Jeep
would not
start back
up. The
car ran on the
way home, so
likely not the
alternator
(though the
cable to the
battery could
be bad or the
voltage reg
switch could
be open?) so I
think I have a
shoddy battery
on my
hand. I
have a
warranty
that's good
for three
years so I
need to take
the battery
back to
Batteries Plus
on Rt 1.
That's going
to have to
wait until the
weekend, I
have too much
to do at
work.
Over the next
two days I
catch rides to
and from work
from Kenny,
Doug and I did
the Lyft thing
twice...
Time passes
and now it's
Saturday!
That means
it's time to
fix the Jeep!
So Gary
comes over at
noon and we're
going to pop
out the
battery and go
get it
tested.
Gary whips out
a multi-meter
and seems to
be getting 12
volts out of
it
though.
We clean up
all the
terminals on
the battery
and clean some
crud off the
clamps and
give it a
go.
Vroom.
It started
right
up. The
terminals had
gotten so
cruddy that it
could not keep
a good
connection to
the battery
clamps.
Quick trip to
pep boys for a
new neg clamp,
some spray
protector and
new washers
and we were in
business in
less than an
hour. I
have been
driving the
Jeep for the
last 24 hours
and all is
well.
Nice.
Only cost me
$15!
Now
onto the
second
operation of
the
weekend.
Sunday.
The
toilet.
My upstairs
commode has
been REALLY
bad with
flushing
properly.
It feels like
a bad flush
valve so I am
going to run
to the Home
Depot, get a
$4 part and be
done with it
in a half
hour.... Yeah,
right.
Edwin
Diaz is my
friend, point
guard and the
King (Rey) of
the Dominican
plumbers.
He fixed all
the toilets in
my house like
three years
ago during my
annual
basketball
party.
Problem is, he
doesn't use
Fluidmaster
toilet
gear. He
uses
Eco-something
EZ doesn't
work with any
stadard
replacement
parts
stuff.
Ugh. I
bought a $4
replacement
valve at Home
Depot (HD) but
it didn't
work. I
figured I'd do
this right and
just replace
the entire
mechanism with
Fluidmaster
stuff so I'm
OK to use
replacement
parts going
forward.
So I trudge
back to HD and
get the whole
enchilada.
Only $12 and
it took like
twenty minutes
to
install.
Adjusted it,
flushed a few
times, cleaned
the toilet...
Crazy
productive and
it only took
an hour longer
than I thought
the initial
fix
would.
Done.
Jeep done,
toilet
done.
What a
weekend...
Still, it was
cool. It
had nothing to
do with legs
or blood clots
or MRSA or any
such
stuff.
It was regular
problem
stuff. I
actually had
fun this
weekend.
Alright,
alright, on to
the reason
we're
here.
The leg.
Good
progress.
I postponed
(procrastinated?)
and did not
see Nilesh
this
week. I
hope to get in
there this
Friday.
The would is
all but closed
and I am
walking on it
semi-normally
inside my
house.
Again, I am
not a doctor
and will not
be surprised
if I'm wrong,
but I think
something is
growing back
naturally.
I can lift of
the front of
the
foot. I
do not believe
I would be
able to do
that in the
absence of an
Achilles
tendon or
something
trying to act
as one.
I can move my
calf (even
though it's
withered
away). I
think I'm
pushing off
the doctor's
visit because
I do not want
to find out
that I'm
wrong.
I'm getting SO
MUCH done at
work, teaching
my classes,
doing my
research, that
I fear being
told that I
have to stop
again and
spend another
two weeks off
my feel
because of
another
operation.
I know I will
have to do it
soon.
Enough
for now.
Almost
February.
Three days ago
was three
months since
my
reconstructive
surgery.
Only ninety
days and I
have come a
long way (and
had a clot,
and found out
I'm a
mutant).
More soon I'm
sure...
Sunday,
February 5,
2017 - Super
Bowl Sunday
Super
Bowl
Sunday.
At the
beginning of
the season I
was in week 6
of a rehab
process after
my first
surgery.
Over the
course of the
2016 NFL
season I had
three
surgeries, a
blood clot, an
infecteous
disease that
most
antibiotics
are useless
against and I
healed through
a complete
reconstruction
of the back of
my leg after
having a
gaping hole
there.
Been an
interesting
season.
I got to see
Dallas play
well with the
two rookies
even though I
hate my
defense and
they ended up
being my
Achilles heel
(no pun
intended, I
need as many
Achilles heels
as I can
get!!)
I'm rooting
for Atlanta
today.
Will not lose
sleep if Pats
win, but if
they lose
they'll be 4
of 7 and an
argument can
be made that
they're not so
hot, just the
default in an
AFC that's
been a bit
down for the
past 15
years.
Truth be told,
the whole
league is
watered
down.
Should only be
24
teams.
But, I
digress.
Still
holding
pattern as I
did not get to
any doctors in
the past
week. I
have been too
busy.
Work, teaching
class,
preparing for
a few special
events coming
up this week
(Python
workshops for
the CS dept, A
Python
bootcamp for
CSTA teachers
this coming
Saturday, etc)
and I have no
free time
during the
day. I
need to get to
my ortho, my
general and
Dr. Wosk so I
can switch out
these test
contacts.
They are four
weeks old now
and feel like
putting bricks
in my
eyes.
Anywho,
tomorrow first
thing I am
going to call
Nilesh and get
an ortho
appt. I
can't keep
putting it
off. I
think
something
might be
growing back
naturally, but
if it's not I
may as well
find out and
start taking
my
medicine.
Here's a
picture I took
an hour ago.
Not so
bad. The
open spot is
smaller than
the top of my
finger.
The silvadene
completely
removed the
dead skin
patch that
developed and
now the Santyl
is keeping the
spot clean
while the
surrounding
skin closes in
and heals the
wound.
What a
process.
This is what
people who
have serious
burns go
through.
I am still
going to
follow Dr.
Patel's
instructions
and wrap it
daily, but I'm
sure I could
leave it open
and it would
heal up
properly at
this
point.
If it were
summer time I
would likely
do that.
Also, I had a
really good
day yesterday
as far as the
STFU diet is
concerned.
Will report in
on that in the
middle of the
week. I
am going to
try to do two
entries for a
while.
This
BlueGriffon
software makes
it easy, I've
just been too
busy... More
soon...
Sunday,
February 12,
2017 - NFL
withdrawl and
the Diet...
When
you roam the
earth as a
chunky monkey
it beehoves
one to keep
their mouths
shut when they
go on a
diet.
That way if
it's an
abortive
attempt or
something goes
haywire you
don't need to
catch crap
from your
asshat
friends.
That said, I
think I'm in
good shape so
I will report
progress on
STFU NOW or
The guts gotta
go tour
2017. I
started the
diet as a New
Year's
resolution.
Last year's
resolution, to
drop smoking
(even though
it was just a
pipe in the
evenings)
worked, so I
figured a
weight loss
effort with
resolution
strength
behind it
would have a
chance at
success.
That, and
thinking the
leg is going
to end up OK
hauling around
an extra 40 to
50 pounds is
stupid.
Time to do
something
about it.
STFU. I
reported on
Jan 7 that I
was starting
it up and I
have been
faithful to it
thusfar.
I did a weigh
in last week
and was
231. My
start weight
was 248
(heaviest I
have ever
been) so
that's 17
pounds in five
weeks.
That's about
right.
At first you
throw the
water
weight.
That's 7 to 8
pounds and
then STFU is
setup to shed
2 pounds a
week. that's
another 10 so
a 17 pound
lost from day
1 at week 5 is
about
right. I
will do a
weigh in at
the begining
of March and
am looking for
223. Do
the
math. If
I keep it up,
fight through
plateau's,
eventually add
some exercise
and I will be
199 by
June.
200 is the
target.
After that I
will eat the
biggest steak
I can find and
decide whether
to go for more
weight loss or
hang at 200
for a
spell. I
am past the
initial three
weeks so it's
not physical
anymore, I do
not get hungry
at night and
have a handle
on the
difference
between hungry
and
bored.
That's
big.
It's just a
lifestyle
change.
You throw the
switch, fight
through the
initial three
weeks and then
let father
time do his
work.
I'm glad that
I seem to be
healthy enough
that the old
tricks are
still working.
STFU
has a flaoting
cheat day once
a month, you
get a cheat
day when you
drop ten
pounds, throw
in the cheat
day once a
week and I
have too many
cheat days
right
now. I
did break down
and use one
last
night.
Got Hunan
Beef, wontons
and broccoli
and garlic
sauce.
Watched
"Sully" (meh)
and "The Seven
Five," a
documentary
about corrupt
cops in
Brooklyn
around the
time I was at
St
Johns.
Really
interesting.
OF
COURSE I still
have not gone
to the
ortho. I
had an INSANE
week the past
week (started
up a Python
workshop for
masters
students at
Rutgers, Did a
teacher
workshop for
the CSTA
yesterday,
teaching two
classes,
running my
lab...
tired...).
As I always
say, "I hope
to go this
week."
Here's
the leg...
Something,
right?
Just today I
decided that I
can start just
using a
band-aid.
I use an ACE
bandage when I
go out for
some extra
stability.
I wear the
boot at work
still but I
don't know
that I am
going to need
it much
longer.
I have no pain
if the leg is
still. I
only have
soreness at
the end of the
day. I
think I have
something
growing in the
gap as I can
lift off the
ground with
the leg (as
part of a pair
though, not
alone, not
strong enough
for
that).
Without
thinking I
went down a
flight of
stairs
normally
yesterday and
did not
realize it
until I was
done (I took
one step at a
time going
down, that has
not happened
for six
monthes).
I'm having
success with
it and it's so
great to be
normal that I
am scared to
death of
Nilesh (my
ortho) telling
me I'm nuts
and that I
need a
surgery.
Like I've said
though, I have
to take my
medicine
soon...
Lastly,
this is the
first week of
NFL
withdrawl.
If there were
games today I
would have
been
shot. I
got to relax
today. I
did some
grading for
Python, some
planning for
DTSE, some
reading for my
research group
(I read the
Kuhn Na'ama)
so I got a
bunch
done.
Later tonight
I am driving
into the CAVE
so I can sit
with Hans, my
iLab Asssitant
and my TA, to
get some work
done so things
are back to
normal, even
if it is
Sunday.
OK,
enough for
this
week.
Soon I won't
even need the
band-aid.
Recon almost
totally
healed.
Took 10
weeks.
Not so bad if
you recall the
mess I was
in. More
soon.
Sunday,
February 19,
2017 - The day
is almost
here!
It has
been a busy
week and a
busy
weekend.
On Friday
night Dr.
Brian
Kernighan of
Unix and C
fame came to
speak to the
students at
the CoRE
Auditorium on
Busch
campus.
It was a great
talk and the
students did a
really great
job hosting
the
event.
Then, the next
day, HackHERS
began.
HackHERS is a
female themed
hackathon that
ran all
weekend.
I was a judge
this morning
as all the
students
demoed their
projects.
There were
some really
creative
ideas, like
learning to
code through
doing art,
using games to
do budgets and
even an app
that plays
music based on
the current
weather!
Now it's
Sunday and
it's time to
get ready for
the week
ahead.
No rest for
the wicked.
I am
going to see
Nilesh on
Tuesday.
It is then
that I will
find out
whether I have
something to
rehab or I
will need
another
surgery.
Hoping for the
former
obviously.
I really do
believe I have
something
growing back
in there, but
I will find
out for sure
Tuesday.
I also called
Dr. Wosk and
am getting new
contacts on
Monday
morning.
I had a
setback with
the
diet!!
Not anything
with the
process or
with me
cheating, it
turns out my
scale may be
broken and I
weigh more
than I
thought!
It's a funny
story and I'll
tell it the
next time I
chime
in.
Here's some
pictures of
Kernighan and
HackHERS...
I'll get the
new leg
picture up
after I go to
the ortho.
One
more tidbit...
My father used
to work for
Bell Labs in
the seventies
when Brian
Kernighan
roamed the
halls as
well.
Because he was
a Sorensen my
father was
sure to steal
everything
that wasn't
nailed to the
floor (he
stole my first
computer, good
story, for
another
time).
Well he used
to steal books
too. One
of them was
The UNIX
Programming
Environment by
Kernighan and
Pike. I
had it in my
bookshelf in
my
office.
Yeah. I
had Brian sign
it...
Tuesday,
February 21,
2017 - The day
I've been
waiting for...
Today
is the day I
have been
waiting...
dreading...
postponing...
waiting
for. I
went to see
Nilesh Patel,
my faithful
ortho, to see
what the
future has for
my leg.
There's
a tendon
there.
Yup, the
Achilles is
growing
back.
Miracle of
miracles.
Even after
having a four
centimeter
section of it
ripped out it
managed to
grow
back. I
went in for a
ten o'clock
appointment
this
morning.
I got in the
office, took
the leg out of
the boot and
waited for
Nilesh to come
in. He
was genuinely
glad to see
me, he knows
I've been
through a
bunch. I
nervously
showed him
what I can do
with my
foot.
Range of
motion, toe
scrunches,
flexing.
He put his
hand on the
back of my leg
and said, "Do
it
again."
I did.
He smiled.
He
instantly
started
telling me
about how we
were going to
rehab
conservatively.
I stopped
him. "No
more surgery,
right?
There's a
tendon in
there?"
He
smiled again
and said,
"Yes."
I
didn't hear
anything he
said for about
a minute after
that. No
more
surgery.
No worrying
about teaching
or school
being
affected.
Time to look
forward to
healing up and
getting back
to bike riding
and
swimming.
This is
awesome.
He said
we're going to
go with the
boot for
another
month.
Then the
sneaker w the
heel lift in
it.
After six
weeks I go
back to visit
Nilesh again
and only THEN
do we go to
rehab.
He approved me
for riding the
stationary
bike if there
is no
resistance and
I am
careful.
Hello YMCA (I
will wait
until I see
Tushar next
week though, I
want the skin
graft to
continue to
heal
well).
Until then I,
and these were
his words,
"keep doing
what you're
doing."
Today
was a good
day.
Coming
back.
More later in
week....
Saturday,
February 25,
2017 - Getting
used to the
new normal, I
think I am out
of the
woods...
OK.
First week
(well, since
Tuesday) that
I am fairly
sure (anything
could happen)
that I am not
going to have
to re-arrange
my life and
find two weeks
to get another
surgery.
This is such a
releif.
I'm in a
groove with
work and
teaching right
now. I
want to add
the research
back to get
that back on
track.
Now I can do
that. I
can plan ahead
without having
to worry about
stopping for
two or three
weeks to take
care of my
health.
There is no
way to put
into words how
great this is
for me.
I have
been wearing
the boot at
work and will
do so until I
am back from
Seattle (going
out there from
March 8-11 for
a
conference).
Then I will go
with the two
heel lifts in
my New Balance
until i return
to Nilesh in
the beginning
of
April. I
am not going
to push
it. I am
going to take
it easy and
make sure
things stay
good.
Even since
Tuesday I can
feel the back
of the leg
strengthening.
The way I walk
is calf heavy
(have always
had decent
sized calves
due to this)
so I expect my
walking style
to do half of
the rehab for
me once I get
back into
sneakers.
I also think
my "Princess
and the Pea"
body is better
off healing
naturally
without all
the metal
work. I
still can feel
the mesh in my
gut from my
sports hernia
in 2006 and
you can dig
down and find
the titanium
screws in my
knee from my
ACL rebuild in
2003. I
would be a
cyborg soon if
I keep getting
more
parts.
This is
better.
Here's
a good story.
I usually take
the bandages
off my leg
when I wake
up. I
take a shower
and then I go
downstairs.
Before going
to work or
starting my
day I will sit
down and cover
the "burn
spot" with
Santyl and
rebandage the
leg.
Today the leg
felt so normal
I
forgot.
Wound is not
wet. Dry
as a
bone.
I'm leaving
it.
Better for the
air to hit it
and get done
with all this
medicinal
stuff.
Will keep the
blog updated,
but I do not
think I'm even
going to
bandage it
anymore.
What
progress.
A week ago I
was in fear of
new surgery
and bandaging
it twice a day
and today I'm
thinking
conservative
rehab and no
bandage.
Life is
good. I
like nice
surprises.
Thursday,
March 2, 2017
- Getting
Better
Just
dropping a
quick post in
here as I
don't know
what the
weekend will
bring.
It's poker
weekend, have
a lot of work
to do. I
went to see
Tushar this
past
Monday.
He wasn't in
the office
yet, but I saw
Gina, his
assistant.
She's an MD
and has been
following my
case all
along. I
told her that
Nilesh said my
Achilles was
growing back
and she was
surprised.
Truthfully, no
one thought I
was going to
get out of
this without
another
surgery.
She
looked at the
skin graft and
the back of
the leg and
said that I
could quit
using the
Santyl and
quit wrapping
it. Quit
wrapping
it.
YEAH!
Everyday I
have had to
wrap up this
leg. For
the first two
months it was
twice a
day.
Done.
All the dead
skin from the
stretch spot
is gone and I
can let it
scab up and
heal
normally.
As you will
see below it
already is. I
still use the
ACE bandage
but that is
just for
stability and
so it won't
rub up against
the boot (I
use the boot
at work as
instructed by
Nilesh, I only
cheat at
home).
So
things are
good.
Work
good.
Classes are
OK.
About to fire
up the
research
project
engine.
Basketball
party on the
horizon.
Seattle next
week for a
Computer
Science
education
conference.
Things are
looking up for
a
change.
More in a
week...
Small scab
where the
stretch
was. Can
leave things
unbandaged
from here on
out.
Sunday,
March 5th,
2017 - Like I
said, time to
get better...
OK,
I have fifteen
minutes here
before I heat
up my dinner,
time for a
small
update.
I have a funny
story about
the scale in
my house but
it will have
to wait.
Today I will
just do leg
stuff and not
diet
stuff. I
did do a weigh
in two days
ago and was
224.
That's only a
pound off
where I should
be today so
February was a
success.
Eight pounds a
month so I
will be
looking for
215 during the
first week of
April.
But
enough of
that.
Leg. The
last entry I
did said that
the open spot
on the leg was
already
closing
up.
Well, the scab
fell off in
the shower
Saturday
morning so I
wasted no
time.
Time to go to
the YMCA and
go for a ride
on the
stationary
bike.
The Metuchen
YMCA has these
new bikes
where there is
a video screen
in front of
the bike and
you can go on
"video" rides
in different
spots.
You can do a
training
session, ride
in a forrest,
ride in a
desert... It's
cool. As
someone who
studies how
people learn
with video
games I may do
something with
this.
Not learning
per se, but I
think it's a
use of video
gaming that
augments
exercise and
can lead to
better
results.
Anyway, on a
very low
level, as
instructed by
Nilesh, I had
a bike ride
through a
Redwood
forrest.
The ankle,
leg, Achilles,
all felt
fine. I
rode for a
half
hour.
It was
great.
Baby steps,
but just
getting to the
Y and doing
something on a
weekend is
something I
have been
unable to do
for eight
months.
It was truly
awesome.
Also, because
the scab fell
off and I no
longer have an
open wound on
the leg I hit
the steam
room.
Again, for the
first time in
eight
months.
It was
glorious.
I just sat
there glugging
cold water and
letting the
steam render
the goo from
my fat
body. It
took
everything I
had to keep
from falling
asleep
afterwards.
Only at the Y
for 75
minutes, but
it was a good
day. An
hour later I
was eating
dinner
(Chicken -
STFU!) and the
leg felt
fine.
So now
I can go back
to the
Y. In
two weeks I
lose the
boot. In
a month I can
go back to
rehab at
Kessler.
Getting
there.
More later in
the
week.
Flying out of
Newark to go
to Seattle
early
Wednesday
morning so I
may blog a
little
then.
Going to have
to get some
sun on that
eventually.
My calf is
mush...
hahahaa...
Time and work.
March
25, 2017
-
Seattle, Snow,
Party, how
blogs die, and
oh yeah, the
leg...
My
oh my.
Three
weeks without
an
entry.
Not
good.
Hopefully when
I finish here
you will
understand.
Very shortly I
think I am
going to
bring
this
particular
blog to a
close.
At least I
hope I
can. The
purpose was to
chronicle the
goings on with
the leg and my
health and
both are
returning to
normal.
It is almost
April and I
will be
visiting Dr.
Canavan to get
off the blood
thinners
then.
Perhaps I'll
go through a
little of the
rehab
process.
We'll talk
about the leg
later, let me
tell you what
I've been up
to the past
three weeks...
Seattle
I traveled to
Seattle for a
Computer
Science
Education
conference the
week of March
6th. I
flew out there
on Wednesday
the 8th and
did not return
until March
11th.
Seattle is
great.
The food is
awesome, the
people are
cool, and the
conference was
great as
usual. I
usually bolt
home on Friday
night but a
colleaugue was
giving a talk
on Saturday
morning so I
stayed.
I left Seattle
Tacoma Airport
at 3:30pm
Seattle
time. I
lost three
hours coming
home and then
lost another
hour as March
11th was
daylight
savings.
Brutal, but
Seattle is a
keeper (first
time I'd been)
and I can't
wait to get
back.
Snow
As
Bulwisc was
walking back
to his house
he shot this
pic of me
finishing the
driveway
You can never
be sure that
your leg is on
the mend until
you shovel out
a few
driveways.
Well, March
14th gave me
that
chance.
It was not as
bad as
predicted.
The weather
channel and
local
forecasters
said 22 inches
and we got
around 8
inches.
Still, it's
the first time
I would have
to tackle
snow. As
you can see,
it has been
three weeks
since I saw
Nilesh at the
EMOG so I am
out of the
boot!
I'm wearing a
heel lift in
my sneaker and
being very
careful, but
the boot is a
thing of the
past.
I had
gotten home
from Seattle
on March 12th,
went to a
conference in
Somerset on
the 13th and
the next day
the snow
hit. I
went into
Rutgers on
Wednesday to
make sure the
labs were
clean (it's
spring break
so no
students) and
then it was
home to
prepare.
To prepare for
the NCAA
basketball
party....
The
Party
OK, long story
short.
For the past
eighteen years
I have had a
four day
basketball
party for the
first four
days of the
NCAA College
Basketball
tournament.
Me and about
twenty of my
closest eat,
drink, talk
and watch
basketball for
four straight
days. We
set up three
TVs in the
living room
and do not
miss a single
game.
Being older it
is more about
eating than
drinking these
days.
Everyone
brings
different
foods like
chicken,
pierogies, mac
salad, steaks,
ribs, you name
it. We
start with
breakfast at
Le Peep on
Thursday.
Then we watch
hoops from
noon to
midnight.
The next day
we meet at Le
Peeps
again.
Then, being
St. Patrick's
Day, we went
to Haileys and
had a few
rounds.
Then back to
the house to
do it
again.
Saturday and
Sunday are
noon to
midnight as
well, just no
breakfast.
Man it's fun
but man it's
also
tiring.
We all fill
out brackets
and see who
has the best
sheet because
we keep track
of the yearly
winners.
We call it the
Pantheon.
By
Monday I'm
shot.
Seattle, snow,
the party,
keeping my
classes above
water during
the process
(thank God it
was spring
break), it's
nuts. I
got things
back to normal
a bit at work
the week of
the 20th, but
today,
Saturday the
25th, is
literally the
first day I've
had to myself
in close to
three
weeks. I
need to rest,
fire up my
research and
get back to
fixing the leg
and working
the diet (the
diet was
SMASHED during
the party, but
that always
happens.
Already back
on
track.)
How
Blogs Die
It
seems like
yesterday that
I was writing
the entry
about my going
to the
Y. Blogs
die because
people get
away from them
and then do
not want to
return because
it's too much
work to get
them
current.
I toyed with
the idea of
just starting
with today and
not even
mentioning
Seattle or the
party, but
three weeks is
not that bad
so I bit the
bullet and did
it. If
it had gone a
bit longer I
may have
abandoned
things.
At some point
I will put an
end to this
but it will be
when I am
running or
perhaps the
first
basketball
game I play
post
injury.
I still have
to report on
the rehab
process after
ten weeks, I
have not
gotten there
yet.
We'll see, but
I will try to
do weekly
posts from
here on out.
The
Leg
Lastly, the
purpose of
this thing,
the leg.
I do not
bandage it any
longer.
I do not use
the ACE
bandage for
support any
longer.
At the end of
the day the
ankle is sore,
but it's not
that bad and
it gets better
every
day. The
only hassle is
a patch of
callused skin
where the heel
lift is
pushing up the
heel of my
foot.
The graft and
the split are
completely
closed,
nothing open
and I shower
normally.
That's awesome
by the way, I
can be in and
out of a hot
shower in five
minutes and
use the steam
room at the
Y. It
really makes a
huge
difference.
I am,
today, five
months post
reconstruction,
four months
post clot,
four months
post MRSA and
walking around
without a boot
or the iWalk
for the first
time in the
past five
months.
Took a while
but I got
here.
What a
trip.
Now I am being
careful, not
pushing
things, but I
feel the leg
getting
better.
I still have
to go to my
general doc
for a check
up, I pushed
that off and
then just
forgot to do
it.
Soon.
Right now I am
enjoying my
new
freedom.
No bandaging
sessions.
No limits as
to how far I
can walk in a
given day
because I have
to lug a boot
around (I wore
it in Seattle,
no reason to
take a
chance).
I leave the
heel lift in
my New Balance
running shoes
and that's
it. I do
some light
range of
motion
exercises, but
other than
that I do not
pressure
it. The
way I walk,
high on the
balls of my
feet, will
rehab it all
it needs, I'm
fairly certain
of that.
I'm not
walking in
that "Ten to
Two" fashion
to take the
pressure off
the tendon,
I'm going toe
to heel when I
walk.
It's good,
real good.
I plan
to go to the Y
tomorrow and
ride the bike
for an
hour. If
the weather
starts getting
nicer I will
take out my
Raliegh
Mountain bike
as well.
Still have not
gotten back in
the
pool. I
need to do
that
soon.
With STFU in
effect,
biking,
swimming and
some rehab
next month I
should be back
to normal
soon.
Would look
nuts to most,
but knowing
what it was
like just 90
days ago and
this is
great...
6-9-2017
- It's been
two months,
time for an
update...
Not
looking to
make this
super
long.
The last time
I chimed in
was a cool two
months ago and
I have been
busy.
April and May
shot by and
now June is
halfway done
as well.
Time really
does
fly. At
the end of May
I was seven
months removed
from the
reconstruction
of the
leg. I'm
still nowhere
near 100%, but
the progress
continues.
I have been to
the ortho
since and we
decided to be
conservative
and wait for
rehab. I
am going to
see Nilesh
this week so I
expect rehab
to start next
week.
I still
have open cuts
in the back of
the leg as the
skin is dry
and stretches
when I ride my
bike (I can
ride the bike
outside, got
myself a new
Raleigh as a
survival gift)
but it's not
so bad
(especially as
I still have
parts of the
leg that are
numb ;-)
All and
all I'm in
good
shape.
Work is
decent, I am
getting back
on track with
my research
and I can bike
and
swim.
What else do
you need?
I'll add
some pictures
of the bike
and leg
later...
--
