3+ Months Update!

I'm Still Alive (Not kickin' but still breathin' at least)!

'pologize.  It's been pretty hectic.  I hate saying that especially after reading this NY Times Op Ed piece, but it's true.  I've been handling the prep. before my move to Portland and I've been studying for an accelerated A&P II class (8 weeks compressed into 5).  Final exams this week and then I start Physics II for Summer II.  I also shadowed Dr. Mary Surkein, D.C. in Plano.  (The Graston technique is fascinating.)  I also found an apt. that's pretty sweet with his/her saunas, heated pool, rec. room, and within walking distance of the uni.  Now I just need a roommate 'cuz they're out of 1 bedroom apts.


It's been a little more than 3 months since my achilles surgery and boy is it night and day!  I feel pretty great.  So great that I asked if I could use my Groupon for these boxing lessons I have.  He gave me that typical look of you are a complete idiot!  And then said slowly that boxing has you on your toes the entire time and it's ridiculous to even consider.  He also said that I can get my face punched in easily without boxing... I had to have a comeback, so I said, "like getting skin cancer?" (Dr. Hanssen had basal cell carcinoma).  Perhaps a low blow but we're way beyond that line by this point.  (The nicknames he's given me have gotten progressively more insulting.  It started out as "Hey Superman!" on the day of surgery.  Then "Hey cowboy!" in subsequent check-ups.   And the last few times, it's regressed to "Hey crazy!") 

Doc said I can get rid of the boot now and even go ahead and start running "in-line."  Though when I told his wife, Kelly, a physical therapist, that she gave me a look and said hold off on running for another 3 weeks hah!  I teased him saying he did really well for himself and that she's got to be half his age.


Anyways, she was a sweetheart and gave me a bunch of physical therapy exercises to do at home.  I'll share them with you below.  Oh she also said that she tried CrossFit once at CrossFit Deep Ellum and never again.  She said she discovered muscles she never knew she had and was so sore the next morning.  However, she said they kept pushing her and she finally told them that she is a therapist and KNOWS that some of these movements are NOT safe, especially since she's had knee surgery before.  I guess that was the final straw for her. 


(Disclaimer:  Do not try any of the following PT exercises without approval first from an MD or a physical therapist.  If you have just had surgery do NOT try these out as it may provoke a re-rupture.  Err on the side of caution.  That's one thing I've learned from all this mess.  Plus, don't be like me.  Support your chiropractors, physical therapists, and orthopedic surgeons!  They paid a lot for their education and training and deserve just compensation!  Being at home is one thing.  Results are much better if you get worked on by an expert.  Plus, these exercises were specifically tailored for my injury and status quo.)


Before I give you the goods.  Here's a photo of what my "wicked scar" looks like today.  It's a little bit raised but hey chicks dig scars, right?

Current scar as of July 3, 2012:

In any case, it's a helluva lot better than it looked 3 months ago!

PT Exercises to do at home (courtesy to Kelly Hanssen, PT):

1. Calf stretch 3 sets of 30 sec. reps
- leg extended out straight to stretch the gastrocnemius
- leg bent 30 degrees to stretch the soleus muscle

2. Hamstring stretch (or as Kelly wrote it "hamstretch [sic] stretch" hah)
-in 3 different directions to stretch out all three heads of the hamstring, again 3 x 30 sec.

3. Single leg balance
- eyes open: 3 x 15 sec. (or longer with improvement)
- eyes closed: 3 x 15 sec.

4. Seated calf raises 
-bearing no weight
-standing calf raises in a pool

*Self-massage the achilles tendon for 5 min. with lotion to work out the scar tissue.  (When I told the doc that it was still "lumpy" he said it'll stay that way since the suturing will never go away.  I said I thought with PT the scar tissue would fade away.  He replied, "Don't think. It's not your strong suit.")

After 3 weeks of the above, Kelly said I could try these warm-up exercises before running "in-line" as the surgeon suggested I do now...SMH.

* Single leg balance 3 x 30 sec. on a trampoline
* Jogging/prancing (alternating single legs) 3 x 30 sec.
* Standing squat to calf raise (start out in an air squat on the tramp. and come up to the balls of your feet.) 2 x 10 reps
* Squat jumps on trampoline

Then go out and jog in-line.  (He made fun of me when I didn't get what he meant by that.  He meant don't make rapid cuts, but gentle turns are OK.)

Dr. Hanssen

I wanted to get a photo with the jerk that fixed my achilles just so y'all can see his wicked scar on his face.  Only he didn't let me take a photo last time when he looked like shite.  (He held a grudge for me telling him that too.)  So Samantha took the photo and I said don't flatter yourself it's to show people your nasty scar and Kelly's eyes bugged out.  I quickly explained that he has the biggest ego in the world so you can't even give him an inch or he'll take a mile.

Next time I'm getting a photo with Kelly.  For reasons that are obvious once you see the photo.  When he said she married him for his hot body.  I said more like your money.  Then he said he has even younger girlfriends...So there you got a touch of his chauvinistic humor and megalomania. :-p

Seriously though, he's one of my favorite doctors of all time.  I almost became an orthopedic surgeon 'cuz of him.


If you're in the DFW area, especially in Plano and have an orthopedic surgery.  Definitely look him up!  The Cole Clinic.  You'll get fixed up and you'll have a big belly laugh.  All the staff are amazing too, the ladies there make up for his douchebaggery (especially Samantha and Kelly).  ;-)

Kelly is an awesome PT!  I warned her about my nasty eczema on my big toe from wearing the boot (not breathable and the neoprene just has the sweat stagnate on your skin), but she said it doesn't matter...she's used to seeing maggots and rotting wounds. ;-p

Oh and for some reason I didn't get charged anything today.  That was nice.  I guess it was just a check-up though and he didn't do anything but insult me.  However, Kelly the PT did give me a lot of great exercises to do at home.

Thank You To My Readers!

P.S.: A big shout-out and thank you to Nicole Rogers!  First, for giving me a reason to continue updating this blog after all this time.  (I probably wouldn't have even made this post if it were for your prodding.)

Secondly, for the Chipotle vouchers!  Probably my favorite fast food restaurant hands-down.  I've told people before that if I had to eat something everyday for the rest of my life, I wouldn't mind it if were Chipotle.  I went all out and got guac and steak too.  I also got to try the barbacoa for the first time and my goodness was it a revelation.  Dat sh*t is off the chain!  It blows the steak out of the water, not even a contest.  The steak is like eating sandpaper in comparison to the moist morsels of barbacoa.  Wikipedia states that barbacoa is made from "cow head."  Not sure if that's true...ignorance is bliss.  Erica told me that authentic tamales are made from pig heads (she found her grandmother cooking and she took off the lid and saw a pig snout sticking out from the giant pot and knew it was tamale night...)  I said I've never had authentic Mexican tamales then.

Day 50 Update

Life Since Da Boot

I can't believe it's been 50 days already.  I had my surgery on April 6th, so it's been nearly 2 months since then.

I've come a long way but there still a ton of hard work ahead.  I know because just from sittin' on the loo doing my numero two, I would gingerly place my injured right foot on the ground and it would feel completely foreign to me, as if that foot was not apart of my own body; almost like I'm putting my foot on a bed of prickly nails.  It's not as bad as it was when I first got my cast off though.  Back then (a few days ago), it was numb and tingly and at some points would go completely numb and would go purple from lack of circulation (not sure from what).

The rash has gotten so much better.  I think just exposing my skin to the air and sunlight has helped tremendously.  Also, a couple of days ago, I washed my leg for the first time with warm water and soap and it was f'n GLORIOUS!  I even used a loufa in the area adjacent to the wound.  I still keep that whole leg out of the dirty bath water since I don't want an infection but being able to just rinse it with running water feels f'n amazing.  What feels really great is using a cotton ball soaked in cool 70% rubbing alcohol and giving it a thorough wipe-down.  Instant itch-relief.   (Sooo much better than that nasty back scratcher I was using to get into my cast.)

I took these photos 2 days ago when that bottom scab finally came off after I took a hot bath.  With a little help from my rubbing alcohol friend, I peeled back the old bandages and then scraped carefully with my nails to remove most of the excess dead skin.  A photo speaks a thousand words, so enjoy!


Before the Scab Came Off:

Process of Peeling Off the Nastiness:

This photo was taken the following night after the previous photo. In case you were wondering, I re-bandaged the scabbed over incision and then the next night checked to see if the scab was ready to come off; and alas, it was.

It was a bit scary since when I tried this the first night I got my boot the incision had not fully closed up and as I tried to remove the bandage the wound was reopening!  I didn't want that to happen again so I was really cautious this time.  With that said, it was hella satisfying to get that black mess off of me!

Doubts & Concerns (THE FEAR)

Last night before bed I was having sort of a despair/pity party for myself wondering if I would ever be able to be a competitive athlete again.

Would I dare try olympic lifting, powerlifting, or even just deep stretching?  (After all, I was a yoga instructor for a short while in India.)  In Ashtanga Yoga during the sun salutations, especially in downward dog, both of your achilles are stretched to the limit as you strive to keep both heels firmly planted on the ground (as if you're establishing roots through the base of your heels). Just thinking about that movement scares me now and yet I loved the way that asana made me feel.

I dunno if I will be able to do that again...even if I could and would, I think there would be a nagging linger of fear or doubt in the back of my mind telling me to dial it back and not push it since I don't want a re-rupture.  That would be the worst part of all this.

Well, I can get over any mental setbacks.  I just want to make sure that I am fully healed 100% physically.

Anyways, I don't want to jump the gun.  I think with serious PT, I will be back in tip-top shape and need to just focus on the positive now.

W&W Vance Experience

Once again, I'm try and be a kind-hearted soul.  If you'e stuck around following this blog this far along, you might as well get something to smile about.  So I won't leave you with those foul, stomach-turning images.

You've already seen Weston.  Well here's Whistler (and the last photo you get to meet Max; his older brother was unfortunately killed by a motorist.)

Here are some nice photos of Fraternal Love:

Boys Will Be Boys:

Once they knew I had the camera out...let's just say boys will be boys.  I showed Whistler the photo and he said, "We're a bunch of perverts! LOL


Boys Are Fascinated by Stairs:

"Hotel Vance" is just one-story, so they were both endlessly fascinated by it.


 Weston Being A Self-Professed "Monkey."

Classic West:

Gotta love that tie-dye shirt!

Shenanigans:

This really cracked me up.  Nearly as much as when Weston accidentally bounced my lacrosse ball (used for working out the knots and balls of tension in my muscle, back when I still CrossFitted) into the friggin' toilet (what are the chances of that?)!  Thank G-d, I flushed.

(The boys are crazy but they were raised well.  I told 'em someone's gonna have to fish it out and clean it well.  Whistler scrubbed it clean and I reminded him to use soap.  That's why Whistler was talking about his hands smelling like ____.)

Max, Whistler, and me en La Villa de la Ayala-Vance.

Just for the record, my dang leg ain't actually amputated!  (I know it looks like it's just as stump.) I was just trying to get down into the shot, more or less.  I spread my crutches far apart and tried to kneel down.  Anyways, my friggin' head is chopped off but it's still a sweet shot, considering it was taken by free cell phone (that's right, I'm the last one in the free world without a smart phone).
Max is all calm and collected down there while we crowd around him trying to accomodate the real master of the house haha.

************

All these photos of family reminded me of a video I had to watch for my online defensive driving course for the speeding ticket I received*.

(*1st time I've ever gotten a speeding ticket and there were extenuating circumstances but the cop wasn't hearing it.  He was out of his patrol car and crouching in the bushes with his radar gun, like some sneaky thief.  He was positioned near the middle of a short stretch of 35 mph zone in a primarily 45 mph road.  Anyways, it's a story I don't want to get into.  I'm just glad my driving record will be pristine again after I complete this course.)

Now I don't normally like these types of videos because they can verge on being preachy or PSA-like, so I was actually starting to zone out as it was playing until about 1:30 when the dad started to give his speech on his son.

It struck a chord and I honestly found it incredibly moving.  I even found the drunk driver to be very pitiable.  I thought the letter he wrote to the victim's family was very touching and sincere.

(You may think I'm a corny sap, but give it a try, you may change your mind.)

FREEDOM!!!

Fast Healer

Got to say right off the bat how much I love The Cole Clinic (Dr. Hanssen and Samantha)!

Most people are in their cast for a minimum of 7 weeks, but I convinced my doc to let me switch from the cast straight to the boot (after just 3 or 4 weeks? in a cast) without putting my foot into neutral first WHOOOOOO!  (Last visit, he said I was to be put in another cast and my foot would gradually be moved to the neutral position.  F*ck that!)

Saved me $300 bucks and the hell of having another cast on!  I told him how I couldn't resist and for about 2 weeks now I've been jamming this unsanitary back scratcher (the sharp handle part, where something broke off of it) into my cast, which is why all the padding was gone.  When he was using the cast saw to cut off my cast it grazed against my skin and it hurt so I moved away.  He said I was acting "like a little girl," then when he took it off he saw why...the padding was gone becauseI had pushed it away unintentionally while scratching at it.  So the saw was basically cutting into my skin rather than the padding.

When it came off I thought it looked disgusting with all the red bumps.  I asked if that rash was normal and he said it was because I was "sticking random objects in there" LOL.

Now that it's off though, it feels weird.  All numb and tingling.  I felt my achilles tendon and it's like a hard knot of ropes tangled up.  Really strange...


Check Out This Disgusting Rash:

(::Dry heaves::)


He made a crack about how my dad should tell others that "I'm adopted."  Whatever.  I got him back.  I told him now that he's back in TX he's going to get FAT in 2 weeks, guaranteed!  (He lost 25 lbs in Italy because he did so much walking.)

Oh the best part?  Samantha went to talk to the doc right as he was leaving the room and she got me a deal!  They usually charge $600 for the boot, even though they purchase it themselves for $50!  Well, Samantha got it so that I would only have to pay $50 for the boot!  Amazing!

DA BOOT!

(I wanted to write "DAS BOOT," like the iconic movie, but unfortunately that means "the boat" in Deutsche...sigh...Germany lets humanity down AGAIN.  #GermanFAIL ;-P)

(Do people really pay $600 for this?!)


The doctor's fee was still around $85 or so, but seriously — not bad!

(Then again, all he did was cut off my cast peel off one of the bandages to take a look and then left me to do the dirty work.  Oh yeah and he insulted me and complimented himself on a job well done. LOL must be nice to be an orthopedic surgeon, especially with the mark-up for boots from $50 to $600 haha.  Seriously though, I love these guys.  I can't take being around people who don't have a sense or humor.)

I gave Sam a big bear hug and said she's like my "God mom."  She said she's been "taking care of me for so many weeks" that she might as well be!  The doc overheard and felt left out I guess and said, "What am I? Just your fat skinny doctor?"  I didn't even get what he was saying at first...it's because I told him he lost a lot of weight on his trip.  He said, "In a few more weeks, I'm going to look just like Brad Pitt" while rubbing his sides.  I told him he's going to be fat, but you already heard that part.

So I went home to scratch and then clean up my leg with tons of witch hazel and rubbing alcohol!  Oh God, it felt damnnn gooood.


Before Cleaning-Up (Warning, Not For Those With Sensitive Stomachs):

After A Thorough Wipe-down (Up Close & Personal):

Super Macro setting on the digital camera.  The wound looks SO MUCH better than before (look at the image above and then look below).  All that dead skin has been wiped off, more or less (hence the different skin tone, plus lighting).  That black gunk is congealed, old blood.


All Clean & Bandaged Up!

I cleaned up the wound and put the bandages on myself!  (Why did I pay the doc again?)

Check out that beautiful, meticulous work of mine.


2 Months' Atrophy!

Here you can see how much my right calf has atrophied in just shy of 2 months!  Terrible, just terrible...

Can you see the difference?  Can you spot which leg has atrophied?  It's easy for me.  Here's a clue:  the injured one has a rash on it and has bandages...

T-Nasty Came Bearing Gifts! (Pork Rinds & Cute Minors!)

I decided to be nice and not leave you with a bunch of disgusting crusty, hairy, bloody feet pics 'cuz I know not everyone is into that scheiße...

So for you pedophiles and gluttons out there (just kidding!)... T-nasty was in the neighborhood and came bringing heart-clogging fried pig fat and a talkative 4-year old by the name of Weston!  Mis padres got a kick out of Weston 'cuz he kept asking a lot of questions and was really assertive, which is why I call him "little man."


W Is Easily Amused

I swear that's not a sex toy.  It's for pumping air into balloons or sumpin'.

Fried Pork Fat (Chicarrones):  Snack of Champions!

Believe it or not, I have NEVER tried pork rinds before!  This will be quite a culinary and cultural experience for me, I'm sure.  I'll blog about it afterwards LOL.

For inquiring minds:  the shirt reads, I MOUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION.

Time To Get Ya Learn On, Yo!

I came across this article the other day and thought, wow what a coincidence!

The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the body, a cord that attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus), dictating every interaction with the ground. Over the past few years, we have seen some of the greatest athletes suffer tears in this region, a very painful rupture that generally requires surgery and months of sport absence.

Read the full article at the blog, Sparta Point.

Day 35 Update

New Swag

My orthopedic surgeon just got back from his Italy/France trip and I paid the office a visit to get a prescription/note for a disabled parking placard.  I should have gotten this a LONG time ago!!

Tina drove me to the tax office and there was a long line.  I decided to ask the teller next to me after waiting in line for awhile and was told I could just go to the handicapped line (there was no line).  When she saw me, she said that if someone saw me with crutches waiting in line she would have gotten in trouble so thank goodness I got out of line and found her.  What a sweet lady.

The placard cost $5 and with the prescription from the doctor I didn't need to get the form notarized.  She told me that these parking placards are hot commodities ("high theft items"), so I should hide it when I get valet parking or go to a car wash, etc.  Sheesh.


Doin' Work

I'm so relieved that I finally got both my Parker College and University of Western States applications sent out.  The UWS one took literally 4 hours for me to do in one sitting because of all the essays!  I'm really anal when it comes to application essays, so I proofread it and revised it multiple times.  I'm just glad that's over with.  I also got my letters of recommendations in order, so now it's time to play the waiting game.

Now I need to seriously hunker down and study like mad for the comprehensive ACS Organic Chemistry Final! I'm pretty confident on Orgo I material; it's the Orgo II material that scares me.  I also need to review O Chem I stuff.  I think if I can at least get all the O Chem I stuff right, I'll be OK.  The professor says people usually fail the ACS final SO BAD that it's necessary for him to curve it (and he never curves tests).  Great...
Frankly, I'm pretty overwhelmed by the amount of information we have covered and now will be tested on.  I guess like everything, ya just gotta take a deep breath and start somewhere.  Rome wasn't built in a day and all that jazz.  Just start tackling it one topic at a time.  I think as long as I can differentiate between which reagents oxidize and which reduce, then I should be aite.

Oh and I thought I was done with Guitar I after that concert, but no, we have a final exam as well.  And it's going to cover all 6 strings, chromatic notes (sight reading and playing), chords, arpeggios, and a song we just learned called "Mountain Men;" it has a lot of chromatic notes on the 6th & 5th strings.  It's a good song for the final because it involves all the strings actually (1 - 6).

We just learned how to do bar chords and the chords that use that, like d minor 7 and F major, along with all the others, will be tested too.  Memorization is something I've always had trouble with.  =/

How's Da Foot?

Still in a cast...which is getting mighty grimy at this point.  It's been more than a month since I've washed this leg at all.  It's getting really itchy under the cast, especially with the weather getting really hot and muggy.  I've been lazy and been putting the cast on the ground now and then too, so it's also getting dirty.  At least it'll be coming off in 2 weeks.

In the meantime, here are some photos of this cast that's been written on by Weston (precocious 4 year old, Tina's son), Tina aka T-nasty, Samantha (nurse), and Sheila (receptionist).

"L Foot First," "Get well soon!"

I'll let you take a wild guess at who wrote that giant scribble.  It made my mom laugh, a lot.  It's supposed to be "WESTON," I think?  

The real funny thing is in the image below though...

So this precocious 4 year old started drawing a circle with his silver Sharpie at first and his mum, Tina, said oh he's drawing a smiley face! Then he started fiercely mashing the Sharpie down the center bisecting the circle and I said, "Oh my....that ain't no smiley face!"

It's hard to see in the low light and with the silver Sharpie but let's just say that kids grow up fast these days!!  LOL.

I'm not flexible enough to take a photo of Tina's signature on my heel (and I think there are enough photos of my ugly cast already) but it states, "T-nasty was here!" It's all smudged and dirty looking now anyways.


Keep the Faith

Screw what the doctors, the experts, and all those fancy specialistis with appellations and suffixes to their names tell you.  They make a living out of making you feel small.  Have faith in yourself and your body's ability to heal itself.  Watch this man's remarkable transformation from obese paraplegic to conditioned athlete.

Arthur Boorman was a disabled Gulf War veteran, who injured his knees and back from paratrooping and thought his life as he knew it was over.  Then he took his life into his own hands and starting being proactive.  He started doing yoga even though he had to wear knee braces and was falling over while doing it.

My mind tells me to give up, but my heart won't let me.

-Lao Zi

In 10 months, he lost 140 lbs.  

Thanks to Serdar for posting this on Facebook.  When I watched this last night there was only around 4,000 views.  This morning, I saw the video shared on FB by a few of my FB buddies and the count was up to 200,000.  Now it's 409,000!  It's spreading like wildfire.

(It's always nice when something uplifting and inspiring like this becomes viral rather than a video of some douchebag getting kicked in the nuts... It'll probably be put on Reddit soon, if it's not there already.)

I don't have "Shazam" because I don't have a smart phone.  Can someone tell me who sings this moving version of "Fix You" by Coldplay?


Butt Stop

Oh yeah and I guess I might as well put up my ugly mug up now.  This was taken by T-nasty outside of the tax office right after I got my disabled parking placard.  I love funny signs, and Tina has a smartphone so BAM!  Kodak moment.

It was my first time using Instagram (changing a filter on a photo is the most photo-editing I've ever done in my life):

Wear it like Armor

So recently my mom's taken a liking to calling me "cripple" or "gimp," roughly translated.  ("Bai ka" in Taiwanese; there's no characters for it because the dialect has no written script, only a spoken language.)

Well as Tyrion Lannister says in Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin:

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.

I'm going to wear my "gimp" label like a badge of honor!


.... or as Jay-Z would say, "If ya feelin' like a pimp, nigga, go and brush ya shoulders off."

Take the Good with the Bad

First the Good News...

I've finally had some time to wind down and enjoy myself a little.

After the guitar concert, it was past 9:30 PM, so I was starvin'.
We went to Denny's for a late night feast. I had blueberry pancakes w/ white chocolate chips, a strawberry milkshake, eggs, hash-browns, sausage links, amazing pot roast w/ mashed potatoes drenched in gravy, & chorizo sausage.

Then yesterday, my friend was in town from the Caribbean so we went out to Chuy's and got fully loaded nachos w/ pulled pork, salsa, y queso (all you can eat, self-serve!) Comida deluxe, hatch chicken enchiladas, chalupas, etc. Frozen margaritas w/ tequila + a shot of Grand Mariner – great combo. (I love happy hour!)

The guitar concert went really well too!  Even though about 1/5 of our Guitar I class didn't show up, those that did didn't mess up too badly.  Watch the awkward footage below.  I'm in the back row with the white cast on my foot, nearly knocked over a guitar propped up on my way off the stage (I don't even know why it was there, nobody used it throughout the entire concert...probably just to vex the one cripple, that was me).

I mis-played one wrong note B instead of G, I think, but apparently nobody noticed.  My mom said she only noticed mistakes (in other performances) when it was obvious; for instance, she said in another performance (Guitar II) this girl would mess up frequently and then giggle to herself.



This is the level of classical guitar proficiency is what I aspire to attain one day!  Really cool guitar trio inspired by the French book, Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint Exupéry:



This was the last song played (I believe by the Guitar IV class.  Who said community college didn't have amazing music programs?!).

El Cachimbo (a Chilean folk song):




Now for the Bad News...

Now it's time to cram for finals, write my reports, and start on my application essays...oh boy!

Even worse, I went to the dentist on Friday (it's been a year since I've been) and found out I have cavities and need 2 fillings!  She even said I need to start flossing since I have some bone loss (holy crap!)  That really opened my eyes.  I'm flossing everyday from now on.  The dental hygienist and dentist suggested I get Invisalign for the bottom row of teeth which aren't perfectly straight.  However, when they sent the receptionist over she said I would need both the top and bottom done since it might affect my bite if I only get the bottom row done.  Oh I forgot, they also said I grind my teeth and need to get a custom night-guard!  Yeah dental work costs a fortune in the states.  (Yay, more exorbitant medical bills!)

I'm probably just going to get the filling done somewhere else.  When I asked for them to e-mail the X-rays to me they said I need to pay $25 for that...to obtain my own X-rays, which I already paid for.  It's not surprising that the dentist there owns a Rolex watch, manicured nails, and has done extensive cosmetic surgery on her face.  I could tell she's had collagen injections in her lips and botox (her face barely moved when she talked) and probably an eye lift before the dental hygenist even told me!  When she told me I said I'm not surprised.  Apparently, the dentist has been on TV a lot apparently.  She's also Persian but her hair was nearly platinum blonde with streaks, coiffed up high (it looks weird when your eyebrows are jet black but your hair is platinum blonde).

**UPDATE (5/1/2012):  I have no cavities at all.  There's no need for any dental fillings.  I have never gotten a dental filling in my life and I plan to keep it that way!  I also do NOT have bone loss.  Another dentist looked at my X-rays and says the bone level is more than good and she drew where older patients bones would show up usually.  I'm also not getting a night-guard because that was just a phase and I haven't have an issue with grinding teeth in years.


The one good thing that came out of this is that I learned to always seek a second opinion. Also, this close call made me realize the importance of flossing (I never used to floss before).  


Enough about your Dental Issues, What About Your Dang Foot?

Not much news now.  My doc is still vacationing in Italy and France.  I was supposed to meet him on the 8th of May but then I realized that's the day before my ACS comprehensive Organic Chemistry (I and II) final exam!  So I rescheduled and I'm seeing him on the 13th now.  I'm getting my cast changed then.  I'm going to ask how long I have to wear the NEW cast for and when I can start wearing a boot.  Most importantly, I'd like to know when I can start physical therapy.

Day 26 Update: Hurt Friends, PT, New Fund Amount, & Plants Attack!

Just Scroll Down to the End...

If you don't want to read my babble about inane, random topics.  This is the first breather I've had in awhile so I was indulgent and pontificated more than usual about myriad subject matter.


Orgo II was Hell Today

I bombed my Orgo II test today.  I blanked on malonic ester and acetoacetic ester syntheses!  I also forgot what potassium permanganate does.

The lecture after the test and recitation went by so slowly, it was like Chinese water torture.

The good news, was that today was the last day of Orgo lab!


The CrossFit Casualties Keep Mounting!

(Disclaimer:  CrossFit was a hobby turned obsession for me and I have a lingering suspicious that I'll go crawling back to it when I'm healed, so I have nothing against it personally but I find it disturbing how many of my friends this past month have been seriously injured either directly or indirectly from the sport and it cannot be denied, even by the most diehard CrossFitter that there seems to be a connection, however tenuous.

I also want to add and give props to my local affiliate for taking a step in the right direction.  .380 has voluntarily opted to take down the clock and chalk to de-emphasize the competition and intensity over proper form and safety.  I'm confident in saying that if you practice CrossFit just for fitness and not to compete, then you most likely will NOT get injured, but if you want to excel on a competitive level then it's my humble opinion that SERIOUS injuries, as in probably requiring orthopedic surgery, are likely at some point in your athletic career.)


Today I found out that the owner of the CrossFit box I used to attend, Dave M., has a ruptured bursa sac in his elbow! It's also infected and they think it might be staph or MRSA.  Now I don't know if this injury was due to BJJ or CrossFit (maybe a little of both) though he did say in his FB status update that he felt off during the WOD this morning and then wound up in the orthopedic surgeon later getting his sac drained off.

Turns out Dave also has been getting spinal injections...sounds familiar with what Carolyn H. had been doing prior to her lumbar surgery.

Oh and I forgot to mention in my last post that Chad D. got injured during the CrossFit Open Games last year as well.  He was doing overhead squats in Open WOD 3, I believe, and wound up pinching a nerve in his neck.  He said he was out of commission for months and every time his blood pressure elevated for any reason he would get blinding migraines.  On top of that his wife, Kamwin D., had a hernia, I suppose from weightlifting.  Then, she also had back surgery a few months ago before Chad's freak car crash accident.  (The CrossFit celebrity, Bob Harper, even had a shout-out in a short video for Chad to get better.)

Chris H., Carolyn H., Tina V*., Jake W., Kamwin D., Chad D., Dave M., Brista M., and your's truly.

Hate to say it but...WHO'S NEXT?  0_0

(*Good news is that Tina was told by her chiropractor that she won't need surgery and she doesn't have a bulging disc in her cervical vertebrae.  She just needs to rest.  I'm skeptical because I was told comforting words by a chiropractor initially too.  However, not every case is the same.)

I think people easily brush off these injuries as just a sign of getting old or bad luck...however I know plenty of "old folks," who don't have any health ailments and every action has a consequence.  I think you can only get away with punishing your body for so long until it starts to push back (Newton's Third Law.)


Watch out for Poison Ivy, Y'all!

This is totally random but my friend Stacey H. got poison ivy on her face and hands and has pustules and contact dermatitis on her face from the urushiol oil.  I've always lived in the 'burbs so I know close to nothing about Poison Ivy or sumac.

(So apparently the cut-off time for this is 10 minutes tops.  After that and the nasty urushiol oil has already absorbed into your skin signaling your immune system to attack the affected epidermal cells!

"Before Urushiol has been absorbed by the skin it can be removed with water. However, time is of great importance as 50% of urushiol is absorbed in 10min. Once Urushiol has penetrated into the skin, attempting to remove with water is inefficient. Once urushiol has been absorbed by the skin it is recognized by dendritic cells called langerhans cells that are part of the immune system, these cells then migrate to lymph nodes where they present the urushiol to T-lymphocytes and thus recruit them to the skin, once in the skin the T-lymphocytes cause pathology by producing cytokines and cytotoxic damage to the skin.")

This website is a wealth of information though.

This made me LOL:  "Note that all parts of the vine contain urushiol, including the hairs. Using a chain saw to cut down such a tree produces flying poisonous sawdust."

I'm surprised terrorists haven't synthesized urushiol oil and used it as a biological/chemical weapon hah.

The most insidious part of this is that besides the first image (on that website linked above), the rest look like innocuous, run of the mill weeds in your yard.  I wouldn't think twice about mowing that down with a lawn mower and then getting urushiol oil bukkake'd all over my exposed legs or whatever.

Ah well, I guess I'm not going into the country anytime soon.

Mosquitoes, poison ivy, chiggers, mites, black widows — these are a few of my least favorite things...

Oh yeah and this sneaky f*cker won't even stay the same.  Apparently as the seasons change, poison ivy does too, and not just in color but also in form:

"At this time of year, looking for three leaves will not work. The green lines indicate where two leaves have already fallen off. The asymmetric leaf shape and the color pattern are the best keys in autumn."

So for those who forget that plants are living organisms.  Realize that they too want to live as much as any other animal life form, like us.  They also have defense mechanisms to fend off predators, who view them as food.  We tend to forget this reigning complacently at the top of the food chain.

I'm not just talking about the popularly known ones like the venus flytrap or other plants that consume insects.  There's also the cassava (yucca or manioc) root, which naturally contains high level of cyanide.

From Wikipedia:  "It must be properly prepared before consumption. Improper preparation of cassava can leave enough residual cyanide to cause acute cyanide intoxication and goiters, and may even cause ataxia or partial paralysis.  Nevertheless, farmers often prefer the bitter varieties because they deter pests, animals, and thieves."

It's also well-known that many mushrooms are poisonous and contain mycotoxins that can cause convulsions, hallucinations, abdominal cramping, coma, and even death.

So next time you dig into that healthful salad, give thanks for your green friends your consuming and hope they aren't poisoning you.  I'm sure they're working on it though. ;-)  Food for thought.


The Facts & Figures


*Fund Amount (as of 10:20 PM, 4/25/12):  $2,322.77

(*Once again, this amount reflects the PayPal account money including $ already spent on surgery and fees, but excluding checks sent in the mail.)

Updated Contributors List!


Cream O' the Crop

Jorge Salhuana
David Wu
Alvin Lin
Niven Hsu
Ted Glomski
Alex Holliday
Kyuha Lee
Siby Spurgeon
Jonathan Ko

Uber-Generous Group

Jessica Wang
James Ash
Molly Wang
James Haver
Chase Park
Tina Ayala-Vance
Shawn & Stacey Hiller
Pearl Chang
Valerie Easterling
Kim Palumbarit


Gonna Get My PT On Thanks to Y'all!

You guys are amazing.  I was going to just YouTube physical therapy after I get my cast off but now maybe I can actually afford an actual PT when this is all said and done! ;-p

Day 23 Update

It's been so long since I've updated that I think I've forgotten how to do this...


What I've Been Doing...

I've been pretty absorbed in practicing the three songs for my solo guitar test on Tuesday.  I got an extension but the downside to this is that I have to play individually!  Everyone else played as a group last Thursday.

I've been practicing "Killian's Ground," "Impressions," and "Guadarme Las Vacas."  These songs only involve the 1st through the 4th strings and for "Killians" we first do tempora, then root strum, and finally play the melody twice through.  For "Impressions," I'm playing the melody while others are playing the easier (repetitive) arpeggios.  For "Guadarme Las Vacas," we will play the chords first for some measures, then continue on with the melody.  (I probably misspelled all those classical guitar techniques.)

For the most part, I've gotten this down pat except I'm afraid I'm not changing the chords fast enough for the root strum, especially when changing from A to D and then immediately to e.

Oh yeah and as for the science classes that count, I have finals just around the bend.  Meh.


E'rrbody's Gettin' Surgery!

Seriously, I don't know WTF is going on lately but it seems like every CrossFitter I know has encountered some horrible random-ass calamity or requires some type of orthopedic surgery due to insane training.

Jake, a crossfit trainer at an affiliate in Plano, tore his bicep and has bone spurs and requires surgery.  He told me it was probably due to lots of "overhead movements" but primarily due to carrying Atlas stones, but that was way back in December during a local CrossFit competition.  (I had suspected that it was due to tons of snatches (I know that sounds wrong) or butterfly pull-ups or curls?)  The problem is that he's a past addict and cannot take any painkillers, so I really don't know how he's going to be able to handle that post-surgery pain.  I think he's really underestimating how much it's going to hurt.  And keeping your arm completely immobilized is not easy!  So any slight movement is going to send waves of intense pain through his body.  I suggested just getting piss-ass-stupidly drunk off his poison of choice but he says he's given up alcohol as well.  I told him that we all need our vices and he's too young to be a saint already!

Anyways, Carolyn, someone who has been certified in level 1 CrossFit, is also going to need surgery.  Her's is on her spine though!  She says her doctor is very good though.  He better be, since one little slip or nick at one of those hundreds of thousands of nerves running through your spinal cord and you're paralyzed for life.  (I can't imagine being that surgeon having that amount of mind-numbing pressure; I don't know if I would be able to do it.  Surgeons are amazing people, truly.  And spinal surgeons even more so.)  She has 3 bulging discs in her lumbar region.  It happened many years ago during US Air Force training and a fully grown man fell over a 15 ft wall and landed right on her neck.  She's been scaling her WODs but I can't imagine not treating something for that long.  She said she's been having injections in her back but now the pain is unbearable.

I've mentioned this before but Chad, my CrossFit evening trainer at the local CF box I used to attend, was in a freak car crash.  Apparently, he was at a stop sign when someone slammed into him from behind and pushed his car out front and then some other car slammed into him from the side.  His car was totalled and had to be cut into and he was medi-flighted out to a hospital, where he was in the neurological ICU.  Like Carolyn, he's also an Air Force veteran.  However, his wife and her friends have been organizing fundraising events and is even selling his Harley Davidson bike for at least 11 grand, so the medical bills MUST be high.  If our nation can't even take care of its veterans anymore, it's a sad day in 'merica.  (Update 12:30 AM, I found out through Facebook that the car wash fundraiser / auction event was wildly successful and they managed to raise more than $20,000!  That's amazing.)

Then there's Chris, who I used to CrossFit with.  He got surgery on his rotator cuff around a month ago and is still doing physical therapy now.  I saw a photo of him and his face looks rather gaunt.  We were both trying to gain weight prior to all this.  I was doing the GOMAD protocol and he was using a traditional weight gainer supplement.  I think we both were making good progress but that's all been for naught with the injury and subsequent surgery and inactivity.

Now there's Tina.  I used to CrossFit with her at another local CrossFit affiliate in TX.  She had been complaining of shoulder issues for a very long time but now it's her neck that's giving her issues.  She had borrowed someone else's muscle relaxers medication (I advised against it) but it's been giving her gastrointestinal discomfort.  She hopes that she won't require surgery.  She's been hitting the WODs really hard as of late.

For older surgeries, there's Brista, who made it to the Crossfit Regional competition last year and this year.  She had surgery on her shoulder last year.  Not to be left out, her husband, Jonathan, had a box jump incident (not as bad as mine) where he went to the ER for stitches.


I'm Not Invincible After All

All this is hammering home the ominous message my orthopedic surgeon told me about how doing exercises similar to CrossFit is just asking for future surgeries.  I'm not sure I've sworn off all such exercise entirely (because I'm a dumbass) but I've definitely decided I'm no longer INVINCIBLE and I need to be more cautious and smart when it comes to exercise.  I've treated my body like I'll never get hurt for too long.  I used to do back handsprings in the yard where I landed hard on the side of my neck and not even thought too much about it.  Those days are over.


Vicodin Depletes Your Liver's Glutathione Stores!

I was reading more about the side effects of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen (5/500 mg) the other day and realized that it's not just constipation I should be worried about! LOL

Apparently, acetaminophen (aka Tylenol or Paracetamol for international readers) also depletes your body of its most important endogenous antioxidant — glutathione!
(Well, it actually recycles other antioxidants, but it's known as the "mother of all antioxidants.")

According to Wikipedia, acetaminophen is added with hydrocodone to help with analgesic effects but also to discourage additive behaviors because it can lead to fatal liver toxicity!  Maybe it's just me, but I think they are better ways to discourage "recreational drug use" besides killing someone through liver failure!

From Drugs.com, under the "Hepatic" subtitle :

"Alcoholic patients may develop hepatotoxicity after even modest doses of acetaminophen. In healthy patients, approximately 15 grams of acetaminophen is necessary to deplete liver glutathione stores by 70% in a 70 kg person. However, hepatotoxicity has been reported following smaller doses. Glutathione concentrations may be repleted by the antidote N-acetylcysteine. One case report has suggested that hypothermia may also be beneficial in decreasing liver damage during overdose."


Chicken Legs

It's also rather frightening to see how fast muscle atrophies.  I can visibly see the dramatic difference between my right thigh and left thigh now.  Both legs have lost a lot of mass but my right leg looks so emaciated, like an AIDs victim's leg...well not really but nearly.


On to Biznass...


To my surprise, people are still donating to the fund!  THANK YOU SO MUCH, Y'ALL!  Because honestly, even though the surgery is over, follow-up visits are still breaking the bank!

Just last week I had a short follow-up visit with the doc, where he took out some staples and put on a cast and bam!  That was $300.  I, then had to plead for a discount, and like 25 minutes later it was reduced I think $15 bucks or so.  Barely even worth it.

Meanwhile, my doc is going on a vacation to Italy and the French riviera.  Then when he comes back I'm going to have to change my cast again in order to change the angle of my foot.  This means a new cast and I'm assuming another $300 bucks spent! Lucky me!

Then, eventually I'll have to get a boot.  Maybe I'll just tell them I'll buy one off e-bay LOL.

After all that, I don't have any idea how much physical therapy sessions will cost without insurance.


The New Cast!

I'm really glad my leg is metal-free now and while my leg feels like it's 10-15 lbs heavier, any progress is welcome.


The Figures!


Expenses So Far*:  $3,685.00

The Breakdown: Faith Surgical Center Fees: $2,000
Surgeon's Fee (with the 30% discount): $878.00
Anesthesiologist Fee: $250.00
Orthopedic Consultation Fee: $125.00
Previous Ortho. Office Visit: $78.00
Crutches: $32.00
Prescription Meds: $22.00
Dr.'s Follow-up Visit (staples removal & cast):  $300.00 

(*Not including the next follow-up on May 8th and then the future physical therapy sessions.)

Current Fund Amount*:  $2,278.88

(* Amount including the money spent for surgery and follow-up visits so far but excluding the checks received in the mail from family friends.  I'm keeping track since PayPal displays all transactions made in the account.)

I am thrilled at breaking that 2 grand barrier!  It's been sub-2 grand for a very long time.


Updated (4/22/12, 9:30 PM) Contributors' List

List of Cream of the Crop Top Contributors (Triple Digit Donations): 

Jorge Salhuana
David Wu
Ted Glomski
Alexander Holliday
Alvin Lin
Siby Spurgeon
Kyuha Lee
Jonathan Ko
Niven Hsu

Extremely Generous Contributors (very close to the cream of the crop): 

Jessica Wang
Shawn & Stacey Hiller
Valerie Easterling
Molly Wang
Christina Ayala-Vance
Chase Park
James Haver
Kim Palumbarit
Pearl Chang

Once again, if you don't see your name here yet.  Don't fret.  I will soon put up a comprehensive list (unless you object) without these categories.  I also appreciate all those who helped me out in non-monetary ways.


Can't Thank Y'all Enough

I am so grateful for my generous friends.  When Ted Glomski suggested I set up this fundraiser online using PayPal, I told him that I'm not going to be able to raise even $100 dollars.  Little did I know that in a week I would get more than $1500 and even though it's slowed dramatically in a few more weeks after that, I've garnered more than 2 grand now.  I'm amazed by everyone's out-pouring of kindness for their fellow human being.