It about time. I am having a hard time trying to come to terms with the movement of time recently. It’s been 2 1/2 weeks since I wacked my head on the pavement and sometimes it seems like it has been months and other times just a few days. Closing upon 3 weeks isn’t a time frame that seems correct.
Last night I set a sleep record since the injury. I slept for over 5 hours. It took me taking a valium before going to bed. I had been avoiding that. I’m not big into medicine in lots of ways and adding more medicine to the regiment I’m already on doesn’t sit that great with me. But I did sleep more than I have than the last week total, so I better just take it All this being said, I feel miserable at the present moment. I should be better within the next 30 minutes if today is the same as it has been.
It has been a great October temperature-wise. Yesterday it was pretty cool, hardly into the 60’s, but today it is supposed to be back into the 80’s again. Pretty weird weather when it is in the 80’s at the first of November. I don’t go outside that much, so am kind of just soaking it up through all the windows in the house being open. It feels great.
Trudi is from Chicago, so obviously pretty deep into the World Series. I can’t watch TV for that long, so I just kind of watch an inning or two, then rest a bit, then watch again. I don’t think the Cubs are going to win the World Series, but at least they get to play another game this week. But it is baseball, which does have quirky results many times.
I’m trying to go see a neurologist at KU med sometime today, tomorrow or as soon as possible. I don’t have an appointment until Thursday, so Kansas City is my best chance of moving that up. I need to see a doctor, so hopefully it will work out. Man, medicine is jacked up.
Just over a week until the presidential election. I’m pretty much done with it. As far as I’m concerned, our country has reached a new low for this, so the contentious selection isn’t really that surprising. It is embarrassing on multiple levels. It will get worse this week. Crazy.
Halloween is one of those holidays I try to not think about too much. When I was a kid, I loved it. Nothing like getting a stock pile of free candy. Now, our society has become so scared for our children it has really changed the make-up of the holiday.
I live is a pretty okay neighborhood in Topeka, but we don’t get many trick-or-treaters. And everyone we do get, their parents are walking with them, usually waiting at the curb. That wouldn’t have worked so well with me when I was a kid. Most of the attraction of the night was exploring the surrounding neighborhood with friends, not parents.
I wish society would understand that we really do a pretty good job of looking out for all our children and in reality, we don’t poison kids on Halloween. Halloween is really for kids, but we’ve become so continually concerned, we’ve ruined it on multiple levels. We just don’t get it.
Okay, I’m past my time limit of computer time. Wish me luck today on doctor’s visits. I think I’m going to need it. Like I said above, our medical system could use a lot of tender loving care that it’s not getting currently.
The guys at the BT Epic gave some of my local guys at t-shirt from last weekend. I missed doing that race. It is a super event. Next year.
I watched some of the London 6-day yesterday. It was pretty cool seeing my old team mate, Michael Vaartens drive the derny for Wiggins and Cavendish. They won that race, but lost the overall at the very end. I haven’t seen Michael for a long time. I need to fix that.
Tucker likes to rip up most of his toys. I gave him this frisbee yesterday. It is short for this world.
Good luck with doctors and continued recovery.
Hang in there Steve-Man! You’re one tough fellow……………… but, heal up once and heal up right!
Hoping for (better) news from the doc today/tomorrow/soon.
Fingers crossed for you Steve.
The election has me livid at this point…
As for Halloween, I grew up not too far from where you live now (near the VA) and we didn’t have too many trick-or-treaters, even 30-40 years ago. Topeka was never really a “kids’ town” though it was/is low-key enough to raise children somewhat effectively.
time heals…
taking drugs – yah, I hate taking any drugs as well… So many people are addicted to opiates now a days
Its as though some doctors are legalized drug dealers. Lots of kick backs being made on prescribing drugs I suspect…
( good ref – http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-a-new-direction-on-drugs/
“Many pain drugs are opioids, like heroin. And the number of opioid prescriptions has risen from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million today.” )
“I wish society would understand that we really do a pretty good job of looking out for all our children and in reality, we don’t poison kids on Halloween. Halloween is really for kids, but we’ve become so continually concerned, we’ve ruined it on multiple levels. We just don’t get it.”
I’ll agree, the media hypes things up big time. Sure, there are humans that want to inflict pain and destruction on others, but that’s a very very very small population. I suspect 80% of the population are good people and would go out of their way to stop something harmful or to help others…
The media likes to hype things up for that’s what sells news…
Plus, hollywood is built on fear as well – a good horror/action movie sells.
On the one hand, the media hypes the dangers of Halloween, on the other doctor’s are getting kick-backs to overprescribe narcotics. So are you a conspiracy theorist or aren’t you?
https://youtu.be/5pdPrQFjo2o
I see your progress in your writing and (I think) in your thought process. Keep at it.
Have patience Steve, it’s the toughest but best medicine. As I mentioned before, my daughter had a bad concussion from volleyball that pretty much whitewashed her junior year of high school. It’s really hard, but you need to avoid as much brain stimulation as possible so the brain can do its thing. Try telling a high school kid no computer, no music, no iPhone, no reading, no TV, avoid light and people. Like you, she hated medication because it made her feel like she was on drugs. So she pretty much went without. Melatonin helped her sleep at night. She had to relearn balance and many other things, and still is recovering in many ways 2 years later.
For you and anyone reading about your concussion, here’s an eye-opening article I wrote with a concussion expert: https://sportseventsmagazine.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/what-everyone-needs-to-know-about-concussions/
I agree with you. This post seems to be the most upbeat and positive since the accident. Steve, perhaps you may not feel that much better physically, but it seems that subconsciously you are on the mend.* Wishing you the best!
* Please note that I am not a doctor 🙂
Sounding better, but you can’t speed up time, Steve. Ask Einstein. Rest on.
Sounds like you’re on the mend….good luck with the appointments!
I remember growing up in rural Oklahoma, running from house to house with a pillow case, collecting as much candy as possible without a care in the world – and no parents monitoring what we did!
Steve,
I think you have a huge amount of support and I hope you will feel it, lean on it, and soak it in – it truly makes a difference. The fact that you are able to write the eloquent post you did proves that you have been one of the lucky ones who landed on your head and your brain is still functioning well.
Try to stay in the moment, feel the love, be grateful, and take care of yourself – whatever it means you have to do (that includes taking meds if yu need them for now)
All the best
Diane
What’s the new factor?
Sleep.
I work in the industry that supports people struggling. When I was first starting more than two decades ago, a psychiatrist I really respected said to me that the most important measurable we had was sleep. People got it, they did better, if not, they didn’t.
If the valium helps, take it for a few days. Break through the barrier and then try going without the chemical. Once you get back into the routine, better follows.
You sound better Steve. I hope you get to see the Docs at KU Med soon, good luck. My dogs have helped me through some tough days healing up from various crashes and surgeries, man’s best friend for sure. Take care, hope all goes well with the Docs.
7 years back had a rather sever TBI. 3 weeks ICU. 7 months out of work. Stormont didn’t do shit for me. They sent me home before I could walk. My right foot is still numb. I am seeing a neurologist up at KU, and an awesome orthopedic PT, as well. However, very little has changed since my initial recovery, and the team up at KU has admitted that they’re out of ideas. So, they recommended that I see Dr. Randall Benson who founded the Center for Integrated Neurology up in Novi, Michigan. Too early to tell if he will make the difference, but given my lack of physical stability and imbalance right now, i’ll try anything. This doctor uses three different types of MRIs that are much more accurate than your typical MRI. He is also praised by most everyone who has seen him. I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve been there with a traumatic brain injury, and the brain controls EVERYTHING! Period! Once your brain takes a shock, it takes time to reestablish all of the neural communications with the rest of your entire body. The best advice I can give as a survivor of a TBI is this: DO NOT RUSH ANYTHING! I know that’s frustrating, and I was not pleasant to be around for several months after my injury. I had to be physically tied to my bed in ICU to prevent me from moving. Fortunately, I don’t have any memory from 2009, so I can’t ell you from personal experience just how much of a jackass I was, but I was. Cut to the chase, your bike will always be there. Your physical abilities to ride your bike might be cut short if you preemptively cause further damage to the neural connections between your mind and your body. Ask Nathan or Bram if you doubt me. All that said, even though what I’ve offered may seem rather blunt, I am pulling for your full recovery. I wasn’t able to do that. Good decision to go to KU. Good team, and they’ll give you their best.
Celebrex does not inhibit platelet function . It’s a Cox 2 inhibitor.