Picto Diary - 16 August 2017 - First Day Home Recovery

Above: Bishop "works" at computer. Home. Park City, UT. 16 August 2017.

First full day of convalescence at home. Home nurse Rhonda and Physical Therapist Kathy came over to gauge me and the environment.

Decisions need to be made. Walker or crutches to the bathroom? Sit in the shower or stand? How much anti constipation medication to be taken... don't want to take so much as to "open the floodgates" at the wrong time as it were... then also, don't want to prolong the condition. Apparently, constipation is a by product of pain medication.

I was given an initial exercise regimen. Thirty ankle bends, each ankle, once an hour. This is for clot prevention. Then, various leg and glut movements to be done three hours a day.

TIMDT gives me an anti-clot shot in the abdomen every morning. Its not as bad as it sounds.

TIMDT is a trooper to help me with pee breaks. She's learning about what its like to be an old geezer with an enlarged prostate.

The main drill for both of us is getting off and back onto the bed. Ice machine needs to be detached. I now have two belts, attached to one another, to help me lift my leg down from the bed. Once I'm off the bed, I can take care of myself. I grab the crutches and make my way, unassisted, to the commode.

TIMDT worries as I try to regain my position on the bed, that I'm not back on the bed far enough when I use the belts to lift the affected right leg back onto the bad. Then, we have to get pillows for leg elevation in place and use the belts, handled by me, to fulcrum my leg on top of the pillows.

On a positive note (trying to make lemonade out of lemons) I should lose weight in this recovery process. I have an appetite, but, just because of the inconvenience of eating, and the unavailability of easily reached "bad food:" cheese, nuts etc., I'm eating a lot less.

With her increased power over my diet, TIMDT is making some inroads into having me eat better. Breakfast this AM was some grapes and a banana. For lunch, I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup brought over by FeeBee. For supper: a grilled cheese (one, I'll often eat two) and some more soup. I was fine, notwithstanding calorie intake might have been half my normal consumption.

The physical therapist, Kathy, urged me to binge watch some shows. I told her that I was the champion of binge watching. I completed watching Netflix' "Ozark" (started before the accident) last night.

"Ozark's" broad theme is family stress of otherwise "decent" people placed life threatening situation and forced to break the law (assist in money laundering scheme in this case) to extricate themselves.

The family stress meme was the central theme of "Breaking Bad" as well." Rotten Tomatoes gives "Ozark" a 65%... that's about right... its not a great series. There are too many modern cultural stereotypes interlaced.... bad rednecks, good gays... self righteously shoved into your face, so as to irritate... at least me.

"Ozark" is renewing for a second season. The reason might be the compelling performance of Jason Batman as the father who must make too many impossible compromises to keep him and his family alive. Also, the show is a visual treat showing many wonderful rural and lakeside scenes.

I've started reading Daniel Silva's new Gabriel Allon thriller, "House of Spies."

Day one gone. Not particularly fun. But,I'm filling out the hours. Regret dependency on TIMDT who has to do more than she should have to.

First post op appointment with Dr. Davis is 18th AM, Friday. I'm sure we'll learn more then.

Addendum:


Big Steve,

Sorry for the break but glad it was not your head! I wear a bracelet which says No Oxytocin, No Vicodin. No Metropol. Guess I'd have to bite down on a corn cob!

Privateer,
Hancock, ME


Hi Steve,

Wow.....11 pins! You're one tough "Big Dog" to have ridden off that mountain, grind your way through the course sand and then drive yourself to the hospital. Praying that you have a full recovery.

Sincerely,
Tim Wise,
Minneapolis, MN


Had to go back and read your post about dinging your leg. Bummer. Missed your birthday, too. Sorry. If I can offer any advice, it would be to be patient. We heal slower now than we used to.
Maybe you'll have time to read that book I recommended.

I'm pretty sure you'll like the book.
If you breeze through that one, I just finished Ice Ghosts by Paul Watson. It's about the search for the lost Franklin Expedition in the Arctic in the early 20th Century. More about the search for the ships than the long-dead expedition members, but very interesting. They just located the second ship last year. hunter

Zoo Keeper,
Williamstown, MA

Amazon confirmed shipping of the book, "Into the Silence..." yesterday.

FYI: I was prescribed oxycodone once for a knee surgery recovery. Took it once. Did not like the fuzzy feeling. Plus, it really scared me. Just saying.....

Bronx Girl, Pelham, NY

Steve,

Best wishes for quick recovery. I hope you can get the OK for skiing season.

It wasn't driver error but injury in the pursuit of excellence

Kilimanjaro, Jackson, WY

Broke Bone Banker Steve:

Yep, you're the winner, 2017 Big Dog Tough Guy award. Over time those mile tales will approach 100, and sand will turn to quick sand.
I was reminded of Big Dogs in the 90's. One Dog from Iowa or eastern Nebraska broke his clavicle, rode off the mountain, packed his bike and rode home (several hundred miles) to see his personal (and less expensive doc). Another one was in the clinic/hospital in Lake City, was told how much it was going to cost for a three night stay, and "popped off the gurney like a released cork under water," got on his BMW and rode over to Silverton and was eating his 2 inch thick steak a couple hours later when I heard the story. In my book, BMW GSing AROUND THE WORLD, so must be true, not fake, fake, fake.

Tough guys, you Big Dogs.

Me, I wimp around, like the cover photo on my book DOWN AND OUT.... that day I compound fractured my leg just above the ankle. Hopped around, took the photos (attached), waited for help, none showed, so unloaded bike, lifted it up, repacked and rode to 20-30 miles to Gallup for the night, then Cortez next day for a photo shoot (off road), then to Denver. Too cheap to go to the hospital, I re-set the MF after a 12 pack. Had an X Ray done at private contractor, front and side, and lived on borrowed pain pills with alcohol for a few weeks..... and now you know why I limp. Tough dog? Nah. Dumb dog? Nah....Big Dog with no health insurance. Now I have old guys insurance, so might do it different.

You'll be on skis in a few months. Meanwhile, your episode in the history of the Big Dogs will expand. I can almost hear it now....blood, bone through your boot, duct tape to wrap the boot and secure it to the foot peg.....plus some rain, bent handlebars and a fellow Big Dog lending you his foam mouth piece so you did not to bite through your tongue from screaming and the pain. A whopping whale of a tale.

Best, and wishes for a speedy recovery,

Dr. G
From the Big Horn Mountains, rejuvenating my mojo after:
Great Around The World Motorcycle Adventure Rally

Steve

I was sorry to hear about your fall and break. It sounds as though all went well during the operation.

I broke an ankle in 2001 and ended up with an operation to insert pins and a plate. I was on crutches for 9 weeks. I was surprised at how fast the muscles in my leg atrophied. I had lunch with one of our directors who was a doctor. She told me muscle atrophy can start as soon as 72 hours after an operation when on crutches.

I remember asking the doctor when I would be able to ski again. The operation was in February. His answer was "Chile". I asked what he meant and he said "Not before July and in Chile". I never made it to Chile but I skied the next season.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.

The Pope,
Naples, FL


Steve I was very sorry to learn about your accident. It sounds like you have had good care and the support of your family. I had two operations with Metcalf Cooley and their help was first class. I hope it will not be too long before we see you and Margaret, I think Alison and I will be in Park City early in November. Again I hope your recovery continues to go well.

El Contador,
Tavistok, UK

Good to have a companion who cares, as you know!


Sorry to hear about your broken leg, Steve.

Torquemada,
Sandy, UT

Steve – Sorry to hear about (and see the pics of) your injury. Not good timing, as I know all too well. I have not been to the bagel shop because I am on crutches as well. Tore my Achilles and had surgery, so very little mobility at the moment, and no driving. I hope you are up and around soon. Best,

Bob, Hartford, CT

Bob. Sorry to hear about your situation. Further down the road of our convalescence we'll have to meet for coffee to commiserate.

Hope you have a fast and smooth recovery!

Hand, San Jose, CA

Hope the recovery is quick and relatively pain-free.
Take care….

Rotary, Park City, UT

Get well soon. Take your time to mend properly and then the physical therapy to make sure you can do all the things you want to do including skiing, walking, hiking, and riding your motorcycle.

All the best.

Fritz,
Park City, UT


What happened? Doesn't sound like a minor accident.

Doc Doug,
Orlando, FL

Bike accident in Colorado... back country riding.  Couldn't hold balance on rocky steep.  Bike fell over on me.  Nothing more dramatic than that.

Glad you are feeling better, do you remember when I fell in the sand similar to your accident except mine was in the middle of the desert in Morocco luckily I had plenty of pain pills as there was nowhere for any medical treatment of course in those days I was used to dealing with extreme pain. Hope you heal quickly

Mr. Z3,
Ojai, CA


Hi SDT

Regrets for your accident. Sounds like the opposite of tasty! How much force does it take to bust a tibia? I’ll send a couple congressional gold metals to you for aplomb in handling, as if!! I think you said “snow corn gravel?” Maybe you got off light?

I send all positive energies to you for a speedy recovery.

Yrs,

Bean Counter, Coral Gables, FL

Any injury is inevitable when one engages in the type of activities you enjoy and we're fortunate to have great medical care. What's the adage? "what doesn't kill you.."

Ducati Steve,
Park City, UT


Ouch! Hope you recover quickly!

Archbishop,
Big Sky Montana

So sorry about the injury/repair. We know you’ll be back in (one of your saddles) soon!

Love, Energizer Bunny and Teeth, Basalt, CO

Glad this seems to be working out.

Burning Man, Reno, NV


On recent book review for "Red Notice."

Still wondering why it is undesirable to get close to Russia?

Eric,
Park City, UT

Steve,

Read this book some time ago and simply concluded that doing business in Russia made La Cosa Nostra look quite tame.

Bond,
Palm Beach, Florida


so what else is new?

Ahn Rhee,
Larkspur, CA

What else is true? I just bought it.

Joe, Sydney, OZ

Steve

Thanks for sharing book report.
I’d like to read.
The world is in troubling times.

I’m encouraged by my recent treatment program. Gaining strength and energy.
Hope you are recovering.

Look forward to catching up. Maybe a lunch sometime.
Be well,

Hollywood,
Park City, UT

Great to hear about your new treatment successes!  Thanks for your well wishes.