Halo Clinic - Week 11

The modelling gig at halo clinic went alright. I signed a photo consent, and got shot from several directions. They didn't require any of my artistic direction, nor provide any props. I still tried my best to work it.

The poor nurse was there all on her own this week, and had a lot of people to deal with. We were a bit delayed waiting for the photographer, but that gave us more time to chat with with the new fellow in clinic. He was dumped by a wave at the beach. Swimming is dangerous! If the sharks don't get you, the ocean will.

Also, who are all these people who are getting their injuries in ordinary, daily activities? Where are the foolhardy irresponsible people like myself? I swear, every time my dad hears another mundane story like car, bike, or diving accident, he thinks, My daughter, the Darwin Award Contender.

Since posting my last links roundup I have found some more facebook groups dealing with halos, and that has been great. I have had the opportunity to chat to some very nice people about their experiences. People with halos truly are angels.

But, we're almost there, guys! The days may have been long, but the weeks have flown by.  I am now in my hopefully final week. There is the possibility that the xray will show that I have to keep the brace on longer. I am trying not to think on that. I'm doing the opposite, by telling everyone everywhere that Friday is the day. Yahoo!

Halo Clinic - Week 10

One fortnight left! We are getting there! I can almost taste it. I'm getting more impatient the closer we get. Chatting to people in my clinic, the old fella is getting it off on the same day and he feels exactly the same way.

 The first things I will do:

• Have a shower
• Smash my face into a pillow
• Put a shirt over my head
• Wear a hat
• Hug everybody everywhere

Pin tightening today was fine. Only one needed to be adjusted, and it didn't hurt at all.

Also, this happened:

He's a ~lucky~ boy

Gonna practice smiling with my eyes.

Halo Clinic - Week Nine

Week nine, and we are limping towards the finish line!

This is the face I will make to whoever takes it off.

The posterior pins remain crusty with some "over-granulation". I googled that and saw the gross images so you don't have to. Normal granulation is when the wound heals properly and lovely pink tissue with new connective tissue and tiny capillaries grows over the wound. Overgrannulation is when the wound heals beyond the surface of the skin, which prevents capillaries from moving across the surface of the wound, delaying healing.

To fix it, they kill off some of the proud flesh using silver nitrate. Stings like a mofo, but only for a little while. Then it just continues to sting a moderate amount, all day long.

If the pins continue to cause trouble they ~might~ consider taking it off as of next week (10 weeks!) but I'm not going to hang my hat on it, when I can hang several hats off all these handy bars instead.

It has been quite a lovely week, with seeing a lot of friends, and I'm looking forward to a Hen's High Tea for the weekend. I feel better about attending Neil and Sarah's wedding in the halo, since I've learned the other young fellow in my halo clinic is also attending a wedding. But whereas my only responsibilities are draining the open bar dry ("Alcohol is the only thing that helps with the pain!" gets you served very quickly) and dancing the robot, he gets to fly to Tasmania and be the MC. Game, set, checkmate to Roshy.

Halo Clinic - Week Eight

The left posterior pin has broken a perfect run and lost pressure for the first time, decreasing from 8 to 5. The tightening was unusually unpleasant and has left me with a bit of a headache. However, it has answered the question of, has the screw fused with my skull? Apparently not yet.

The nurse also confirmed what everyone was wondering and said that, "The infection was deep. We were basically down to the bone". Totally unlikely, but I just can't shake the paranoia that when I lie down, the pin will puncture through some rotten skull and pop my brain. That's what I get for scholar googling "halo brace complications" and learning the phrase, "cerebrospinal fluid leakage from a halo pinhole".

Don't never trust Dr Google!

Also, I hope I'm as classy a bobblehead as Clooney when the halo comes off. We have similar haircuts.

Stay gold, George.

Halo Clinic - Week Seven

Another week done and dusted. Well and truly on the home stretch now!

Discussion of the clinic under the classic Demotivational Poster.
  

Take care on waterslides over the Australia Day long weekend, kids.

Halo clinic - Week Five

Week five has been conquered! It was a good week. I caught up with my mates for the $15 steak at The Odin and we brainstormed how I could gussy my halo up for my friend Neil's wedding in February. Other topics: Dominating the photobooth. Tearing up the dancefloor with The Robot. Charging through the crowd for the bouquet. The usual.

All of these plans come to naught because after today's halo clinic, I have a finish date, and it is six weeks away, and is the day before the wedding!

Not exactly halfway through yet, but this was too good to wait a week.

But I know-- I have only been in the halo for five weeks! And 12 weeks is the recommended period of time! To which I say: Keep your doubts to yourself, haters! I'm blowing this thing! And then I'm having a shower!

That may have been the highlight of the clinic, but plenty of things happened today!

Halo Clinic - Week Four

Officially one-third of the way through!

Halo Clinic - Week 2.5

Halo clinic came early this week! Since no one wants to be working on Boxing Day.

One of my pins is infected-- actually, the technical terms used by the medical staff were "grodey" and "squiffy". So in addition to the topical cleaner, I'm now on antibiotics. Fortunately for the holiday season, not one of the ones that interact with alcohol. However, it is one of the ones that needs to be taken on an empty stomach. Good luck with that over Christmas!

'tis the season

Halo Clinic - Week 2

Week 2 of Halo clinic is done and dusted! I am now 1/6th (16%) of the way through!

The pins are holding up nicely, although unfortunately the rear left one is being a crusty bum. The nurse kindly gave us some special solution to try and clear up any brewing infection. It's blue, so I'm pretty sure it will work.

During the past week my poles have been creaking and clicking so I have been concerned about loose pins. However at the appointment, the pins all had an adequate amount of pressure on them (ranging from 6-8 pounds) before they were tightened. Apparently the clicking is normal, and the reason they are doing it more now than they were in the first week is because I am moving around more. Makes sense.

Only 10 weeks more to go! Yahoo!

Halo Clinic - Week 1

This afternoon I attended my first halo clinic at the Outpatient clinic of the hospital.

Ortho clinic getting into the holiday spirit