Y Halo There

Well my victory post didn't make it up, thanks Blogger app on the iphone.

I'm happy to report that I'm free!

Can't wipe the smile off my dial.

It was a whirlwind day in the end. I rocked up for my last halo clinic early to get the x-ray done, and just as well because an hour later, the line for x-rays was out the door. I think it was Bone Clinic Day because there were just casts and braces everywherrrrrre.

My xray was sent to the doctor who must have seen them, because the word came down that I could have the halo off! Unfortunately I didn't get to see him so didn't get to ask fundamental questions like, "What do I do now?"

Fortunately the halo clinic staff had done this all before, and they whipped it off faster than I could say, "I need this on me another day like I need a hole in the head." It was super-easy. One of the ladies held my head while everyone else unscrewed me. I was expecting a magnitude of pain like I had on the application, but it wasn't even a twinge on the scale of having the screws tightened. It was great.

The only instruction I really received was, "Wear the soft collar on and off, and don't try to move your neck for a month". I'm not forcing things, but I'm pleased to say that I can now nod yes and shake my head no, and these are very exciting actions after three months of doing it all with my waist! The Aspen collar is not the most comfortable thing, but definitely better than the halo.

My neck is still extremely stiff and painful in the morning but limbers up during the day-- to a degree. The thing it probably feels the most like is DOMS-- fine until you try to move it. The bobble-head action never really came, about to everybody's disappointment. I still can't drive for another month which is a bit annoying, but again-- life is still better than with the halo!

In all honesty, the three months with the halo wasn't too bad and I can attribute that to a super support network. I'm not allowed to use the "but I have a broken back" excuse anymore but think I'll be able to get a bit of mileage with "my neck is really sore!". I had a lecture this afternoon that I was late to, and the lecturer, spying my neck brace, gave me a very sympathetic look instead of a dirty one. So I might keep this on for a while.

Needless to say, the first shower was THE BEST THING EVER. I will never pass up a chance to have a shower again. The holes in my head have sealed up and scabbed up already, and aren't too noticable on my forehead (I personally think so, anyway). The first lie-down was also amazing, but I have forgotten exactly where the pillow goes on the body, so it's fun re-educating myself about that. And it is also really nice to hug people without having to warn them to watch out.

Spaceman

Hopefully my last night of sleeping with my head hovering in space. Can't believe it took 3 months to remember to take a picture answering that question, "But how do you sleep?"
(According to my Fitbit, really well.)

Don't mind me, just hanging out.

Tomorrrow, tomorrow, I'll lose ya, tomorrow! It's only a day awayyyyy.

Tomorrow is the day! I have my xray and my doctor consultation, and all going well, the halo should come off. I was talking to my sister on the phone yesterday and mentioned this to her, and she called me out about not sounding more excited. Apparently it's not enough to say, "Yeah I'm excited."?

I'm excited. I'm excited in a mediated way where I am looking forward to it, but because life in a halo hasn't been hellish, I'm not hanging out for it in the way that I might otherwise. Sorry I'm so well-adjusted?

People assume that it's awful, and tell me to my face that they could never have done it. To which I respond that if it happens to you, you just get on with it. Life as you know it hasn't ended. It's just been put on pause.

Of course I can put a lot of it down to the fact that as halo injuries go, mine is the most minor that I have ever come across (and I am really good at google). No spinal cord damage. No neck vertebrae were implicated in the injury. No injury or pain to any other part of my body. I got off easy!

Still, I am excited to get this thing off tomorrow. I am looking forward to taking it off like you do a bra at the end of a very long day. I know that the removal itself will be painful, and there will be some pain afterwards because of the muscle inactivity; not to mention the ligament damage and disc protrusion that happened at the time of the injury (don't think that shows up on an xray so who knows what's going on there). And I've still got at least a month of the neck brace. It's not over when it's over. There are some of the factors moderating my excitement.

Tomorrow is marked in my calendar as "This will be a good day". I'm looking forward to it.

Hello Halo Oh Hell Naw.

I'm sure that most people with external brace kinks are lovely people, and their harmless fetish is just one small aspect of their rich and varied lives. I do not think these people are creepy. Although they have a relatively rare preference, it's not like they chose it out of a catalogue. Your preferences are largely something you aren't in control of.

As grown-ass adults though, your behaviour is certainly something you are in control of. Pretending to be a spinal fracture patient in order to hear the minutiae of living with a halo brace, is super creepy. And aggravating too, because the goodwill that I have wasted on you, has been taken from someone in the future who is genuinely hurting, afraid, and lonely.

I'm sorry to people with a halo brace who try to friend me on facebook in the future, that I will now hold you to higher standards of evidence than I might have before. I would recommend that you do the same thing. Because....

Prism Glasses

How's the view up my nose?

Royal Perth Hospital lent me some prism glasses while I was a patient. They were an absolute lifesaver. Without them my only view would have been of the water stain on the ceiling which looked like someone pulling the finger. As if being in hospital wasn't insult enough.

They wouldn't let me take them home, though. Something about that being their only pair, with a cost of  $180, and wasn't it enough that they were lending me a stick with a hook on it and the high-back chair which eventually became my clothing storage system? They are a public hospital after all.

 Well about a month ago, I found "Bed Prism Spectacles Horizontal Lazy Glasses For Reading and Watching TV" listed on ebay for $7.58 and free postage. They arrived on the weekend and I have to say, I'm was really surprised with the quality.

The glasses are made out of black matte plastic, and they feel sturdy. The mirrors are the important thing. They are well aligned with eachother so that viewing something in your lap doesn't strain your eyes. There is a bit of a gap in the middle where the mirrors obviously don't meet, but it's probably as distracting as your nose is at that distance. Holding things closer to your face makes it more obvious, but that's using them incorrectly so the failure is entirely your fault. The angle of reflection isn't adjustable, and the glasses are quite front-heavy so they fall down your nose, which means that you have to look more down than straight ahead. That's a minor quibble though, given that they cost $8.
 
I'm thinking of ordering a few more pairs to donate back to Royal Perth Hospital. Right after I finish off paying the bill for the MRI.

Wedding Fun

Congratulations to Neil and Sarah. Wishing them a very happy future together!!

Had a great time at the wedding. Don't think anyone noticed the halo at all.

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!