The actual fitting of the brace wasn't that bad. I know it looks like it must have been horrific but really they simply put local anaesthetic into the sites where the pins will sit and screw it in place, then roll you over and put the back ones in.
Mine was fitted at about 8pm (after I had to wait for an MRI scan, the worst part of the whole process being in that machine!) and I was drugged pretty well so I slept quiet well that night. It was the next morning that my predicament became a little clearer. I was told that after 3 days lying flat out I was going to feel pretty dizzy when I finally started to sit up. I thought that was silly, but yes they where inevitable right and I felt very "at sea" for about 5 days although I have since been told that I could up most of that down to concussion, for some reason I seem to focus on the neck bit I keep forgetting that I also took a pretty good tumble from a horse.
I was told at the hospital (Hope) that I wouldn't be able to shower for the time I had the brace fitted and that I would have to "make do' with a flannel.... I was then infored that I wouldn't be able to wash my hair either. I tried explaining that I appeared to have a large mass of dried blood which was my hair but it was only when one of the sisters took pity on me that I managed to get some help. The sister and one of the nurses where great, with the aid of many plastic bags and a few towels they got the worst of the blood out of my hair. I was however told that I shouldn't "try this at home".....
I wont go in to too much detail but I was eventually transfered to a private hospital. This helped get me into a good routine with eating, washing (I can now manage a partial shower) and sleeping and 10 days after the event I was finally allowed home.
I've been home 1 week and 1 day and this week has been one of the more challanging that I can remember. One big positive, that I have only just realised, is that I have definatly had worse, which means that this will only get better.... if worse weeks than this can fade into the distance then so can this one and the ones ahead of me.
The worst parts......
I still haven't worked out how to wash my hair succesfully.
I hate having to rely on people to do the simplest things for me.... I got stuck in a t-shirt last night.
If I eat to much I can't take a deep breath....
Trapped wind! how old am I!...
The vest itches.
I'm not allowed to drive.... can't imagine I'd be any more dangerous than I was before... I'd have to use my mirrors now....
I'm a liability when it comes to crossing the road....
Day time TV.... its boring......
The Good Parts
Makes you remember what's and who is important in your life.... life really is too short.
Shows you just how many real friends you have. I can't believe just how many cards and flowers I've had... not to mention the cakes and the brownies! ( all very much appreciated!!)
The good parts.... all comes down to people. The people who you realise are more important to you than you could ever have known. The ones who are more generous that you might ever have believed. The people who have changed their plan just to stop in and say "Hi". Those who haven't called, who really aren't there for you after all, suddenly they don't matter anymore. I never knew just how many people cared about me.
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