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Re: Another update on my neck
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craig-@aol.com
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Sep 01, 2007 07:54 PDT
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The soft brace is good news!? Go Bears!!? I will be watching this afternoon.
Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Berry (home) <calb-@pacbell.net>
To: Don Cartwright <bluewh-@sbcglobal.net>; Craig <CMarti-@cse-insurance.com>; Jay Brentjes <sbren-@comcast.net>; Sarkis Soghomonian <Sark-@HeatandControl.com>; Diablo Cyclists <diablo-c-@topica.com>
Sent: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 8:53 pm
Subject: Fw: Another update on my neck
As sent to my family this evening.
----- Forwarded Message ----
Subject: Another update on my neck
The short version:? The bone has healed nicely, but there is still some 'feathering'? So I am now in a?'soft' brace.? I?need to wear it until we go on the cruise and then I can start weening myself from it when I go out in public.? It is basically?a 3" high, by 1"?thick?piece of foam rubber that wraps around?my neck.? It?basically just provides?'gentle support' for my poor neck muscles that haven't been used for...11 weeks!
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The long version:? My last scan was July 31st, and I was told?I should?stay in the 'hard brace' for another?month.? I waited 3 weeks, called the office, and left a message that I would like to know what is next, and when (since they hadn't provided any guidance...and I forgot to ask).? After a week goes by I call again and?got a?'real' person.? I told her I?would just like?to know if I needed another CT scan, if I needed to make an appt. to see the Dr., or if at the end of the month I?could?just take off the brace.? She said?someone?would call back.? That afternoon (last Thur) I got a call saying I needed to?have another CT scan...when?...you will get a call.
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OK, so my anxiousness was all around dealing?with the 3 day weekend and not wanting to have to go to?the big Cal game tomorrow?wearing?my big uncomfortable?neck brace (but I made it through Disneyland and the Drum Corps shows, so I knew I would survive).? So last Thur. I know that I will have to get another scan.? That means they have to get insurance approval, and then get it scheduled...and I will get a call.? (And then after the scan it has to be read, and then the Dr. has to find time to call.? Ugh.)? Now why would she tell me that...the last time they just sent a 'cheesy' looking appt. letter telling me the date and time of my appt.? Why would this be different??
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So sure enough, in Tuesday's mail I had my cheesy little appt. letter...for Friday at 2:00pm (today, right before the 3 day weekend...crap!)? I immediately called the hospital (not my Dr's office) where they do the CT scan and asked if I could have it done on Thur.? Nope, booked...but there is a spot at 8:00am on Friday...SOLD.? I got there early, and was done by 8:30.? The technician was the same one I had seen twice before, and heard stories of her big fall off a bike 'in the day' (right).? Anyway, I asked how long it would take to get the results read, and on the internet so my Dr. could see them...so I could have a more relaxed weekend.? She said by the time I got home and called my Dr. they would be ready.? So I called.? The young lady that answered (on my 3rd call after getting recordings on the 1st 2) said it normally takes 2-3 days for the Dr. to get the results.? I reminded her that it was the next day the 1st time, so I know it is possibly, and could she PLEASE help me so I can get out of this stiff brace.? I said I would really hate to get a call next Tues. morning saying that (as of Friday morning) I was OK and that I had?just spent 4 extra nights sleeping in (or trying to) a VERY uncomfortable brace...she understood.?? Well (only)?5 hours later I got a call saying that I could now 'down size' to a light weight brace and I could come in to get the prescription.? I asked how long I would need to wear it, could I leave it off while I slept, if I needed to continue to 'baby' and protect the neck, and should I continue to turn from my shoulders and waist instead of?my neck (as I?have been for 11 weeks).? Uh, well, you can ask those questions when you get here.? OK, so I'm off.
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Knowing the day was going to be 'messed up' with the appt. anyway I had already decided to work from home, so it was pretty easy for me to hop in the car and make the 20 minute trip down to the Dr's office.? I walked in and asked for my prescription.? The lady at the counter handed me a sealed envelope and then turned away.? I asked if I could ask the Dr. a couple of questions.? She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Well, she's very busy right now."? She handed me a pen and a piece of paper and had me write down my questions (I thought she was going to take them to the Dr. for me).? When I handed her the list she said to write my phone number on it.? WHAT!!!? You're just going to have me walk out of here w/out knowing what to do, how and/or when to do it...and when will I get a call, next week?? As I stood there looking flabbergasted (I'm sure) the Dr. came to the other side of the counter with another patient.? I was 6 feet away...6 feet...but it seemed soooo far.? I can see her, I can hear her...but I can't TALK TO HER???!!!???? The lady at the reception desk looked up at me sheepishly and said in a very hushed tone, "maybe you can ask her your questions now."? YA THINK!!!? They weren't really going to have a choice.? I was going to ask away even if there was no one there to listen!? OK, calm down (after all, the Dr. is bigger than me...I know she went to UCLA, but she looks like she played on the offensive line of the football team...sturdy lady, VERY sturdy).? And we don't need the neck broken in any other places, now do we.
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In Alice in Wonderland there is a sort of 'wicked' Queen of Hearts...she is now a Neurosurgeon.? OK, so it was only a fleeting thought, but it came to mind when the other patient (LOL...no, not laugh out loud, little old lady) that was talking to her (as I was PATIENTLY waiting my turn) said something like, "Oh Dr. Brekhus, you are so big, I hope you don't get mad at me."? I guess I wasn't the only one thinking that.
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I did?get?my 2 minutes of questions answered, and she was very polite (and I felt very secure being on the other side of the counter.)
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As I left the building to head toward Long's or Walgreen's to 'cash in' my prescription, I notice there was a small pharmacy in the office complex as I got off the elevator, so I stopped in there to get my prescription filled.? They were very helpful in getting me fitted with the right size, and when I gave them my insurance card they said things like this weren't covered, and that I would have to pay.? For $10.75 I was not going to argue.? I was just relieved to get into that new lightweight brace!? But as I was walking back to the car I looked at prescription (that I didn't have to turn in) and?the Dr. had written on it...Use As Directed.? As directed by whom?? The directions I had were from the questions that I had to ask.? And then I realized that since the pharmacy didn't need the prescription that there was really no reason for me to have driven down there...I could have just gone around the corner to the pharmacy and bought a brace OTC (over the counter).
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I would say this is too funny for words, but it took me a lot of words...so I guess it was not too funny for words, but was funny enough for lots of words!
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I can take the brace off when I sleep.? I can move normally and don't have to 'baby' it.? I can take it off when I am not up and moving about.? I should wear it until we start our cruise, and then I can take if off (good, because it won't go with my tux AT ALL!) when out and about (but most people can only stand to keep it off for a couple of hours at a time before the neck gets fatigued...sounds like a challenge to me (but then it would, wouldn't it).?
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Now I need to go to the game early tomorrow and try to find a Cal bandana to wrap around my brace so it won't be so conspicuous...LOL (no, not little old lady)
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Steve
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