Brien Stocker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Joan, I was in valleymed from january through may (3.5 months in halo). Even as a c-7 with c-8 function, I highly endorse the halo's stabilizing benefits and regret that I was not haloed immediately after my 2 surgeries. To err on the side of caution for haloing people with cervical sci is well worth it.
Wow, c-4 function is pretty diminished. I commend you on your apparent quality of life. I bet you have a tremendous realm of people around you. That is what I attribute to my happiness and continued ascension through life.
A visit with Dr Shem at outpatient services: 408-885-4839, would REALLY help you. She is one of the finest P M & R doctors under whose care I have been!!!!!
What kinda puppy are you getting Stockton is big on pet bulls, rotties and other gangster empowering dogs, lol.
How often do! you folks on the list with SCI see a pm&r doctor? I go twice a year, but my doc is awesome so I feel that I always benefit.
haveaniceday,
Brien
Hi Brien
I have an appointment with Dr. Shem on the 29th of November. I had not been to see a physiatrist since leaving Valley MED February of 1971. As I did not have enough Social Security quarters to qualify for being disabled, I went for 10 years without any insurance. I only got on Social Security when I turned 65 -- boy was that a happy day for me! Luckily I have an excellent family medical doctor here who has tried to keep up with spinal cord info et cetera.
Luckily I do not have problems with spasms (just minor ones if I am uncomfortable or something is bothering me), UTI's -- I've only had four serious UTI's in 15 years --, and the only medication I need is Fosamax for osteomyelitis and Levbid for intermittant cathing. Unfortunately for me, when I got my last new wheelchair in 1995, I got a serious decubitus ulcer from the chairs lack of padding on the lower part of the back of the chair. I went once or twice to the wound care specialists here but couldn't afford to keep on going at $350 a pop. So it took us for years to clear them out. I recently got another new chair, and the wounds came back but I was able to get into the wound clinic right away and we were able to clear them up quite quickly. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to another new chair L. O. L..
I have a great group of friends and family around me. However, my marriage of 24 years dissipated after I was in a wheelchair. I am very lucky to get personal care assistants through an agency that is affiliated with St. Mary's hospital here. We pay on a sliding scale, and I am eligible for five hours a day. Since I have nothing but shoulder shrugs it takes awhile to get me up in the morning, as they don't help me at all (the shoulder shrugs I mean). Once I'm in my chair, I do have things set up quite well. I use a mouthstick for the computer and the telephone, a mouthstick to read a book, and I just recently was given an environmental control system that is voice-activated from the state of Nevada. It was a used one, and so far we are ironing out its quirks, but I am hopeful that eventually it will help me so that I can open the door to go outside and come back inside, turn on and off the television and change channels, play music, and answer this awesome telephone tha!
t they
gave me. However it does not work now. But I am very hopeful that we will eventually get this all so I will be more independent. My attendant usually leaves about 11 a.m., and I am by myself until three or so. I have another attendant who I pay privately that comes in and puts me to bed at about nine o'clock. I try not to use my family for my caregivers anymore than I absolutely have to. My youngest daughter lives very close, and I help her homeschool her two boys, which keeps me very busy staying ahead of the old one. So I am very busy, enjoy doing community service activities, travel when ever I get a chance, and I am very grateful for each day God has granted me.
