Injury Clarification

Hi Everyone,
I thought I'd write a clarification blog. Its 7 and a half months since my accident now and many don't know much about my condition. At first I didn't know what all the fuss was about. All I knew was that I had a broken bone and I couldn't move. I was then told I was a C5 C6 Complete Tetraplegic. 84% of my body is paralysed including my hands and triceps. Turns out you need your hands for quite a lot.

The hardest things I've had to deal with (aside from the obvious) is that I couldn't eat, or drink while dealing with constant profuse sweating as well as not being able to swallow my own spit. For the first five months every day I had trouble breathing and where I longed for a day where life would become easier. Every time I was told a had a serious infection I felt like I was dealing with a minor cold.

We have recently talked about how on a few occasions I was in danger of dying. The first was my original accident falling 20 feet onto my neck. The second was having my heart kick started after a week of trying to breath and cough with a hole on my neck (after my trachy tube was first taken out). The third main time was when I had five bronchoscopys in four days. It was so severe I was placed on the critical list. When I woke after being on proprofol for five days, the only things I remember were very vivid disturbing hallucinations. I also felt as though I was going crazy with constant deja vu and paranoia episodes. At this point the Middlemore ICU doctors decided it was necessary for me to be weaned off the ventilator at Burwood. The whole time until then I had extreme anxiety problems with being crowded, or having anything touching me as I felt restricted and immobile. As a result I was on lorazepam, a concerning sedative used as antianxiety.

I'm now dealing with severe spasms requiring twelve pills a day which still don't dampen the problem. I'm also having minimal sleep as I'm trying to wean off a sleeping pill I've had every day for 33 weeks. Due to huge muscle loss, everyday I battle fatigue. Another daily issue Ive had to learn about is impairment of bowels, bladder and sexual function. As a result I have a catheter going directly into my bladder (SPC - supra pubic catheter). I have my bowels done every second day. If you want to know more google - tetraplegic sexual function. Also because of paralysis I have poor circulation. This means I am at risk of pressure sores, and dizziness when I am transferred into my chair. To combat this I wear tight pressure stockings and an abdominal binder to compensate for abdominal muscles and to increase blood pressure.

Autonomic dysreflexia is a condition that I have to be aware of. If anywhere I cannot feel is injured, or if my bowels or bladder are full, a signal will alert my brain and my body will react. I will go bright red in the parts I can feel and I will get a pounding headache as my blood pressure rises. If it goes untreated I am at risk of having a stroke and then possibly dying. This is a medical emergency. I carry the medicine wherever I go to lower my blood pressure.

This is now my new life, so I have embraced it. I dont think it is necessarily worse, but very different. Many opportunities have and will come from this. I didnt know know what I was going to do, so now I have some time to think. Plus I had a really bad itch before, and this was the only way of getting rid of it. It worked. And now I get to bludge off the government, and collect the money you pay for tax. Cheers.

Luckily I've been blessed with a positive attitude and very supportive friends and family, especially with Mum being with me since day two, to be exact.

Feel free to ask any questions. timothy.young.is@gmail.com
Tim

Trials and Records

Hi Everyone,
Since Monday last week alot has happened. First it was great to see Aunty Annabel and have a delicious steak by the New Brighton Pier. Then my cousin Nicky, who came alot during Middlemore days, spent a couple of nights with us too. We all visited Vintage Cars on a Spinal Unit group outing. To finish the week my brother Robert came from Hamilton to spend two nights with me. Not long after arrival Rob escorted me to another shield match where Canterbury unfortunately thrashed Taranaki.

On Saturday we endeavoured to discover the Antartic Centre. I watched birds (penguins) being fed and got stuck in the snow. All in all I had a fantastic day!!! Lately I've been eating extra takeaways working on gaining weight. This is due to the fact that after my accident i lost 22kgs in 2 weeks, and all thanks to Jenny.

Ive enjoyed more visitors. Kate and Hayden (my God brother and sister, as their Mum Pam is my Godmother) came on Friday. Then Gyne (George) came for the weekend, and accompanied me to watch 'Funny People'. Were expecting Leish this afternoon.

Over the last week I have done 250 metres in 4 mins and 22 secs, and 25 metres on a slow surface in 1 min. I win.

Later boes
Tim

Off road power chair trials. Pine needles and 3"curbs no problem.

Building towers in OT - 9 blocks high; and very serious 4D Connect 4 competitions

Annabel using wind to power Tim down Brighton Pier in manual chair!

Rick Acland and chocolate fish friend Vicky waving us off on Vintage Car outing.

Cousin Nicky doing some unscheduled

2nd yr physio practicum. Unlike normal

work experience it includes outings too!

By general consensus outstanding progress

Amy (above) visited from Auckland for a couple of days mid week. Last time she saw Cheese was in Middlemore, with his trachy tube, on the ventilator, not talking and having had 5 bronchoscopy's in 4 days for major lung infection.

The Ranfurly Shield final - Canterbury and Otago. Maretta arrived from Dunedin just in time to hop in the taxi to the game with us. Our tickets were to an area for disabled that was fenced off, still being built. The manager Chris turned up and took us to the Corporate lounge on the 3rd level, where there was a ramp to a platform for wheelchair people. Amazing view. Tim and James loving it (backs to camera).

Viv

A hoi hoi,

Contrary to previous belief, I do indeed have news. Not an amazing start to the week with another trip to the oral surgeon. The plan is to get a titanium implant soon and then with the tooth replaced 8-12 weeks later. This will happen at the same time as crowning of the neighbouring tooth. This was damage done by yet another snowboarding accident.

 

Tuesday was more exciting with a trip to Burnham Military Camp, where we saw riot training and had a very interesting presentation by the Military Industrial Psychologist, Aliah. Her enthusiasm for her work was inspiring. Not only was it a fun break from Burwood but it also left me with alot to think about.

 

Father dearest came for his fortnightly visit on Wednesday and Thursday, before driving to Wanganui for a Collegiate reunion. Dad was amazed at his first sight of me in a manual and me using the arm bike and slings in the gym. That same day I was fitted for my first trial power chair. It was outright impressive going at good sprint pace.

 

And then on Saturday we were conned (not hard) into going to the Casino for an afternoon outing, by Ian, a co - rehab mate from Dunedin. It was an awesome outing, and a good break for Mum as my friend Leish and Jimmy were there to keep me company and gamble for me. A tidy $120 profit made the experience all the better.

 

Have loved seeing my visitors. Joe and Sarah, Dion's Mum Ngaire, and today Mums friend Anna. Hopefully I didnt forget anyone.

 

I'll just finish with another tasteful joke. What do you call a paraplegic dog? Nothing. It won't come anyway. And what do you call a paraplegic on the beach? Sandy.

 

Be in touch again soon.

Tim

 

Medical considerations.

Checking out a recent CT scan of Tim's HO (heterotopic ossification) in the Burwood meeting room with Dr Heather Jefferies

Visit to Burnham Millitary Camp

Aliah - Military Industrial Psychologist and Mel, the
Kaleidoscope Vocational Consultant who arranged the
workplace visit.


Army doing riot practice.

Working out in the gym with physio Kelly.

Phil is so impressed by Tims efforts on the arm cycle.

The day Sebastian came to visit

A surprise visitor.

Kate Sanders brings her

cat Sebastian for a snuggle.