How to break your spine?

My routine checkup this week of my new fancy titanium spine had an unexpected result on the X Ray..... "its snapped" pronounced the young Registrar who left scratching his head and unable to answer any of my questions on how did it break? how do you fix it? What are the current risks with the break? All he said was to take it real easy with rehab & work and that he will refer this through to the guru's and that they will get back to me shortly on a plan of attack. Although only a mechanical fault this is really annoying on top of everything else, and puts me in a hiatus with recovery and getting on with life. I also suspect in buts me on the path for more surgery, so excited about that, not. 

Titanium Physical properties
A metallic element, titanium is recognized for its high strength-to-weight ratio. It is a strong metal with low density, lustrous, and metallic-white in color. Commercial grades of titanium have ultimate tensile strength of about 63,000 psi (434 MPa), equal to that of common, low-grade steel alloys, but are 45% lighter. Titanium is 60% more dense than aluminium, but more than twice as strong. Certain titanium alloys (Used in Medicalimplants) achieve tensile strengths of over 200,000 psi (1,400 MPa). 

Out into the light

It's fantastic being out of chemo prison and back in the land of the living. 2 weeks out of the system and today is when I would normally be checking into hospital. All upside from here. It gets a little frustrating as physically and mentally I am not capable of doing all that I would like to do and also realization that it will take months to recover physical fitness. I have just started back at work and doing a few hours here and there, which is exhausting and most days when returning home I need an afternoon nap to recover. It's fantastic using the grey matter again and very pleased that it still works. Just need to keep reminding myself to take it easy and to pace myself.

Restarted rehab work at ISIS to straighten and strengthen back and spine. They i.e. Jo is fantastic and it was encouraging to see that I have made progress since the last time I was up there a couple of months back. I am now convinced that physically I will be able to do all that I want todo (including skiing, chainsawing, golf, terpsichore) and this is better than I though going into spinal surgery. I am not disabled.

I have a couple of key scans and consultations with specialists in the next 2 weeks and hopefully that they will confirm NED status and that back/spine prosthesis is hanging together. I still have my Hickman line in and expect to have another blood transfusion to spike up the blood before it's removed. I love that blood and its great for improving the energy levels.

I have a couple of big parties planned in June and July and I expect to be kicking my heals up.
June is "I am not a patient month" and I'm very excited about that.

Ciao
Gary  

That was then ... this is now

7 Months on since back and spine operation. The eye popping war scar is looking far more presentable.

Autumn Ote catching falling leaves

Is that a light at the end of the dark and long tunnel

24 days before I complete the chemo treatment which is hopeful the last medical procedure for my sarcoma. Post will be some recovery and a CT scan to get sign-off that I am clear of cancer for now. Then from mid May I plan to step up the physical recuperation of my new back and progressively get back into the business.
I am very tired from all medical procedures and after bad chemo cycle 3 one of my consultant callled this 'fatigue', not to be confuse with 'sleep tired'. Cycle 4 has been a great cycle which has given me confidence that I will complete the whole procedure and not melt down along the way. We are very well geared up with support structures with treatment and this makes a big positive difference. I am now targeting to come out of treatment strongly and for it to be weeks not months to overcome most of the side-effects of Chemo. Its going to take longer to recover physical fitness and strength and thats fine, as a a key factor will be final healing with the spine and development of the core muscle's. The rehab work at ISIS and DIY landscaping and construction have been great at straightening me up and getting a base fitness, but still a way to go and I will need to do this over a longer period, Christmas summer holidays may be a good target date to do something like this: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/aoraki-mount-cook/mueller-hut-route/.

My top priority post treatment is 'health'. My body created or at least supported the rapid development of cancer and I believe my lifestyle contributed to this. So in next few weeks I'm going to use the Hauora wellness model, here , to see what changes I need to make. My hope this will improve my Joule de Vivre, not reduce.

Morning of 2nd day in hospital chemo cycle 5, had a great sleep last night and have food on board. I am currently unteethered from drugs for my 1 hour in 24. Soon to have a shower and a few laps of the ward, luxury.

Ciao for now.
Gary

Sent from my iPhone

In for chemo cycle 5, 1 to go

Gazza's getting his workshop sorted

and its looking good!
He now has his own man cave and can be found out there at all odd hours fixing things..putting up spouting and installing our new water tank which is very exciting.And for those of you wondering how he is doing all of this..he does take it slowly and comes in very tired and sore but VERY pleased with himself. I like him out there doing this its good:-)
We are pleased only two more chemo cycles to go and we can start practicing some normality again.
Light at the end of the crawl space..which reminds me I was in the ceiling this last week cleaning out old batts and rat poo.YUCK!
The roof is off our house at present too which makes for an interesting Autumn.
Hopefully the rain will divert this week and we can get it sorted.Ciao KAT

Thanks to the random dude in Grafton for giving me his blood

Blood transfusion today to overcome a progressive drop in hemoglobin. This has been an ongoing issue post surgery and I've been struggling to get bloods in order and each chemo round it knocks them back further. We & spinal surgeons have had some reservations about doing it, but its just got to the situation that it needed to be sorted. I didn't like the idea of taking on some random persons blood, but I am over that now I have had 1 unit with another due and it seems to have immediately picked up my VIM, which has been lagging. Although I have just stated chemo cycle 4 and maybe the 2 DEX steroids daily have assisted also. Chemo is such a roller coaster.
The blood thing is quite interesting. The blood is given to you unpacked and when it is seeded into your blood stream it circulates picking up oxygen, nutrients etc. One unit of blood is approximate 300 mls when in the body and loaded up with goodies converts to 1 ltr of good blood. So there is also more that goes on behind the scenes with blood donation and the cleansing, testing and unpacking the blood. Apparently NZ are the best in the world in this process, maybe an export opportunity? Start milking the people rather than milking more cows.
So to random dude in Grafton, Auckland who took the time and donated his O positive universal blood, I salute you.

50% through Chemo

Just coming out of the worst of 'icky' chemo cycle 3; the side effect drugs in hospital got pretty mixed up and it has taken awhile to load up again, get into a routine and back under control. With chemo drugs you lose short term memory and at times get very confused, so throwing in getting side effect drugs out of sync, things can go pear shaped fairly quickly. Athough I haved blogged about being positive, I find  it very difficult to feel positive about something that makes you feel so sick. Maybe I just don't believe in the old cliche "if it doesn't kill you it must be good for you". Again this cycle I am coming out of the worst of the side effects quickly and its fantastic to have a pattern building that you don't stay in the dark side for too long.

Notes to self (and others) to make future chemo cycles less disgusting
- Plan the care and drug regime prior to getting "chemo brain" and stick to the plan
- Drugs are your friends, take them especially if you are sick or confused
- Try to do normal everyday activities e.g. early shower, time with kids, exercise.. even in hospital you can modify exercise regimes and do a couple of laps of the ward
- Enjoy regular fresh, good food and interesting drinks; things that encourage your appetite and make you feel good
- Enjoy the happy, between cycles there are lots of time gaps to enjoy life, participate. Even in hospital you can have a few laughs and meet amazing people.
- In the unpleasant thick of it remember Kia Kaha (be strong, move forward), its your own tenacity, courage  and resolve that will get you through the chemo just fine.
- Countdown the milestones e.g. only 2 more days in hospital, just 2 more days on the darkside and for me only 3 cycles left.

My major milestone reached this week is that I am 50% through my last planned medical procedure for my sarcoma and all going well, I up going to return to a more normal life and existence in May. Yeehaw, where's my horse.

inner at TC and Janes