Archive for January, 2007
I am really tired today and my therapy sessions weren’t as great as I was hoping after my second spinal injection. I could only stand on one leg for about 3 or 4 seconds and I still had a lot of trouble with the stairs. I did however walk, without hanging onto anything, on the treadmill for 700m in 9 minutes.
I did have a headache after the lumbar puncture but this information goes by the wayside when Garry is reporting in (he tends to get a little sidetracked as to why we are here). My spine hurt ever time I took a step, coughed, sneezed or laughed but it is easing today. It will no doubt feel fine by Wednesday when I have my next spinal treatment.
After all the walking on the weekend both my ankles are hurting a lot because of the arthritis. I was hoping to reduce some of my arthritis medication especially the painkillers. I am still hopeful that the stem cells will relieve the pain from this crippling disease. The special Chinese Massage and OT has certainly helped my wrists and fingers.
I managed to stay on my feet the whole day on Saturday and this is quite an achievement considering the amount of arm pulling and stepping in front of me at the train station shopping centre. I even managed to buy a few things for myself despite Garry’s questions that had to be answered first. Do you reallly need it? Will you use it more than once? Will it fit in the suitcase? AS IF I NEEDED HIS PERMISSION ANYWAY!
It’s not what you spend, it is what you save!!!
January 15th, 2007
sorry for no information yesterday (not sure who i should blame for that, but lets say rachel until she reads this).
rachel had a short OT (voice and hands) session yesterday morning and the rest of the day free as the rehab doctor had his day off (he is off today as well). we went into the large shopping mall after lunch with Melissa (georges wife). we are talking 5-6 floors of stalls packed with short wheel based sales assasins, thousands of vendors all wanting a piece of the westerners wallet. we were warned not ot get lost, within 15 minutes rachel and melissa were not insight, i spent the next hour walking the 5th floor looking for them (that is a lot of miles). all was not lost because i had the money and the directions back to the hospital (they had each other).. in the end i found them and they were calm enough (obviously rachel had bought something).
The buying is all done by haggling and having just come off the back of trading chickpeas with indian traders for the past 3 months i was ready for them. some quotes of interest:
This is the very best quality, all genuine.
You are very handsome man, do you want to buy a video. every shop could have sold you pirated videos, clothes store, shoe stores the lot
Mister, Mister, this is very good for you (a four foot six man trying to hock me viagra)
Hey you Mrs beautiful lady. Good quality just because you are my friend.
After a period of time and some great haggling (most of them forgot that you don’t bullshit a bullshitter). one shop i was in trying to buy a wallet and the girl kept grabbing my arm every time i walked away as the negotiations broke down, so i gently pinched her back on the tummy and i am not sure who got the biggest shock (the girl who left the ground or me seeing how high she jumped). the wallet is now in my possesion and she has my money) i left the girls at the jewellery section (obviously not in my best interest to encourage any buying here) and went to a restuarant to recharge my batteries (there waS NO HAGGLING ALLOWED WITH THE BEER PRICE). finally we found our way out of the mahem and looked for a taxi, rachel was very tired by now having been on her feet all afternoon (as well as withstanding the shoving, pulling, pinching of the assasins), but was still managing to get around which was good.
today we were going to go to 7 wonders of the world miniland (full day excursion) but rach is a bit tired after yesterdays experience so we will keep a lower profile today and go there next weekend (i may have to go back to the mall to buy the golf clubs i looked at).
garry
January 14th, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK (a big 9)
mum and dad would have loved to have been there with you, but we will catch up soon.
rachel is just back from her stem cell injection (spinal),whilst groggy when she came back she said she was awake for the whole procedure (not sure if that is supposed to happen). anyway hope she can sleep and stay still for 5-6 hours this time and have no backpain or headache tomorrow.
b4 we the injection a group of us went across the strret (bit of an exercise in itself) for a massage. rachel crossed the 6 lane highway with 2 staff accompanying (and she tries to tell me i’m mad over here…..never at home). the rest of us (3 in wheelchairs) went the civil route via the lights, a bit longer and fractionally safer. the massage was enjoyed by all and now maybe the massours will come over to our floor save us walking with wheelchairs (there were no elevators to get uo 2nd floor so had to be carried up and down.
rachel did rehab this morning as usual and a quick session this arvo b4 stemcells. the session this morning was one of her better ones, the coordination certainly on the improve. she was walking on the treadmill at 5km/hr (at least that is what it said) with no hands hanging on, not a hope in hell of doing that b4.
i bought some things from the little shop downstairs this morning and gave them too much money (i know, ican’t imagine myself doing that either), but the little shop keeper found me in the elevator and gave me my change (i think they recognise that i buy all my beer from their shop)
better go and check the boss and watch another movie in the room until she wakes up and has something to eat approx 10pm.
I HAVE READ 4 NOVELS IN THE 2 WEEKS ….wonder if that will happen when i go home
January 12th, 2007
Today I walked again on the treadmill for about 5 minutes with no hands. I also walked unassissted up the slope (very slight) to get onto the treadmill. Everybody here has been commenting on my improvements especially in relation to gait. All the positive vibes are very helpful.
My coordination has improved greatly. My boys will be pleased to know that I can catch a basketball size ball about 80% of the time. I haven’t as yet had any cricket balls thrown to me, probably leave that until we get h0me and have a game of cricket with Russell and the boys. Sounds like Russell is really lonely.
My therapist Dr Wang gets me to try and balance on a board which rocks back and forth rather than stay steady. He then throws the ball to me from all angles. A great work out for the legs! I manage this exercise for a few minutes at least once a day.
The arthritis in my left foot in particular is quite annoying, I’m sure that is what is keeping me from taking off into a jog. I will go and have another foot massage tomorrow whilst I’m waiting for the stem cells to arrive. What a great way to spend my Son’s 9th birthday, fasting for 4 hours before the spinal injection and then laying completely still and flat on my back for 6 hours. This is no easy feat.
Today, some voice therapy was added to my routine. A machine called a vocatism (I think) is strapped to your throat and this gives off electrical impulses. This in turn is meant to improve diction. Which basically means trying to stop you sound like a drunk all the time. Now I will be able to give the telemarketers what for on the phone.
Dr Wang also gave me accupuncture on my head late this afternoon to try to improve my sleeping patterns. Garry told him to keep poking the needles in until he finds the right spot, then maybe both of us can get some sleep. He has got to realise this is not all about him. The photos below show how attractive I looked. Garry knows how to make me feel better he said I looked like a martian. 
January 11th, 2007
the boys will be at Kellys for next little while.
for those wanting to phone jack for his birthday on friday the number is 0249673736
garry
January 10th, 2007
another day almost complete in short wheel base china (most poeple very short). rach took some sleeping tablets last night because her sleep has been terrible and i had to wake her at 7.30 this morning (snoring as she does, there is one in each family). although grateful for the good nights sleep she emerged as white as a ghost and was very lethargic for the morning session. she went back to bed after lunch and was much better for the afternoon session.
I have not ventured down the street today so will have to go tomorrow to get my fix of mahem. a lot of the footpaths fronting the shops near the hospital are being repaved (all laid ine at a time and tapped down with a mallet) so it is bit of an obstacle course in spots. a lot of the locals avoid the mess and walk on the road (you may as well as it in not uncommon to see a car on the footpath) which i have been doing as well(keeps you on your toes)
not much more to add today but watch this space
garry
January 10th, 2007
After my stem cell treatment last night I spent the whole night awake I’m not sure if this is because I had a huge rush or whether it was the little kip I had during the IV. Probably a bit of both.
This morning I walked on the treadmill with no hands for 5 minutes and this afternoon at a faster speed for about 7 minutes. One of the exercises Dr Wang gets me to do is sit a huge fit ball and keep my balance whilst he gently moves the ball around. I am getting a little better at this but I still keep my tippy toes on the ground. My next goal is sit on the ball without my feet on the ground at all.
We managed to speak to the boys this morning, they are having a great time with my parents. I hope they are allowing my Mum to rest a bit.
It is fantastic to finally read everybodies comments, it seems as though quite a few people are having trouble ringing us. Really why should we be the only ones who are getting frustrated with communications over here. You know we like to share all with our family and friends.
19 days left in China. I’ve given Dr Wang the instruction that he must have me jogging before I go home. Some of the photos below are the exercises etc I am doing. Thanks Mac and Jill for the tip I’ll do my best with the photos.
January 9th, 2007
YES
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I (YES ME) WORKED OUT WHERE THE COMMENTS WERE HIDING.
i was that impressed with the effort i went and got myself a beer while they downloaded.
rachel will be thrilled to get all your feedback.
yours in suspect litreature
garry
January 8th, 2007
good evening folks
rachel just finishing up having her third stem cell via IV (much less painful than spinal). we still have not been able to read anones comments on the blog site so are having a fellow here look at it for us.
rachel was walked down to a massage parlour at lunch time by 2 girls from the office to have a foot massage (more like whole leg) to see if shr can free up her feet like they have been able to free up her hands in the rehab at the hospital. we are also hoping that it may take some of the pain away from when she walks. the session went for 70 minutes and cost approx $4.
comments from some of the staff say rach is walking more securely with less gait (sideways movement) and a bit quicker, i would agree with this. the treatment has done nothing for her sleeping patterns, still hopeless (if she was a better sleeper at night i am sure she would have more energy which is a real frustration for her).
Actually, rach must be getting some results because she use a local chinese toilet today (there is no bowl to sit on) by herself (you bring your own toilet paper only if you think you need it). prioir to today she would not contemplate such a feat. Jon mentiioned to us last week that many chinese have not seen the toilet systems that we are used to. when they come across one they stand on the bowl with their feet/shoes (strides around the ankles i guess) and use the toilet. (don’t feel guilty trying to picture this, it cracks me up every time),this would explain the footprints rach found on the toilet bowl when she went at Macdonalds the other day.
(i will get into trouble for that paragraph)
one of the other patients here(jim, who is a dependant quadraplegic from the US) moved one of his arms today for the first time in 20 years. this result has the spirits at a good level here this afternoon.
garry
January 8th, 2007
today was a rest day from rehab. we spent most of the day with sunny and some of her friends who showed us areound the city. 25 years ago there were 50,000 people in nanshen, today there are close to 15 million, they siad today this city is the 4th largest economy in china and the development is still going nuts.
we were taken to a good traditional chinese restuarant for lunch which was interesting and very good. at one stage i was eating and i am sure i could nott feel my lips because some of the dishes were very spicey, but easy enough to eat (we also had beer).
we just watched a video in common room with george and melissa (from canada) which they bought from the market today and the movie is not even released in australia yet. the movies get videoed on digital camera(someone takes them into a movie) and reproduced in russia. we plan to bring some home and be the first to see some movies in australia.
back to work tomorrow,
looking forward to any comments
garry
January 7th, 2007
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