ok, so it isn't Tuesday but Friday.... so the news was, I have began to not use a catheter to urinate!!! One small step for mankind, but one Huge step for Kevy. Well now I have to keep practicing to pee and hopefully it will get better. Now that I am home I will have to try and keep up the hard work with the PT exercises and to keep walking. Wish me good luck.
Big changes are suppose to come in the advancing months.... so we will see.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
To Finish "The Set" with a Bang!
So sports fans I am coming to end of another chapter in my journey to India. In the last week I was given a big Puncture injection whereby they withdraw a little bit of spinal fluid and replace it with Stem Cells. This procedure can give the most results in terms of repair. HOwever, it comes with the most amount of impact and challenge to the body. Often patients get headaches or nausea and it can be very difficult on one's systems. In my case I had no issues. I am lucky man! I don't know if it is due to my physical fitness or strong mind set but i will put it down to that.
After this procedure I was very tired and took the next day to rest and only do passive exercises with the PT. In the next 2 days I didnt notice much of a change, a few little things but nothing major. Then on Wednesday night, BAM! It happened and a major change occurred.... (unfortunately I can't tell you what it is until I get home and suprise my family on Tuesday). Sorry you will just have to be patient.
Then we worked on the walking in AFO's more of the time this week as it has been deemed that the calipers made here keep moving and I bend my knee while trying to walk. I am not going to buy these and try to walk with a different device from home. The walking with the AFO's is slowly getting better and Geeta stated that when my quadriceps become stronger I will definately be able to walk with them in the walker like I was in the long full length calipers. Cool hey!!!
Then on the last day (Saturday) I had one more trick left to throw into the ring and when I was walking forward with the AFO's, I asked what would I have to do to be able to walk backwards? So, we (Vannada) and I talked about the motion that would be needed to go backwards and she demonstrated it and so I stood up and tried it. Guess what? I could do it on the first go and did the whole length of the parallel bars in AFO's!! I think i can walk bloody well backwards better than forward :) I guess you never know until you try, eh!!
Well, that is it for this trip to Delhi and now I have to keep up the therapy and the walking. I have been told that with time many more changes will occur with the work in the legs. I look forward to seeing that. Also, tomorrow a group of patients from here will be going to one of the biggest temples in India, even bigger than Taj Mahal. I look forward to that and I will be posting some pics when I get home too. So on sunday late I am out of here. Keep you posted. Look for my info on the big change on Tuesday....
After this procedure I was very tired and took the next day to rest and only do passive exercises with the PT. In the next 2 days I didnt notice much of a change, a few little things but nothing major. Then on Wednesday night, BAM! It happened and a major change occurred.... (unfortunately I can't tell you what it is until I get home and suprise my family on Tuesday). Sorry you will just have to be patient.
Then we worked on the walking in AFO's more of the time this week as it has been deemed that the calipers made here keep moving and I bend my knee while trying to walk. I am not going to buy these and try to walk with a different device from home. The walking with the AFO's is slowly getting better and Geeta stated that when my quadriceps become stronger I will definately be able to walk with them in the walker like I was in the long full length calipers. Cool hey!!!
Then on the last day (Saturday) I had one more trick left to throw into the ring and when I was walking forward with the AFO's, I asked what would I have to do to be able to walk backwards? So, we (Vannada) and I talked about the motion that would be needed to go backwards and she demonstrated it and so I stood up and tried it. Guess what? I could do it on the first go and did the whole length of the parallel bars in AFO's!! I think i can walk bloody well backwards better than forward :) I guess you never know until you try, eh!!
Well, that is it for this trip to Delhi and now I have to keep up the therapy and the walking. I have been told that with time many more changes will occur with the work in the legs. I look forward to seeing that. Also, tomorrow a group of patients from here will be going to one of the biggest temples in India, even bigger than Taj Mahal. I look forward to that and I will be posting some pics when I get home too. So on sunday late I am out of here. Keep you posted. Look for my info on the big change on Tuesday....
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Slacker is Back
I haven't been writing much cause i have been very busy.... and that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!! Since i last wrote I have had two procedures, one each week. The first one was an easy one where by I stayed in the same hospital and return to your room to only lay still for one hour on your back. The procedure is a Deep Spinal Muscular injection (2) (DSM) which are injected, one on either side of your spinal cord and near to the level of my injury. At this time Ashish wishes and so do I, to concentrate on focusing on the abdominal area and help the return of my bladder function. Usually, i don't feel much of a change other than tightening and a deep heavy feeling in my core and legs at the time of the procedure. I then wait a day or less and i begin to notice changes. In this case, it was the same and the next day i had much tighter abdominals and as time is passing here I am noticing my awareness of wanting to urinate has changed and I definately know when i have to go to the toilet. AREN'T YOU GLAD I TOLD YOU THAT!!
Physiotherapy continues twice a day and my movements continue to strengthen little by little... good thing I am a patient person.......
At the end of this week I was told that I will have another procedure at the beginning of the week. The next procedure is the "3 day" with an epidural catheter put into your spine. Generally, the injections are not given at T5 (which is, or i should say was, my level of injury, as this is at the level of important organs, such as your heart innervation.. Just of minor importance.... Of course we don't want anything going wrong with that, right?
Then after the first series of injections I was taken back to the room and had to lie on my back for 4 hours with my feet up and head down and then after the 4 hours receiving another series of injections into the catheter and lying on my right side for 2 more hours before being allowed to get up. Getting up after laying for 6 hours is tricky, but getting up after recieving stem cells by the bucket load and having your head down and feet up is another thing!!!!!! Oooooooh la la! No wonder they check your BP and HR often. But all was well with me. The only thing that kept my sanity was the idiot box and movies.
The process continued with more injections over the next 2 days and more laying in bed with the feet up and head down. I survived the procedures and now we will wait and see what changes will occur..... After the last few days I now feel a bit sore and tired as I know that the injection of stem cells take a lot of energy.
Further updates will come when some changes occur. I now have 11 days left before I return home.
Physiotherapy continues twice a day and my movements continue to strengthen little by little... good thing I am a patient person.......
At the end of this week I was told that I will have another procedure at the beginning of the week. The next procedure is the "3 day" with an epidural catheter put into your spine. Generally, the injections are not given at T5 (which is, or i should say was, my level of injury, as this is at the level of important organs, such as your heart innervation.. Just of minor importance.... Of course we don't want anything going wrong with that, right?
Then after the first series of injections I was taken back to the room and had to lie on my back for 4 hours with my feet up and head down and then after the 4 hours receiving another series of injections into the catheter and lying on my right side for 2 more hours before being allowed to get up. Getting up after laying for 6 hours is tricky, but getting up after recieving stem cells by the bucket load and having your head down and feet up is another thing!!!!!! Oooooooh la la! No wonder they check your BP and HR often. But all was well with me. The only thing that kept my sanity was the idiot box and movies.
The process continued with more injections over the next 2 days and more laying in bed with the feet up and head down. I survived the procedures and now we will wait and see what changes will occur..... After the last few days I now feel a bit sore and tired as I know that the injection of stem cells take a lot of energy.
Further updates will come when some changes occur. I now have 11 days left before I return home.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Things to Bring when at NU Tech Mediworld
If you are planning to come to Delhi and stay at Nu Tech Mediworld I highly suggest bringing the following items:
Gaffa tape (duct tape) cause it can fix anything! Some things just need to be adjusted.... for example a comode chair used in the shower can pop off and slide around and dump you on the ground. Solution: Gaffa tape works everytime
Scissors: Good for cutting milk containers and anything else that can come in the way, including Gaffa tape!
Mosquito repellent: Cause they are nasty here!
Gatoraide/Poweraide: to help with electrolite loss from working hard or Delhi belly!
Potato peeler: good for apples, carrots bought outside at markets (if you dare) and other fruit cause it can cause those with weak stomachs Delhi belly!
Pepto Bismol: Good for Delhi belly! Seem like a reoccurring theme!??
You're own pillow: The beds are hard enough, a little comfort from home will go a long way!
Probiotics: They tend to give you antibiotics for each procedure so you willl recover much quicker if you bring a bottle of 500 mg probiotics with you.
Patience: cause you're going to need it.... This isn't Australia mate!
Note: An Interesting experience I have had is noticing that some toilets in the hospital have this little steel pipe that comes out of the toilet seat and squirts water if you want it to. The reason for this pipe, some religions here do not wipe themselves with toilet paper but rather use sprayed water. Only problem is that if you are someone who doesn't have sensation in your bum and you don't notice this pipe and sit on it you can get a nasty cut you know where!!! Solution: Gaffa tape, of course!! Just pull the pipe back and tape 'er down mate! You are good to go!
Gaffa tape (duct tape) cause it can fix anything! Some things just need to be adjusted.... for example a comode chair used in the shower can pop off and slide around and dump you on the ground. Solution: Gaffa tape works everytime
Scissors: Good for cutting milk containers and anything else that can come in the way, including Gaffa tape!
Mosquito repellent: Cause they are nasty here!
Gatoraide/Poweraide: to help with electrolite loss from working hard or Delhi belly!
Potato peeler: good for apples, carrots bought outside at markets (if you dare) and other fruit cause it can cause those with weak stomachs Delhi belly!
Pepto Bismol: Good for Delhi belly! Seem like a reoccurring theme!??
You're own pillow: The beds are hard enough, a little comfort from home will go a long way!
Probiotics: They tend to give you antibiotics for each procedure so you willl recover much quicker if you bring a bottle of 500 mg probiotics with you.
Patience: cause you're going to need it.... This isn't Australia mate!
Note: An Interesting experience I have had is noticing that some toilets in the hospital have this little steel pipe that comes out of the toilet seat and squirts water if you want it to. The reason for this pipe, some religions here do not wipe themselves with toilet paper but rather use sprayed water. Only problem is that if you are someone who doesn't have sensation in your bum and you don't notice this pipe and sit on it you can get a nasty cut you know where!!! Solution: Gaffa tape, of course!! Just pull the pipe back and tape 'er down mate! You are good to go!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
First Procedure
SSo i have survived my first procedure on my own. Luckily it was for only one day..... i dont know what improvements that will occur. I do know that my abdominal area day (being the next day) has begun to feel tighter and i know that the procedure has tired me out. But it was back at the PT this morning. So now its time to chill and get my stomach back to normal from the Delhi belly.
When i stand up now on the AFO's i am having much better posture and we are practicing the basics with weight shifting and bending the knee and lifting the feet off the ground. First the basic ground work and then when set on to the walking forward.
Well, its definately moving forward and I have to just be patient.
More updates later when more changes arrive. So far so good.
When i stand up now on the AFO's i am having much better posture and we are practicing the basics with weight shifting and bending the knee and lifting the feet off the ground. First the basic ground work and then when set on to the walking forward.
Well, its definately moving forward and I have to just be patient.
More updates later when more changes arrive. So far so good.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Back to work!
I have now been through two hard Physio sessions and I am beat!! Its been 6 months since my very first stem cell injection and 4 months since i left Nu Tech Hospital and much progress has been achieved. Well I have demonstrated that many things have changed and now the approach is going to be much different. Now the approach is to make things much more functional.... especially since I am using the AFO's and can stand and make real movements in walking. The first few days we are going to concentrate on getting perfect posture with the AFO's. I am now working on shifting weight with the hips forward, backward and sideways and then being able to lift the foot off the ground.
We are also advancing the crawling by starting crawling and moving into a on the knees stance and moving forward while holding onto a frame in front of me and then moving my knees forward. We are also trying to strengthen my quadriceps to make the movements and supporting all that body weight on my knees. While on the bed in Pt. the physio is putting heaps more resistance on me and the movements and mate I can feel the body working.....
As usual I have to sleep on the very uncomfortable bed and even with an air mattress it is very disturbing to sleep. I have another idea to make my bed more comfortable and i hope it works tonight cause i havent had a good night yet and i am running out of energy. Its hard to work physically when you wake up in the morning tired.
Otherwise, its nice to see the staff again. They are so good to us and so helpful to make us comfortable. I have been out to the shops once and nothing has changed....
Well, thats it for now for my faithful readers. I am off to my first Yoga session of this trip. Should help with the sore muscles??
More later.....
We are also advancing the crawling by starting crawling and moving into a on the knees stance and moving forward while holding onto a frame in front of me and then moving my knees forward. We are also trying to strengthen my quadriceps to make the movements and supporting all that body weight on my knees. While on the bed in Pt. the physio is putting heaps more resistance on me and the movements and mate I can feel the body working.....
As usual I have to sleep on the very uncomfortable bed and even with an air mattress it is very disturbing to sleep. I have another idea to make my bed more comfortable and i hope it works tonight cause i havent had a good night yet and i am running out of energy. Its hard to work physically when you wake up in the morning tired.
Otherwise, its nice to see the staff again. They are so good to us and so helpful to make us comfortable. I have been out to the shops once and nothing has changed....
Well, thats it for now for my faithful readers. I am off to my first Yoga session of this trip. Should help with the sore muscles??
More later.....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
the return
Well, well almost four months and I will be returning to India in 3 weeks for the 2nd treatment in
Delhi. Its going to be a very different experience since i already know what to expect. There won't be as many suprises. Its a bit of mixed emotion to return because i dont look forward to the pollution and garbage everywhere. At the same time i can't wait to seem what help i will get and how they help me improve function. I also will be showing some suprises....
When i am back there i will post further changes and what has happened to me in the last 4 months at home.
Hope you stay tune....
Delhi. Its going to be a very different experience since i already know what to expect. There won't be as many suprises. Its a bit of mixed emotion to return because i dont look forward to the pollution and garbage everywhere. At the same time i can't wait to seem what help i will get and how they help me improve function. I also will be showing some suprises....
When i am back there i will post further changes and what has happened to me in the last 4 months at home.
Hope you stay tune....
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