6 Weeks Post

6 weeks post accident
Originally uploaded by annetics

Here's a snapshot of the Xray I had done today on my clavicle. It has actually been hurting more in the past week, but the orthopedic PA says that it is still in a good position, and that it is beginning to heal. I'm very grateful that I did not require surgery and will try to be patient. I have a lot of pain in my arm and shoulder area and I guess that may subside once the fracture heals? The physical therapist was pleased with the range of motion of my shoulder joint and got me started on some simple exercises to build my core strength up again. The pain in my back doesn't seem to be improving much these days but I guess that is not too surprising. In my mind, 6 weeks was the magic point when I thought I would feel better, and 8 weeks the absolute latest that I would still be healing. In the meantime, I am glad that I'm able to ride my bike trainer, as mind-numbing as it is, and was very excited to get up to a full hour on Saturday. I'll continue with the mini-updates on the right-hand side of my blog using Twitter. These are mostly so I can keep track of my progress and for my family members who enjoy these details. But, follow along if you're interested.

In Memory of a Bike

This weekend, I'll be getting back my bike that I was riding in the crash. I haven't seen it yet but have been told that it is pretty much toast. At least, the handlebars, wheels, and fork are demolished. I don't know about the frame--I'm hoping I can salvage the saddle and am really hoping that the bike computer survived. If saying good-bye to my trusty Geo Prizm (after I was hit in a hit-and-run in San Francisco in 2006) is any example, it will be sad to say good-bye to my faithful red Cannondale. The bike has seen me through thousands of miles of training and racing, including 2 of the Ironman races and numerous other triathlons. I've taken the bike into the shop far more often than my car, and have been careful to keep it running well. Most of the parts have been replaced, and often upgraded. I was hoping to use it for awhile to race with while I get more experience, and then pass it off to someone who would appreciate the gift.

In 2006, on my red bike, next to my red car.
Don't worry, I always wear my helmet while riding. See, it's on the car.

Morning Thoughts

Morning Rainbow
Originally uploaded by annetics

We've had some pretty intense rain and hail in the past day or two, so I was happy to be greeted by this sight this morning and am reminded how fortunate I am to live in such a beautiful place.

This week is Diabetes Training Camp for the Triabetes captains down in Tucson, and I am not able to be there because of my bike accident on Feb 1. It has been heartbreaking for me to miss it but it just wasn't an option. The healing is going well, and I have been able to get on my trainer for 15 minutes at a time for several days now; but I won't be able to swim, bike (outside) or run at all until the end of the month, at the earliest. I'm really glad I can use the trainer, though, and conveniently, I already had an old tire on my rear wheel, so won't care if it is completely worn down by the trainer flywheel.

I had a visit with the physical therapist on Monday, and she felt that my shoulder joint is in good shape and gave me a few exercises for loosening up the muscles in my arm and shoulder. We couldn't do much with the core muscles because the ribs are not healed yet, so that will have to wait. I have been concerned about some loss of muscle mass in the left calf, which I noticed 5 days after the crash. None of the doctors I have seen felt like it was a neurological issue; the PT felt like it was most likely related to some deep bruising in the area. I still have an area of bruising on the outside of my calf which is quite painful to the touch. Perhaps the bruises in the lower leg just take longer to heal. I am breathing easier since the rib pain is much reduced and I do not get out of breath as easily. I never did get the Xray of my hand because, even if it were broken, nothing would be done about it, and I think I'm getting enough radiation as it is. I still wonder if I broke some ribs on the right side. The last time I saw the orthopedic PA, he said that I had likely broken at least half of the ribs going down the back on the left. He was pointing out the fractures in each rib in the Xray going down the left side. "Here it is, here it is, here it is...."

Despite all of this, the PT and others feel optimistic that I will have a full recovery and I am feeling much, much better than a month ago! It is going to take a lot of work and I think my biggest challenge will be in having the patience to build up slowly instead of thinking I can just jump in where I left off before the accident. In a way, I feel like I have been building a house over the past few years (of training) which was just burned to the ground in a fire. But if I think about it, I probably still have a good foundation and framework, and just need to put the walls back up (and probably not even all the walls).

2009 DiabetesMine Design Challenge!

It's time to get your creative juices flowing for the 2009 DiabetesMine Design Challenge, which was announced by Amy Tenderich of DiabetesMine this morning. A while back, Amy asked me if I would be willing to participate in the video announcement for this contest; of course I readily agreed! I strongly believe that huge strides in diabetes management could be made by improving the design of current medical devices, without necessarily requiring huge improvements in the medical technology itself. (Although, I would love to see some diabetes products that don't require expensive and high maintenance disposable parts. And of course a super-accurate, noninvasive blood glucose meter is the holy grail!)

View the video below, and check out the rules at the official contest page. There are top-notch judges and cash prizes of up to $10,000!