Two jobs just got posted today - 1 contract position, 1 direct hire position.

Wish me luck - I'm submitting my resume for both tomorrow (after reviewing and customizing for the position).

Oh yes, I follow up with my orthopedic specialist tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1:30 p.m. - I assume the stitches are coming out, and a prescription for physical therapy is forthcoming. I may still have the sling, and I'm not sure if I'll be cleared to drive yet.

Sneaking on one handed typing.....

Good news. No repair required, so I should be out of the sling in two weeks.

I had an asthma attack after surgery...they said it is not uncommon with the nerve block to feel short of breath...plus I had a trach tube down my throat.

I lost my voice too...and have a hard time speaking more than few words without being short of breath.

Just updating you...I'll be back in a few days.

Rachel

One week to go until surgery!

And it's going to be a long week...the surgical center told me yesterday that I cannot take ibuprofen for one week before surgery. Yep, you guessed it, that's my pain relief/anti-inflammatory of choice. I can take Tylenol, but Tylenol does not work for me. Hasn't since I was a teenager. I guess I'll try though, depending on how bad the pain level gets in the next 7 days!

Still working my way down a fairly lengthy list of things I want to do while I still have two hands to type with. :)

A surgery date is one step closer to reality.

I called the doctor's office today to get an update.

Instead of the doctor's assistant calling me back, I got a call from billing. They wanted to know if I had private insurance outside of the auto insurance. I gave them my information (my husband's insurance is awesome and covers us both) and they will preauthorize my surgery through his insurance too.

I don't understand PIP, but apparently there's a finite amount of money (research shows $15K is minimum in Oregon, apparently). While the insurance company would confirm I still have money available, they wouldn't tell the doctor's office how much.

All this means I'm one step closer to an actual surgery date. And once they preauthorize with my husband's insurance, I"ll be pretty close. I assume that's when they will actually schedule the date.

I had my followup visit at the doctor today - it's been 15 days since the accident.

No more sling, unless I'm walking (because the arms swing too much and cause a lot of pain).

Keep wearing the brace, but do some range of motion movements. I think if the wrist is still as painful in 2 weeks, they'll probably do an MRI, because that will indicate whether I tore ligaments a bit more seriously.

She thinks I might have dislocated my shoulder a smidge - she called it sublexation (which basically means a partial dislocation). That's based on the pain and how it occurs with movement.

She's happy I'm getting acupuncture, she thinks it will help immensely.

I will see her again in 2 weeks, the day before I leave for Philly. I will have had 2 physical therapy visits by then, so she can judge progress. She will also evaluate prescriptions and issue new ones if necessary, especially for travel. She warned me to pack light. :)

Good news!

Apparently, nothing is broken, at least in the wrist or forearm (those x-rays were taken on 5/2/08). Today, the doctor had more x-rays taken in the neck, spine, and shoulder areas to make sure there are no "hidden" fractures they can't see (there are no obvious breaks).

She said it was definitely cervical strain and gave me three prescriptions and physical therapy (6 visits to start with, she'll check in on my progress every week or two and prescribe more if necessary).

I spent three hours in the urgent care this morning, getting myself checked over. They took x-rays and nothing is broken, but they did give me a wrist brace to wear. I did go to the ER after the accident, but no x-rays were taken then.

I have a followup appointment with my doctor next week. I will go to the immediate care as necessary until my appt, so my pains can be documented as belonging to the accident.

The appraiser looked at the Durango yesterday, and apparently the impact hit the front right tire to the point that it snapped the linkage to the steering wheel column, which explains why my arms are the sorest part of me (the energy from the impact came up to the steering wheel). All of my pain is common in whiplash/cervical strain injuries. The bruises have not even showed up yet.

The Durango has $5k worth of damage, so far.

I will be going back to work on Monday. I took off Thursday and today.