- Your momma must have dropped you on your head as a baby
- Youngun' you ain't right (in the head)
I'm pretty sure I was one of those kids with an overactive imagination that got me into trouble more than once. And I'm pretty sure that one or both of these phrases were usually used after I'd said or done something off the wall that didn't make sense to anybody but me. So I guess you could say it was just a matter of time until I'd need therapy of some sort.
In the hospital, I met with speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The only ones I saw before I was out of the ICU were the speech therapists. Now in the hospital, they were also the ones who determined what kind of food I got. So they gave me different "snacks" to see how I managed. I remember applesauce, saltines, and graham crackers (seems like there was one other item but I don't remember what is was). You have realize that the day the surgery, I could barely use my right hand. Not only did I have IV's in both arms, but my right hand was so weak I couldn't even lift and grasp a fork. The right side of my mouth was also weak. Drinking something straight from a cup was out of the question unless I wanted to spill it all over me. I had to have a straw for close to the first three weeks after surgery. But I admit it was kind of interesting to me in a weird way. I knew that things had changed for me but it was only when I was being tested that I learned what the current limits were. The amazing thing was the limits became less and less of an issue every day.
On Thursday after the surgery, I got to meet with the physical therapist in the morning and the occupational therapist in the afternoon. I loved the physical therapist! She got me up and walking about (which made me very happy, in case you haven't noticed I have trouble staying still, it's a wonder I could ever play "Freeze" as a child) and she made herself an obstacle that I had to move around. I still smile thinking about going with the occupational therapist and seeing her in the hall and knowing from the way she was looking at me that she was going to get in my way again. I know I just shook my head and said "No, no, no!" as I moved to pass her. She and the occupational therapist laughed because I caught on so quick and moved to avoid her.
In the hospital, I met with speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The only ones I saw before I was out of the ICU were the speech therapists. Now in the hospital, they were also the ones who determined what kind of food I got. So they gave me different "snacks" to see how I managed. I remember applesauce, saltines, and graham crackers (seems like there was one other item but I don't remember what is was). You have realize that the day the surgery, I could barely use my right hand. Not only did I have IV's in both arms, but my right hand was so weak I couldn't even lift and grasp a fork. The right side of my mouth was also weak. Drinking something straight from a cup was out of the question unless I wanted to spill it all over me. I had to have a straw for close to the first three weeks after surgery. But I admit it was kind of interesting to me in a weird way. I knew that things had changed for me but it was only when I was being tested that I learned what the current limits were. The amazing thing was the limits became less and less of an issue every day.
On Thursday after the surgery, I got to meet with the physical therapist in the morning and the occupational therapist in the afternoon. I loved the physical therapist! She got me up and walking about (which made me very happy, in case you haven't noticed I have trouble staying still, it's a wonder I could ever play "Freeze" as a child) and she made herself an obstacle that I had to move around. I still smile thinking about going with the occupational therapist and seeing her in the hall and knowing from the way she was looking at me that she was going to get in my way again. I know I just shook my head and said "No, no, no!" as I moved to pass her. She and the occupational therapist laughed because I caught on so quick and moved to avoid her.
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| I wanted to see the Ice Castle in Midway! |
One week after the surgery, I wanted to get out of the house so we ended up going to Midway to see the Ice Castle (which I thought was really cool). And the next day I got the staples removed!
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| Why are you taking my picture? |
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| Back side before staples taken out |
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| Front side with staples |
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| We'll call this my signature face... |
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| Before |
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| After...no more staples!! |
That first week out of the hospital was when I started outpatient therapy. I met with Chelsea for PT twice (total) before I was dismissed and Mark from OT once. Mark was able to measure the strength of my grips on both sides (my right hand has regained some strength since then but it's still slightly weaker than my left) and my response time on this really cool light board. The light board is a precursor to testing ability to drive. I was just below normal at the point, but with the way I was progressing Mark didn't think I'd need to see him again or even drive with him before being able drive on my own. I also had outpatient speech therapy twice a week with Lisa and Sydney (who's working on her masters in speech therapy). And I promise the speech therapy has had no effect on my accent!
I don't remember learning to talk. And I don't think I've ever really thought about what part of your mouth you use to make certain sounds. This forced me to think about things like that. For a while I was really having trouble distinguishing between the "sk" sound and the "st" sound. Like instead of saying Starbucks, I would say Scarbucks. I had one whole session working on pronouncing each sound and not mixing it up. These sessions also made me realize that there are certain words I've never liked to say because they sound weird to me. One of my words is rural. With the way I say it fast there's just now good way to pronounce the second "r." Sydney's word was delicatessen. Now when I stumble over a word, I have to slow down to pronounce it correctly and then repeat it three times. On Sydney's last day, I joked that before I left she had to say delicatessen but that I would be nice and now make her repeat it three times. Lisa and I were amused, Syd was not.
Today was my last speech therapy session. Now I still stumble over words when I'm trying to talk really fast or am feeling tired. I know I joke about needing therapy, but honestly I admire all the therapists I'm come into contact with. They probably don't hear it enough, but their efforts are greatly appreciated!
I don't remember learning to talk. And I don't think I've ever really thought about what part of your mouth you use to make certain sounds. This forced me to think about things like that. For a while I was really having trouble distinguishing between the "sk" sound and the "st" sound. Like instead of saying Starbucks, I would say Scarbucks. I had one whole session working on pronouncing each sound and not mixing it up. These sessions also made me realize that there are certain words I've never liked to say because they sound weird to me. One of my words is rural. With the way I say it fast there's just now good way to pronounce the second "r." Sydney's word was delicatessen. Now when I stumble over a word, I have to slow down to pronounce it correctly and then repeat it three times. On Sydney's last day, I joked that before I left she had to say delicatessen but that I would be nice and now make her repeat it three times. Lisa and I were amused, Syd was not.
Today was my last speech therapy session. Now I still stumble over words when I'm trying to talk really fast or am feeling tired. I know I joke about needing therapy, but honestly I admire all the therapists I'm come into contact with. They probably don't hear it enough, but their efforts are greatly appreciated!
