On moding the Wheelchair

I better get this one finished before things happen. Of course, then if I do write it, thing won’t happen.

I spent too much of the weekend worrying about whether I’d bought the right wheelchair as it felt a bit small and the left wheel moved even when the brake was set, despite all the effort it took to set it. However, on Monday morning, I went down to the Gym to see the OT to get her opinion on the wheelchair. I noticed that part of the left brake mechanism was overly loose, so I asked her if I might use the Allen keys and wrenches that the gym has. She offered to do it herself, but I said that it was a boy thing. (I have since regretted my sexist words.) Anyway, after some tightening of bolts and nuts, the brake worked properly. 

I also used the opportunity and tools to remove a braking system. This is less alarming than it seems as I had also removed the wheels to which the braking system belonged. These were the small back wheels to be used when using the chair as a transfer chair. As I do not intend to use the chair that way, and as they sometimes prevent the main rear wheels from working on uneven ground, I felt they were less than useless. As removing them was a matter of using a wrench and an Allen key, off they came along with their brakes. Thus the wheelchair is a bit lighter.

My cousin Kristine asked on Facebook what name I had given it. She then surprised me with an emailed suggestion: Mooselangelo, as it represented a Renaissance. I rather like the name as well as the thought behind it. So, I think that is what its name will be.

After a slow morning on Tuesday, I got in a lot of exercise in the afternoon. The replacement physio has started me wearing a compression sock on my left foot which has reduced the swelling to the point that during today’s physio session, I wore a regular shoe on my left foot rather than my orthopaedic sandal. I still have to get use to it.

My IV antibiotics were said to be until May 15th, i.e. today. I had hoped that meant that yesterday was my last day, but no such luck. Furthermore, when the nurse was going about hooking me up for my evening dose, he found that it took too much effort to flush the PICC line with the saline solution. This led to a number of nurses discussing the matter and calling for the duty doctor. They administered a dose of anticoagulant before waiting half an hour and flushing the line again. They finally attached the IV and got the antibiotic flowing. All this had taken the best part of an hour. I asked the doctor if she would be so kind as to inform the people at the General about the issues with the PICC line.

Why? Well, tomorrow I go to the General to meet with Ortho and Infectious Diseases about my ailments. Several people have asked me what expect will happen tomorrow. My stock answer has been that some X-rays will be taken and doctors will look at them and go “Hmm…”. 

After that, I fall into the realm of speculation. What I have been afraid of (and more so with this evenings PICC line issues) is that I have to continue on with the IV antibiotics which will make going home much more tricky. What I hope will happen is that they will decide that I don’t need antibiotics anymore and therefore, they will remove the PICC line. 

Now that I write it, I realize that I sound more concerned with the antibiotic question than with my leg. This is not really the case: it is just that the IV antibiotics seem to be nearly over, whereas the leg is nowhere near healed. I am hoping that the bits of my tibia are now ready to be reassembled in what I hope will be the last major operation. If not, then I hope that there would be a clear time line which would give me the time to get in a quick trick to Vancouver and back.

Or at least, a relatively uncomplicated period of time to spend at home in which to enjoy something like normal life. Of course that is probably too much to hope for.