TGINM - 2.4.14

That's Thank God It's Not Monday. Somehow, just about everyone I know had a sh*t day yesterday. Today is better, but the bar is not high over here so I'm not sure that's saying much.

This past Saturday marked 6-weeks post face-plant. Time flies when you're having this much fun - and I actually HAVE been having fun despite the weather. No offense to those able-bodied racer-types but this crap weather has EVERYONE relegated inside so I didn't have to endure the facebook postings or the twitterings of fantastic monster-miles every weekend. Sorry, misery loves company.

As mentioned in the prior post, my initial Ortho appointment was less than satisfactory so I followed up with another Bone-Doc who came highly recommended by a coworker. Her son apparently did a Superman off the bed when he was 2 or 3 and sustained a collarbone break. He's an overachiever- I didn't break my first bone until I was in my late 20s. Anyway, Dr. Thompson was great. I went in 10 days post accident. His first statement (not a question, but a statement) was : Bike Crash. He continued with another - statement, not a question - "you're on the bike already". I shed a tiny, unnoticeable tear as I said "I feel like you KNOW me!". His response - "I'm kinda surprised you're not on the road already" - settled it. This was the right Ortho for me!

Interesting outcome from the new round of X-rays - the plate DID crack from the impact. There are 4 screws in the plate and the plate broke at the one nearest the point of impact. So yeah, I kinda hit the deck.

I was out on the road - on my CX bike for the wider, more cush ride - the following weekend. One week off the bike (mostly on drugs or sleeping or sleeping on drugs), one week on the trainer and there I was, back in action. Kinda. I wasn't fast and I found that the motion of dismounting - say, at a stoplight- was painful. As long as I was pedaling, though, I was happy. Stupid happy, really.

In the meanwhile, I've been able to do trainer workouts and some other functional stuff - no bench-presses or chin-ups yet but I'll get there. Actually, maybe not the chin-ups. I've only managed to do a few of those in my lifetime.

Speaking of me  - the Month of Wendy was officially a success despite my best attempt to put a damper on the occasion. I was lucky to be able to spend time with friends, be it on the bike, dinner, a quick visit or to share a cup of coffee. I also had to part ways with an old friend - my beloved X3. She took me all over the country and back often lugging friends and family, most times with multiple bikes and bags. She was still looking great after 10 years and over 180k miles but she finally objected vehemently to the deep freeze that started early January. The repairs would cost more than was economical so ... it was hard to let her go but we had many good years and miles. I like to think she either got fixed up and is already sharing miles with a nice family or she's gone to that great highway with no speed limits in the sky.

I shopped around a bit to compare cars and maintenance ratings and longevity etc etc and ... I went to BMW of Alexandria and test drove the 2014 X3 and I realized that I couldn't match that "feeling" in any other vehicle. I didn't like the white or black, the red was DEFINITELY not for me (I have a heavy foot and screaming out to the law enforcement that I'm coming is not in my best interest), the sky blue is very much not me, the space-grey wasn't that beautiful gun-metal grey that Audi sports, bronze was out of the question. So .... blue it is. It's pretty much my old car, updated 10 years. And my how things have changed! I didn't even get the super-duper version but it's taken me a month to get used to things like - not having to put a key in the ignition and how to get my wipers in the correct position in the event of snow/ice on the way (it's like a secret handshake).

2004 X3

2014 X3

By sheer coincidence, the car was delivered on my actual birthday. Since then, it's been clean all of 5 days. Seriously. This weekend I was having some consternation finding a local "good" car wash - fully knowing that everyone was going to be washing cars after the past week. I didn't want my shiny new car to get all scratched up with someone else's salt left in the brushes or whatever. I was asking everyone around - I used to go to a great spot in Canton (Baltimore) - I had a monthly membership and would get my car washed at least twice a month. I have not found that kind of place down here. Anyway, after sweating it Friday and most of the day Saturday, I realized - wait - I have a driveway. And a hose. I CAN WASH MY OWN CAR!!!

Fun fact - don't wash your car with dish soap. It is so effective that it takes the wax off your paint job. Glad I read that before I started the process. Anyway, the boy and I proceeded to wash both cars Saturday afternoon - how novel, right? Funny that washing a car in your driveway was the way of the world most of my life and yet it wasn't even on the radar after "city" living for a few years.

The bad news is that it's almost a given that when I wash my car, it will rain, sleet, ice and snow.  You're welcome.

Recovery Ramblings 1.5.14

Back in action

While I never wish for bad weather or bad roads, I'll admit that a tiny part of me is feeling better about being relegated indoors for training this weekend. I was back on the bike, on the trainer, as of last Saturday. Now, some may say too soon. And I get that, I really do. A good friend and teammate put it rather succinctly - "We all want to say ... take time to heal. We all know ... we would do the same thing!". I am being gentle with my shoulder but hey, my legs aren't broken!

 The confirmed break in the collarbone is less than severe - I wish I had a copy of the x-ray to prove my point. The plate (from 2003 or 2004) held nicely, which is a great thing because, if it had been compromised, surgery would be the only option. The tiny piece of bone between the plate and the shoulder broke. I couldn't tell if it was a complete break or a bad fracture. The ortho was the only one that could get me in on short notice during the holiday week but he wasn't a sports guy nor did he really have any good advice other than a timeframe to gradually get on the bike in 6-8 weeks. Suffice it to say, my follow up appointment is with a different ortho who IS a sports guy and comes highly recommended. 

The stitches above my eye were a whole 'nother debacle. I went to my primary Doc on Thursday (after Christmas) to get them removed because I couldn't get a plastics doc to take me within the allotted time frame. I'm told that leaving the stitches in too long gives you a less-than-desirable criss-cross scar. I will definitely have a scar (I'm channeling Tommy Boy:"Son of a ...That's gonna leave a mark"), but I didn't want to make it worse than it had to be. My "primary" is the one I had to list for my health insurance company. I studiously browsed the accepted doctors and selected one based on very stringent factors: her office is near my home and she shared my first name. Come on, aren't all Wendys as cool as me? Apparently not. 

She started the visit by chastising me for not knowing how many stitches I had (sorry, IF they told me a number I was kinda in shock at the time. They could have said "gummy bears" for all I know). Mmm... gummy bears. She also attacked my method of caring for my wounds by saying that the (pardon the visual) ooze that was coming from the wounds was an infection, likely a staph infection and I could die from it. Bedside manner, anyone? 

I do recall the ER seamstress saying that the stitches would be BLUE. So they could easily be seen. I helpfully mentioned that to the primary but she was not impressed with my assistance. She proceeded to yank and pull on whatever she could grab, which included skin and eyebrow. I expected the momentary pain but I was truly afraid she was ripping open the wound. She finally finished and started to walk out when I stopped her. Motioning to my face, which was still pretty banged up, I asked if she had any advice on healing/scar prevention. She tersely shook her head and walked out with a parting comment that was something to effect of  "You're going to have some marks". Thanks, Dr. Obvious. 

On Friday evening, I was cleaning my wounds and noticed a blue string. I pulled it with the tweezers and it came out - a remnant of one of the ones she clipped, no doubt. Ok, shoddy work but ok. Then I saw a blue string that was going against the normal eyebrow direction. I started to yank on it and ... Son of a ... are you kidding me? She missed a stitch. IT WAS BLUE. She was all up in my face and missed a BLUE stitch in my (sparse from the crash) brown eyebrow. I spent my day Saturday going back to the fantastic ER in Loudoun County and had them take out the stitch. They also informed me that the wounds were healing nicely and no, that wasn't staph and I probably wasn't going to die from it. Seriously. Where does one lodge a complaint for poor Doctor service?

One nice side effect of this drama is that I've had the chance to visit with friends off the bike (how novel!).  Please, lets do this more often, sans injury! Thank you to everyone who reached out, sent advice, shared a cup or two of coffee and brought required medical assistance (e.g.: wine, chocolate, bananas - for sustenance, scar cream, nail polish and a fabulously lux blanket). Favorite comment on my last blog goes to Brian ... made me laugh ... because I'm sure the EMTs weren't sure what to do with that and because even though I don't remember it, I know it is SO me and I'm sure it made you guys laugh.  

Anyhoo, as requested (for you, Ycycle!) I'm posting a couple of pics of my helmet and one of my bike. It was hard to get the helmet damage to really show on photo, but I did my best. I'm also adding a pic that one of my teammates took at the scene - it's graphic but it made me laugh at the same time. Facial wounds bleed like a stuck pig so I imagine that's where my head landed. 

I stopped momentum with my head and face. Note the blood stains on the strap.

I don't think photos can do it justice. The top left circle is
what I think caused the gash above my eye - I would have
assumed it was my Oakleys but they survived unscathed. 

My teammates knew I'd want to know how my bike survived.
Photo Credit: Michael Stearns

I know, somewhat morbid but it made me
laugh. Photo Credit: Tods Manggon

So this happened yesterday...

Saturday was an awesome day to be on the bike. I had the pleasure of riding with a choice few of my fellow Evolution teammates. As advertised, it was pretty much a 'Real' zone 2 ride, for real. In my opinion, that's where we should be riding in December. Let the measuring contests and the ego efforts  dominate later in the training season, not in December! In my world, the saying goes 'hero in December, zero in June'. I dunno, maybe I've got it all wrong but Saturdays ride was just right for me.

With about 20 minutes left in the ride, we were more or less single file on Loudoun County Parkway, rolling along around 25-27mph (based on reports I've heard). I remember seeing the rider in front of me swerve to the right; I was already to the right to I assumed I was ok. Then I wasn't. It happened in a split second. My bike abruptly stopped, throwing me off the saddle onto the top-tube. For a second I thought I was going to save it but then I was flying to the left, still attached to my bike. I remember the feeling of my face hitting asphalt, my head hitting the ground and then my shoulder finally stopping the movement.

I did not lose consciousness but I was definitely in shock. I couldn't really see straight and I just wanted to go to sleep. My teammates were there before I opened my eyes. I don't remember the sequence of events - I knew it was bad when I heard someone calling 911. I remember Tania saying she hit a piece of wood, someone asking for The Boy's number, I think Brian noticed that I had a Road ID and asked if it was the interactive version. I heard Chaz leaving a message for The Boy, I heard a lady talking to my teammates, I think she gave someone her card in case we needed to get back in touch. I was shivering, so cold. Someone laid (what I later found out was a shirt) over me.I don't remember who took off my helmet but I do remember hearing that it was a miracle that my glasses were unscathed. At some point someone took off my shoes.

The ambulance was there quickly, I heard the sirens coming. According to team reports, several vehicles stopped and the woman I heard was blocking traffic for us. The EMTs kept asking my name and my birthdate. I heard teammates already making arrangements for my bike and my car. I just wanted to go to sleep. They rolled me onto the backboard and pushed me into the ambulance. It took them forever to get moving, they kept asking questions but I was having trouble speaking (probably something to do with the fantastic swollen lip I was sporting).

The ambulance ride wasn't long but I swear they hit every pothole on the way. The EMT tried to push an IV but after several tries she old me I have 'bad veins'. I distinctly recall mumbling "don't judge" after her comment. They asked me what hurt and i was too out of it to shoot back "what doesn't" ... they cut my jersey to get a look at my shoulder when I pointed to it. And I didn't care.

The Boy was out riding and doesn't answer numbers he doesn't recognize. I apparently told someone this fact before I got in the ambulance but I don't remember it. That set off another chain of events to try to get someone in contact with him.

I had a teammate at the hospital before I got there. Thank you, Jeff, I can't tell you how much it meant to see a friendly face as I was starting to come around and take in what was happening. Tania had the wonderful foresight to grab my race bag and purse out of my car and drop it at the hospital. I was shivering like I was naked in the arctic so they kept throwing more and more blankets on me.

The nurses took a long time cleaning all the blood off my face. They pumped me full of morphine and ordered X-rays. A woman came in to stitch the gash over my left eye - I made a comment about her being the best since this IS my face and she declared that she loved to sew. X-rays came next and she wanted me to stand for them. They ordered for my shoulder, my chest and my eye. I stood for the first and nearly passed out. The X-ray tech declared, oh I see the problem. I thought "sigh, there's a real problem". She showed me where the plate in my collarbone held up but the piece of bone at the end looked like it had fractured - very faint but need to see an ortho.

Me and my cool nurse

Then it was the waiting ... By now I was starving, the morphine was wearing off and I felt pretty gross. I always say "chamois time is not saddle time" and by now I was hitting all-time records for chamois time. Plus, after a decent 3+ hour ride and then sitting in sweaty, clammy bike clothes (and no, the piece that was ripped off my arse did not provide ventilation), I'm sure I was smelling like roses.

The Boy arrived, quite stressed after getting bits of info but not knowing the full story. My nurse came back, said the obligatory nice things about how much better I looked but still took pity on me and sent me off with my first dose of Percocet and a goodie bag of supplies to get me started. The Boy had the joyous task of washing wounds, doing a sponge bath (and not the sexy kind), and trying to forage food. He did a splendid job, especially given the circumstances.

Jeff and Phil returned my car and bike today. Thank you both, it was an extra effort and very much appreciated. I saw my helmet for the first time. To quote Jeff, who has seen many a mangled helmet "This was the most damage done to a helmet that I've seen" ...apologies if I misquoted but you get the drift.

 Thank you to each one of my teammates on that ride: Brian, Chaz, Phil, Tania, Dave, David, Rick, Tods...please forgive me if I missed someone; I did just recently hit my head. You were all there and you all played a part in helping a fallen teammate and friend. I can't tell you how much that means but I'm going to say thank you for now and offer up a nice dinner together when I am healed up.

Let me say this - and I will say it again with every post regarding this injury and the recovery to come:

Wear your god-damn helmet. I won't be a drama queen and say it saved my life but it definitely saved my noggin from much more severe damage, possibly debilitating or fatal.

Get a Road ID or carry easily accessible info at all times. If I had been alone and on the pavement, at least they know my name and up to 3 contact numbers.

Now...recovery begins.