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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> strange things are afoot at the circle K
        
(Message started by: athos on Jul 18^th, 2006, 5:23am)

Title: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by athos on Jul 18^th, 2006, 5:23am

Hello Folks... It has been a long time. Thought that I would give you the update.

As of May 06 CH was bad and blacking out was still horrid. However on May 11/2006 that all changed.

On the 8th I picked up my grandfathers 1974 AMC Matador from being 6 months at the mechanic getting a replacement exhaust manifold. On my way out the mechanic said, "now the brakes are iffy, but if you push hard on them they work."

My wife saw my driving it and told me that the brake lights were out. I told my grandfather that there were no lights and the brakes were hard. My grandfather said that a switch in the master cylinder controlled the brakes and I guess we should get them looked at. On the 11th I was driving that car back up to my grandparents. I was traveling on the frontage road at 45 mph. I went to slow down for the upcoming 4 way stop and there were no brakes. I then chose to hit a tree instead of the car in front of me. I figured that the tree did not have a lawyer.

Now I was not wearing a seatbelt and was knocked cold when I hit the ceiling. Now since the fusion in my neck had already gone bad, that is, there was a non-union between C4-C5 (no fusion). The only thing holding it in place was the hardware plate and screws. Since I hit the ceiling the force traveled down my spine. Luckily the titanium screws broke and nothing else and I walked out of the hospital 3 days later.

http://xdup.com/pix/Side_view_Xray_broken_Screw.jpg

Since I was knocked out they did life flight me. Had I been wearing my seatbelt my body would have stayed on the seat and subsequently would have whip lashed my neck. Since there was only the hardware holding my neck in place it would have snapped there at C4-C5 and I would have been dead.

Over the next 2 months pain in my right shoulder increased and numbness increased in my arm. Dr. Smith who did my first surgery would not touch it, and I talked to Dr Penka who reminds me of Dr. Bombay from Bewitched, but an excellent surgeon, thought it would be best to get it fixed. So on the 10th of July I had them re-do the fusion at C4-C5.

http://xdup.com/pix/Side_view_Xray_new_hardware.jpg

http://xdup.com/pix/Photo_of_c4-c5_space.jpg

For the past 5-7 years I have been Chronic CH with about 2-3 attacks per week. I have also been battling Neuro-cardiogenic Syncope (blackouts which I have split my head open numerous times, 15 ambulance rides etc). Since the accident on the 11 of may 2005 I have had 2 CH attacks and ZERO blackouts. God trying to get my attention? Just needed a good whack up side the head?

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jul 18^th, 2006, 6:56am

God works in Mysterious ways !! Keeping my fingers crossed for you !

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by sandie99 on Jul 18^th, 2006, 7:26am

Good to hear from you! :)

God sure works in mysterious ways. I do hope that the beast will stay away...

Best wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by Cathi04 on Jul 18^th, 2006, 8:38am

Well, all I can say, for starters is...HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a lot to go thru to end CH, but if it works!

Ken, its good to hear from you. Of course I'm sorry about the accident, the Matador must be toast, but if you are no longer falling down like a ragdoll, then I know, life is good!

Please say HI to the kids for me!

Take care, and dont be a stranger!

Cathi

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by Melissa on Jul 18^th, 2006, 8:48am

Well, that is a big farking whack!!!

Glad you are still alive and kicking Ken! I hope the CH's completely disappear now but I'm afraid if they do, clusterheads everywhere will be looking to run into trees with their cars. ;)

Wow! :o

hugs,
:)melly

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by Mattrf on Jul 18^th, 2006, 12:13pm

I feel for you, I had my neck done two years ago, sure hope both yours where not as painful as mine.
After I came out of it I was at a kip 10 for about five hours, had no idea of anything around me and the only memory I had was pain. My family was with me and said I just kept saying “fuck this hurts” I was also trying to rim the neck collar off and was lifting my body off the bead by my neck, they kept trying to pin me to the bed but I was lifting so hard that they had a hell of a time. Fricken neck hurt like hell for six months and still huts now but I live with it and try not to look to far over my shoulder.
My first cycle had ended about two months before this and this one started about 3 months after the worst of it was over, talk about a shitty three years!
Hope you get better soon and the monster goes away to give you some PF time, sounds like you could use it.

Matt

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by BarbaraD on Jul 18^th, 2006, 2:59pm

Athos,

Have you ever considered taking up a "hobby"? ;)

Hope you're better soon...

Hugs BD

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by athos on Jul 18^th, 2006, 3:08pm

So far this surgery has been better than the last one. not near as painful. And last time I sounded just like wolfman jack, not really an endearing sound.

So I am hoping that the no CH and no syncope streak continues.

I am calling this treatment the deadwood 45... Hit a tree doing 45 mph with no seatbelt. I am sure we can sandwich it there on the left between Water X 3 and Oxygen info.

It still kinda freaks me out that I really could have been dead.

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by thomas on Jul 18^th, 2006, 3:12pm

Very strange, maybe you whacked yourself on the "re-set" button. But no matter how, I'm glad you are ok and are getting some measure of relief.

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by Charlie on Jul 18^th, 2006, 9:37pm

Geesh. Those are some scary pictures. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/nailbiting.gif

Glad you're posting and basically free of the beast but do us a favor and take up oragami.

Charlie

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by athos on Jul 19^th, 2006, 10:47am

ya I am just gratefull for the repreeve. Not sure of the etiology on the remission of either the CH or the syncope (blackouts). Might be an interesting study.

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by athos on Aug 4^th, 2006, 6:13am

Here is another thought on this situationa dn I would like your feedback.

I was about1 - 2 weeks before the accident that I had cut out caffine and anything that had aspartame in it. Would htat account for non syncope and fewer CH?

Just a point to ponder... The accident makes for a better sounding story.

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by floridian on Aug 4^th, 2006, 7:47am

on 08/04/06 at 06:13:57, athos wrote:

Dramatic, amazing, mysterious. Good to hear from you, hope the CH stays away and all else goes well.

Title: Re: strange things are afoot at the circle K
Post by Jasmyn on Aug 4^th, 2006, 9:39am

Sherbet Sherlock! :o

I'm just glad for you that something good came out of this and that you are still alive to tell the story.