My Status

[Lotsokids]

A few people have been asking, so I'll share it. You can read the history of my car accident here: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=8096.0

I am doing very well. As I told others, I have much to complain about, but I am still healthy and returned back to work last Monday, so I have much to be thankful for! I've been completely medically cleared (by a doctor in Seattle who has never seen me - that's another story). My managers at work are VERY worried about me returning to work and have set up "watchers" to see if I start going crazy.

They had to accomplish another surgery to remove 2 dead bones that didn't take, plus the back 2 lower teeth. I still have sharp bone pieces that work themselves through my gums on the inside and cut into my tongue. That's the most painful part fortunately. I'm still on a liquid diet and lost 45 pounds! That should improve my 1/4 mile times. I'm in "healing mode" for now waiting for the jawbone to heal completely before corrective surgery sometime around August.

Motorcycling limitations: I have an injury on the back of my head about 4 inches round. I have been on blood thinners for a blood clot in January, so it's not healing well and very sensitive. I tried on my helmet and it hits that spot directly. I thought about putting some tissue paper between it and the helmet, but I'm not sure. I can't wait to ride again! The weather is warming up here nicely.

I certainly appreciate the continued prayers. It's a long road. It's amazing how quickly your life can be turned upside-down.

[movenon]

Thanks for the update. I was wondering how you were doing. I know there are some difficulties getting healed up from that kind of trauma. Don't push the riding bike thing until your head gets healed.

Not a pleasant way to lose weight...... You didn't look that heavy to start with.

Please know that I and others are thinking of you and please hang in there.

As for the doctor in Seattle, well its a small world . Had a friend here in Boise, Idaho who had Prostrate surgery on the table here but the doctor doing the surgery was in San Fransisco.... All remote with robotic equipment. Now that scares me....
Stay well and get well. Glad your back to work. It will help the pocket book and time to go by.
George

[Mark Olson]

Hey Lotso, 

Hang in there , things will get better and you will ride again.

great news on the power to weight ratio, the fj will seem like it has a turbo.

[1tinindian]

Thanks for the update.
We care.

Leon

[Lotsokids]

I can't seem to get ahead. I just returned from a checkup at the hospital. The doctor removed the gauze that has been stitched over my jaw bone for the last 30 days. He saw ANOTHER dead bone, and started pulling and twisting pretty hard. He then noticed that it was held in place by a screw. He schedule ANOTHER SURGERY for April 3 and he said he needs to cut me open and get at the screw from the outside. He then said I was done, leaving everything like it was. So now I have a sharp end of an exposed screw cutting into my tongue, making it very difficult to talk.

This is a big setback for me, physically and emotionally. I talked with my boss and we are currently trying to arrange travel back to the U.S. immediately to let the Mayo Clinic take care of me.

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

[markmartin]

I talked with my boss and we are currently trying to arrange travel back to the U.S. immediately to let the Mayo Clinic take care of me.

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

That sounds like a really good idea. Good luck and hang tough. You're going to beat this thing.

[baldy3853]

Lots
Hopefully they will send u State side there you will get much better health care then where you are now, which in its self is another reason to Leave!!
Baldy

[ddlewis]

...The doctor removed the gauze that has been stitched over my jaw bone for the last 30 days. He saw ANOTHER dead bone, and started pulling and twisting pretty hard. He then noticed that it was held in place by a screw...

Holy crap, this sounds like something I'd do working on the bike..

+1 on getting back stateside for some better care asap.

[racerman_27410]

Dang!  sounds like Hungary is not a place to get hurt. (unless ya dont wanna get better)

get yer hiney back here ASAP and let some real professionals work on your face.
continued prayers for your healing brother!


KOokaloo!


Frank

[aviationfred]

I hope everything works out for you to get back stateside and get the proper treatment for your injurys.

Fred

[pdxfj]

People may complain that our health care her in the states is expensive, but it is the best in the world.

Get back here and get things taken care of properly.  I've been following your recovery and have been worried about the level of care you've been receiving since my family has been effected by poor health care outside of the U.S.

One of my grandfathers died of a botched cancer surgery.  He was stationed in Tokyo and my mother along with a number of other people pleaded with him to fly back to the states to have the surgery done.  He refused and elected to have it done in Tokyo.  The (Japanese) doctor who performed the surgery accidentally left a bleeder inside him.  By the time anyone noticed the doctor had left on vacation and no one could reach him.  No other doctor would go in and fix it because of the dishonor that would fall on them if anything went wrong (i.e. if he DIED).  So my grandfather died of internal bleeding while in a coma, lying in a hospital bed.  Not right for a man who was a true "spy" in every sense of the word, whose service spanned the OSS, CIA, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War and the cold war.  He died in 1987 and I had only ever seen him three times in my life.

Had he been here in the states they would have opened him up as soon as they discovered the problem and fixed it.

Do whatever it takes to get back here and stay as long as necessary to get fully healed.  The longer you put it off the greater chance of permanent damage that can't be fixed. 

[rktmanfj]

What Mr. Bean said.

Come back and get some quality health care while it still exists.

[movenon]

Take an extended vacation and get your ass back here...

[Lotsokids]

Done deal. Unfortunately, the doctor in charge of my company's international personnel denied medical travel. My managers (and higher) said that's CRAP and told me to secure some airline tickets anyway. I did (company is still paying for it - just a different account). AWESOME.

I will be in the Mayo Clinic on Friday to start evaluations and X-rays, then surgery sometime next week.

It feels odd to be actually looking forward to surgery.

Another cool thing is that my parents live fairly close, so I'll be chillin' at their house during recovery for maybe a week.

[aviationfred]

Good deal, glad that your employer was willing to work with you so proper treatment can be had. Have a safe trip and surgery. 

Fred