Losing my head

Or the hair on my head. 


People who knew me knows that when it comes to appearance, I am only vain on two things: my shoes and my hair. Most of my income goes to the upkeep of both. So losing my hair adds more stress to already stressful situation I am in. I've started shedding clumps of hair about two months ago but I attributed it to my scalp getting used to regular shampooing again. However, when it started to come off everytime I brush, or even tug at my hair, I started to worry. Dreading alopecia, I consulted with a dermatologist who diagnosed Telogen Effluvium. 


Telogen effluvium is the name for temporary hair loss due to shedding of resting or telogen hair after some shock to the system. From my research, about 85% of our hair follicles have active growing hair or anagen hair, while the rest are resting hair or telogen hair. It's normal to lose about 100 or so hair when we brush, shower or sleep. However, when there is some shock to the system as many as 70% of the anagen hairs can be pushed into the telogen phase and reverses the process. Which means healthy hair will be pushed out by the resting hair. 


The dermatologist told me that since I had a double whammy, a traumatic accident and major surgery, this precipitated the onset of telogen effluvium. This only became noticeable 2-3 months after the shock. What's more stressful is that there's no cure, you just have to wait it out. She said that shedding is a sign that it's already going back to the old phase. 


In the meantime, thanks to Tita Fanny, I'll try to "encourage" my hair to grow back. PLEASE.

Prosthesis 101

Meet my precioussss.... 

Type: Endoskeletal transtibial prosthesis

Specs:
- Acrylic socket with pelite liner (the fat beige part)
- 3 prong titanium socket adapter
- Aluminum and titanium socket adapter pylon ( (the robocop steel part)
- single axis foot with titanium ankle joint (covered by the shoes)

Donning the prosthetic leg:

1. Clean the stump with soap and warm water
2. Pat dry with a towel
3. Apply Contractubex to scar

       - I apply the ointment to prevent keloids and to increase the elasticity of the skin. I used to have an angry red scar on the area with the remaining bone but has since lightened to kikay pink. The stump doesn't hurt anymore and I have already accidentally banged it several time on various furniture when I forget that it was amputated (my subconcious sometimes thinks that I still have my right leg).


4. Put on socks on stump

       - I am still experimenting with different types of socks since prosthetic supplies are not that readily available in the Philippines. I wrap the stump in an ace bandage when I'm in bed to further promote shrinkage and use a shrinker stocking (the kind used by old people with rheumatism) when wearing the prosthetic. I have a problem with this because the stocking is madulas and I have a bit of pistoning when i walk. Not good, since my gait becomes abnormal. I am trying out now a Puma sport sock without a heel and find it more comfortable although it's mainit.

5. Extend knee and slide in stump, with the leg parallel to the ground.
6. Snap on velcro strap around the thigh. Make sure it's snug but not cutting into the skin.
7. Slowly bend knee and make sure the socket is snug under the knee.

    - there's a little bit of allowance between the socket and the end of the stump and the area around my knee is bearing the weight, so there is no trauma to end of the stump. Since this is just my first prosthesis and I'm a bit on the heavy side, using the vacuum type, which is the most stable and better cosmetically, is not yet advisable. The suspension in the strap type is a bit dodgy but with the right fit, I can regain my normal gait. Probably in a few months :-) I have to return the strap to my prosthetist today because it snaps off when I sit down. Sana wag nya sabihin na papayatin ko na lang hita ko :-(


Standing up and sitting down are production numbers since I'm not yet stable. My supposed "good" leg also has a femoral fracture so I need to grab on to something when I stand and when I sit down. I am using a four-legged walker, which is cumbersome. My physical therapist is training me to use crutches so I can be more mobile and we'll slowly advance to two crutches, then one crutch then just a cane. I'm training myself to take longer strides so I gain more ground. Let's just say I will not run win any walkathon anytime soon. Mas mabilis pa ang marriage ni Kim Kardashian kesa sa lakad ko.  


More updates to come pag nakalakawatsa na ko ng malayo-layo

Whole Again

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

~ Lao Tzu

Well, look who's walking now!

    I picked up my prosthesis this morning after 3 and 1/2 months of waiting for the right time. I had little sleep last night because of the anticipation. Although I'm getting comfortable with the wheelchair, I have to move on to my "new normal". We left at 11am and 20 minutes later, I am back on two feet. 

    I saw the prosthesis as soon as we entered the SGG Orthocare office. My first thought was, ang taba naman. Kuya Raffy explained that this is just a preliminary socket as my stump will still change in the next few weeks. All the excess fat and endema will be gone when my calf muscles rebuild. He also placed a foam liner inside for my comfort, as I mentioned that there's a painful pressure area where the bone ends. And because I have fat thighs. His words, not mine. 

I can't explain the feeling as I walk with two feet again. I have gotten used to the hop-hop system I do when using a walker. The first few steps I took, I forgot I already have another leg and dragged my right leg a bit. I still have to hold on the railings because my balance is shot. My left leg is also still unstable because if the IM nail but nevertheless, I know that I will be walking normally soon. 

As soon as we got home, I was greeted by my and my landlady's family. Now on to the next hurdle: the steps. I live on the 3rd floor of the apartment building and I have to be carried in a chair, princess-style, whenever I have to go down. Good thing my physical therapist is there to guide me up the steps. 

Here is basically how I  climbed 2 flights of stairs:

1. Grab the railing with my left hand and position the crutch on the first step with my right hand. 

2. Put left foot up the first step. 

3. Heave the whole 150 pounds (approximately) of me with my two hands and one leg. 

4. Put right foot up the first step. 

5. Wash, rinse and repeat. 

I didn't mention that I have 4 people behind me waiting to catch me in case I fall down. I have to stop in the landing on the second floor to rest and then grunt my way up on the last flight. All worth it, as I have cake and ice cream waiting for me at home :-)

There's still a long road ahead of me. I still feel wobbly when using my new legn and I have to get used to the feeling that my stump is being choked by the socket. I am more comfortable using a four-legged walker, which is cumbersome, instead of crutches as an assistive device. I have to remove my prosthesis after walking for some time as I feel pain in the stump, which is like a thousand electric currents running up and down my leg. Still more challenges to overcome, but I was never the kind of girl who gives up easily. 

   

Warning: This is a morbid post

       Today is my stump's 3rd monthsary. My nephew nicknamed it Cobra, because it looks like a snake ready to strike when I lift it up. I found this picture while browsing through my photo albums. Surprisingly, I have tons of shots of my right leg. I didn't realize that I have a habit of taking photos of my feet whenever I arrive in a new place.  I figured enough time has passed that making fun of what happened to me is no longer disrespectful to those who have suffered the same misfortune

       This was taken in Palawan the summer of '09, also the year I started my 3/3 rule - 3 Philippine provinces and 3 countries visited every year.

        This was my longest vacation (1 week) and also my first time in Boracay. My ex-roommate Buena just resigned from her Malaysian gig and I am on the brink of resigning because of burnout, so we decided to do some island soul-searching. It was adventure-packed and our stay also got extended because all flights were cancelled on the day we were to go home and we can't get a flight until 2 days after. The summer of 2010 also started my love affair with Boracay and I returned thrice in the same year after this trip.

       This was taken during my 1st camping trip, at a ripe old age of 30. I always managed to avoid camping even when I was in elementary because I was deathly afraid of having no clean bathrooms when nature calls. I was just a sabit to a friend's getaway with her high school barkada but I didn't feel out of place as her friends also brought their own sabits. We thought that Anawangin will be deserted because it is Good Friday, but alas, everybody else has the same idea. I can't say that this trip changed my mind about camping but it was sure a lot of fun, clean bathroom or without.

      Sadly, that was the end of my right foot travel series. Sure, I can always take pictures of my left leg but it wasn't as sexy as Cobra's departed half. Here's hoping my prosthetic foot (coming really soon!)  is photogenic.