Drumroll.....

Grade 3 AC Separation. Google it.

It's sounds pretty bad, but I should be riding again in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'll spend some trainer and spin bike time. And I can still do some lower body workouts. I just talked to Dr. Murray, and anyone that's ever asked him anything... knows the type of answer you get. He gives you more information than you know what to do with, which is awesome. You get your original question answered and some bonus tidbits. And it gives me such peace AND piece of mind.

Dr. Tilson turned out to be pretty straightforward and to the point. He found me an article to read about treating a grade III bustaroo. He told me to email him my decision and he'd get me going in the direction I needed before he gets back to the office. I think a little bird told the ancient man that I was not keen on our past experiences. So, he's on my good side again.

Surgery is one option, but the amount of function I'd get back isn't much better, if any, than just rehab. So, I'm going the rehab route and if I still want surgery after the 2008 season, I'll do it right after nationals. The surgery mostly fixes the deformity. On my right side I have a shoulder. There is a point, and my t-shirt seams hit nicely. On my left, I look like an old lady. It goes neck... a small lump... and my arm. I foresee my biggest problem being keeping my bra strap up!

Not joking.

And yes, I'm planning to wear one :)

I took a photo of my x-ray. Not sure if that's legal. Oh well. See where that big space is on the top right, at the end of the collar bone? Yea, there's not supposed to be a space. It's not so much that the collar bone is sticking up, but that my arm has sort of fallen. Nice lungs, huh?

Going to Doctor Tomorrow

I'm worried that Dr. Tilson is going to pull the ole, "Let's give it a week and see how you're doing."

ABSOLUTELY NOT. I need to wear my big girl pants and be assertive. I know what needs to happen, it's just a matter of what Dr. Tilson says. It's going to be my way- with him... or my way- without him. Hopefully my next post will mention something about getting an MRI soon!

In the meantime, I'm still workin' the arm sling. Oh yea...

Degrees of Separation...

Well, in case your friends have never shown you a separated shoulder, check out my scanty pictures below. I have to wait until a doctor sees this to know at what degree it's pulled away. Unfortunately, I'm not able to get in to see a doctor until Thursday. And I have to see the same doctor I dealt with when I broke my wrist. He's skilled and knows what he's doing, but it bothered me that he wasn't as interested in my urgency to get healed and back on the bike as I was. He's well along in the years (at least 70) and my guess is that he's not learned anything new in years....That's the Kaiser catch 22. They'll pay for just about everything as long as they control just about everything. But I got the appointment lady pulling for me and will let me know if anything opens up before my appointment.

In the meantime, I'm able to move it quite a bit. I'm going to see if one of the boys at Therapeutic Associates can take a peek at it tomorrow.

Shoulder Ouch

Typing with one hand. Crashed this morning. Walking pace and in the grass. Took a hit during a maneuvering drill. Flew over bars and landed 90% on my left shoulder (10% on my head.)

Went to ER. Had a wonderful time. Got some fuzzy pain medicine. Funny looking lump where collar bone should be attached to shoulder blade. Have to see Orthopedic Specialist in a couple days.

Could have been worse. Helmet is ok (ground was grass and squishy mud.) Pain a all in shoulder. Everything else is fine.

Sigh.....

To all the Grandparents...

2007 has not been a good year for Grandparents. Hopefully all of them meet up in heaven and party together...

Me- Grandma Maxine (February)
Amelia- Grandpa
Emily- Grandpa
Brooke- Grandpa
Haley- Grandma

It's been a *!$# year for pets too...

Jen's puppy
Digger kitty
Sadie Dog
Richard's Dog too!

And all this is just off the top of my head.

Whoever is in charge out there, please be merciful in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Great Gads!

I'm starting to run out of good answers for when friends ask me why I ride in nasty weather. Today was one of those days. When I left the house it was pouring. I traveled south bucking a head wind the entire time. The ride to North Star that usually takes me 25-30 minutes took 35 today, making me late for our group ride and putting me smack dab in a bad mood.

I have to just keep telling myself that my competition is also training today. I sure as heck hope so at least. All saddle and torture time is money in the bank!

The sweet reward for surviving such a day is being able to peel off the sopping duds, tossing them into the washing machine, and sprinting upstairs to a hot shower.

The Gym

I discovered this evening what the WORST time is to go to the gym. Let's call it 5:flipping:30. I had to cruise the parking lot until a spot opened up! I got the 3rd to last eliptical trainer. There was a packed aerobics class, a full cycling class, and all racket ball courts were being used. Oh, and there were about 20 people at volleyball open gym. The folks that own LA Fitness were happy today! I guess they'd be happy whether everyone showed up or not, since the membership costs the same either way. Wow.

Check out the cutest toddler I know. This is my brother's daughter, Ivy. We hung out last week. We playyyyyyed at the park, painted some gifts for the family, and then visited the hunts (where fudge was made.) Her dad, Charlie was deployed to Iraq last Saturday. So since her mom... is not our favorite person, I'll be visiting her lots and lots to take lots and lots of pictures to send to daddy and mommy Shannon, and Maamaw Jen and Paapaw Larry.

So..... just got home from Lincoln City. I met Dad and Barb there for Thanksgiving dinner, with a gorgeous view of the ocean at Inn at Spanish Head. The one time of the year when it might be nice to be a picky eater. There was a HUGE layout of so may choices. I think I had 6 different smoked fish and seafood, along with the traditional Thanksgiving goodies. I'm still not hungry and we ate... 5 hours ago.

Training is getting better. It was hard to get back into moving my body because I expect a different result that what my body wants to do in November. I'm just getting back into it, so I'm not too upset, but at the same time, it's frustrating. I'll probably feel a little under par for a couple more weeks.

The part I'm positive about it that I WANT to work out. I went to the gym last night for the first time since the end of September. I did a spin class, which was interesting. The focus was on keeping a steady cadence, while varying the tension. The instructors there turn out the lights, so we're working out by the light from the windows. Why is that? No matter the reason, I was certainly more comfortable taking off my t-shirt to use it as a towel, since no one could see my white rolls! Ha ha ha.

I hung out with niece, Ivy yesterday. I picked her up from daycare and we spent the day having total fun! Charlie and Shannon are deploying to Iraq Saturday. Weird.