The diary of a 40+ something technology writer, gadget geek and computing nerd...
I received a Chumby for Christmas, a Classic model to be precise rather than the recently launched ONE but more of that later.
The Chumby is a difficult device to pidgeon hole. It’s a small Linux powered web connected gadget to which you can add up to a 100 ‘widgets’ from a list of thousands available at Chumby’s website. It is also a streaming web radio and clock/alarm.
It has a 3.5″ colour touch screen, stereo speakers, two USB “A” ports and a unique soft leather shell.
It has been some 4 months since I went under the knife (and chisel, spanner and mallet) and had the ilizarov frame bolted into and onto my leg.
By and large it has been a lot easier than I had feared. I’d had almost a year to prepare mentally and practically for the op so when the day finally came there was little shock at the appearance of the frame fitted to my leg and whilst it has been painful and uncomfortable and life limiting to large degrees, for the most part it has been easier than I had feared it might be.
Only recently I was thinking how lucky I had been to only suffer one pin infection very early on in the process.
Then last Saturday one of my pin wires sprung an infection which got worse very quickly. By Sunday I had another pin wire and one of the thicker pins also infected.
My earlier infection I now know was but a teaser and the discomfort I had back then was nothing compared with the agonising and completely debilitating pain that this one has demonstrated.
So Monday morning I saw my GP who quickly prescribed Phenoxymethylpenicillin and Flucloaxacillin, two types of high dose antibiotic and as my normal pain killer supply wasn’t touching this new source of pain, Co-Codamol in the high strength 30mg dose.
The main infection is in the pin closest to the top of my thigh. It is in the worst possible place because the skin and flesh moves a lot in this area. And movement = lots of pain.
Well Saturday we finally collected ‘Lucky’ our 11wk old Lakeland Terrier. This entailed a long trip to Cheshire and back and she handled the trip magnificently sleeping for most of the 5hr journey home.
She’s spent the weekend settling in to life in her new home and is huge fun. Lakeland’s are a breed that is growing rarer by the day so whilst it took us a very long time to find her we are delighted to finally have her home. They look very much like a small version of an Airedale with powerful back legs, beared face and thick wiry coat. Typical Terrier traits, intelligent, inquisitive, playful and importantly for us, ideal for people who are allergic to pet hair as she does not moult. As both Charlie and I suffer from this it was a driving factor in choosing a Lakeland.
After an aborted trip to see the consultant two weeks ago (tuned up only to discover he had been called away) we finally saw him last Tuesday.
The good news is the bone has now connected and begun to knit and fill in the gap. I am now booked to return on 8th December and if all is going well then, they will start undoing the tension on the frame to transfer some of the weight through the new bone rather than the frame.
If that goes to plan then normally the frame is removed a month later!
Given some of the stories I have heard from others with ilizarov frames, this has gone very well. We were told at the outset that it would be 4mths at the very least but typically 6mths – 1 year so if it comes off in January it will be a shade under 6mths.
I’ve also made some huge improvements at home, I’ve thrown away the crutches and can now get around using a walking stick. I can walk without but it is there as a backup as balance is an issue with a heavy frame on one leg and it locked straight.
So that was great news, my wife and I returned home with huge smiles on our faces at the good news!
