Angela's Blog

Hi.

Back again, and with lots to say. Thanks for all the questions. I'll get to those first.

Q: What kind of work do you do at the lab?
A: Technically, bioreactor process development with mammalian cell culture. In plain English, I play with cells all day to try to make them as happy as possible so they poop out as much drug candidate as possible in the shortest amount of time possible.

Q: When do you think you will return to work? Part or full time?
A: That was one of the big things I just did - got my return to work paperwork sent in. Now I just have to wait for the disability insurance and Amgen to duke it out. Could be really soon. Could be a while. No idea how long that will take. And when I come back It'll be for 2 half days per week at first.

Q: How does your memory feel these days?
A: Pretty much the same. There's seemingly random holes in my long term memory and my short term, working, and prospective (lingo from psychotherapy group) seem right on point. I still have about 2 months that are just unaccounted for in my memory from a few days before the accident to about 8 weeks after.

Q: How's cooking going?
A: Pretty good. Still way cut back on things like daily dinners but I'm slowly getting back to fun treats for people. I made flourless chocolate cake for my gluten-free chiropractor, caramel corn for my PT student, and turkey taco pie for my OT assignment for all the rehab folks at Harborview. And, Holly, if you're still reading, none of it was "scrumptious".

Q: Do I want people to hang with during the day?
A: Heck yeah. Always up for some fun. I've been pretty crazy packed with therapy and other appointments lately but that should settle down after next week. And Mom is usually pretty up to babysit kiddos so if you want a little adult time just shoot me an email on the city or something. Could be nice for both of us. Hopefully I'll be back to work soon so I won't have as much free time.

Q: Will Josh and I take any trips this summer?
A: Hope so. The Oregon coast has been calling to us. And we want to take up some family on the offer to go to the Pend Oreille River (sounds like Ponderay River) and veg. Plus we have some friends we'd really like to visit in Spo-Compton (Spokane).

Q: Does my left arm feel better in the pool?
A: Not really but it seems to get a lot more movement in the pool. My range of motion just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. And usually I'm really proud and feeling really good when I can make my left arm cooperate in the pool and help me tread water, etc.

Now for what's up...I'm moving along on the HBOT. Got 4 treatments down and not noticing anything huge yet. But my left hand doesn't seem to clench much anymore while I sleep and there's a spot on the back of my left hand where I don't feel the pins and needles anymore. Don't know if this from the HBOT but I'll take it!

And I got my back to work paperwork submitted so I'm moving on that front.

My sense of smell is still back. The only bummer about it is that I no longer have one of my favorite TBI jokes - best part of TBI is that my $#!} doesn't stink any more. :)

Did something really cool at the chiropractor last week...muscle testing. It's where you pretty much just hold the bottle of things and your body tells you whether or not it likes them. Sounds kind of hokey, I know. But try it. Just put one arm out straight at shoulder height and have someone try to push it down after you say "I am a man" and "I am a woman". Goes down pretty easy on the lie and stays up pretty strong on the truth, huh?!?! Cool! If you're holding something your body likes it will stay strong and if you're holding something your body doesn't like it'll go down pretty easy. Found out what my body says it wants for some vitamins and my arm went down pretty easy holding both medicines I'm currently prescribed. Interesting.

And this weekend is being spent at the TBI conference for WA state for 2010. It's pretty cool. Today I heard a great talk about interdependence and about dealing with grief! And a hilarious talk about the importance of humor. Which I totally agree with. Don't think I could have made it this far without some good laughs. The grief talk was fabulous too! Most poignant part for me was when the speaker was talking about guilt. She said to try to listen to what your guilt is telling you rather than try to avoid it. Hmmm, took all of about 15 seconds for me to realize my guilt is trying to tell me to have empathy for Josh. He's been through a pretty darn severe trauma too. And for me to expect him not to have to process however he can is ridiculous. So instead of feeling guilty and like a bad wife I could be just trying to love on him and help him through whatever he's struggling with at the present moment. Might even be good for him and could even strengthen our marriage. No bad there - just good.

Alright-y. That's all from me for now. Feel free to post questions anytime you have them. Kinda gets the juices flowing for me. So if you want to hear more, ask away.

Hopefully I'll have some good news for yall soon.

Stay tuned.

Ang