Chemo was normal. Lots of people. At one time there were 9 people on drips. The lounge only sits 6. They had to bring in extra chairs. I arrived at 10:30 and left at 15:30. I used crutches and the prosthesis.
Last night I took all my mixture of pills that make me sleep best. Nothing. So I took the same mixture again. Still very bad, constant phantom pain. Sleep was impossible. This pain produced moaning. I was shocked to hear myself moaning. I didn't know where the sound came from at first.
I read a bit, and started a new book. The last book in the series. :-(
I watched a very good documentary of the Marikana Massacre. The suppression of the workers by government is now worse than during the apartheid era. Black on black violence is worse that the white on black violence ever was. It seems as if the whole Marikana events lead to the execution by the government forces of the strike leaders.
Was still awake at 03:00, but dozed off till 5:30, then slept for a few hours. I am very tired, exhausted, and sleepy. I will make a big breakfast then sleep more.
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12:30
Trying to figure out the disability laws is very hard using the internet. The laws are constantly changing with law suits and new legislation. A legal document may be a year old, but still comes up on a search. It could be invalid because of a change in the laws in the last year. How can I know if a law has been superseded in the last few months?
California is weird. A single amputation below the knee is not a disability, but a mastectomy is. Apparently a tit is an "appendage", and total removal of an appendage is a disability.
California also considers a double amputation below the knee to be less of a disability than a single amputation above the knee.
US Social Security says:
You will generally qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if you meet one of the following conditions:
- Loss of both hands
- Have lost either lower limb above the ankle (tarsal region) AND have complications that medically prevent you from using a prosthetic device to help you walk and effectively ambulate.
- Loss of one hand and one lower limb above the ankle with inability to use a prosthetic device.
- Loss of an entire leg at the hip or pelvic region.
As the prosthesis technology improves, so does a disability not become a handicap. There have been many major improvements in prosthesis since the war in Iraq and Afghanistan has produced so many amputations. The problem is that since the government is paying, the price on the latest prosthesis is stupid expensive. If someone really cares about helping amputees, and not about the balance sheet, then a perfectly good hydraulic only knee could be built. It would be better, AND sell for about 1/4 of a new bionic knee.
The big selling point of course is "stumble recovery". Computerized knees can do that. Pure mechanical or hydraulic knees currently do not.
A hydraulic knee could be built that pumped a tiny bit of fluid during the swing forward phase, and if the pumping stopped before full extension then the leg would lock allowing force to be put on the bent leg, preventing a fall. This is not rocket science. It is below the technological level that the fluidic computers in the Cobra helicopter used in the mid 1960's.
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15:00
I just walked to the back yard, and did 10 large figure 8s. Then I walked to the street and retrieved our garbage bin and took it to the back yard. All without a crutch.
I just thought of something that embarrasses me, that I never thought of before. I have a set of complete body armor from my motorcycle days. Gloves, elbow guards, knee guards, helmet, even a complete kevlar body armor suit if I feel like it :-)
I think realistically gloves, elbow guards, and knee guards will be enough to allow me unlimited walking on the street, and have adequate protection in a fall.
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16:30
I just walked .55 kms. Lots of body protection but no crutches, and no falls. Very tiring. I am exhausted and breathing hard. I'm all sweaty.
I feel so much safer with the gloves and elbow/knee guards on. It still takes a lot of concentration.
I almost had a stumble, but that was trying to get out of the way of a speeding car.
I live on a dead end road that is open during rush hour to relieve the traffic on the main road. When the gate is open and the cars can come through, they are always going fast on the way to work, or on the way home from work. The rest of the time the gates are closed, and then all traffic has to go through security booms on another road.
But a few times a day somebody that is used to the gates being open is trying to take a short cut in the hours the gate is closed. They come zooming down the street at about 4 times the legal speed limit, then slam on brakes when they see the gates are closed, then they turn around and go back even faster.
I only walk when the gates are closed. Many times kids learn to ride their bikes and skateboards in front of my house, because there is no through traffic with the closed gates.
I fear someday a rich, bitch, yuppy in a big Mercedes will take out some kids in front of my house.
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Supper was fish and chips. I drove to the shops and bought supper and came home. No crutches.
Maybe I will figure this leg out.
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