[January]

Today I got my new, long brace. It completely surrounds me from just below my neck to just above my tail bone. Can we say compressed? Can we say it makes me have perfect posture?

I can't say it hurts, but I can't say it's comfortable either. I keep fighting down an urge to panic because I feel like I'm suffocating. It will take time and perhaps some more adjustments before it's ok.

Thanks for listening. No one in my real life seems to understand how uncomfortable this is making me. No one seems to care.

Jan

yuck.

I cant even wear necklaces that press against my throat or turtlenecks, I cant even imagine!

[lenjan]

Oh, Jan. I'm so sorry. I can't even bear to wear turtlenecks -- I could never survive what you're having to go through.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jan}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I hope if they can't make it comfortable, they can at least make it tolerable.

Candy

[dottie]

Hi Jan, how long will you have to wear it? I have been away from PC for awhile...moved to another city in Ohio.I used to work with children in the Ortho wing. I know how much they went thru. I am sending special wishes for you.

P.S. I just got my dentures today. They are giving me a gagging reflex type of thing. Needlesstosay...they r now sitting in their container. I don't know how ANYONE gets used to them.

Take good care!!

[bebop]

((((((Jan))))))) good luck hon..I know it is uncomfy and I do hope you can somehow get somewhat use to it and be more comfy.

[CedarS]

(((((((Jan)))))))))

I care. I am thinking over how this might feel for me, wearing a brace. I hope you keep writing, keep talking about how it feels for you.

[January]

(((((((( Friends )))))))))))))

Thank you each and every one. I appreciate it so much.

Oh Dottie, I do hope you do better with the dentures. How miserable for you.

I'm very blessed, the brace is not up around my neck like a turtle neck. One thing about it, the brace forces me to have great posture. Sitting or standing, my posture is great. ('Got to find something good, eh?)

I will be in this 6 months and then we'll see if I have healed. If not, I may be in it forever. We just don't know yet.

Many, many thanks.

Hugs,

Jan

hey you could always train to be a model with that good posture! get some books on your head

(((((Jan)))))

I hope it soon becomes easier for you to cope with. I understand about the fear thing. I get the same from being in enclosed spaces and I guess this is the same sort of thing.

to lift you up and out of the pain........xoxoxo pat

[January]

((((((((((((((( Friends ))))))))))))))

Thank you everyone. Braces make you very tired at first. I came in yesterday evening, fixed something to eat and went to bed. I didn't even clean the kitchen or the apartment. I ended up sleeping 14 hours more or less. I barely remember waking up to take my night meds. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and I hope this hasn't made it flare again.

I feel that I look like and upside down turtle in that thing.



Jan

[Monty_girl]

((((((((((((((((((((( Jan )))))))))))))))))))))))

I hope you heal and don't have to have the brace permanently. Fingers crossed for healing.

Hugs, Monty

((((Jan))))

I can imagine how tired you must feel. Apart from anything else there is all that extra weight to carry around. Take plenty of rest and ignore the state of the house. You must look after yourself.
C

[Christina86]

(((January)))

I have to wear AFO's (ankle-foot orthotics) all the time and I find them unpleasant and tight. I can't even imagine how hard it is to wear such a long brace. (Okay, at one time I wore LFO's - leg/foot orthotics - but quit them because they weren't helping, but still that isn't nearly as confining as yours.)

Hope you get adjusted to it soon.

My thoughts are with you! I hope you heal!

(((((((((((((January)))))))))))))

[January]

((((((((((( Friends ))))))))))))

Thank you each and everyone.

Hugs,

Jan

[wisewoman]

Hi Jan, my foster daughter had one. It was like a clam shell. The heat made it most difficult. So I would say keep a bunch of little blue icepacks in your freezer and stuff them where you need them with the heat. Drink a lot of water. I am glad you have something to hold you together. Take care, I am thinking of you.

(((((((((((((January))))))))))))))

[January]

(((((((( Friends ))))))))

Thank you. The cold packs make a lot of sense. I doubt I'll go to my family reunion because I don't think I'll be able to take the heat.

Hugs,

Jan

Can you set up a fan to help cool you down?
What about one of those plant misters - maybe you could spray yourself with one of those?
I'm sorry it is so uncomfortable.
C

[jennie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
January said:
Thanks for listening. No one in my real life seems to understand how uncomfortable this is making me. No one seems to care.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

(((((((huggsss)))))) try grounding techniques? music?
maybe they care but don't understand?

something i found that works for me is to tell my hubby how he can ease my suffering. sometimes all i need is a hug or for him to listen to me vent. i make sure i ask for the hug or ask for him to allow/listen to me vent.