In article >,
"kilikini" > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > "kilikini" > wrote:
> >
> >> Lou Decruss wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Wouldn't a tray table be about the right height?
> >>>
> >>> Lou
> >>
> >> I've tried one. You can't set it in front of you because you have
> >> to lean too far forward to cut up anything; most ends up falling on
> >> your lap anyway. If you put tray to the side of you, you're twisting
> >> too much. It's easier to put a cutting board right on your lap.
> >> I've got one that's the perfect size. Well, it works for me, anyway.
> >>
> >> kili
> >
> > How about just using the dining room table?
> >
> > If I have a LOT to cut or prepare, that is what I generally do..
> > I have to clear my reloading gear off of it first tho'. <g> I have
> > the press bolted to a large, heavy board so it's easy to move.
>
> I don't have a dining room table; I don't even have a dining room! LOL.
> So, I generally cut things up on my lap or I have TFM® do it for me.
>
> kili

Hey, if it works... ;-) I don't really have a dining room either. It's
just one end of the kitchen.

The table and chairs have been around for many, many years. We've
re-glued the chairs together a few times.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Tue 16 Sep 2008 08:11:11a, blake murphy told us...

> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:39:42 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Mon 15 Sep 2008 02:51:19p, blake murphy told us...
>>
>>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to get
>>>> to her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time. When I
>>>> cook at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap. If
>>>> Allan's home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
>>>>
>>>> kili
>>>
>>> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
>>> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from
>>> sliding around?
>>>
>>> your pal,
>>> blake
>>
>> Could you fashion some attachment to the cutting board that would help
>> keep it fairly secure to the arms of the wheelchair, or don't you use
>> the arms? I'm wheelchair dumb.
>
> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the
> joystick would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>
> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a
> guy in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i
> used to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
> popping wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now
> whether he used the arms on his chair or not.)
>
> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
> them.
>
> your pal,
> blake
>

Well, in lieu of dealing with the arms, there are those sturdy tray tables
that have the legs that are designed to slide underneath a chair or sofa.
Might that work to put a cutting board on?

--
Wayne Boatwright

*******************************************
Date: Tuesday, 09(IX)/16(XVI)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Countdown till Veteran's Day
7wks 6dys 13hrs 26mins
*******************************************
NEWS! Drunk gets nine months in violin case
*******************************************

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:04:52 -0400, "kilikini"
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:51:19 GMT, blake murphy
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to
>>>> get to her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time.
>>>> When I cook at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap.
>>>> If Allan's home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
>>>>
>>>> kili
>>>
>>> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
>>> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from
>>> sliding around?
>>
>> Wouldn't a tray table be about the right height?
>>
>> Lou
>
>I've tried one. You can't set it in front of you because you have to lean
>too far forward to cut up anything; most ends up falling on your lap anyway.
>If you put tray to the side of you, you're twisting too much. It's easier
>to put a cutting board right on your lap. I've got one that's the perfect
>size. Well, it works for me, anyway.
>
>kili
>

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:39:42 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Mon 15 Sep 2008 02:51:19p, blake murphy told us...
>>
>>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to get to
>>>> her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time. When I cook
>>>> at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap. If Allan's
>>>> home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
>>>>
>>>> kili
>>>
>>> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
>>> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from sliding
>>> around?
>>>
>>> your pal,
>>> blake
>>
>> Could you fashion some attachment to the cutting board that would help
>> keep
>> it fairly secure to the arms of the wheelchair, or don't you use the
>> arms?
>> I'm wheelchair dumb.
>
> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the joystick
> would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>
> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a guy
> in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i used
> to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
> popping
> wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now whether he used
> the arms on his chair or not.)
>
> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
> them.
>
> your pal,
> blake
>

Blake, I've been seeing your posts for years. Never knew you were in a
chair.
If I ain't being too nosey, what happened? Email is valid. If you don't
care to respond, that's valid too.

TFM®

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> "kilikini" > wrote:
>
>> Lou Decruss wrote:
>> > On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:51:19 GMT, blake murphy
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to
>> >>> get to her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time.
>> >>> When I cook at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap.
>> >>> If Allan's home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
>> >>>
>> >>> kili
>> >>
>> >> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
>> >> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from
>> >> sliding around?
>> >
>> > Wouldn't a tray table be about the right height?
>> >
>> > Lou
>>
>> I've tried one. You can't set it in front of you because you have to
>> lean
>> too far forward to cut up anything; most ends up falling on your lap
>> anyway.
>> If you put tray to the side of you, you're twisting too much. It's
>> easier
>> to put a cutting board right on your lap. I've got one that's the
>> perfect
>> size. Well, it works for me, anyway.
>>
>> kili
>
> How about just using the dining room table?
>
> If I have a LOT to cut or prepare, that is what I generally do..
> I have to clear my reloading gear off of it first tho'. <g> I have the
> press bolted to a large, heavy board so it's easy to move.


You must be short. If I had to do prep work on a dining table I'd spend the
next 3 days in traction.

By my standards all kitchen counters are 6 inches too low.

Standard counter tops are 36 inches. Tables are between 30 and 31.

The world should be built for left handed people 6 feet and over.


TFM®

"kilikini" > wrote in message
...
> Omelet wrote:
>> In article >,
>> "kilikini" > wrote:
>>
>>> Lou Decruss wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Wouldn't a tray table be about the right height?
>>>>
>>>> Lou
>>>
>>> I've tried one. You can't set it in front of you because you have
>>> to lean too far forward to cut up anything; most ends up falling on
>>> your lap anyway. If you put tray to the side of you, you're twisting
>>> too much. It's easier to put a cutting board right on your lap.
>>> I've got one that's the perfect size. Well, it works for me, anyway.
>>>
>>> kili
>>
>> How about just using the dining room table?
>>
>> If I have a LOT to cut or prepare, that is what I generally do..
>> I have to clear my reloading gear off of it first tho'. <g> I have
>> the press bolted to a large, heavy board so it's easy to move.
>
> I don't have a dining room table; I don't even have a dining room! LOL.
> So, I generally cut things up on my lap or I have TFM® do it for me.


So that's why my back hurts all the time!

TFM®

In article >,
TFM® > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news
> > In article >,
> > "kilikini" > wrote:
> >
> >> Lou Decruss wrote:
> >> > On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:51:19 GMT, blake murphy
> >> > > wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to
> >> >>> get to her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time.
> >> >>> When I cook at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap.
> >> >>> If Allan's home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
> >> >>>
> >> >>> kili
> >> >>
> >> >> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
> >> >> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from
> >> >> sliding around?
> >> >
> >> > Wouldn't a tray table be about the right height?
> >> >
> >> > Lou
> >>
> >> I've tried one. You can't set it in front of you because you have to
> >> lean
> >> too far forward to cut up anything; most ends up falling on your lap
> >> anyway.
> >> If you put tray to the side of you, you're twisting too much. It's
> >> easier
> >> to put a cutting board right on your lap. I've got one that's the
> >> perfect
> >> size. Well, it works for me, anyway.
> >>
> >> kili
> >
> > How about just using the dining room table?
> >
> > If I have a LOT to cut or prepare, that is what I generally do..
> > I have to clear my reloading gear off of it first tho'. <g> I have the
> > press bolted to a large, heavy board so it's easy to move.
>
>
> You must be short. If I had to do prep work on a dining table I'd spend the
> next 3 days in traction.

Average... I was 5' 6" but I'm sure I've lost some hight now due to the
disk degeneration. I'll have to check next time I've access to a scale
with a hight checker. ;-)

I know you are a tall one!

>
> By my standards all kitchen counters are 6 inches too low.

I understand.

>
> Standard counter tops are 36 inches. Tables are between 30 and 31.

But I don't SIT at the kitchen counter. I can sit in a chair and use
the table. Not the same...

I also sit to use the reloading press. It's comfortable.

>
> The world should be built for left handed people 6 feet and over.
>
>
> TFM®

<lol>

Unless it's the world in Casino Royalle...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:16:44 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote:

> The message >
> from "Michael \"Dog3\"" > contains these words:
>
>> blake murphy >
>> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>>>
>>> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the
>>> joystick would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>>>
>>> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time
>>> transferring from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though
>>> i did know a guy in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there
>>> was another guy i used to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock
>>> 'n' roll beer joints popping wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i
>>> can't recall now whether he used the arms on his chair or not.)
>
> Those wheelchair basketball players in the Paralympics didn't.
> Do you have these TV-supper lap trays, a melamine tray with a soft
> bead cushion attached underneath?
> Could be just the thing for chopping because it wouldn't slide about on
> your lap..
>
> http://www.busyhands.co.za/photo_pic/tv_lapfull.jpg
>
> Janet.

i have what is called a 'lap board' (i think), which is a cushion that sits
on your lap with a board on top. i confess i haven't fooled with it much.

they did lower the one of the counters in my kitchen a couple of inches to
make it easier for wheelchair users, but it's still a little awkward.

your pal,
blake

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:35:50 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Tue 16 Sep 2008 08:11:11a, blake murphy told us...
>
>> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:39:42 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon 15 Sep 2008 02:51:19p, blake murphy told us...
>>>
>>>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:26:09 -0400, kilikini wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Nah, I'll just help her out with recipes. I don't have a car to get
>>>>> to her house and I can't stand up for long periods of time. When I
>>>>> cook at home, I sit down and put a cutting board on my lap. If
>>>>> Allan's home, he does all the chopping for me. :~)
>>>>>
>>>>> kili
>>>>
>>>> i've though of doing that, as my counter top isn't really the right
>>>> height for me in the wheelshair. how do you keep the board from
>>>> sliding around?
>>>>
>>>> your pal,
>>>> blake
>>>
>>> Could you fashion some attachment to the cutting board that would help
>>> keep it fairly secure to the arms of the wheelchair, or don't you use
>>> the arms? I'm wheelchair dumb.
>>
>> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the
>> joystick would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>>
>> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
>> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a
>> guy in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i
>> used to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
>> popping wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now
>> whether he used the arms on his chair or not.)
>>
>> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
>> them.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>>
>
> Well, in lieu of dealing with the arms, there are those sturdy tray tables
> that have the legs that are designed to slide underneath a chair or sofa.
> Might that work to put a cutting board on?

*

>Okay, I'm wheel chair ignorant... but... What about some type of device
>like a breakfast in bed type of tray? You could easily fit a small
>silicone cutting board into one and do your thing. Just an idea.

>Michael

i'm thinking stability would be a problem with these solutions.

your pal,
blake

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:30:19 -0400, TFM® wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the joystick
>> would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>>
>> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
>> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a guy
>> in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i used
>> to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
>> popping
>> wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now whether he used
>> the arms on his chair or not.)
>>
>> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
>> them.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>>
>
> Blake, I've been seeing your posts for years. Never knew you were in a
> chair.
> If I ain't being too nosey, what happened? Email is valid. If you don't
> care to respond, that's valid too.
>
> TFM®

beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
problems.

i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
thought that would wake me up if anything would.)

anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
really think they were going to do it).

but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.

your pal,
peg

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:30:19 -0400, TFM® wrote:
>
> > "blake murphy" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >>
> >> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the joystick
> >> would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
> >>
> >> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
> >> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a guy
> >> in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i used
> >> to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
> >> popping
> >> wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now whether he used
> >> the arms on his chair or not.)
> >>
> >> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
> >> them.
> >>
> >> your pal,
> >> blake
> >>
> >
> > Blake, I've been seeing your posts for years. Never knew you were in a
> > chair.
> > If I ain't being too nosey, what happened? Email is valid. If you don't
> > care to respond, that's valid too.
> >
> > TFM®
>
> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
> they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
> me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
> problems.
>
> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
> the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
> fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
> give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
> thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>
> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
> both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
> seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
> really think they were going to do it).
>
> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
> good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
> the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>
> your pal,
> peg

Damn Blake. ;-(
I did not know either...

<hugs>

Om -> who has no idea what to say...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

"blake murphy" > wrote :

> now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>

Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have some
sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort of
unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.

In article >,
"cybercat" > wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote :
>
> > now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> > people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
> > i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
> >
>
> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have some
> sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort of
> unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.

E-coli is generally food poisoning idiot. Unfortunately, it does affect
the major organs in worst case scenarios. It's why everyone has such a
panic attack over it.
--
--

My Mother never saw the Irony in calling me a Son-of-a-Bitch
-- Jack Nicholson

rOm > wrote in
:

> In article >,
> "cybercat" > wrote:
>
>> "blake murphy" > wrote :
>>
>> > now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
>> > people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off.
>> > but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>> >
>>
>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you
>> have some sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there
>> was some sort of unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to
>> develop symptons.
>
> E-coli is generally food poisoning idiot. Unfortunately, it does
> affect the major organs in worst case scenarios. It's why everyone has
> such a panic attack over it.

So...what got blowed off, us manly men need to know this stuff....your
eyebrows?

--

The beet goes on -Alan

"hahabogus" > wrote in message
...
> rOm > wrote in
> :
>
>> In article >,
>> "cybercat" > wrote:
>>
>>> "blake murphy" > wrote :
>>>
>>> > now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
>>> > people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off.
>>> > but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>>> >
>>>
>>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you
>>> have some sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there
>>> was some sort of unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to
>>> develop symptons.
>>
>> E-coli is generally food poisoning idiot. Unfortunately, it does
>> affect the major organs in worst case scenarios. It's why everyone has
>> such a panic attack over it.
>
> So...what got blowed off, us manly men need to know this stuff....your
> eyebrows?
>
Om does not know that e-coli comes from fecal material and that septicemia
cannot happen unless it enters the blood stream. Far cry from food
poisoning.

In article >,
"cybercat" > wrote:

> "hahabogus" > wrote in message
> ...
> > rOm > wrote in
> > :
> >
> >> In article >,
> >> "cybercat" > wrote:
> >>
> >>> "blake murphy" > wrote :
> >>>
> >>> > now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> >>> > people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off.
> >>> > but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
> >>> >
> >>>
> >>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you
> >>> have some sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there
> >>> was some sort of unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to
> >>> develop symptons.
> >>
> >> E-coli is generally food poisoning idiot. Unfortunately, it does
> >> affect the major organs in worst case scenarios. It's why everyone has
> >> such a panic attack over it.
> >
> > So...what got blowed off, us manly men need to know this stuff....your
> > eyebrows?
> >
> Om does not know that e-coli comes from fecal material and that septicemia
> cannot happen unless it enters the blood stream. Far cry from food
> poisoning.

And Cyberidiot does not know that septicemia can enter the blood stream
from the intestines... or other organ systems.

Sucks to be that ignorant.

She might want to bother googling it.
--
--

"Gun control is being able to hit your target". -Ben Ferguson

In article >,
_Om-elet_ > wrote:

> In article >,
> "cybercat" > wrote:
>
> > "hahabogus" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > rOm > wrote in
> > > :
> > >
> > >> In article >,
> > >> "cybercat" > wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> "blake murphy" > wrote :
> > >>>
> > >>> > now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> > >>> > people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off.
> > >>> > but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
> > >>> >
> > >>>
> > >>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you
> > >>> have some sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there
> > >>> was some sort of unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to
> > >>> develop symptons.
> > >>
> > >> E-coli is generally food poisoning idiot. Unfortunately, it does
> > >> affect the major organs in worst case scenarios. It's why everyone has
> > >> such a panic attack over it.
> > >
> > > So...what got blowed off, us manly men need to know this stuff....your
> > > eyebrows?
> > >
> > Om does not know that e-coli comes from fecal material and that septicemia
> > cannot happen unless it enters the blood stream. Far cry from food
> > poisoning.
>
> And Cyberidiot does not know that septicemia can enter the blood stream
> from the intestines... or other organ systems.
>
> Sucks to be that ignorant.
>
> She might want to bother googling it.

Just to see if I can slip her killfiles. <eg>

She really is totally wrong on this one. Anyone that is interested can
google for e-coli food poisoning. I work in health care and we take
special steps in the lab to make sure it does not get missed due to it's
seriousness.

On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...

> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31,
> but they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they
> diagnosed me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney
> failure problems.
>
> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone,
> including the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my
> father, the old fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he
> called in a priest to give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he
> later told me that he thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>
> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack
> 'em both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that.
> i seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i
> didn't really think they were going to do it).
>
> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in
> pretty good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well
> satisfied with the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in
> the army (which many people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i
> might be ****ed off. but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't
> bother me much.
>
> your pal,
> peg
>

Blake, I remember you telling me several years ago that your were an
amputee, but I didn't know the details until now. Man, you really went
through something horrific! Septicemia has a higher than 50% mortality, so
you were extremely lucky given the circumstances. Because of a friend I
work with, I'm curious if you have tried or considered protheses. My
friend lost both legs in an auto accident when he was 24, one above the
knee and one a few inches below the knee. He was fitted with protheses as
soon as he had healed sufficiently, and hasn't looked back. I know he does
use a chair at home some of the time, but I've never seen him in it
anywhere else. He's no athlete, but he does ride his bicycle every
weekend. Watching him move in any ordinary situation, you'd never know.

As TFM® said, you don't have to answer this. I was merely curious.

--
Wayne Boatwright

*******************************************
Date: Wednesday, 09(IX)/17(XVII)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Today is: Citizenship Day
Countdown till Veteran's Day
7wks 5dys 6hrs 16mins
*******************************************
DOS never says 'EXCELLENT command or
filename, Dude!'

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
> they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
> me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
> problems.
>
> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
> the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
> fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
> give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
> thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>
> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
> both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
> seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
> really think they were going to do it).
>
> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
> good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
> the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which
> many
> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>
> your pal,
> peg

Wow, Blake...that's a LOT to go through. I had no idea.

Mary

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>
>> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31,
>> but they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they
>> diagnosed me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney
>> failure problems.
>>
>> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone,
>> including the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my
>> father, the old fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he
>> called in a priest to give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he
>> later told me that he thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>>
>> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
>> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack
>> 'em both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
>> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
>> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that.
>> i seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i
>> didn't really think they were going to do it).
>>
>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in
>> pretty good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well
>> satisfied with the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in
>> the army (which many people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i
>> might be ****ed off. but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't
>> bother me much.
>>
>> your pal,
>> peg
>>
>
> Blake, I remember you telling me several years ago that your were an
> amputee, but I didn't know the details until now. Man, you really went
> through something horrific! Septicemia has a higher than 50% mortality, so
> you were extremely lucky given the circumstances. Because of a friend I
> work with, I'm curious if you have tried or considered protheses. My
> friend lost both legs in an auto accident when he was 24, one above the
> knee and one a few inches below the knee. He was fitted with protheses as
> soon as he had healed sufficiently, and hasn't looked back. I know he does
> use a chair at home some of the time, but I've never seen him in it
> anywhere else. He's no athlete, but he does ride his bicycle every
> weekend. Watching him move in any ordinary situation, you'd never know.
>
> As TFM® said, you don't have to answer this. I was merely curious.
>
Tagging on here... Gee, what an awful experience--but obviously
wonderful that you got through that alive, Blake.

My mom had septicemia and also survived. However, her energy
level was pretty low for the rest of her life.

--
Jean B.

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:44:02 -0500, Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:30:19 -0400, TFM® wrote:
>>
>>> "blake murphy" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> the arms are removable, but i generally don't. (the arm with the joystick
>>>> would be a problem. i usually use a power chair.)
>>>>
>>>> folks sometimes remove an arm if they're having a hard time transferring
>>>> from chair to bed, or maybe to an examining table, though i did know a guy
>>>> in a manual chair who never used the arms. (there was another guy i used
>>>> to see occasionally on the dance floor at rock 'n' roll beer joints
>>>> popping
>>>> wheelies and doing spins and crap, but i can't recall now whether he used
>>>> the arms on his chair or not.)
>>>>
>>>> there are devices you can clamp on the arms, but i haven't messed with
>>>> them.
>>>>
>>>> your pal,
>>>> blake
>>>>
>>>
>>> Blake, I've been seeing your posts for years. Never knew you were in a
>>> chair.
>>> If I ain't being too nosey, what happened? Email is valid. If you don't
>>> care to respond, that's valid too.
>>>
>>> TFM®
>>
>> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
>> they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
>> me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
>> problems.
>>
>> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
>> the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
>> fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
>> give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
>> thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>>
>> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
>> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
>> both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
>> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
>> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
>> seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
>> really think they were going to do it).
>>
>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
>> good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
>> the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
>> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
>> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>>
>> your pal,
>> peg
>
> Damn Blake. ;-(
> I did not know either...
>
> <hugs>
>
> Om -> who has no idea what to say...

it's no big deal, an inconvenience only.

(i did tell my primary care physician once that i kind of missed ****ing
standing up, and she said 'we'll put that down under "treatment goals".')

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:23:00 -0400, cybercat wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote :
>
>> now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
>> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
>> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>>
>
> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have some
> sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort of
> unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.

it honestly beats the shit out of me. i'm not an i.v. drug user or fancier
of outlandish sex practices, so who knows.

when little kids ask me, i say, 'this is what happens when you don't eat
your vegetables,' which most of the moms think is pretty funny.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> >> your pal,
> >> peg
> >
> > Damn Blake. ;-(
> > I did not know either...
> >
> > <hugs>
> >
> > Om -> who has no idea what to say...
>
> it's no big deal, an inconvenience only.
>
> (i did tell my primary care physician once that i kind of missed ****ing
> standing up, and she said 'we'll put that down under "treatment goals".')

<giggles>

>
> your pal,
> blake

You have an admirable attitude...
Cheers babe!
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:23:00 -0400, cybercat wrote:
>
> > "blake murphy" > wrote :
> >
> >> now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
> >> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
> >> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
> >>
> >
> > Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have
> > some
> > sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort of
> > unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.
>
> it honestly beats the shit out of me. i'm not an i.v. drug user or fancier
> of outlandish sex practices, so who knows.
>
> when little kids ask me, i say, 'this is what happens when you don't eat
> your vegetables,' which most of the moms think is pretty funny.
>
> your pal,
> blake

A sense of humor is a good asset...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:57:25 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>
>>
>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in
>> pretty good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well
>> satisfied with the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in
>> the army (which many people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i
>> might be ****ed off. but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't
>> bother me much.
>>
>> your pal,
>> peg
>>
>
> Blake, I remember you telling me several years ago that your were an
> amputee, but I didn't know the details until now. Man, you really went
> through something horrific! Septicemia has a higher than 50% mortality, so
> you were extremely lucky given the circumstances. Because of a friend I
> work with, I'm curious if you have tried or considered protheses. My
> friend lost both legs in an auto accident when he was 24, one above the
> knee and one a few inches below the knee. He was fitted with protheses as
> soon as he had healed sufficiently, and hasn't looked back. I know he does
> use a chair at home some of the time, but I've never seen him in it
> anywhere else. He's no athlete, but he does ride his bicycle every
> weekend. Watching him move in any ordinary situation, you'd never know.
>
> As TFM® said, you don't have to answer this. I was merely curious.

they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the floor
in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them, they hurt
like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while using parallel
bars for support.)

they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple years,
two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!' i said, i
think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it comes to pain.

plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which makes
it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a lazy
*******.

the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.

i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though fairly
often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting because there
ain't much you can do about it.

your pal,
blake

"blake murphy" > wrote
>>
>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have
>> some
>> sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort
>> of
>> unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.
>
> it honestly beats the shit out of me.

Didn't they offer any suggestions? I thought doctors were interested in
cause and effect?

>i'm not an i.v. drug user or fancier
> of outlandish sex practices, so who knows.

Oh. Well, damn. and I packed the whale mask, too.

>
> when little kids ask me, i say, 'this is what happens when you don't eat
> your vegetables,' which most of the moms think is pretty funny.
>

You're an awfully good sport about such a horrendous and seemingly random
thing. Hats off to you. (Removing my Viking Princess headdress
respectfully.)

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:10:13 -0400, MareCat wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote in message
> .. .
>>
>> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
>> they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
>> me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
>> problems.
>>
>> i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
>> the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
>> fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
>> give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
>> thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>>
>> anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
>> low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
>> both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
>> guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
>> apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
>> seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
>> really think they were going to do it).
>>
>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
>> good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
>> the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which
>> many
>> people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
>> i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>>
>> your pal,
>> peg
>
> Wow, Blake...that's a LOT to go through. I had no idea.
>
> Mary

i really didn't have to do much. my parents and girlfriend went kind of
nuts while i was in a coma, but of course i was unaware of that.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the floor
> in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them, they hurt
> like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while using parallel
> bars for support.)
>
> they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple years,
> two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!' i said, i
> think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it comes to pain.
>
> plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which makes
> it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a lazy
> *******.
>
> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.
>
> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though fairly
> often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting because there
> ain't much you can do about it.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Blake.

Take a look at "Tens" units...

Might help, can't hurt, and they are not expensive anymore. :-)
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:17:44 -0400, Jean B. wrote:

>> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>>
>>> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>>> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31,
>>> but they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they
>>> diagnosed me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney
>>> failure problems.
>>>
>>
> Tagging on here... Gee, what an awful experience--but obviously
> wonderful that you got through that alive, Blake.
>
> My mom had septicemia and also survived. However, her energy
> level was pretty low for the rest of her life.

the worst part was convalescing in a nursing home for a couple months. but
i feel pretty good now, knock wood. seeing the doc every couple months to
check the oil and whatnot. there is a sort of liberating feeling in having
been considered as good as dead for a while there, as in 'the rest is
gravy.'

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:

> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though
> fairly often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting
> because there ain't much you can do about it.

I wondered a couple of times what happened to you, I had
absolutely no idea it wasn't something that happened
decades ago.

I'm glad you made it through that, damn that was close!

nancy

On Thu 18 Sep 2008 10:24:04a, blake murphy told us...

> they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the
> floor in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them, they
> hurt like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while using
> parallel bars for support.)
>
> they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple
> years, two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!'
> i said, i think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it
> comes to pain.

I have a feeling my response to all this would have been the same. Maybe
if it was only one leg, who knows, but both seem overwhelming to me
personally.

> plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which
> makes it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a
> lazy *******.

My friend was lilke half your age, and had always played competitive sports
and is very driven. I suppose this has a lot to do with how one might
respond.

> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.

I can imagine not.

> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though fairly
> often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting because
> there ain't much you can do about it.

Yes, you are lucky that isn't a big issue for you. I have another friend
(in Cleveland), whose phantom pain was so bad that he underwent numerous
subsequent surgerires trying to alleviate it. It helped a bit, but not a
lot.

I must say that you have a great attitude about the whole thing, and that I
am *very* glad your with us!

--
Wayne Boatwright

*******************************************
Date: Thursday, 09(IX)/18(XVIII)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Countdown till Veteran's Day
7wks 4dys 13hrs 5mins
*******************************************
Ask not what you can do for your
country, ask what's for lunch - Orson
Welles

blake murphy wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:17:44 -0400, Jean B. wrote:
>
>>> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>>>
>>>> beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>>>> finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31,
>>>> but they wouldn't admit me) my eyeballs were turning yellow and they
>>>> diagnosed me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney
>>>> failure problems.
>>>>
>> Tagging on here... Gee, what an awful experience--but obviously
>> wonderful that you got through that alive, Blake.
>>
>> My mom had septicemia and also survived. However, her energy
>> level was pretty low for the rest of her life.
>
> the worst part was convalescing in a nursing home for a couple months. but
> i feel pretty good now, knock wood. seeing the doc every couple months to
> check the oil and whatnot. there is a sort of liberating feeling in having
> been considered as good as dead for a while there, as in 'the rest is
> gravy.'
>
> your pal,
> blake

I'm glad you made it. I honor you for your fight.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Thu 18 Sep 2008 10:24:04a, blake murphy told us...
>
>> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.
>
> I can imagine not.
>
>> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though
>> fairly often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting
>> because there ain't much you can do about it.
>
> Yes, you are lucky that isn't a big issue for you. I have another
> friend (in Cleveland), whose phantom pain was so bad that he underwent
> numerous
> subsequent surgerires trying to alleviate it. It helped a bit, but
> not a lot.
>
> I must say that you have a great attitude about the whole thing, and
> that I am *very* glad your with us!

I agree, Wayne.

May I echo Wayne's sentiments Blake? Glad you're here too.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:32:03 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:30:19 -0400, TFM® wrote:
>
>>
>> Blake, I've been seeing your posts for years. Never knew you were in a
>> chair.
>> If I ain't being too nosey, what happened? Email is valid. If you don't
>> care to respond, that's valid too.
>>
>> TFM®
>
>beginning around thanksgiving of '98, i began to become ill. when i
>finally went to the doctor on jan. 3, 1999 (actually i went on dec 31, but
>they wouldn't admit me)

Seems to me that's solid ground for a lawsuit, but I'm not a lawyer.

> my eyeballs were turning yellow and they diagnosed
>me with e. coli septicemia. there were also liver and kidney failure
>problems.
>
>i was in the i.c.u. in a coma for a couple few days. everyone, including
>the doctors, pretty much thought i was going to die. (my father, the old
>fraud, is an even bigger atheist than i am, but he called in a priest to
>give me the extreme unction ('last rights'). he later told me that he
>thought that would wake me up if anything would.)
>
>anyhow, while they were dealing with the liver and kidney, and extremely
>low blood pressure, my legs became gangrenous, and they had to whack 'em
>both off, about 3 inches below the knee (using somebody-or-other's
>guillotine method, as it's charmingly noted in my medical records.)
>apparently they wanted to go above the knee, and my father nixed that. i
>seem to recall them asking my permission also (i said o.k. but i didn't
>really think they were going to do it).
>
>but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in pretty
>good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well satisfied with
>the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me in the army (which many
>people assume) or mangled in a car accident, i might be ****ed off. but
>i've been pretty lucky in life, so it doesn't bother me much.
>

Wow! I knew about the chair but I didn't have any background
information so I assumed you'd been in it since childhood - mainly
because you don't make a big deal out of the situation. In your
(missing) shoes, I think I'd be really ****ed off.

You lost your legs, but how are those affected internal organs doing?

Nosey Too


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

blake murphy > fnord
:

> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:44:02 -0500, Omelet wrote:
>
<snip story of how Blake came to be in a wheelchair>

>> Om -> who has no idea what to say...
>
> it's no big deal, an inconvenience only.
>
> (i did tell my primary care physician once that i kind of missed
> ****ing standing up, and she said 'we'll put that down under
> "treatment goals".')
>
> your pal,
> blake
>

A doctor with a sense of humor is a good thing

--
Saerah

"Welcome to Usenet, Biatch! Adapt or haul ass!"
- some hillbilly from FL

blake murphy > fnord
:

> On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:57:25 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>>
>>>
>>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in
>>> pretty good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well
>>> satisfied with the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me
>>> in the army (which many people assume) or mangled in a car accident,
>>> i might be ****ed off. but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it
>>> doesn't bother me much.
>>>
>>> your pal,
>>> peg
>>>
>>
>> Blake, I remember you telling me several years ago that your were an
>> amputee, but I didn't know the details until now. Man, you really
>> went through something horrific! Septicemia has a higher than 50%
>> mortality, so you were extremely lucky given the circumstances.
>> Because of a friend I work with, I'm curious if you have tried or
>> considered protheses. My friend lost both legs in an auto accident
>> when he was 24, one above the knee and one a few inches below the
>> knee. He was fitted with protheses as soon as he had healed
>> sufficiently, and hasn't looked back. I know he does use a chair at
>> home some of the time, but I've never seen him in it anywhere else.
>> He's no athlete, but he does ride his bicycle every weekend.
>> Watching him move in any ordinary situation, you'd never know.
>>
>> As TFM® said, you don't have to answer this. I was merely curious.
>
> they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the
> floor in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them,
> they hurt like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while
> using parallel bars for support.)
>
> they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple
> years, two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!'
> i said, i think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it
> comes to pain.
>
> plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which
> makes it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a
> lazy *******.
>
> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.
>
> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though
> fairly often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting
> because there ain't much you can do about it.
>
>

A few weeks ago, I took Ellie to the jazz festival here, and she noticed
a man with a prosthetic leg. She wanted to ask him about it, but I
explained that he would probably find that annoying/embarassing. So then
I had to field numerous questions about how they work (when I have very
little knowledge), and how people might come to lose their leg/s.

I have always wondered how uncomfortable prostheses must be, and whether
amputees found the physical therapy needed to get used to them worth it.

Of course, he might have given her the vegetable line you gave upthread


--
Saerah

"Welcome to Usenet, Biatch! Adapt or haul ass!"
- some hillbilly from FL

On Thu 18 Sep 2008 08:02:20p, Saerah Gray told us...

> blake murphy > fnord
> :
>
>> On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:57:25 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed 17 Sep 2008 09:32:03a, blake murphy told us...
>>>
>>>>
>>>> but somehow, just to spite everyone, i came out of it alive and in
>>>> pretty good shape minus the leg portions, so i'm reasonably well
>>>> satisfied with the outcome. now, if i'd had them blown off for me
>>>> in the army (which many people assume) or mangled in a car accident,
>>>> i might be ****ed off. but i've been pretty lucky in life, so it
>>>> doesn't bother me much.
>>>>
>>>> your pal,
>>>> peg
>>>>
>>>
>>> Blake, I remember you telling me several years ago that your were an
>>> amputee, but I didn't know the details until now. Man, you really
>>> went through something horrific! Septicemia has a higher than 50%
>>> mortality, so you were extremely lucky given the circumstances.
>>> Because of a friend I work with, I'm curious if you have tried or
>>> considered protheses. My friend lost both legs in an auto accident
>>> when he was 24, one above the knee and one a few inches below the
>>> knee. He was fitted with protheses as soon as he had healed
>>> sufficiently, and hasn't looked back. I know he does use a chair at
>>> home some of the time, but I've never seen him in it anywhere else.
>>> He's no athlete, but he does ride his bicycle every weekend.
>>> Watching him move in any ordinary situation, you'd never know.
>>>
>>> As TFM® said, you don't have to answer this. I was merely curious.
>>
>> they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the
>> floor in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them,
>> they hurt like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while
>> using parallel bars for support.)
>>
>> they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple
>> years, two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!'
>> i said, i think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it
>> comes to pain.
>>
>> plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which
>> makes it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a
>> lazy *******.
>>
>> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.
>>
>> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though
>> fairly often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting
>> because there ain't much you can do about it.
>>
>>
>
> A few weeks ago, I took Ellie to the jazz festival here, and she noticed
> a man with a prosthetic leg. She wanted to ask him about it, but I
> explained that he would probably find that annoying/embarassing. So then
> I had to field numerous questions about how they work (when I have very
> little knowledge), and how people might come to lose their leg/s.
>
> I have always wondered how uncomfortable prostheses must be, and whether
> amputees found the physical therapy needed to get used to them worth it.

Stepping in here with no personal experience, I have known at least a
dozen friends who had prosthetic legs, begining with a friend in
highschool, and have seen that results vary considerably. Some, like
Blake, found them painful/uncomfortable. Some had moderate but manageable
problems, and some acted as if their prosthetic(s) were actually part of
their anatomy.

My friend in highschool lost his leg at mid-thigh from being hit by a car
while riding his bike when he was seven or eight years old. He adapted
quite well...never mentioned pain or discomfort, although he was still
growing/developing, and needed new a new prosthesis periodically. Two
college roommates (at different times) had lost both legs. One chose to
use a chair, as his amputations were quite high. The other had amputations
at mid-calf, and was quite an athlete with no complaints. One fellow I
worked with for about 10 years had lost his right leg to cancer which as
amputated nearly at the hip. He was one these guys with heroic
determination, did not want to be in a chair, and wore a prosthetic that
basically terminated in a "bucket" type support at the top since ther was
really no "leg" to attach to. He did not have a functional knee joint in
the prosthesis, so walking was rather a clumsy challenge, but never used a
cane or other support...just a lot of guts.

> Of course, he might have given her the vegetable line you gave upthread
>
>

I think that's priceless!

--
Wayne Boatwright

*******************************************
Date: Thursday, 09(IX)/18(XVIII)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Countdown till Veteran's Day
7wks 4dys 3hrs 56mins
*******************************************
'Wheel of Morality, turn turn
turn....' -- Wakko
*******************************************

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:25:18 -0400, cybercat wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote
>>>
>>> Do they know what caused this? Were you in the hospital or did you have
>>> some
>>> sort of wound? Very scary stuff. You should tell me there was some sort
>>> of
>>> unusual circumstance or I'm afraid I will have to develop symptons.
>>
>> it honestly beats the shit out of me.
>
> Didn't they offer any suggestions? I thought doctors were interested in
> cause and effect?
>
>>i'm not an i.v. drug user or fancier
>> of outlandish sex practices, so who knows.
>
> Oh. Well, damn. and I packed the whale mask, too.
>

let me revise that to 'outlandish sex practices that lead to outlandish
diseases.'

>
>> when little kids ask me, i say, 'this is what happens when you don't eat
>> your vegetables,' which most of the moms think is pretty funny.
>>

>You're an awfully good sport about such a horrendous and seemingly random
>thing. Hats off to you. (Removing my Viking Princess headdress
>respectfully.)

well, really, what else can i do? sitting around ****ing and moaning just
irritates people.

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:30:19 -0500, Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> they fitted me out with a pair of legs, which are now sitting on the floor
>> in the living room. the first couple times i was up on them, they hurt
>> like hell and it felt like i was on stilts. (this was while using parallel
>> bars for support.)
>>
>> they said, 'see? all you'll have to do is use a walker for a couple years,
>> two canes for maybe a year after that, and then only one cane!' i said, i
>> think i'll take the chair.' i'm a complete pussy when it comes to pain.
>>
>> plus, i was <counts on fingers> forty-eight or so at the time, which makes
>> it a little harder to adjust. in addition, i was and still am a lazy
>> *******.
>>
>> the whole thing wasn't exactly a profile in courage.
>>
>> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though fairly
>> often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting because there
>> ain't much you can do about it.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Blake.
>
> Take a look at "Tens" units...
>
> Might help, can't hurt, and they are not expensive anymore. :-)

the expense is not an issue, because i was and am insured. the whole thing
is kind of moot now, because a couple of years ago i went over backwards in
my chair and cracked my hip. so if i wanted to go for prostheses now, i'd
first have to have that surgically repaired, and frankly my experiences
with surgery are not such that i'd care to repeat them.

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:59:33 -0400, Nancy Young wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> i am lucky in that i don't often experience phantom pain, though
>> fairly often my 'feet' will itch like shit, which is disconcerting
>> because there ain't much you can do about it.
>
> I wondered a couple of times what happened to you, I had
> absolutely no idea it wasn't something that happened
> decades ago.
>
> I'm glad you made it through that, damn that was close!
>
> nancy

yep. i'm hoping that will hold me in the 'medical crises' department for a
few more years...

your pal,
blake