PS - Speaking of Speculation VS. Proof: Comparing My Own "Blunt Force Trauma Injury to the Abdomen" to Ivana Trump's

 

Though I am fairly immune to jumping to conclusions without proof, that doesn't mean I don't have my own speculations about things - I just need more evidence before I believe them or don't believe them, and definitely before I pronounce it fact. 

Thus, if there is  no proof, then my questions just sit in a gray area in the meantime.

For example, ever since my main diagnosis after the crash was "blunt-force trauma injury to the abdomen," I keep thinking about the last time I heard that particular phrase.

(But keep in mind, I have little to do, while healing from my injuries 😂)

So the last time I heard that phrase of "blunt force trauma to the abdomen" was - when Ivana Trump supposedly died from falling down the stairs. 

I already thought it was odd at the time, but now I really do, since I had my own diagnosis after a car crash.

So let's compare Ivana's blunt force injury to the abdomen and mine, shall we? 

My blunt-force traumatic injury to the abdomen was obtained by going 45 miles per hour and crashing into someone turning left at a flashing yellow arrow, from an approximate distance of 10 yards apart.

Specifically, my injuries were caused by my seatbelt, and they weren't severe enough to cause internal bleeding and death. Specific contributions to this injury were: 

1).  Rapid deceleration.

2)  The front end of our car being totally smashed in towards us (the car is totalled).

3) My airbag not deploying properly, leaving the seatbelt to do all the work.  

 

In contrast, Ivana Trump dies from internal bleeding from the exact same type of injury as mine - from a simple tumble down stairs???

So my question is - how is it even possible to obtain the force, momentum, and velocity required to obtain the same exact injury as mine obtained in a car crash - blunt force traumatic injury to the abdomen - from a simple fall down stairs? 

What hit her abdomen so hard, on the way down, it could cause enough blunt-force trauma directly to the abdomen to kill her - the steps themselves? 

Alrighty, if you say so.

Help me make that make sense?

Because mine literally felt like somebody hit me as hard as they could with a baseball bat, I couldn't breathe for a few minutes!

And typically, falls down stairs resulting in death are caused by head and/or neck injuries - NOT - "blunt force trauma to the abdomen."

Because unless someone can think of something I haven't thought of, the only way this injury makes sense to me is if ... 

1.) The "fall" was from directly from a greater height to a lower height, i.e. directly from a higher floor directly to a lower floor, without involving stairs (over the bannister?) -  but facing forward, her abdomen landing directly on an object.  

(Of course, if she was facing forward, that would imply she either voluntarily jumped or was pushed to the next floor, rather than "fell," wouldn't it?)

- OR -

2) Somebody hit her as hard as they could at speed with a blunt object in the abdomen, such as a baseball bat (which is what the injury felt like to me) -  and THEN she fell down the stairs.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it just leaves me with questions and doesn't seem to make sense, especially after my own diagnosis of this.

See what I mean and why I question that?

Like I said, I could be wrong and I'd need more evidence - but of course, we'd likely never get any either way.

Thus, it stays in questioning mode, I'm not convinced either way - and yet the explanation we've been given doesn't make any sense, either, does it? 

Increase in Choosing Belief VS. Fact in the Medical Community (Especially Kentucky)

A little bit frustrated today with the local healthcare situation.




I feel really bad saying what I'm about to say, because this person was SUCH a nice guy, super intelligent, and spent a lot of time with us - but what also may be true is that he may be just a little bit kookaburra? 😂

I mean, we had a really good conversation about lots of things, many of which I agreed with, but others I was like "Hmm," in my head, so I just said "Oh, interesting" - not knowing what else to say about them lol


And don't get me wrong, there are some great doctors here - but good luck getting in with them.

Having said that, I do trust my PCP, my GYN (though she just moved to Western KY) and my neurosurgeons.

But typically, with the other top doctors in town, good luck getting in with them because everybody knows it; thus, we're left with the mediocre and the rest.




Anyway, to my point ...

I was told today by an MD - someone who should know better - that you can reduce plaque buildup in your arteries by switching to a vegetarian - and especially vegan - diet.

This MD literally said that I could reduce my plaque burden back to zero, if I just became a vegetarian, especially if I could become a vegan.

Um - no. Not only has that not been scientifically proven, but it may not even be possible.


I didn't argue this point, just listened - but from what I know from both school and medical transcription largely in cardiology, once you have plaque, you have it for life - you can't eradicate it without intervention - all you can do is stabilize it and prevent it from getting worse?




In fact, when I got home, I researched the very physician's studies that he quote, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.

For starters, the studies that he did weren't out to prove vegetarian diets "cured" or reversed cardiovascular disease - the goal was to lower LDL cholesterol and thus prevent further plaque burden and cardiac events.

That much we already know and has been proven over and over.




The only mention I could find of actually reversing plaque build-up was an editorial paper written by Dr. Esselstyn that said he "believed" it could reverse plaque burden, based on a small prior study where some of the participants did show somewhat of a reversal in plaque burden, but it's not understood why just in those patients and needs further study.




In all the studies I read on his work, nowhere, at any time, did Dr. Esselstyn ever once say that someone reduced their plaque burden back to 0%!

Though a plant-based diet can help lower your cholesterol and thereby prevent further plaque build-up and may even stabilize it, once plaque is there, it's there until it's removed or bypassed around - period.

You CANNOT eradicate existing plaque or reverse plaque from your arteries without intervention, particularly if calcified.


If you could, there'd be no need for interventional cardiology or cardiothoracic surgery for blockages and our docs would be telling us to stop completely all food with meat, fat, or oils of any kind, but they do not.




Then he went down a rabbit hole about flock cameras and government monitoring and not trusting pharmaceutical companies in favor of natural medicine.




Um ... it's not that I DO necessarily trust these things ... but methinks a combination of natural products and pharmaceuticals yield the best results, it's not "either/or."

Also, I wonder about people who worry so much about government monitoring, like ... "What in the heck are you doing that you shouldn't be, to the degree that you think the government would be targeting you as a nobody, with little to no power?" 😂




And usually, it's the same people who trust Trump blindly without realizing the smeller may be the feller.

I mean, the vindictive. vengeful, paranoid degree to which Trump goes after his political opponents does worry me.

(As does his overreach like using taxpayer money to fund his political commercials recently or ignoring constitutional protections completely.)

Also, ICE's overreach and brutality is starting to scare us all!

Except Trumpers seem to justify creepy government overreach when it comes to Trump, for reasons I don't understand, - because if Obama or Biden even did any of that, they'd be in the streets with AR-15s!

As for flock cameras, yes -  they are fraught with issues (mostly misidentification) - but they've also helped catch a few criminals, too.

The same is true for pharmaceuticals - there's two sides to that coin, too.

Thus, I don't think it's so "either/or" or we should throw the baby out with the bathwater, just do better and monitor the monitors?



I dunno, it's like I don't trust government OR corporations -  but I also don't automatically distrust them until they give me a reason not to (and some have) - especially at a local level?




And ya know, prove it to me?

Proof should still be required - always.

Don't just speculate based on little more than your own fear and something you may have misunderstood and call it fact.

Don't cherry pick sources that support what you already want to believe - carefully consider both sides of an argument first? 

And if you still can't prove anything either way, then call it what is - your opinion and/or belief.

You can of course believe whatever you like - but when you review the "evidence" for what you believe, are you critically thinking through both sides of the issue, or are pushing away things that don't support what you already believe? 

Even if it appears to be video proof, ask yourself "If not AI, what context was this said/done in - and are there any other possible explanations for this?" 



Back to doctors, I've also recently heard 3 doctors say they "believe" that smoking is a simply a bad habit, easily quit.

I even had one doc say "You're so logical, being logical is very important to you, so it's just so illogical that you smoke, I don't get it."

That is soooooo behind current studies and so 30 years ago.

No one ever said smoking is logical.

Quitting smoking is NOT just a will power thing or a "bad habit" like forgetting to make your bed.

For many people, smoking is actually an addiction - both psychologically and physically. 

In fact, nicotine is just as addictive to heroin because it quickly and directly boosts dopamine short-term; therefore, it is just as hard to quit as heroin.

Also, we have proven that over time, your brain creates more nicotine receptors, causing the cravings to intensify the longer you go without it, becoming super intense around the 3rd day, without nicotine. 

Then there's a direct, immediate hit to your dopamine receptors as well.

Therefore, you have to have a plan and a good replacement, both psychologically and physically for nicotine, i.e. nicotine patches AND replacement coping strategies in place for dealing with stress that you've practiced already.

So it's not it's not as simple as "Oh, it's illogical for me to smoke; thus, I'll just put them down" - because your brain has literally developed more nicotine receptors and create cravings that intensify the longer you go without it. 

I never argue with any of these people, I just listen - but it's become clear to me that much like the political majority in the South -  especially in Kentucky, even with doctors -  belief "trumps" fact.

I did try to tell one of the clinicians the multitude of scientific studies on how smoking is physically addictive, too, very politely and she said "Yeah, yeah, yeah, studies, whatever - I believe it's just a bad habit you can easily stop."

I never say anything, as they can of course choose not to believe a plethora of studies saying otherwise.

But I AM thinking ... 

You are welcome to "believe" that all you like - but that's not what science says.

There are plenty of studies proving smoking is not JUST a matter of will power, behavior modification, and "bad habit" - it's also a true physical addiction so severe it is only rivaled by heroin.

I mean, I can want to believe that nothing but rainbows fly out of my pug's butt - and only the pug breed is capable of this  - doesn't make it truth or fact! 😂











We still need to put theories to the test through scientific method, right? 

(And I mean, if I really believed rainbows flew out of my pug's butt anyway, then I would expect someone to have my eyes and brain checked! lol)

My point is, when even doctors trained in scientific method are choosing to specifically ignore their beliefs and over science and fact, without ever testing their belief - just as we're also doing with our politics?

Houston, we've developed a huge societal problem. 

A problem that regresses and devolves us, rather than evolves and adapts us and moves us towards progress. 

Kentucky Castle CEO and Bourbonaire Terminated for Sex-Taping Guests and HIS OWN FAMILY!

 So Mark and my first date was at this place in 2011 and we have never stayed there, just went to a Halloween Costume Party, thank God. 

At that time, it was under different ownership anyway, called "The Castle Post" - again, thank God.

And wasn't I just talking about freaky AirBNB owners a few posts ago?

Because famous Angel Envy bourbon-maker billionaire (sold to Bacardi) and CEO of the Kentucky Castle, Wes Henderson - in the top 100 bourbon makers of all time ...  

- was just terminated as CEO of the Kentucky Castle and arrested, when his own family caught cameras in their vacation homes and at the castle itself, along with tons of sex tapes of both guests - and his own family!

Homeland Security is now involved. (Not sure why versus the FBI, but whatever).

It's unclear of whether he intended to use the tapes for dirt on people or was just a freak, but either way, your own family???

Ewwwwww!

And we thought Anita and Patrick Madden's celebrity after-derby parties were bad enough!

(I never went nor was invited, but I know people that served the people at them. From what I heard, they rivaled today's P. Diddy parties.)

Ah, rich people - and their Eyes Wide Shut, P. Diddy bullshit - be cray cray 😂

New or old money doesn't matter - old money is just better at hiding it than new money.

Regardless, when people have money - particularly men - it seems the first thing they do with money and power is express it - or more accurately, impose it on others - sexually -  in conquest and/or power abuse mentality. Consent doesn't matter, it's about conquest and power abuse. 

This of course goes on way too long because they can just snap their fingers and "make it go away."

Good on his own family for reporting him!

Health Update: The Good And The Bad, Still Finding My Gratitude and Joy

 Just giving a health update ... 

One piece of advice I've learned and would give anyone in my situation, or any bad situation is - it's okay to feel overwhelmed and even cry for a minute - THEN be grateful for what and who you have around you and forward think. 

Make future plans, even if they're unlikely and absurd 😂

Also what I have learned over time is that when bad things happen, you learn who's there for you and who isn't - and it can surprise you, going both ways.

To be fair, there are a couple of friends I haven't told because I don't want to burden them - i.e., my former boss, Leeanne, who is planning her son's wedding - and my neighbors and close friends, Angelie and Rico that I've mentioned before on here, who I don't think read here. Not only do they have 2 young children, but his mother with advanced Parkinson's just moved here from Puerto Rico and I know they are already overwhelmed!)

Among those I have told, here's who has stepped up to the plate with rides, offers of food, checking on me daily, and/or sending me pictures of their travel adventures so that I can live vicariously through them, right now  (lol), funny memes or pics, or giving great care:

These people are:

Mark - my amazing husband and my rock. 💓

Mark's siblings.

My mom and my little sister. 

My friend, Kayla and her family.

My neighbors, Shondelle and Vince and their son, VJ.

My neighbors, Cody (also one of our maintenance guys) and his girlfriend, Savannah. 

Mark's boss and coworkers, Kiyon, Corey, and Fidan.

Mark's friend in Detroit, Allen H. 

My attorney, Katie, and her legal team (especially Claire) at Minner & Vines.

My Primary Care Physician at Family Practice Associates, Susan Monohan, MD, and her staff (especially Lisa).

My orthopedist at Bluegrass Orthopedics, Ched Crouse, MD and staff.

My neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Baptist Health - Neurosurgery, Debbie Croucher, APRN (recently awarded "Advanced Practitioner of Year" for Baptist Health Kentucky-Indiana.) 

My dentist, Erica Higginbotham DMD - AKA "Lady Higginbotham" (because her name makes her sound like she's a character on Bridgerton 😂) -  and the entire staff at Beaumont Family Dentistry - Leestown - ESPECIALLY my dental hygienist and soul sista, Crystal!

(The latter was not doing dental work on me at the time, but heard about it and called me. That group has been SO supportive in general with life's ups and down, I can't tell you - the kindest and all around best dental group in town!)

Absolutely amazing people, some of whom I've only known for less than a year in our new apartment - THANK YOU!!! 😍

 

So, onto the health news.

The Bad News: 

So when compiling my medical records for my attorney, I caught something on the CT scan report of the abdomen that was overlooked during the shuffle to find injuries. (Hey, 27 years in medical records - go me!)

I thought it was an incidental finding - but my neurosurgery APRN pinpointed its location at correlating exactly at the point of the fracture. 

So it's an aortic mural thrombus - essentially, a blood clot on my descending aorta.

Being that the ER staff had much to be desired the night I was seen (already written about earlier), I noticed the radiologist briefly mentioned it, but said nothing about either the size of it or the location - and then forgot to put it in his clinical impression or address it or refer me for further care.

After I caught it, I went to see my PCP, who referred me to Vascular Surgery (though we don't think surgical intervention will be necessary), thinking it was incidental finding.

However, my neurosurgery nurse practitioner took a look at the images with me in the room, and as mentioned, she showed me the aortic thrombus correlated exactly with the vertebral fracture at all angles.

Good News: 

The aortic mural thrombus is tiny and should be able to be treated with medication alone.

Thus, I'm being sent for an MRI to determine the exact size and location, as well as if the age of the mural thrombus matches the age of the fracture to prove it's injury rather than calcific buildup.

She also told me "Whadaheck is THIS (the brace)? It's overkill. No wonder it was killing your ribs."

Ha! Isn't that exactly what I said, it's too much and was killing my ribs?

The abdominal swelling and rib-cage swelling had gone down, which helped - but thank you, Debbie Croucher!

She said she could get me a new one, but I was healing so quickly, I wouldn't likely need to wear one at all unless I overdid it or while riding in the car or walking on uneven ground.

(And the reason I'm healing up quickly is because I gently stretch everyday and walk laps around my house or short walks outside with the brace on. It's kind of instinctual with this injury to want to move.)

Bad News:

She also made frustrated faces about the the lax documentation I mentioned earlier - not just the ribs, but the more serious injury, the mural thrombus - briefly mentioned only under the "VASCULAR"  heading in the body of the report, without giving exact location on the aorta or the size, nor mentioning at all in the impression, and with no referrals or treatment. 

The ER radiologists also completely missed an L4-L5 compressed/degenerative disc; however, this was old injury as evidenced by calcifications.

(I had no idea. As I've said, I'm super good with physical pain, so I just thought I occasionally got muscle spasms from scoliosis.)

She said missing these and the vague documentation was "unacceptable" - because though a mural thrombus of that size isn't immediately dangerous, it is still dangerous - and should've been  addressed and referred out to vascular surgery or cardiology immediately.

She may have a country accent, but make no mistake - that woman is as smart as a whip!

I can totally see why she won advanced practitioner of the year!

So she held her finger on the thrombus on imaging as she twisted the images from every angle, showing me it directly correlated with the vertebral fracture - proving it is at least suspect for being caused by injury.

It's uncommon, but it does happen.

Good News: 

Again, Vascular Surgery will need to confirm, but because of its tiny size, we may be able to break it up and prevent more clotting just with medicine.

Also, I have ZERO SYMPTOMS from it - in fact, I feel a little hit better each and every day! 🥰

Bad News:

We had just gotten our 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander in June and it's totalled and are thus underwater on our loan and its our only car.

Also, the lienholder and the insurance company cannot agree on the reimbursement value of the car, with the lienholder obtaining a third-party independent evaluation, with which the insurance company still disagrees - and the insurance company is dragging their feet on a response.

In the meantime, because the car is totaled, the insurance company  would not pay for a rental car past 3 days. They would if the car was reparable, but it isn't.

Thus, we're renting it daily out of pocket each day we wait with insurance company discount.

PLUS we have to continue payments on the old car we can't even drive until they decide on its value - AND - pay off whatever they decide on is left - PLUS - come up with a down payment for a new car - AND pay new car payments as well as the old car.

Also, I have had to quit school, both due to funding cuts to financial aid for half-time programs by Trump's OBBBA bill and because I will need a bit more of healing time.

I was door-dashing for income, and of course, I can no longer do that. 

Good News:

Okay, so ... no good news on this front yet BUT ... I will get a settlement as a result of this accident, at some point?

And as I said, 2 days before the accident, I had a "ticker-tape" message  run through my head which interrupted my own thoughts, accompanied by a chill - as if abruptly as a "breaking news" commercial interrupted a show you were watching on T.V. that said "Something really bad is about to happen - but it will be okay."

I couldn't literally hear anything, like it wasn't an auditory or visual hallucination, mind you - just a ticker-tape thought that interrupted my thought processes so clearly and disruptively that  I knew it was not my own thoughts - as interruptive as "We interrupt this thought process for a a very important message." 😂

I told Mark immediately about it and he thought it was just anxiety on overdrive.

And yet thus far, whoever or whatever pegged it spot on, right?

I can't deny or explain that. 

My mom of course thinks it was Jesus.

I said "Well, if it is, then I don't know where he's been for the last 20 years or so, but he's welcome." 😂

But as I said, there was no voice attached, no sense of male or female or who it was, so it's hard to say. 

I LIKE to believe it was my friend/spiritual Mom, Marian, but perhaps that's just what I want to believe.

Regardless, despite losing my faith almost entirely over the past year  - I can't deny this - it was very clear and very accurate - so whoever or whatever that was that simultaneously both warned and reassured me of what was about to happen, I'm going to trust that it also right about the second part - that! it WILL all be okay - or try to! 😂

Regardless, whatever happens, I will be focusing on joy and gratitude - and I WILL heal!