So Long Castie!

When we had returned from our excursion into the German Alps, I had an appointment with Dr. P to have my cast removed. We planned to take the whole afternoon/evening to stay in the Pedestrian Zone downtown Heidelberg, and to have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Germany: Indian Palace. So, we all walked down through our tiny town to the train stop. We had a lovely train that came every half hour during the weekdays, and every hour on weekends. It took us on what is called a Rundfahrt. It went in a circle from Mannheim to Heidelberg, crossing both the Rhein and the Neckar. We paid for our group ticket and took the next train into Heidelberg. Our train stopped right in front of Atos Klinikum, if you recall which is directly across from the entrance to the Pedestrian Zone.

I remember I wasn't feeling good at all when we got to Atos, and we had to run around looking for a bathroom. All the bathrooms on Dr. P's floor were in use, so I finally found one on the floor below. It was literally a closet. I mean, the average sized human could barely turn around in it, and have space to wash and dry hands. When we ran back to the office, they had already called my name and shunted me into an exam room. One of the girls that had come to put on my cast came in with an electric saw.

Now, you can tell me how safe these saws are, and demonstrate it on your bare skin all you want.... but I blanched. With how close that saw was coming to my skin, I kept freaking out and repeated "Stop! Stop!" I don't know if the girl had massive amounts of patience, or was just entertaining me, but she would stop. The saw generated so much heat; it was burning my arm underneath the cast. We stopped and started many times before she could crack open the cast and let my arm out. Dr. P came in and told me to go over to the X-ray clinic and get some pictures taken. So, we left the office and walked across the hall to radiology. J&S were sitting outside in the hallway in some chairs waiting for us. We told them I had to get some pictures, and talk to the doctor and then we could leave.

I recall that this visit with radiology was none too pleasant. When a little blond lady took me into the room she tried manipulating my hand and arm in ways that made me want to scream and slap. I remember there was this pedestal in the middle of the room instead of a huge table like you'd normally see. She brought over this step ladder, and would angle me around the pedestal in awkward positions. The x-ray machine was mounted directly above the pedestal, and she'd pull it all the way down. If I had flinched, I probably would have whacked the machine good. After a good 10 minutes of grabbing my hand and angling it this way and that, she had me sit out in the hallway by J&S and wait for the prints. Surprisingly, the entire ordeal took less than 30 minutes from beginning to end, walking in to radiology, having my x-rays, and then receiving my prints.

We hustled back into Dr.P's office and back into the exam room. He came in shortly after and said that things were looking a little better, that the stress on my hand bones had been drastically reduced. He gave me a "prescription" to take downstairs to the Pharmacy for a new brace. He said that I was to wear this brace 24/7 for at least the first few months, but let my arm have some air time a little every day. He said I had to sleep with it on. Still no lifting, cleaning or driving. But, he said once my wound healed and the scabs fell off, I could fully immerse my arm in water again.

So, we left the office and we all went down to the museum-like first floor where we walked into the Pharmacy. The lady that took my note said in really quick German that we needed to go to the shop across the hall. Okay.... the shop across the hall was like a gift shop. My husband just shrugged and we went into it, and found that there was a bundle of people on the wall facing the street that were setting people up with bandages, braces, etc. So, we took my note to the first available person, and they told us to wait. It was quite a long wait. Turns out, they had to contact our military insurance to make sure that I could receive this special brace for my arm. There was a whole debacle over it that my husband tried to handle, but we mostly did not understand what they were saying to us ... but we got the brace after about 30 minutes so I guess no harm, no foul! The fitted it on me, and told me not to wrap it too tight. Then, they gave me this interesting receipt. By interesting, I mean this stupid brace cost 80 Euros! At that time, that was about $120 or so. I couldn't believe how expensive this stupid thing was!

My brace is blue blue, with green piping, and red interior. It is not in the least attractive, and goes with absolutely nothing I wear. Or anyone would wear. I still use this brace today. It has a large metal bar insert that is to shape my bone and hold it in place, and Velcro straps that keep my wrist from moving. It's fabulous to sleep it, but took a lot of getting used to. It's hot, sweaty, and not at all breathable so it can start to stink rather quickly which means you have to wash it regularly.

So, Castie, you are no more. Fortunately, I now do not have to worry about itches and showering. The clunker you were ... will not be much missed.