9 - 10 Jan
Today doctor Ghokan gave me a surprise and came to me. I told him I am MUCH BETTER after stopping the Contramal and after finding Ibuprofen cream.
He was happy to see me ok, because last time he saw me ruined…
We talked about many things, including personal things. I found I am 5 years older than him, and that was a bit funny, but my respect for him didn’t decrease at all. For me he is maybe the best orthopedist in Turkey and one of the kindest person I ever met in my life !
He told me that my entry incisions healed, so not need to put bandages anymore and now I can entry in the swimming pool.
I showed him my left brake of my wheelchair loose, so my wheelchair became unstable and very unsafe. So, doctor right away turned it upside down to see what is going on. I was so embarrassed that my doctor is doing that. I said: Please, doctor, you make me feel embarrassed and I don’t want to bother you !
When he turned it upside down I saw right away where are the adjustment screws, because I am good technician, worked all my life with tools and worked 20 years in bikes industry. I said: - Sir, I can fix it in few seconds, but I need a 4mm hex wrench. Next second he called the technical department in the hotel and after 15 minutes a guy came with the cheapest hex set I ever seen… like a Dollar Store one. I thought: Wow, these guys from the hotels are really cheap, or they hired cheap workers asking them to bring their personal tools !
Anyways, I didn't disturb him and he tight it somehow, but after doctor left I used the chair and the brake was just a bit better than before. I called the PT guy and I asked him to bring me a hex set tomorrow, so I can adjust it with my hand...
Next day he came with the hexes and I adjusted both properly and equally, telling him how good quality wheelchair is this… He answered: - Of course is good, because is a very expensive one. So how come ?... And he said: - Because this is 5000 Euro one, left by an ex patient to me after he finished !
Ohh, this is not a wheelchair from the hotel ?... – Ohh, no. They have only crappy regular ones. But I brought it special for you !
Ohh, man, now I realized my wheelchair is a Carbon fiber, Folding one and, of course, the hotel will NEVER buy such an amazing wheelchairs for customers. The model is a Ottobock Zenit Carbon.
I appreciated a lot what he did and I told him that…
Few minutes later we went to main level, for MY FIRST DAY IN THE POOL !
For me is the most important day since the surgery !
After 2 weeks of suffering finally I can feel I am a normal free walking person, not a crippled one.
I put a swim brief on me, the bathrobe and I grab the swimming cap, because is mandatory. BTW, the hotel told me, when I had the hotel tour, that they charge me 8 Euro for the cap. No kidding, I said. And I found a used one, I wash it… and done.
So, we arrived to the pool and I was excited like a boy, because I can walk freely, after 2 weeks of staying only in bed and wheelchair…
They, PT guy and the nurse, supervised me to safely move from wheelchair to plastic sunbed and then to the floor. Then, being to the edge of the pool, going straight in the water. They was happy I did it well from the first time and after 2 minutes they left.
The pool is large enough and the entry in the water it has a special slope to the bottom, with handle rails along the entire length of the slope. Good job Antwell hotel !
The deepness is 1.50 m, perfect for adults, but not for children.
The temperature is 20 C, but it should be 24-25 C for muscles and bones, so I felt it a bit colder, for the whole our.
Guys, again, if the hotel hadn’t have this pool… I wouldn’t start this crazy LL journey !...Period !
So, being my profession, the PT guy leaved me alone to do whatever I need.
I did many walking exercises and different static exercises, for one hour. Then I lift the body to the floor, then to the sunbed, then to the wheelchair where I put a thick towel…
It was great, as expected !