Update on Me

[Maria]

re the questions Mark. Rehab facilities used to be part of the hospital but it seems there is greater $ to be made to often design them as a separate entity w/ rehab, SNF and maybe Alzheimer related unit facility. I'm guessing this has to do with a better way to make $ (be reimbursed) for these services then again I'm not sure about that so just talking about the topic may prompt me to see if that is a major factor in the facility concept and design.

If one has the insurance that would cover the services and choice is an option than by all means pick the one that is the best based on careful questioning and scrutiny.

There are rehab facilities out there that are crappy and those that are OK and those that excellent. I was so fortunate that both of my parents were able to go into a 5 star facility when it was needed. Mom broke her pelvis when she was 80 and made such an incredible recovery she was released short of 3 weeks to PT at home and Home health nursing as needed. I flew in to help with her care but realistically I wasn't in any shape to actually help with anything but vacuuming, dusting, preparing meals and doing dishes! Dad was less prepared for all that!

My father's rehab experience was truly amazing because he suffered a volvulus and had emergency stomach surgery when he was 87~ he went from weighing 124lbs to weighing 100 lbs after 2 weeks in the hospital. I was there every day most of the day (hospital) and went every day the first 3 weeks of his rehab stay to which the staff told me to fly back home as I was hindering his recovery (he wanted to wait for me, listen to me, depend on me).. they really were quite incredible as I witnessed first hand even though I truly had reservations that no one was as astute as me in terms of what I thought my father needed and when. Truly I didn't know all the great stuff that was available for all kinds of things that can happen while one is basically falling apart at the seams physically and needs a complete rehab job (in his case due to terribly weakened condition, extreme osteoporosis, severe DDD, crazy f'ing lymphedema condition in his right leg, hypertension, his cardio pulmonary status etc... yada yada (or is yadda yadda)?

Yep.. the range of excellence is there just like in almost all aspects of healthcare!

Being alone as I am I have to look at these options just like any other part of a healthcare related decision.

[jsewell]

Maria you in no way insulted me at all. I don't remember how i replied and was too lazy to go back and look.
I have only one day in a rehab unit in a hospital. It was after my hip replacement . I had been part of a study of IV tylenol before it was available here in the US. for the study i had to stay one more day than was needed for my recovery so the study doc had me go to rehab.
Two years ago after the lumbar spine surgery that left me in horrible pain and unable to walk, my surgeon was going out of town for the weekend and didn't know what to do with me so he tried to get me into the rehab at the hospital and i was turned down as i could not do enough .
He suggested a nursing home for the weekend or until he could get back and try to figure out what the next step was because he wanted me to get around the clock pain meds. I asked all the doctors that came in my room for 2 days and everyone else and only one good one in the area and they looked it up and my insurance would not cover it. so i asked my kids and they all said i could come home. I got food about once a day , maybe a few glasses of water and pretty much left alone except the company of 2 great dogs. It was ok, i don't need much. I am sure i can survive this time too. My daughter will have just graduated from nursing school and i am hoping she can come and stay a few days. I will need the most help with driving me to appointments and getting my daughter to work. so i am really hoping she will start learning how to drive now,. she has 6 weeks left

I never got to the beach as i slept too late on Wed after a late night clinic at DrF's on Tuesday night, I think i left LA for home at 1:30am.

I had better get to sleep now or i will sleep too late tomorrow too

[Maria]

My Dad was able to eat on his own and that's all it took for him to go to rehab and he hardly was eating then. Couldn't get up by himself, or go to the bathroom or anything else. I mean he was really in sad sad shape so I am so thankful he went where he did. Thankfully his insurance allowed him the best option.

My own experience was I needed the most help the first few days to first week post my really involved 2nd knee surgery and my first bunion surgery as well as my back surgeries.

I was really lucky the last time I had bunion surgery my younger downstairs neighbor would go grocery shopping for me and checked on me pretty frequently. I wanted to pay her but she wouldn't accept any $. I think Edgar came down and took me to the doctor as often as necessary. Thinking back on that reminds me of my first bunion surgery where basically E was in charge of taking care of me and was about what you said with a glass of water and gone for 12 hours ... I cried so much with that first bunion surgery as it was super painful and I never expected it to be THAT BAD especially after 2 back surgeries and 2 knee surgeries!!!! All that pressure in my toes when I put my foot down was just killer the first week!

It was soooo hot here yesterday I didn't go outside until 5:30p.m. and then only to the grocery store and after that I drove by Seal Beach pier and it was just so beautiful but parking was all taken up on the street where I wanted to park so I just came home. It was only a little cooler at 6p.m. though at least enough that I could drive home with the windows down vs. using the a/c in the car.

This weekend will be cooler thankfully! Yay!!!!

[jsewell]

I am so happy it is cooling off again too. It was just too hot. i went to the gym again yesterday , but now i will be back to walking outside. My daughter came home this morning early and they had not slept all night so she will be out all day in bed and i don't have to worry about my taxi duties. this week i am too busy to get to the beach until Friday . But my daughter has to go to physical therapy for a few weeks , mostly to get trained in a home exercise program so that is really the first day she can make it because she is working all week.
I am seeing my foot surgeon Monday to get all the details of the surgery and recovery. Then Tuesday my spine surgeon, then Wed my annual hip surgeon's visit. i am a few weeks early on that but my hip that was not replaced was giving me such a hard time about 2 weeks ago that i got scared and made the appointment. Now since i made the apt it has been fine!!! Figures.

I do need to see the beach and work on my tan before my trip to Florida, Becka and i are going June 4th through June 9th. Short and it stays sweet, any longer and not so much.
take care and we really do need to see each other, maybe next weekend?
Judy