Medical update for today
Regarding my ex-husband’s treatment in the rehab hospital – I didn’t mean to give the impression that my ex wasn’t walking at all. He has PT every day where he walks with a walker, practices getting up and down, does strengthening exercises of the arms – that sort of thing. But it’s only during the PT and OT (occupational therapy) sessions, which typically total between one to one and a half hours in a day.
So it’s not that he’s not doing anything; it’s just that they’re not working towards having him try walking without a walker, even under very strict supervision.
The facility itself seems like the best one in this area, which doesn’t mean it’s great. But I don’t think any other place would be doing much better, although it’s impossible to know. In addition, he has many medical problems I haven’t described here that need stabilizing, and he really can’t go home right now for that reason plus the fact that his apartment needs to be made safer for him. I hope to get that latter feat accomplished by the end of the week.
As far as the wheelchair tether goes, I got permission yesterday to take him – in the wheelchair – outside, wheel him around, and that sort of thing. So that’s an improvement.
He’s still miserable and can’t wait to get out of there. But at the moment, he needs to stay there.
It’s encouraging to hear that at least you are allowed to wheel him around the outside garden. Best wishes on all your efforts for him.
It would be great if he could go home. Ironically, he can best make that happen by relentlessly practicing walking all day, not just the few minutes when they make him try.
You are a good soul, Neo.
I sense a self-centered man with multiple medical problems that need “stabilizing”, and he is “miserably” awaiting rehab hosp discharge. Is that so he can return to his old ways? Forgive me, Neo, for posing this, but medically this is a very ordinary scenario, which is usually intractable.
I sense a self-centered man with multiple medical problems that need “stabilizing”, and he is “miserably” awaiting rehab hosp discharge. Is that so he can return to his old ways? Forgive me, Neo, for posing this, but medically this is a very ordinary scenario, which is usually intractable.
==
For whatever reason, hospital patients are ‘self-centered’.
Cicero, put a sock in it.
Neo, taking him outside is very good for his mental well being, and a good mental well being leads to recovery.
I know this is not appropriate time and place, but.
Today I placed my Lovey Wife’s ashes in a niche in the Cemetery. She died July 20, finally peaceful, and I was holding her. We had Hospice, and she was home. Her Cat, Sasha, was on the couch all day by her. We were married 57 years on June 8. A good number of neighbors and friends were there. We had a Bagpiper, which she wanted.
Shirehome…God bless you & your memories of a life well-lived & shared in deep love. May peace fill you & your family.
Well said, Shirehome. Your love and devotion shine through. Pipes at the memorial. Aye, her wish and your command. Well done.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. May your dear wife RIP.
SHIREHOME:
I comment as a physician. There are clinical decisions to be made. Lay people slide into glib comments like “a good mental well-being leads to recovery.”
May God bless you and your late wife.
Shirehome, my deepest condolences. May God sustain you, and so also the memories of a long and devoted marriage.
Shirehome,
My deepest sympathy.
Shirehome, I’m so sorry.
I am very sorry to learn of your wife’s passing, Shirehome.
She has found peace. Heartfelt condolences. God bless.
Your friend,
M J R
@SHIREHOME,
So sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing, and God bless.
SHIREHOME:
I’m so sorry.
SHIREHOME: May God bless you and heal your heart. With sympathy.
Cicero: As a physician you should be aware of all you do Not know re healing. Maybe keep your compartmentalized judgment to yourself on this one.
Hi Boss…thanks again for sharing what is clearly a rough patch for you & the former Mr Neo…
I’ll make a well-intentioned request to my fellow concerned well-meaning blog guests… Can we please pledge to take a huge step back from “diagnosis by anecdote” or the latest version of “The Great Escape”?
I appreciate some reticence on your part Neo to share the fullness of your former husband’s condition. All any of us need to know is his burden is also your burden & we can only offer our deepest hopes, fervent prayers, or finest wishes until that burden is relieved by the best of care that you can access.
Anything beyond that, especially by those of us who’ve never laid an eye on him or read his medical charts is IMO less than helpful. I’ll leave it at that except to continue to pray for the best possible outcome for both of you. It may be a longer than anticipated journey ahead, but I’ll continue to hold to the promise…
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again. – Psalm 71:20-21 – not the King James this time
My experience in rehab was similar. Bed alarm. No walking anywhere without assistance (wheelchair at first, then a cane). PT. OT. Daily 2 hours per day. At 10 days they did an assessment, decided I was stable enough to walk, then gave me a yellow wristband as an identifier to the personnel on duty that I was a “free walker” or something. I was discharged 2 days later. Godspeed to your EX, and God bless you for being there.
My condolences to Shirehome on your loss.
Shirehome, may comfort and peace accompany this season of loss and grief.
Unfortunately, Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder. A patient doesn’t “get better”. The therapy goals are probably to regain some function following what ever caused his hospitalization balanced with safety. Parkinson’s patients fall. Fall often enough and you get hurt. Broken wrists, shoulders and hips are common, but the worst results are when a patient lands on his head. The results of an intercranial bleed in conjunction with Parkinson’s is ugly. The rehab hospital is held responsible for the patient’s safety by both the state regulatory agency and CMS. As for only 60-90 minutes of skilled therapy per day, that is determined by his insurance. All that being said, Parkinson’s disease is a terrible thing and I will remember to pray for your ex-husband.
Bob in Idaho:
Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.
However, although I agree that Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, it is certainly possible to get better symptomatically – that is, to improve. Medication changes and adjustments can make a difference, and he actually isn’t taking any Parkinson’s medication but while he’s in rehab they’re not dealing with that. Exercise and PT specifically geared to Parkinson’s can help, but they’re not doing that. What’s more, until he very recently developed some additional medical problems which are mostly resolving at present, he hadn’t been falling. I see other patients whose walking seems much more unstable than his, and they seem to be allowing them more freedom. The facility has the capacity to have him walk more every day and they themselves say he’s walking quite well. All they have to do is have him do another loop around the corridors, which they could definitely fit into the half hour (it takes him less than 5 minutes to do one loop). And they definitely could have him try to walk a few steps without a walker, with a belt and a PT on each side (there are already 2 of them working with him at a time). Lack of exercise takes its toll both physically and mentally, and I am convinced he is getting much less exercise than he could get quite safely, even with a walker.
What we have to pray for is for his other medical problems to continue to improve, and for his apartment to be ready to receive him when he’s discharged, and for those things to happen soon. You have your work cut out for you, Neo. Prayers and best wishes.
SHIREHOME,
God’s blessings to you and your wife. You are a wonderful steward of her memory.
neo,
Way to go getting his wheelchair untethered during your visits! Your persistence is admirable.
Shirehome it is hard but she’ll wait for you
Keep it up Neo.