lindainks55 said:

 

Does the insurance have in mind a nursing home capable of providing the care needed? Obviously they are acknowledging additional medical care is needed so must be willing to look at exactly what the details of that care are and where it can be provided. One would think! But I'm often disappointed at what should be and what is in the world of insurance. They didn't become one of the world's most wealthy industries without some decisions that had more to do with the bottom line than what a patient needed. To hell with what we thought we were paying for!

Tell me again, MM is 7'7" tall?? Or is it 7'4"? How do they even keep him contained in a hospital bed?

You go right on and freak out about those children and their care! We need a lot more Mothers just like you!

Vaughn, is Mrs. VT getting stronger daily? Are you being a very good nurse?

Rox, so sorry to hear your Mother may need surgery but if indicated maybe that will be "just the ticket."

Wendy, such sad news on your aunt! All the best of thoughts are going out to you and your family too!

Final Friday Gallery Crawl tonight. MindScapes has artwork from East High School students. I was past there yesterday and caught a glimpse -- some good, some bizzare, some thoughtful, some funny. I'm tickled those young artists have a place to display their art. Who knows it might be just the encouragement needed. And what a fun place to be anyway. Last weekend I tried out the new game called RockBand - looked soooo easy when the kids were doing it. I don't know if there are enough hours for the practice I need!

 

Wendy said:

 

Linda,

the fiance has been campaigning for that game or Guitar Hero, either one. I have to keep asking him how old he is - because obviously my 2 3/4 yo son is not going to be able to play that... Boys! :)

We are all just rather on pins and needles about my aunt right now. Nobody, not even her original dr here in Wichita, saw this coming - mainly because it was so rare, I suppose. So now we just have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, I guess... We don't have any family history of Breast Cancer, so it's even a little odd for it to pop up... fortunately, due to the nature of this cancer, it does not appear to be the hereditary kind... We will know more on Monday I suppose...

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Linda, Mrs. VT continues to gain strength, and improving in general. She's getting up and around more, and all things considered, I think its a sign of her strong will and determination.

Rox, what Linda said.

Wendy, so sorry to hear about your aunt.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Wendy, the main difference between Guitar Hero and RockBand is (I think, here I am acting the expert after playing it poorly once) Guitar Hero is for one person and Rock Band for three people. Guitar Hero is played with a guitar. RockBank has a guitar, a set of drums and microphone (which is also a tambourine sometimes). I still like the Wii games best. I can understand what I'm supposed to do when we're talking baseball, bowling... Not that I'm good, but I at least understand the goals of getting good.

 

longhorn said:

 

Glad to hear everyone is doing better. Wendy, I missed the post about your aunt, but whatever the problem, you know we are here for you in our little support/friendship/snark/literary group.

Julie--The skilled care nursing home push seems to be the latest trend in the insurance scam, er, business. When I had my knees replaced, they allowed me ONE week in the hospital and ONE week in rehab (Our Lady of Lourdes) but ONLY because I had both done at the same time AND I live alone. In the meantime, my gall bladder shot craps four days after the surgery, which I hear is not uncommon, but it kept me from doing the physical therapy I needed while in the hospital.

So... when my time was up, my time was up. Never mind that I couldnt even get to the bathroom by myself. Private pay nursing home was my ONLY option. So... I came home to the farm. Then.. they didnt want to pay for home based physical therapy until I could drive, about four weeks later. They said my inability to drive or get a ride (20 miles one way) to physical therapy was a "social" problem, not a "medical" problem.

My lawyer ex-girlfriend finally got the attention of BC&BS, but by then, my knees had "scarred down" and I never got more than a 90 degree bend back in them.

All the nurses and docs here said there was NO WAY I should have been sent home in the condition I was in. But.. as you well know by now... the insurance companies PAY people to find a way to deny needed care.

Sorry to ramble on about myself. My friend in the car accident had the same problem. Severe concussion, liver contusions, spinal fractures, three pins in her shattered right arm, collar bone broken on the other side, EVERY rib broken, and pins in her broken foot.

They gave her two weeks in the hospital and NO rehab. They would only pay for her to go to a skilled nursing home and then do outpatient physical therapy. The day she was to go to the nursing home, she still wasnt breathing right, and they said it was because she wasnt doing her breathing exercises. THEN the trauma team came in to release her, found fluid on her lungs, and drained over a gallon of fluid. No kidding.

They released her the next day. TO HOME! Actually, it was another friend's house in Topeka. She is just now coming home to WaKeeney this weekend. No inpatient rehab or skilled nursing.

So.. the moral of the story is... get yourself a lawyer. The hospital social workers are too overworked and overwhelmed to really get MM the care he needs. But FYI... a little good news, there isnt a hell of a lot of difference between a skilled care nursing home and rehab. In fact, I would have probably been better off in skilled care nursing home than OLOL for all the good they did me.

So hang in there. I'm sure someone can help you. Even if it is a lawyer not a doctor.

Life in these United States...

 

longhorn said:

 

Rox, sorry about your Mom too. Aint it amazing how our generation is getting collective medical and nursing degrees by experience. Out of necessity. We cant pay, and cant get care, so we HAVE to figure out the system and the medical care too. I learned with my car wreck friend and my Mom that you have to bring your own "nurses aide" with you to the hospital and perform the same after dismissal.

And Tracy, dear friend, I hope you know how much you are loved, appreciated and supported here. I wish I was there to be your boot tree for a while.

Even if I'm not much help, ya know we'd laugh a lot...