an update on my husband - Page 2

meallen616 · ‎01-10-2013

Good news,

Gram W · ‎01-22-2013

@cherry. I am so glad that your husband is doing better. I know from personal experience spinal I injuries are not to be taken for granted. I am pleased to see that he is going to a spine and brain center. He is in need of people who deal with his special problem and needs on a regular basis. People who understand his pain and abilities.

I will pray for you both. Please remember to make time for yourself even if it is just to read a book or listen to your favorite relaxing music. I cared for my husband for 15 years. When he was up to it we loved to pack a lunch and take a short ride to a hillside with a view or to a spot in the woods were he hiked as a teen. Any place with nature so we could relax and leave the "world" behind. He also had a severe spine injury so traveling far was not possible except for doctors. I am so glad that medical advances over the past 30 years will allow your husband to get the help he needs.

I was also glad to see your mention of Nexium. I have been on it per my doctors advice and RX for many years. Problems have occurred and although he said Nexium is not the problem I insisted on seeing a specialist. I saw her a couple of weeks ago. She is not so sure and I am to have tests to find out what is happening in my upper digestive tract.

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

Most nursing homes are a nightmare but the ones that are privately owned tend to be the best out there. I was in one and it was run like a hospital. My room was cleaned daily. Fresh bed linens weekly unless needed sooner. Caring nurses and staff. Large dining room so everyone could eat together. I was in 2 other homes one of which was really bad and I checked myself out.

kindness is strength

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

I'm slipping back to explain our situation a bit better. My husband had 2 CT scans ,and a MRI ,and xrays. His spine is fine. He has no internal damage ,nor head trauma, even though he did hit his head ,and it bled in several spots.He had a trauma team ,that came to the hospital in the middle of the night, to examine him and care for him.

He can dress himself ,get in and out of bed ,by himself. I help him shower but we have a chair for him to set on. He isn't on pain meds, nor is he in pain. His vertabrae are cracked, not broken. He wears a brace 24/7, and switches to one that can get wet ,when he showers. He was very lucky. Our stairs are 1/2 flight steps and they are carpeted. But he did strike his head on the laundry room floor ,which is cement. He could have been in really terrible condition. He was unconscious when I found him. I couldn't rouse him, so I called 911.

A woman came here from the hospital to explain our options. Our *dear old skilled nursing facility/rehab* is dreadful. My priest got bed sores at the place. I know of many people who have used it, and none of them felt they got good care.Your better off at home ,if you can manage it. We want nothing to do with either place

We have a second rehab center, that was so awful ,my best friend wouldn't even stay, she left and went home ,after surgery. They lock the kitchen after a certain time, and she wasn't even going to get supper that night. There were patients there that threw their food trays out into the hall. It is a new beautiful looking facility, but it's awful

My husbands PT told us today ,he is doing very well. We walked for at least a block today. All that can be done for him has been done. It's just a matter of healing now.

My neighbors and family have been super. I don't have to worry about anything to do with our lawn care.

I leave him ,while I run to the grocery store, and he is just fine. He watches TV and has his phone next to him.

I am doing well, we both are. God is good. Thank you all for your kindness

Gram W · ‎01-22-2013

@cherry. Thank you for this further information. God has indeed blessed you both. Together you will do great with the love and help of your family and friends.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Carmie wrote:
@cherry wrote:
He is coming along nicely. He has been to the PCP and she was pleased with him. A therapist comes 2 times a week to give him exercises.

He is going to the spine and brain center on Fri, to get looked over. He is sleeping now . He had a big day today. He rode with me to the DDS ,and waited while I got a crown seated. Then I took him to lunch and his therapist was here too.

The trauma Dr at the hospital told him he was fit to go home. However, the PT wanted him to go to a nursing home. He said no. I'm going home and , he proved to her he could walk steps fine. However there was a 500 lb fire door in the stair well, and the PT told him he didn't do too well with that door

My husband told her he didn't have any doors like that in his home, and he felt he did fine and he was going home. I wonder how well she would have managed a big heavy door like that after fracturing a couple of vertabrae?

I am not a fan of nursing homes. I have never heard of anyone who felt they got good care in them. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I know of people who were put in dire shape, because of the lack of proper care they received. My best friends SIL was paralized ,because she fell out of bed, and was found by her husband ,laying on the floor ,and she had been there for a very long time. No one even knew about it ,till he found her. She had a stroke ,and no one put her bed rails up. She fell and damaged her spine

Our priest got bed sores because he wasn't turned as often as he was supposed to be. I wonder how eager these PT will be to go to a nursing home once they retire.

I have been taking aloe vera at the suggestion of one of my DRs and I am the best I have been in 8 months. She also prescribed a digestive enzyme for me. I am doing so much better since taking both of these things. I still have problems at night, but it isn't as severe as it was

None of my Drs are a fan of PPI meds. One of my Drs told me a new study has just came out ,about people suddenly dropping dead, that were on drugs like nexium and prilosec. I am glad I am able to slowly wean myself from it. I do think it did help me, but I'd rather not depend on something like that if other methods work

I am happy that he is doing much better.

If he has Medicare insurance, he has to be admitted to a skilled nursing facility ( SNF) for physical therapy or whatever within three days of being released from the hospital in order for the SNF insurance to kick in. If he doesn't he will not be able to use that benefit unless he is admitted to the hospital again.

Of course, outpatient PT from a Home Health Agency is always an option.

SNF are not nursing homes. Patients in there have to be receiving medical care. Physical Therapy is important and when patients are there, they usually receive PT once or twice a day. They don't spend all day in bed and get bed sores, etc. they are kept as active as possible.

If your DH does not want to be admitted, check into home health care. Many people will not improve without daily PT.

I'll pray for continued healing for your DH.

As an addition to this -

Sometimes nursing homes have "rehab" units as part of their facility in a different wing, adjoining a physical and occupational therapy room, for knee/hip replacement patients for example.

The nursing home my mother was in was like this. Part of it was a nursing home and part was rehab. The patients in the rehab rooms were short-stay patients and their nursing care and facilities were different. There were a couple of instances where she was hospitalized in acute care, and when she returned to the nursing home her rehab therapy could be done in the nursing home. Except, she always blew hers off and after 2-3 rehab sessions refused to cooperate. It was "too hard." So after the last refusal she just stayed in a wheelchair, mutual choice between her & the nursing home.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all