I think it's very weird that I always get saddled with organizations that are going down the tube one way or the other. It's just strange I don't know how to categorize the feeling that I'm having as I sense the joint that I'm staying at systematically unraveling.
I sensed something was wrong this morning as I lay in bed and watch the daylight begin to creep through the window. It was much later then the 6 o'clock that I was expecting. I was expecting Brian this morning. yesterday I was expecting Katie but Brian showed up. KD being out of the picture now for a while but almost a week I really expected Bryan. but Brian didn't show I guess this morning leaving just a few people to do the floor. Brian not showing up this quite disturbing the clothes that in the pile Brian always shows up Brian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong.
The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believe is that the wash saturda pile never washed and when my next Confederate came to work thought the pile was cleaning clothes hold of them and put them back in my drawers. I would hate to think they knowingly try to recycle the clothes and not thought that I would not see the soiled clothes. Then again there's there's nothing I can say since staff is not supposed to wash the clothes anyway. If I complain I get the CNA and problems / trouble and maybe even me since I push them into breaking the company rules. I am just thankful I am a short timer here and soon I'll be in to my next phase.
I was bemoaning my plight when Tara the nurse walked up- - I thought I was a Deadman I thought the ruse was up but I was shocked when she agreed to have someone wash my clothes after day time staff left, taking me off guard. I will try to back away from the whole situation by asking what was the closest laundromat. Tara just calmly put my protest decide and assured me the project would be done. Just took a huge weight off my shoulders. I hate sneaking around doing stuff and then getting my clothes washed every week has been a major challenge. hopefully this won't be an issue much longer as I get ready to phase out.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
rian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong. The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believe is that the wash saturda pile never washed and when my next Confederate came to work thought the pile was cleaning clothes hold of them and put them back in my drawers. I would hate to think they knowingly try to recycle the clothes and not thought that I would not see the soiled clothes. Then again there's there's nothing I can say since staff is not supposed to wash the clothes anyway. If I complain I get the CNA and problems / trouble and maybe even me since I push them into breaking the company rules. I am just thankful I am a short timer here and soon I'll be in to my next phase. I was bemoaning my plight when Tara the nurse walked up- - I thought I was a Deadman I thought the ruse was up but I was shocked when she agreed to have someone wash my clothes after day time staff left, taking me off guard. I will try to back away from the whole situation by asking what was the closest laundromat. Tara just calmly put my protest decide and assured me the project would be done. Just took a huge weight off my shoulders. I hate sneaking around doing stuff and then getting my clothes washed every week has been a major challenge. hopefully this won't be an issue much longer as I get ready to phase out.organizations that are going downI think it's very weird that I always get saddled with organizations that are going down the tube one way or the other. It's just strange I don't know how to categorize the feeling that I'm having as I sense the joint that I'm staying at systematically unraveling. I sensed something was wrong this morning as I lay in bed and watch the daylight begin to creep through the window. It was much later then the 6 o'clock that I was expecting. I was expecting Brian this morning. yesterday I was expecting Katie but Brian showed up. KD being out of the picture now for a while but almost a week I really expected Bryan. but Brian didn't show I guess this morning leaving just a few people to do the floor. Brian not showing up this quite disturbing the clothes that in the pile Brian always shows up Brian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong. The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believe is that the wash saturda pile never washed and when my next Confederate came to work thought the pile was cleaning clothes hold of them and put them back in my drawers. I would hate to think they knowingly try to recycle the clothes and not thought that I would not see the soiled clothes. Then again there's there's nothing I can say since staff is not supposed to wash the clothes anyway. If I s just strange I don't know how to categorize the feeling that I'm having as I sense the joint that I'm staying at systematically unraveling. I sensed something was wrong this morning as I lay in bed and watch the daylight begin to creep through the window. It was much later then the 6 o'clock that I was expecting. I was expecting Brian this morning. yesterday I was expecting Katie but Brian showed up. KD being out of the picture now for a while but almost a week I really expected Bryan. but Brian didn't show I guess this morning leaving just a few people to do the floor. Brian not showing up this quite disturbing the clothes that in the pile Brian always shows up Brian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong. The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believADu Dub
I think it's very weird that I always get saddled with organizations that are going down the tube one way or the other. It's just strange I don't know how to categorize the feeling that I'm having as I sense the joint that I'm staying at systematically unraveling.
I sensed something was wrong this morning as I lay in bed and watch the daylight begin to creep through the window. It was much later then the 6 o'clock that I was expecting. I was expecting Brian this morning. yesterday I was expecting Katie but Brian showed up. KD being out of the picture now for a while but almost a week I really expected Bryan. but Brian didn't show I guess this morning leaving just a few people to do the floor. Brian not showing up this quite disturbing the clothes that in the pile Brian always shows up Brian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong.
The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believe is that the wash saturda pile never washed and when my next Confederate came to work thought the pile was cleaning clothes hold of them and put them back in my drawers. I would hate to think they knowingly try to recycle the clothes and not thought that I would not see the soiled clothes. Then again there's there's nothing I can say since staff is not supposed to wash the clothes anyway. If I complain I get the CNA and problems / trouble and maybe even me since I push them into breaking the company rules. I am just thankful I am a short timer here and soon I'll be in to my next phase.
I was bemoaning my plight when Tara the nurse walked up- - I thought I was a Deadman I thought the ruse was up but I was shocked when she agreed to have someone wash my clothes after day time staff left, taking me off guard. I will try to back away from the whole situation by asking what was the closest laundromat. Tara just calmly put my protest decide and assured me the project would be done. Just took a huge weight off my shoulders. I hate sneaking around doing stuff and then getting my clothes washed every week has been a major challenge. hopefully this won't be an issue much longer as I get ready to phase out.
I sensed something was wrong this morning as I lay in bed and watch the daylight begin to creep through the window. It was much later then the 6 o'clock that I was expecting. I was expecting Brian this morning. yesterday I was expecting Katie but Brian showed up. KD being out of the picture now for a while but almost a week I really expected Bryan. but Brian didn't show I guess this morning leaving just a few people to do the floor. Brian not showing up this quite disturbing the clothes that in the pile Brian always shows up Brian is dependable Brian doesn't make it to work then something is definitely wrong.
The real stressor is this the people I have really relied on or no longer reliable. This means that I'm not me getting my clothes washed. I may have discuss this in this blog before I don't know but the agency of program or joint that I'm staying in sort of has a policy of not washing the residents clothes which i think is pretty bogus especially considering the price one pays the stay at this joint... Seriously over $4,000 a month. I know I know its not self pay but still it's because of you / me this we need meet but the company gets the money till what time to bust their ass a little bit more and wash the clothes when they need to be washed. I have been relying on the good works of the CNAs at disjoint to clandestinely wash my clothes. But, for one reason or another all these. folks are gone. In fact last week I thought I'd had my clothes washed and I'm quite smoothly only to find heartbreakingly this week as I went to dress is the garments I went to put on we're dirty they were not washed. I can only imagine or what I want to believe is that the wash saturda pile never washed and when my next Confederate came to work thought the pile was cleaning clothes hold of them and put them back in my drawers. I would hate to think they knowingly try to recycle the clothes and not thought that I would not see the soiled clothes. Then again there's there's nothing I can say since staff is not supposed to wash the clothes anyway. If I complain I get the CNA and problems / trouble and maybe even me since I push them into breaking the company rules. I am just thankful I am a short timer here and soon I'll be in to my next phase.
I was bemoaning my plight when Tara the nurse walked up- - I thought I was a Deadman I thought the ruse was up but I was shocked when she agreed to have someone wash my clothes after day time staff left, taking me off guard. I will try to back away from the whole situation by asking what was the closest laundromat. Tara just calmly put my protest decide and assured me the project would be done. Just took a huge weight off my shoulders. I hate sneaking around doing stuff and then getting my clothes washed every week has been a major challenge. hopefully this won't be an issue much longer as I get ready to phase out.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Phase Out Phase In
It's Monday the beginning of the last week I will be here at the s n f dollar I'm actually quite surprised that I am beginning to have some feelings perhaps bordering on sadness at having to leave this place which has acted as my home for the last 100 days or so. It is very easy to begin to think of this place as home. The place where I get my meals, my physical workouts and even some socialization. Sometimes I wonder if I am too complacent are you accepting of things that happened to me. I guess I just roll with the punches and see what happens for the most part feeling there's nothing else I can do. I do not know how healthy that is but overall this behavior has gotten me this far in my life.
I have made some good friends while here, I do not know how good they are , but they are friends. Friends made from the staff as well as other residents here at cascades. Folks that you look forward to having a meal with and feeling concerned when they are not present. In all honestly I must confess that I have been somewhat reticent in developing relationships due to the fluidity of people here at the SNF. It seems most folks are here for just a few days or weeks at the most. Butof ten I have been drug into conversations (somewhat against my will) to find a totally interesting person. Someone whom I truly would like to know better in a different world, w world away from the SNF. I have collected emails, addresses and looked up phone numbers but have yet got no further then sending "first contact" emails. One fellow is a resident of Montana and the other is 90 year lad,who is living independently here in salt lake city, way up in the East sida. A pilot, skier and engineer-he was skiing a month and a half ago--I have seen the video. I don't know why I have not contacted him yet to see how he has transitioned back into his home and life. I think I may be afraid that he will have forgotten me.
I like to think that the professional staff for remember me after I leave but really I know better than that. I am just the meat, that thing that reason that piece of work to put meat on their tables to make sure the cars are paid for as are the condos in town houses. This is cool I don't have a problem with this I understand. Its not like I had a relationship with every phone call that I took when I was managing Access Utah Network , I remember the PTS I have at University Hospital last year and the year before and I doubt that I would say were friends with the exception of one or two. Overall I smile at them when I see them in the hall R in the physical therapy room at University Hospital. I must admit that one of the Fox my wound specialist is a member of a band that Dianne and I have gone to watch perform and we friended him on Facebook and I like the things were more than just a passing appointment.
Then there is Amanda my occupational therapist who I think we have made a special bond, I really think we have but that's as far as it will go and perhaps that's best what would you do with that many friends holy cow really?
I am moving on, I have just about completed this phase of my life, if that's all it is a phase. I'm anxious and almost excited to move to the next phase I'm a little spooked but that's okay and I would be stupid if I was not. and of course I will keep you all informed as I go.
I have made some good friends while here, I do not know how good they are , but they are friends. Friends made from the staff as well as other residents here at cascades. Folks that you look forward to having a meal with and feeling concerned when they are not present. In all honestly I must confess that I have been somewhat reticent in developing relationships due to the fluidity of people here at the SNF. It seems most folks are here for just a few days or weeks at the most. Butof ten I have been drug into conversations (somewhat against my will) to find a totally interesting person. Someone whom I truly would like to know better in a different world, w world away from the SNF. I have collected emails, addresses and looked up phone numbers but have yet got no further then sending "first contact" emails. One fellow is a resident of Montana and the other is 90 year lad,who is living independently here in salt lake city, way up in the East sida. A pilot, skier and engineer-he was skiing a month and a half ago--I have seen the video. I don't know why I have not contacted him yet to see how he has transitioned back into his home and life. I think I may be afraid that he will have forgotten me.
I like to think that the professional staff for remember me after I leave but really I know better than that. I am just the meat, that thing that reason that piece of work to put meat on their tables to make sure the cars are paid for as are the condos in town houses. This is cool I don't have a problem with this I understand. Its not like I had a relationship with every phone call that I took when I was managing Access Utah Network , I remember the PTS I have at University Hospital last year and the year before and I doubt that I would say were friends with the exception of one or two. Overall I smile at them when I see them in the hall R in the physical therapy room at University Hospital. I must admit that one of the Fox my wound specialist is a member of a band that Dianne and I have gone to watch perform and we friended him on Facebook and I like the things were more than just a passing appointment.
Then there is Amanda my occupational therapist who I think we have made a special bond, I really think we have but that's as far as it will go and perhaps that's best what would you do with that many friends holy cow really?
I am moving on, I have just about completed this phase of my life, if that's all it is a phase. I'm anxious and almost excited to move to the next phase I'm a little spooked but that's okay and I would be stupid if I was not. and of course I will keep you all informed as I go.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
NothingTo Sweat About
Every couple of days or so or so either a pain doc Or pain nurse drops in to ask about my pain levels and when they ask me I'm never really in any pain to speak of not that I would consider pain to consult a physician or pain specialist about. but truth be told I am begin to experience pain not that the pain is great enough because many great inconvenience but the pain is there.
The past couple of years I've experienced pain on my feet. I even got so much pain that I went to dermatologist at one time who diagnose plantars warts and just this last week I went to a podiatrist and got my feet worked over. The podiatrist was a nice guy, podiatrist was a nice guy, and other person but seemed to know what is talking about. He dug around a little bit trim some nails and answer some questions. You didn't really crimson nails and He didn't open any great vistas of information but but I've actually felt better since the visit. Some of the issues I am having is because my left foot or ankle is fused from the trauma back in 66 my foot tends to roll over and then we'll see spasticity presses greatly on the side of the foot causes me great pain
I always thought it was interesting how other quadriplegics would get the sweats.. spinal cord cord injury the body longer sense pain the normal way, often plan the body is in pain the body registers the discomfort ni de spasticity, greater spasticity are you in sweats. I never really sweat however many of the people I knew with spinal cord injury did and I could never understand what they were going through until just lately. Really within the last year I have really begin to sense paying by sweating or just general discomfort by sweating. A couple of case in point might be the footage you I was just talking about as well as sitting in my chair improperly. My gel cushion has really caused me to sweat recently even things like sitting on my balls now causes me to sweat as well as feel feel discomfort.
I'm confused on what to tell the pain management people as I stated earlier if the pain was great enough I suppose I would alert these folks ,but at this juncture I don't see the need I mean basically will just show chemicals at me and I don't need that. I don't need any form of addiction more than already experiencing. So I'll continue to enjoy this new phenomenon of sweating to the pain I try to be alert to the point of if I am sweating because of pain then get off my butt and do something about it - - like that pun? I'm OK I'm not depressed just getting by one day at a time.Q
Saturday, February 06, 2016
Too Pooped To Poop
Sitting on the toilet waiting for my suppository to work 9:40 almost ten. I've been trying to get this project executed for the last 3 hours maybe 2 hours actually. There seems to be a great and mighty force working against me trying to get my suppository in and myself evacuated at a reasonable hour to get to sleep.
I have started this project in order to get back to pooping over the toilet that's supposed to poop in a bed which days been really trying to force on me since my stay at the hospital since the operation. I really hate who pooping in bed but I've got over that before. I've got my program setup now so that I do the program every other day. That gives me at least one day where I do not have to worry about mounting the toilet. So on the days that I do my program I've been taking great pains to make sure all the equipment that I need is readily available. And this this should be a relatively simple project. I I first try to find the left, the hydraulic lift, everybody calls it the Hoyer but it's not a Hoyer lift it's just a hydraulic lift simple. Then I have to make sure there is a sling that will work for me. These two items invariably are misplaced when I need them. I have learned that on the night I do my program they will not be available when I need them so I need to get him in line first. If by regular staff does around they pretty much have things figured out sorta. They at least start looking for this items. But if its like some nights lately where there is been very few staff it becomes a scene from the Keystone Cops trying to get something accomplished are the three stooges. I try to remain calm and in some cases I even volunteer to assist in the search for the items in question. I understand the building I am in is pretty spooky specially if you're a teenage human having to go down to the basement all by yourself can you search of such a device. I am more than willing to accompany the person in the quest for the left are the slings. Now mind you this is all taking place while other residents are needed assistance, so we search we placed on hold until some of the other faults could get their needs met too. But this all takes time and soon the project start at 7:30 becomes 8:30 and 8/30 and nine. I count myself lucky if I could actually get on the the toilet by 9 guess it could be another 45 minutes before I get done with the program. Hopefully , I can get the staff trained well enough they well know where the equipment is and how to use it. but not soon enough for me in the short time that I will be here at the facility.
The suppository finally kicks in and I finally do my job seems like it took forever. Takes a while before staff gets back they can get me off the toilet and in the bed. About a quarter to 11 and finally all done and I can turn over and begin reading for the night. I'm just thankful I don't have to lay in poop forgot to be hours.
I have started this project in order to get back to pooping over the toilet that's supposed to poop in a bed which days been really trying to force on me since my stay at the hospital since the operation. I really hate who pooping in bed but I've got over that before. I've got my program setup now so that I do the program every other day. That gives me at least one day where I do not have to worry about mounting the toilet. So on the days that I do my program I've been taking great pains to make sure all the equipment that I need is readily available. And this this should be a relatively simple project. I I first try to find the left, the hydraulic lift, everybody calls it the Hoyer but it's not a Hoyer lift it's just a hydraulic lift simple. Then I have to make sure there is a sling that will work for me. These two items invariably are misplaced when I need them. I have learned that on the night I do my program they will not be available when I need them so I need to get him in line first. If by regular staff does around they pretty much have things figured out sorta. They at least start looking for this items. But if its like some nights lately where there is been very few staff it becomes a scene from the Keystone Cops trying to get something accomplished are the three stooges. I try to remain calm and in some cases I even volunteer to assist in the search for the items in question. I understand the building I am in is pretty spooky specially if you're a teenage human having to go down to the basement all by yourself can you search of such a device. I am more than willing to accompany the person in the quest for the left are the slings. Now mind you this is all taking place while other residents are needed assistance, so we search we placed on hold until some of the other faults could get their needs met too. But this all takes time and soon the project start at 7:30 becomes 8:30 and 8/30 and nine. I count myself lucky if I could actually get on the the toilet by 9 guess it could be another 45 minutes before I get done with the program. Hopefully , I can get the staff trained well enough they well know where the equipment is and how to use it. but not soon enough for me in the short time that I will be here at the facility.
The suppository finally kicks in and I finally do my job seems like it took forever. Takes a while before staff gets back they can get me off the toilet and in the bed. About a quarter to 11 and finally all done and I can turn over and begin reading for the night. I'm just thankful I don't have to lay in poop forgot to be hours.
Friday, February 05, 2016
Time On My Hands
It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon this Friday the fifth day of February. I'm sitting in my room at cascades On the river rehab facility, aka long term care socifacility masquerading as a rehab facility. I've been in the room most of the afternoon a large part of this morning. It's Friday and that means I am out of minutes basically. You see everyone gets so many minutes a week therapy and when you run out you out you're done and I'm always done on Fridays before noon. Now this is a bad thing for say this lets me do a lot of stuff I want to if I have a way to do it. I spend a lot of the time today for instance talking to Dianne , trying to post to my journal, and doing cryptoquotes - - not don't tell me I have nothing to do. Of course tomorrow will be even more of the same since I have no therapies now until Monday. It was around me to goof off so I had something to goof off with. It sounds like on Sunday Dianne and I are going to the movies to watch some kid animation about a dinosaur which is okay with me. Tomorrow I plan to watch a movie slash DVD my OT brought it in for me last week that I never got around to. if the weather was a little bit warmer I would actually try to exit the facility and wander around the neighborhood for a while maybe even go to the window which really isn't too far away pick up some crackers I've been thinking about.
I contacted Alpine Medical yesterday or the day before and ask them how or what was being done on my power chair. I wasn't really sure what the issues were and had some conflicting information. The indicated that the problem with the chair has been ordered and will be installed as soon as he gets in to Salt Lake. He went out of his way to him let me know that the part would be covered under warranty as well as the labor. It wasn't talking about some other issues with the wheels and I thought they meant the drive wheels the big fat wheels that's it right underneath me but it really wasn't that was the casters use a little wheels in front and back of the drive wheels their little packed up but they surely don't need to be replaced at this point in the game not less the year after I got that piece of equipment. I'm really quite surprised at how well my butt is taking the issue of not being able to tip or tilt in the power chair. I thought my butt would really be chewed up by this point then true sit in this chair without the tip ability tilt ability I'm doing okay in fact a lot of time I spend in my manual chair then this is quite good cuz I'm building up endurance and I think strength. I am trying to be up in the chair a little bit every day three to four hours if not longer. I'm a little worried about tomorrow , Sunday because if I do get in my chair there are not be anybody around to get me out at least from the therapies. I suppose I could get somebody on the floor because if I do get in my chair there will not be anybody around to get me out at. I suppose I could get somebody on the floor guy couple of people to get me out of my manual chair and back into my power chair we will have to see.
It's still the first week in February which means I'm still working on letters I pretty much have Michelle and the girls done I still have to do Bridget group and whoever else I want to write to. Actually I want to the Fox and showed up to my party at the Shanghai . It's been an eventful week I'm tired maybe I'll go to bed early... Or maybe I won't.
I contacted Alpine Medical yesterday or the day before and ask them how or what was being done on my power chair. I wasn't really sure what the issues were and had some conflicting information. The indicated that the problem with the chair has been ordered and will be installed as soon as he gets in to Salt Lake. He went out of his way to him let me know that the part would be covered under warranty as well as the labor. It wasn't talking about some other issues with the wheels and I thought they meant the drive wheels the big fat wheels that's it right underneath me but it really wasn't that was the casters use a little wheels in front and back of the drive wheels their little packed up but they surely don't need to be replaced at this point in the game not less the year after I got that piece of equipment. I'm really quite surprised at how well my butt is taking the issue of not being able to tip or tilt in the power chair. I thought my butt would really be chewed up by this point then true sit in this chair without the tip ability tilt ability I'm doing okay in fact a lot of time I spend in my manual chair then this is quite good cuz I'm building up endurance and I think strength. I am trying to be up in the chair a little bit every day three to four hours if not longer. I'm a little worried about tomorrow , Sunday because if I do get in my chair there are not be anybody around to get me out at least from the therapies. I suppose I could get somebody on the floor because if I do get in my chair there will not be anybody around to get me out at. I suppose I could get somebody on the floor guy couple of people to get me out of my manual chair and back into my power chair we will have to see.
It's still the first week in February which means I'm still working on letters I pretty much have Michelle and the girls done I still have to do Bridget group and whoever else I want to write to. Actually I want to the Fox and showed up to my party at the Shanghai . It's been an eventful week I'm tired maybe I'll go to bed early... Or maybe I won't.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Can You Say LEMON??!!
I feel like action the hot headed little guy from West Side Story, from a stanza from cool. Cool cool. - be cool stay cool a cool boy - - - Saturday I had just gotten up and gone down to breakfast at the cafeteria or dining room, when I got into the dining room I tell to my chair back in order to adjust my clothes - - this is something I always have to do in order to feel like I look halfway decent and put together. As I was tilting I've heard a large crack are loud crack but didn't pay much mind to it I was pretty much in the laid back position at that point. I had adjusted my clothes and went to tilt back to the upright position and nothing happened. I knew at that point something significant happen to the power chair. I was stuck in the laid out position for the tilt back position at full tilt. I was lucky that Brian just happened to come walking by that's at that point in time and asked if I knew the hand which I responded to the affirmative. I told him I was stuck in the down position and I needed help and of course in his youthfulness grab the back of my chair and lifted up and of course and the seat went immediately to the down position so quickly I was glad that I didn't fall out luckily I was bolted in are belted in and I just set up quite quickly. From that point forward we knew that the tilt mechanism is broken in my chair. Brian did pick some images with his camera and send them over to mine and one of the images you can see where that looks like the housing is broken off the tilt mechanism piston. Mind you these are all my words I don't know what the professionals will call it but if they won't call it fixed soon enough for my needs. So I suffer through the weekend not being able to tilt in place the lean back feature of the back still works so I am able to lay the chair back at least take some of the weight off my butt and like I said it got me through the weekend.
Today I dropped the whole thing in Amanda apostrophe s lap who immediately got to work. And of course Alpine sheep to jump right on it. We are making arrangements to send the chair over with in the company van tomorrow where they will drop the chair off and Alpine will do an assessment for what is needed inside the chair back. Then I'm sure they'll have to ordering parts Chris who knows how long that will take? But I think I can get by with my manual chair and then lean back in the power chair when I have to. Not the way I want to live but it's the way I have to go right now. I am just hoping and praying that any of the work will be covered under warranty since it's still less than a year old as I understand it. And hopefully that won't cost me anything for the repair. I am now beginning to wonder if I have a lemon of a chair so many things have gone wrong with that since I've owned the piece of junk. I hate to talk bad about my chair that's just not the chair that I needed and I felt it was forced down my throat. I was just part of the time since by the chair and falling apart and I needed to do something desperate. I took the chair.
Today I dropped the whole thing in Amanda apostrophe s lap who immediately got to work. And of course Alpine sheep to jump right on it. We are making arrangements to send the chair over with in the company van tomorrow where they will drop the chair off and Alpine will do an assessment for what is needed inside the chair back. Then I'm sure they'll have to ordering parts Chris who knows how long that will take? But I think I can get by with my manual chair and then lean back in the power chair when I have to. Not the way I want to live but it's the way I have to go right now. I am just hoping and praying that any of the work will be covered under warranty since it's still less than a year old as I understand it. And hopefully that won't cost me anything for the repair. I am now beginning to wonder if I have a lemon of a chair so many things have gone wrong with that since I've owned the piece of junk. I hate to talk bad about my chair that's just not the chair that I needed and I felt it was forced down my throat. I was just part of the time since by the chair and falling apart and I needed to do something desperate. I took the chair.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Lighten Up
Wow! I was talking to my therapist today, my occupational therapist Amanda. I sent Amanda my address to my blog a few days ago and then I've been waiting to find out what her reaction would be. I was really quite surprised when she reported that she had finally gotten around to reading the document and found it was really depressing. Of course, she didn't say it in exactly those terms she's much too nice for something like that but I could tell that she thought it was pretty depressing. So, I had a few extra minutes this afternoon so I went back and went through a couple of the entries for this month and found out she's absolutely right. My immediate reaction, my knee jerk reaction whoa I had better do a reality check, I had better try to find the sunshine, silver lining , upside to this downside, sunny side of the street excetera excetera. I don't want folks to see me as this morose rolling cloud of thunder and negativity. Then I thought so what? I am pretty depressed right now, I am more than a little upset and you know what that's okay. I'll be a little messed up if I wasn't. I just went through a year when I went to two major operations and isn't up living in a SNF but not really knowing if I'm ever going to be able to get back into my regular living scenario.
Now having written this I have to confess I do have some very positive feelings about what does New Years going to bring and I know this time I'm spending at the facility is going to end and I'm going to continue on my rehabilitation. Hopefully, the results will be positive and I will be better for the time I have spent in the facility is going to end and I'm good at continue on with my rehabilitation. Hopefully, the results will be positive and I will be better for the time I have spent under the knife and in institutions. I seem to have an uncanny ability to bounce back. I know this I just get waylaid sometimes by my situation. I am so lucky to be surrounded by good people like my family, particularly my wife, an occupational therapist and supporting cast who seem to believe in me and their face seems to push me forward. I also have quite a following on social media it is really surprising how much their support has been for me. What a great group of folks many from my past school chums then friends have not seen in decades and probably never will see again in the flesh but they continue to support me and that does mean a lot to me corny as that sounds.
I doubt I will write all things blue skies, smiles and happiness with my posts but I will try to keep away from the darkside any more than I can and still function in this environment I find myself in at this point in life. I mean basically I like where I'm at, I like the people who are working with me to help me become stronger and better than I am at this point physically now if we could do something to help me out psychologically then I would really be writing some sunshine and rainbows.
Now having written this I have to confess I do have some very positive feelings about what does New Years going to bring and I know this time I'm spending at the facility is going to end and I'm going to continue on my rehabilitation. Hopefully, the results will be positive and I will be better for the time I have spent in the facility is going to end and I'm good at continue on with my rehabilitation. Hopefully, the results will be positive and I will be better for the time I have spent under the knife and in institutions. I seem to have an uncanny ability to bounce back. I know this I just get waylaid sometimes by my situation. I am so lucky to be surrounded by good people like my family, particularly my wife, an occupational therapist and supporting cast who seem to believe in me and their face seems to push me forward. I also have quite a following on social media it is really surprising how much their support has been for me. What a great group of folks many from my past school chums then friends have not seen in decades and probably never will see again in the flesh but they continue to support me and that does mean a lot to me corny as that sounds.
I doubt I will write all things blue skies, smiles and happiness with my posts but I will try to keep away from the darkside any more than I can and still function in this environment I find myself in at this point in life. I mean basically I like where I'm at, I like the people who are working with me to help me become stronger and better than I am at this point physically now if we could do something to help me out psychologically then I would really be writing some sunshine and rainbows.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Just Meat
I cannot believe how long I've been at the SNF and yet how much longer I have to go. As it so, I guess the lesson I have to take away from this, is that nothing belongs to me in this place is terribly corporate
So stands now I will be at the SNF for another month the whole month of February. That seems forever to me and then on top of that if things go well I will be off to the acute rehab facility whatever that's going to be for at least another 2 weeks so I still have a month and a half before I can even dream of going home to my own room to a new bed. What is really kind of spooky yes I am beginning to feel this place is my home, even though I know that's not the case I'm getting that feeling. Also strange is that even though I feel this is my home I have no control over my room. This seems to be a real ball breaker of a person at the top here at the facility that has got the CNAs terrified. They feel the rooms have to be immaculate so they are always in my room straightening up. So this might look really nice I'm always losing stuff nothing big nothing expensive are valuable its just little things like paper bags I use as well as I've lost two finger nail files, good ones. Plus everything I used to survive hour to hour day today is always put back to places I can't reach. Sure it looks neat but sure is a pain in the ass. Case in point the bag that I used to drain into. Case in point the bags and I use to drain into is always kids in somewhere out of sight usually in the bathroom. So when I come in from wherever and I need to use the bag to drain and I can't find it drives me up the wall.
So the message I take away from this is that nothing is mine in this joint and everything is terribly corporate everything has to look just right. That I am just meat, decoration, decoration for the bottom line on the tally sheet.
So stands now I will be at the SNF for another month the whole month of February. That seems forever to me and then on top of that if things go well I will be off to the acute rehab facility whatever that's going to be for at least another 2 weeks so I still have a month and a half before I can even dream of going home to my own room to a new bed. What is really kind of spooky yes I am beginning to feel this place is my home, even though I know that's not the case I'm getting that feeling. Also strange is that even though I feel this is my home I have no control over my room. This seems to be a real ball breaker of a person at the top here at the facility that has got the CNAs terrified. They feel the rooms have to be immaculate so they are always in my room straightening up. So this might look really nice I'm always losing stuff nothing big nothing expensive are valuable its just little things like paper bags I use as well as I've lost two finger nail files, good ones. Plus everything I used to survive hour to hour day today is always put back to places I can't reach. Sure it looks neat but sure is a pain in the ass. Case in point the bag that I used to drain into. Case in point the bags and I use to drain into is always kids in somewhere out of sight usually in the bathroom. So when I come in from wherever and I need to use the bag to drain and I can't find it drives me up the wall.
So the message I take away from this is that nothing is mine in this joint and everything is terribly corporate everything has to look just right. That I am just meat, decoration, decoration for the bottom line on the tally sheet.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Just Like Peter Pan
It's a pretty great Monday as far as Mondays go. I got up in the overhead harness in the parallel bars this is a pretty big deal for me cuz its been years since I've been up in parallel bars. It's kind of too because I used to get up in the bars all the time when I lived at home when I was a kid. My dad actually built a set of parallel bars that stood beside our house for the longest time and I would go out and pull myself up in his parallel bars at least one today.
The time in the parallel bars was not really productive and it's not like I really thought that spending time in the bars would allow me to walk again but there was just something about pulling myself up in the bars and standing on my own for however short a time I could do that and actually take steps up and down the parallel bars, that felt good that felt like I was doing something I need to be doing. Somewhere along the line I heard that the human body is best functioning when do the standing up, the human body is made to stand up in the upright position anyway. But I always felt better after time in the bars. Course this was all stuff I did on my own. It's not like a rehab therapist it's got me in the parallel bars because they knew it was worthless time for me in my immediate rehabilitation.
Time moved on and so did I and once I left the house where the parallel bars existed that was that. Every once in awhile I would find something I could drag myself up with like a couple of cars Parkway close together that allow me to standing between them are even sometimes if I transferred out of my chair on to a chair and put the wheelchair in front of me I can pull myself up and feel the stretch from a good stand. There's also time when swimming in the pool the buoyancy would allow me to stand to some degree and walk in the water again to some degree. Alas I don't get the opportunity to swim that much anymore which is a dirty rotten shame cuz there's nothing better for a gimp and water and good old water therapy regardless of the form.
I have been out this rehab facility now for about 6 weeks and all that time I've looked longingly at an overhead track used to Assist somebody , in a harness color, this was brand new,beautiful and worthless sense the item was shipped with the wrong harness system. As I understand it the system is in place since March when the facility opened what a waste. & I mentioned it a couple times and I mentioned that I would be interested in using it if it was available. I did not think 1 they ever get it fixed 2 I would get to use such a system if it did work. Well, my occupational therapist car Amanda said sure we get fixed you can use it.
Last week I was blown away by news that facility and finally acquired the correct harness for the overhead system. Today we used it. I'll bet it's been 30 years sense I've really been truly up instead of parallel bars and it showed. The only had that put on tons of weight but my legs and ankles and feet just or not prepared to sustain my weight but is strictly went through the motions. In fact Amanda and team worked with me like I was really rehabbing to walk again.
.
I think we used the system and the time as a justification for stretching. Whatever the reason I look forward to getting in the harness again in flying down the parallel bars just like Peter Pan, just like the old days. Like being young one more time.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Another SNF Sunday
Another SNF Sunday which means no therapy in a lot of just sitting around. It snowed during the night one of the staff members had an accident which meant me getting up late which is OK I roll with it. Not a lot of snow compared to Washington DC and Baltimore but it's enough to where it could mess up travel I suppose. It's totally weird being here inside warm and dry watching the snowfall feeling guilty because I am NOT part of the outside and having to suffer like all the able bodied people who do not have to be in a SNF today. I was so late getting up I decided to have breakfast in my room and work on the blog as well as Facebook. But once again I'm having a major issue trying to have the machine record but I have dictated, rather save but I have dictated. This is beginning to drive me crazy as well as giving me impetus to seriously consider the purchase of a newer tablet. I mean I love this tablet that I'm using, I love the Samsung but I realize the machine is ancient by computer standards. And I'm just spook that I'm just using the ancient excuse as a reason to get a new system or tablet. Every time I take it in to Best Buy they always whine about how old is tablet is and that is why it's so slow there's just such and increase and software capability since I purchased this tablet that the tablet is struggling to keep up with the new innovations in the computer world our internet world I guess. I am surprised at how much I am using this tablet now with my dictation - - actually I really have not had much choice since I do not have access to my laptop and that's by choice to a certain degree. I just want to limit the amount of stuff I have here at the facility.
Well, I shot myself in the foot I did the thing that I knew better not to do and I did it anyway. I turned on the television set or the flat screen whatever and I got caught up watching one movie after another and soon my day was eating. Went to dinner SAT by myself and that was that. Dinner was less than stellar: Monte Cristo sandwiches and macaroni salad it was not good. I choked on enough but eventually ended up taking the rest of the sandwich apart and eating the turkey and the ham but just left. Not worried about not having enough to eat I have been fed well the other meals of the day. Now I'm just feeling remorse for having wasted so much of the day of course there was the visit with Mark A and Dianne which was great. We talked a lot about mark a new job and how well he was doing new job and how well he was doing in the job he's kind of sick right now which i think is play get him a little bit. But he seems almost passionate about the job. Dianne is very supportive and we just had a good lunch. Kristie called and mark had to leave Dianne took that as her break to leave as well. They had to get back to their lives and I understand that cuz I sure had to get back to mine, television for the rest of the day.
There was one of the high point of the day that was when the lab guy showed up and do a couple vials of blood. I thought she was going to do it I forgot what they're going to test for but it was all precipitated by the slight temperature I had last week. So that's another Sunday at the SN f.
.
Well, I shot myself in the foot I did the thing that I knew better not to do and I did it anyway. I turned on the television set or the flat screen whatever and I got caught up watching one movie after another and soon my day was eating. Went to dinner SAT by myself and that was that. Dinner was less than stellar: Monte Cristo sandwiches and macaroni salad it was not good. I choked on enough but eventually ended up taking the rest of the sandwich apart and eating the turkey and the ham but just left. Not worried about not having enough to eat I have been fed well the other meals of the day. Now I'm just feeling remorse for having wasted so much of the day of course there was the visit with Mark A and Dianne which was great. We talked a lot about mark a new job and how well he was doing new job and how well he was doing in the job he's kind of sick right now which i think is play get him a little bit. But he seems almost passionate about the job. Dianne is very supportive and we just had a good lunch. Kristie called and mark had to leave Dianne took that as her break to leave as well. They had to get back to their lives and I understand that cuz I sure had to get back to mine, television for the rest of the day.
There was one of the high point of the day that was when the lab guy showed up and do a couple vials of blood. I thought she was going to do it I forgot what they're going to test for but it was all precipitated by the slight temperature I had last week. So that's another Sunday at the SN f.
.
Friday, January 22, 2016
FNG
I have noted an entertaining phenomenon with me here at the SNF as the facility seems's to be filling up more so than I've ever seen it. Every day there seems to be new people in the lunchroom or the dining room. So all the table seem to be filling up and you have to sit with somebody you don't necessarily kknow our think you don't want to know. Just so you know I did not sleep well last night and I really was not in the mood to meet anybody new or old for that fact. A good example would have been lunch today, Dianne and I were sitting at a table having lunch when the old fart with the knee repair came by pushing his walker how much time do I do vote to the FM G ass to sit down. I really couldn't say no I made it take so much for this guy to move anywhere. So he sat down and really that was the end of day and at night discussion.
I did not sleep well last night making the last 24 hours real challenge. So I speak and pretty grumpy buy dinner. So when I finally got to the dining room idea the fast survey and found Bruce the F ng sitting alone and I figured that would be the least challenging scenario for dinner. I had heard a little bit about Bruce and most interesting is that he's actually from China or he's at living in Shanghai China and came to this place via the University and before that China where his legs gave out. I wish I understood the scenario more he just seems alone in this country. Now he is a no he is not Asian and it really must be challenging living in Shanghai with the population the 14 million with very little white folk. He seem to get by however just fine. He is scared because he does not know why his legs have given out and so far learn medical minds of Utah have not been able to figure it out either leaving him just a bit scared I don't blame him going to allow the same scenario myself.
I wish I had felt better so I could have paid better attention to the guy talking we did okay though I think we could on a lot better.. Though he does have an interest in story get could have been a lot better and there's so much left unsaid the background story the back story I'm sure is way more interesting than the front story. My question is how much time do I want to devote to this F ng. Best case scenario he's going to be here a couple weeks they're going to cure him are not and send it back to China. So if you lose her if he dies it soon have all the same to me so why even spend time getting to know him cuz he'll be out my life soon one way or the other. But I'm still the beans have told in my name and a lil bit about myself and I'm sure he'll want to know more. So straighten up , be the person you can be and get on with it FNG or what.
I did not sleep well last night making the last 24 hours real challenge. So I speak and pretty grumpy buy dinner. So when I finally got to the dining room idea the fast survey and found Bruce the F ng sitting alone and I figured that would be the least challenging scenario for dinner. I had heard a little bit about Bruce and most interesting is that he's actually from China or he's at living in Shanghai China and came to this place via the University and before that China where his legs gave out. I wish I understood the scenario more he just seems alone in this country. Now he is a no he is not Asian and it really must be challenging living in Shanghai with the population the 14 million with very little white folk. He seem to get by however just fine. He is scared because he does not know why his legs have given out and so far learn medical minds of Utah have not been able to figure it out either leaving him just a bit scared I don't blame him going to allow the same scenario myself.
I wish I had felt better so I could have paid better attention to the guy talking we did okay though I think we could on a lot better.. Though he does have an interest in story get could have been a lot better and there's so much left unsaid the background story the back story I'm sure is way more interesting than the front story. My question is how much time do I want to devote to this F ng. Best case scenario he's going to be here a couple weeks they're going to cure him are not and send it back to China. So if you lose her if he dies it soon have all the same to me so why even spend time getting to know him cuz he'll be out my life soon one way or the other. But I'm still the beans have told in my name and a lil bit about myself and I'm sure he'll want to know more. So straighten up , be the person you can be and get on with it FNG or what.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Super Pooper
One of the most difficult things for me to deal with in my life after stenosis has been having to deal with suppositories. And really it's not the suppositories that is difficult - - and I must admit there are some real challenges for me with the use of the suppositories- - but what I am really vexed / concerned about is just the whole concept of pooping in bed.
I mean pooping is a major issue for people with disabilities especially for the spinal cord injuries like me. And I know it probably was from the onset 49 some years ago but I just don't remember it. I have a very distant memory of possibly pooping in bed but have no distinct memory of it which is weird and you would think I would. But I do remember is that on the day , one day years and years ago when I was in high school that good old Bora High School that one day in class I feel a poop coming on and for the first time excuse myself from class went down the bathroom so how about my pants off and on the commode and did my business and even got back on my chair and got myself together and went back to class. And from that point forward I think I was using the toilet again like everybody else. I'm sure that's how it happened so I wish I had a better finite memory of that event.
So, from that event forward I was suppository free until last January when I had the operation, the first operation the removal of the first stenosis and I've been back on suppositories eversense. I think the biggest issue is that I have to have Assistance on and off the commode actually I can get on the toilet I have done it once or twice but I have a hard time getting off the toilet once on. I think also people are not used to spinal cords doing it for themselves. I have to admit also that as barbaric and gross as using a suppository is it's kind of convenient to know when you're going to go and go and have it pretty much done with. I'm also finding that I think I evacuate my bowels better when I am sitting erect and letting gravity do its job. I think I do not evacuate as good when laying down then doing it in bed. It just makes sense. I mean last night for example I dumped a pretty good load and I should have been done but maybe an hour so later I squirted out a little bit more it's really spooks me.
I just can't seem to feel like I'm finished and sometimes I feel like I am at risk all day following a night when I use a suppository. True I have to admit, I have gotten used to wearing briefs, as much as I hate to wear them I have to accept the fact that at times I need them particularly when I'm not feeling sure of myself after a night and a questionable suppository use. This experience has been so enlightening to me I understand so much more about my fellow beings who are spinal cord injured. I can't believe it's taking me so long to understand these folks and what they've had to go through that I have not. I am so lucky. I mean I've got about forty eight years without having to act like a real spinal cord injured individual. I just amaze myself?
I mean pooping is a major issue for people with disabilities especially for the spinal cord injuries like me. And I know it probably was from the onset 49 some years ago but I just don't remember it. I have a very distant memory of possibly pooping in bed but have no distinct memory of it which is weird and you would think I would. But I do remember is that on the day , one day years and years ago when I was in high school that good old Bora High School that one day in class I feel a poop coming on and for the first time excuse myself from class went down the bathroom so how about my pants off and on the commode and did my business and even got back on my chair and got myself together and went back to class. And from that point forward I think I was using the toilet again like everybody else. I'm sure that's how it happened so I wish I had a better finite memory of that event.
So, from that event forward I was suppository free until last January when I had the operation, the first operation the removal of the first stenosis and I've been back on suppositories eversense. I think the biggest issue is that I have to have Assistance on and off the commode actually I can get on the toilet I have done it once or twice but I have a hard time getting off the toilet once on. I think also people are not used to spinal cords doing it for themselves. I have to admit also that as barbaric and gross as using a suppository is it's kind of convenient to know when you're going to go and go and have it pretty much done with. I'm also finding that I think I evacuate my bowels better when I am sitting erect and letting gravity do its job. I think I do not evacuate as good when laying down then doing it in bed. It just makes sense. I mean last night for example I dumped a pretty good load and I should have been done but maybe an hour so later I squirted out a little bit more it's really spooks me.
I just can't seem to feel like I'm finished and sometimes I feel like I am at risk all day following a night when I use a suppository. True I have to admit, I have gotten used to wearing briefs, as much as I hate to wear them I have to accept the fact that at times I need them particularly when I'm not feeling sure of myself after a night and a questionable suppository use. This experience has been so enlightening to me I understand so much more about my fellow beings who are spinal cord injured. I can't believe it's taking me so long to understand these folks and what they've had to go through that I have not. I am so lucky. I mean I've got about forty eight years without having to act like a real spinal cord injured individual. I just amaze myself?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Laundry Mystery
Today is like the third day since I had staff take my clothes to be washed, in fact I'm wearing the clothes today that I wore yesterday because I had no clean clothes to wear. Really quite fortunate in that I didn't soil pee on the clothes really yesterday so I could get away with wearing the same clothes again. & I don't find that at all in fact I think that I should do that as much as I can so I don't have to go through this stress anymore than I have to.
So I have not seen it in writing nor have I been told by administration that staff is not to do the laundry of folks who live local but I've gotten a strong impression that people who live locally should have their families their wash or something like that, so I have felt a little at ease pushing my whole agenda of clean clothes but you gotta do what you gotta do. So I am blessed with having a couple CNAs who are willing to take my clothes down to the laundry in the basement and running through the wash. It certainly helps us out a great deal however I always think or feel like I'm cheating at something.
The first couple of weeks I didn't even realize this was an issue , in fact I lost a whole stack of clothes. I am Not sure what happened Dianne firmly believes one of the nurses sent the black bag of clothes to the garbage thinking that she was sending the clothes down to the laundry , since the laundry chutes, since the laundry chute and the garbage chute are close together. This is quite painful sense I a lot of the clothes in that bag where my favorites particularly a large red oversized long sleeve tee. I love that shirt. I've never given up hope that they might show up but I doubt that really ever going to happen. I've gone down the laundry myself and they're just not that many places the clothes could be. We actually ended up buying more clothes at the savers in town which is not really all that expensive it just a pain in the butt and I still kind of feel violated.
So anyway couple days ago it was a good time to have the clothes washed the girls took them down to the laundry and usually other done on the same day. But I don't know for a bunch of reasons the laundry never got done. Its not like I am going to complain to the administration cuz for one this shouldn't be doing my laundry in the first place, into appreciate them taking the risk, & 3 I just flight clean clothes when I need them. So everybody promised they were going to do that then I guess I just keep forgetting even last night one night my night CNA , John said he would go down, when things slow down about 3 a.m. and get the clothes folding to bring him up to my dresser drawers that never happens. If you just can't complain cuz ' they are doing you a solid to begin with even, if I'm just saying it, it makes you feel good and you want to believe they're telling to you straight.
Painful as it was I brought up the fact that had my clothes gotten washed? And I always insist that I will fold in myself that's pathetic as that looks and sounds. My CNA so now that cool I've got it and sure enough before I got back to my room from dinner the clothes my bed for me to put into my drawers.
I greatly appreciate but my friends, the CNA's do for me.. but every time the clothes go down to be washed I freaked out thinking that going to get lost again or whatever. I just have to buck up 5 more weeks that shouldn't be an issue any longer.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Short Comings and Goings
Darren is a dentist I met here at the SNF. darren is small in stature, he is here to have his replaced me rehabbed. I met him a week ago that she was cruising around trying to find a table in his wheelchair at dinner. He was pretty grizzly under a baseball cap and wearing the t-shirt. I had seen them around the facility earlier and wonder about who he was so I decide to join him at his table. I was kind of shocked to find out how easily we took up a conversation. I found Darren to be quite bright and interesting.
Darren took a medical retirement from his dental practice number of years ago, after being hit by a vehicle. I'm not quite sure the extent of what the trauma left him so I guess it was significant enough to close this practice which was going very well it seems like. He also had some sort of a smartphone like an iPhone or an iPad or something like that he showed me the dream home he was building in Montana. Montana?!! The place is beautiful in that rustic, house built of logs kind of way. I don't have a problem with a lock house as long as it has Access built into it for a person with a disability. In fact I did ask him point blank have you built access into his property but I don't think he understood what I was talking about as far as wheelchair access goes. Granted I know for knee replacement rehabilitation but still you're not going to be able body forever and this really should have been a wake up call to that fact. I'll let the issue drop for the time being and we won on the other areas. I was impressed with the images that he showed me on his smartphone. I figured he was rolling in dough maybe from this practice are from a lawsuit from the first accident or something. Only later on did I find out he's been building this house in Montana for some time and it's a one day at a time type project more so when he has the money he built on to the Project. Again I was impressed when Darren told me the House / cabin set on 60 acres of timbered land. Granted this land is in Montana and Darren made the purchase decades ago but still property is property and 60 acres is 60 acres.
We had meals together two or three times and each time we seem to have a great deal to speak about. And I have to be Frank where you it was good to have someone to visit with that wasn't an elderly person with dementia. This morning he welcomed me to his table but seemed somewhat concerned. No sooner had I got myself situated he launched into a discussion regarding a family member who is suffering from substance abuse. He informed me that he was probably going to leave rehabilitation and immediately go home to see if he can help with the issue that is household. You had some questions about support programs for people with addiction issues and I was able to direct him to 2-1-1 the local information referral line for all questions. I don't know how much this agency will help but you never know. In the course of the conversation I found out that this family member at all ready been through the YWCA program and I don't know other program she may have looked into. You seem somewhat scattered I was worried for him because if he left I would be back on my own with a bunch of seniors with various degrees of disability. I also did not envy Darren returning to home but I assumed he would do what he was going to do and I would support him on that level. He did you give me his email since I could not remember mine and I fired him off iMessage when I got back to my room after lunch so it would have my email. Later on in the day the admissions / medical coordinator stopped me in the hallway and asked me if I knew where Darren was. she asked if I knew what he had checked himself out. She wondered that because his room was totally barren Darren was gone. She needed to have him sign some paperwork .
I hope he is okay, I think our paths were to cross for one reason or another. I hope you got one of the good operators at 211.
Darren took a medical retirement from his dental practice number of years ago, after being hit by a vehicle. I'm not quite sure the extent of what the trauma left him so I guess it was significant enough to close this practice which was going very well it seems like. He also had some sort of a smartphone like an iPhone or an iPad or something like that he showed me the dream home he was building in Montana. Montana?!! The place is beautiful in that rustic, house built of logs kind of way. I don't have a problem with a lock house as long as it has Access built into it for a person with a disability. In fact I did ask him point blank have you built access into his property but I don't think he understood what I was talking about as far as wheelchair access goes. Granted I know for knee replacement rehabilitation but still you're not going to be able body forever and this really should have been a wake up call to that fact. I'll let the issue drop for the time being and we won on the other areas. I was impressed with the images that he showed me on his smartphone. I figured he was rolling in dough maybe from this practice are from a lawsuit from the first accident or something. Only later on did I find out he's been building this house in Montana for some time and it's a one day at a time type project more so when he has the money he built on to the Project. Again I was impressed when Darren told me the House / cabin set on 60 acres of timbered land. Granted this land is in Montana and Darren made the purchase decades ago but still property is property and 60 acres is 60 acres.
We had meals together two or three times and each time we seem to have a great deal to speak about. And I have to be Frank where you it was good to have someone to visit with that wasn't an elderly person with dementia. This morning he welcomed me to his table but seemed somewhat concerned. No sooner had I got myself situated he launched into a discussion regarding a family member who is suffering from substance abuse. He informed me that he was probably going to leave rehabilitation and immediately go home to see if he can help with the issue that is household. You had some questions about support programs for people with addiction issues and I was able to direct him to 2-1-1 the local information referral line for all questions. I don't know how much this agency will help but you never know. In the course of the conversation I found out that this family member at all ready been through the YWCA program and I don't know other program she may have looked into. You seem somewhat scattered I was worried for him because if he left I would be back on my own with a bunch of seniors with various degrees of disability. I also did not envy Darren returning to home but I assumed he would do what he was going to do and I would support him on that level. He did you give me his email since I could not remember mine and I fired him off iMessage when I got back to my room after lunch so it would have my email. Later on in the day the admissions / medical coordinator stopped me in the hallway and asked me if I knew where Darren was. she asked if I knew what he had checked himself out. She wondered that because his room was totally barren Darren was gone. She needed to have him sign some paperwork .
I hope he is okay, I think our paths were to cross for one reason or another. I hope you got one of the good operators at 211.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Happy NewYear!!
I know I should have written more I could have written more but I have not. I think truth be known I've been a little depressed can I know it's bad to be depressed but still sometimes it just happens.
I finally went are had the meeting with the neurosurgeon rather his clone the PA or NP who I came away really respecting. This guy really knew what he was talking about in a lot of ways I wish that Andy the neuro had told us let the nurse practitioner told us. In essence the practitioner indicated I was doing well the necklace healing up really well but he was not going to lift the restrictions, the weight restrictions that I've been operating under the last 3 months. In fact he went on to say that I could not go to acute care rehab for another 3 months or until March 1st. March 1st we will do another set of xrays and meet with the nurse practitioner and make plans for our next step after that. At this juncture the nurse practitioner I could not go to a cute care rehab for another 3 months or until March 1st. March 1st we will do another said of xrays and meet with the nurse practitioner and they plans for our next step after that. At this juncture the nest I could not go to a cute care rehab for another 3 months or until March 1st. March 1st we will do another said of xrays and meet with the nurse practitioner and they plans for our next step after that. On the positive side the nurse practitioner did release me to 25 pounds as opposed to 10 pounds which I suppose is a good deal. Still it's not too acute rehab which I think will be just two weeks and then hopefully, I will go home and continue with my life.
I seem to be doing well at the SNF. It's really interesting that the first month and a half I think I was doing okay really good I think my mood was fine but after the meeting with the neuro I don't know something changed - - are something is changing at the facility. I really think the facility is going to growing pains and I just got here as those changes began to take place. Before the neural visit it seems like this exercise at the SNF was kind of exciting, kind of like camping out but after the visit it's like almost a punishment or a sentence for the next 6 weeks. It could be just me but it seems like staff is treating me different more like a old fart, like one of the old farts here. I know thats perception issue but I don't like it I hate it when I'm no longer special and that is so cheap but it's Who I am. I really didn't complain the first 6 weeks because I felt I was a short timer and that means this will end soon and I'll be on my way but not so anymore now I'm in for the long haul. I'm tired of a little bad the little room and the rules that are beginning to be imposed on me like hiding the drain bag, having to cope with a shower bench that does not work or meet my needs. and a host of other things that is made this experience turn into a bit of drudgery. Perhaps one of the most annoying things which has happend has been the disappearance of a bunch of my clothes as well as getting my clothes washed. Actually, facility is not even supposed to wash your clothes but I love him pins on a couple of the workers here who wash mine weekly and I am deeply grateful. this kind of makes it worse though because they are jeopardizing themselves / jobs to do this but if they didn't I would be in a mess.
that is just a little bit of what has happened since the last part of December. I will try catch up on some other items in the next couple of days. I hope you have more posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Rehabilitation What A Weird Industry
My butt wound is healing are trying to heal anyway. I'm having the lean back in my chair a lot and that's okay I guess just one more thing to show me I'm getting old. That being said I think I'm doing okay. I don't know what will happen when I go to my next rehab setting but that should be interesting. I don't think the extra time and rehabilitation is going to wear me out or anything like that this is the downtime that has the most concern for me. I am just spending hours and hours doing nothing except watching TV, reading then of course writing. I'm thankful for the time to write that's just regular stuff like letters, log, and updates on Facebook and Twitter. These are things I would probably be doing at home where I at home. Except I think I would still they heavily involved and but few meetings I still go to and wellness. I kind of miss wellness. However I have began to use the arm bike here at the center at 4:30 and that's been good for me I think. Sorry I got a little off task. The point is I'll be going to another setting for a couple more weeks so I don't know when I'll be getting home again if indeed I am to go home again.
One of the women who are here at the facility has really going out of her way to try to introduce socialization to the other patients at this facility. She has actually moved the dining room tables together until one giant table for everyone each together and talks together and I think she even has been instrumental in having the TV turned off during dinner lunch and breakfast so the machines are not blaring all the time. Actually , I think she's a bit of a busy body but in a good way. Usually I am the only male at the table seven or eight senior ladies which is interesting particularly when I end up talking about myself. Interesting and surprising to seewhat the others are in for.
Rehabilitation what a weird industry
One of the women who are here at the facility has really going out of her way to try to introduce socialization to the other patients at this facility. She has actually moved the dining room tables together until one giant table for everyone each together and talks together and I think she even has been instrumental in having the TV turned off during dinner lunch and breakfast so the machines are not blaring all the time. Actually , I think she's a bit of a busy body but in a good way. Usually I am the only male at the table seven or eight senior ladies which is interesting particularly when I end up talking about myself. Interesting and surprising to seewhat the others are in for.
Rehabilitation what a weird industry
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Christmas Week
I love Christmas week, that time between Christmas and New Years even in this crazy skilled nursing facility. I am kind of taking the advice of one of the people who posted to my Facebook account indicating I should treat my stay as in a posh Hotel. Well I can hardly call this a posh hotel but I certainly with a lot of stresses. Meals made for me, room made up most mornings, workout in very nice gym with good OT's in pts. .. A big ass flat screen in my room with fairly good cable connection watching AMC and other cable networks all day long when not in therapy. I know I'm not going to hear much from my neurosurgeon until way into January (it Christmas season) so I'm just hanging out trying to stay out of everybody's hair specially my family's.
I am trying to make the best of a sucky situation and I'm doing okay all things considered. I just have to deal with having to be scrutinized morning day and night even during the night. People watching exactly how much I eat and what I eat and drink and then measuring the results. I know I know it's all for my own good but the whole medical model thing really scrapes my ass.
I am trying to make the best of a sucky situation and I'm doing okay all things considered. I just have to deal with having to be scrutinized morning day and night even during the night. People watching exactly how much I eat and what I eat and drink and then measuring the results. I know I know it's all for my own good but the whole medical model thing really scrapes my ass.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Butt Wound!!
I am currently laying back in my chair in order to take pressure off my butt. Last night or yesterday afternoon during my shower I was made aware that I have skin breakdown on my left buttock. Yes of course terrifying mean as it should terrify anybody with spinal cord injury who's must spend their life sitting on their ass because once your ass goes your whole quality of life goes actually to the point you could die.
I don't know if it is the amount of physical therapy that I am doing these days that forces me to exit my chair scooting and then doing a lot of scooting on the mats or perhaps it was the days when my cushion was it my chair backwards causing stress on my buttocks either way the small breakdown has occurred and I must take action even if its going back to bed between therapy sessions. This is just another step of the process. I'm trying to minimize the issue and understand that I will heal eventually and hopefully get back to my regular life style. I however I'm also a bit worried because my spasticity are tone is beginning to return. I had thought the last operation should have taken care of that - - hopefully it's just part of the healing process all that last surgery in the spinal cord is still taking care of itself. I just hope this is the case.
I'm not sleeping well again because of a number issues I'm trying to get under control. Worry I guess that's what I'm saying worry about everything for Dianne has it so much more than me it's really affecting her physically and emotionally. I'm just feeling guilt from so many sides it is hard.
I'm still making do with this little tablet it seems to be working its brains out for me. It's difficult to write with any large amounts of writing will require great deals with editing but that's all you got its all you got. I still dread bringing in a laptop from home just because that's just one more thing I'm taking away from the house my home and I don't want to hear because it would be in this league that much more of my new home which I don't want it to be.
Dianne is checking into some more intense physical therapy joints closer to home and May be better fit my needs. It's nearly Christmas and it looks like Christmas Day I will go with the family to our favorite Asian restaurant the next week we will go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. So it feels a little faster and that helps a little.
I don't know if it is the amount of physical therapy that I am doing these days that forces me to exit my chair scooting and then doing a lot of scooting on the mats or perhaps it was the days when my cushion was it my chair backwards causing stress on my buttocks either way the small breakdown has occurred and I must take action even if its going back to bed between therapy sessions. This is just another step of the process. I'm trying to minimize the issue and understand that I will heal eventually and hopefully get back to my regular life style. I however I'm also a bit worried because my spasticity are tone is beginning to return. I had thought the last operation should have taken care of that - - hopefully it's just part of the healing process all that last surgery in the spinal cord is still taking care of itself. I just hope this is the case.
I'm not sleeping well again because of a number issues I'm trying to get under control. Worry I guess that's what I'm saying worry about everything for Dianne has it so much more than me it's really affecting her physically and emotionally. I'm just feeling guilt from so many sides it is hard.
I'm still making do with this little tablet it seems to be working its brains out for me. It's difficult to write with any large amounts of writing will require great deals with editing but that's all you got its all you got. I still dread bringing in a laptop from home just because that's just one more thing I'm taking away from the house my home and I don't want to hear because it would be in this league that much more of my new home which I don't want it to be.
Dianne is checking into some more intense physical therapy joints closer to home and May be better fit my needs. It's nearly Christmas and it looks like Christmas Day I will go with the family to our favorite Asian restaurant the next week we will go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. So it feels a little faster and that helps a little.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Snow Fall
In this rehabilitation facility ice it and it is nearly Christmas. It is odd to be in a facility like this that's such a festive time. Being here now totally exemplifies the concept of being disabled. It is really almost the last working day before the great holiday. People who have slaves hard and earned extra leave are using that leave starting today. People are saying goodbye cleaning their areas and locking their desks and leaving one by one. Actually there is a fairly large company party be going on you know the multimedia rooms in the facility. tables are laden with brightly colored gifts and there is a raffle that everyone is trying to get in on, that is everyone except consumers or patience at the care facility.
Not working, I think I missed this season most, the parties, luncheons, private lunches then gifts in bonuses and feeling part of the holiday season from both of worker and earner standpoint, I've gotten a few Christmas cards actually they came to the house and Dianne brought them in band a few Christmas gifts here and there even one for the facility which is kinda nice. Its cold though this is the first full day of winter from this day forward the days light will lengthen which will make me feel great as we wander towards summer.
There is a tantalizing rumor running around the facility of the hunting of the third floor here. Somehow it makes sense. It's overcast cold and its snowing. It would be great to just be home watching the snowfall.
Not working, I think I missed this season most, the parties, luncheons, private lunches then gifts in bonuses and feeling part of the holiday season from both of worker and earner standpoint, I've gotten a few Christmas cards actually they came to the house and Dianne brought them in band a few Christmas gifts here and there even one for the facility which is kinda nice. Its cold though this is the first full day of winter from this day forward the days light will lengthen which will make me feel great as we wander towards summer.
There is a tantalizing rumor running around the facility of the hunting of the third floor here. Somehow it makes sense. It's overcast cold and its snowing. It would be great to just be home watching the snowfall.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Clean Clothes Desperation
I am questing for my clothes which I really have not seeing for a week now. I am staying still at the sniff I have been living at for the past three to four weeks actually it's probably just like 14 days but seems longer. The point is I wearing clothes I have worn for the past couple days and quite frankly it's getting a bit embarrassing.
I thought I had the problem solved earlier in the week who works in my room took my clothes down to be washed and I haven't seen them since. I have asked 2or03 people to assist in the project but seriously they are all flaked out which totally surprises me I know they are busy here that's why that's why I appreciate their involvement so much but you're the man his clothes. I've gotten conflicting reports that staff do not do washing for clients and then I hear they dont I don't know to go.
I know where the laundry is at, I also know they keep the place locked up but I am going to go down to the basement to see what I can find I am desperate
I thought I had the problem solved earlier in the week who works in my room took my clothes down to be washed and I haven't seen them since. I have asked 2or03 people to assist in the project but seriously they are all flaked out which totally surprises me I know they are busy here that's why that's why I appreciate their involvement so much but you're the man his clothes. I've gotten conflicting reports that staff do not do washing for clients and then I hear they dont I don't know to go.
I know where the laundry is at, I also know they keep the place locked up but I am going to go down to the basement to see what I can find I am desperate
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Just Aa Little Christmas Gloom
I don't know what it is, if it's the snow hemming me in or its the little old lady who runs a television all night long really loud like last night which of course that makes me druggies sludgy for the rest of the day. I asked after how the old lady crank it down a little bit they never did. A major storm came in over the night last couple days and we've been short on staff what time I get to bed at what time I get up there's also the issue of I'm getting real sore on my butt and I can't elevate enough to get the pressure off the sore and that is beginning to have an impact on me so I could be getting depressed there might be the night skilled nursing facility something in the back of my mind is warning me be careful be awake be aware skilled nursing facilities are bad, there soon to sell these are bad and I'm stuck right in the middle of one they don't know about HealthSouth what minor medical advice Poland store are tragedies what they might be able to pull out of hat but all I know because I'm not feeling too good about anything right now. Maybe I'll feel good or better about everything tomorrow. I just feel like I'm losing ground Hey and all the way you look at it. I think Dianne really believes I'm going to get back to doing transfers real transfers I just don't see how that's going to happen... But I might be wrong they need to work it out somehow to be focused totally on transfers but I don't know how to pull that off right now..
Monday, December 14, 2015
Ho Ho Ho Christmas Sucks
I truly apologize for not writing in this blog since Thanksgiving! I have a great excuse for which I will begin to unravel over the next couple of days and weeks. Succinctly the surgery was moved up 2 weeks and that really freaked me out which means that I did not update the blog like I should have. Actually, the surgery did not freak me ou as much as I thought the surgery was going to.
I did it. I rolled right up and they cut me when did I went to the wards. I was so pleased when I woke up And found I had space decent hand function. I was so afraid I was going to lose more ability send hardly any pain and fairly decent function. Granted I am now at a skilled nursing facility but that's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'm having some issues but you're not quite scary the hell out of me what are sure making me wonder how I'm going to do on the other side and Harley any pain and freely decent function. Granted I am now at a skilled nursing facility but that's does bad as I thought it was going to be. I do not know how much longer I will be here I will be going to a more traditional rehabilitation setting, over at Health south.
I'm writing this post on my tablet which leaves a great deal to be desired. I'm trying to get access to a more conventional computer which will allow me to write better posts until then you're all going to have to deal with this posting device one broken down old tablet that I'm thankful as hell for.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Thanksgiving Week
It's Thanksgiving week with
temperatures dropped. It feels like Thanksgiving, it feels like
storms are coming, turkeys are being purchased and thawed And being
kept in the fridge until Thursday morning early. Pumpkin pies will
be made and relish dishes With celery sticks, carrot sticks black
olives and whatever else goes on a well filled out relish tray. Dough
will be mixed, raised and formed into roles on that special day. And
real butter will be used. Folding tables we brought up from the
basement for the kids table.
It's a short week, this holiday week, I
think one of the things I miss most being retired is looking forward
to holiday. Weekdays when you feel you should be at work But because
of the holiday you're not. You stay up late the night before, sleep
in if you don't have to cook the dinner, and just hang out with
family and friends. Thanksgiving in particular is stretched itself is
a holiday from Thursday to now Friday making Thanksgiving major
holiday event. It's amazing how luxurious that extra day of the
Holiday Can feel. Quite frankly I'm amazed how many private nonprofit
businesses shut down completely on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I
still sore get a feeling of the holiday week. Like today I went in
to Wellness Folks were all talking about what they were going to do
or where they were going to go for Thanksgiving. Since Wellness is a
state government program i.e. part of the University of Utah, they
will be closing early Wednesday before Thanksgiving and will not
reopen again until the following Monday. So no workout on Thursday or
Friday. I guess I cannot fault them for wanting holiday – – who
doesn't want a holiday? Even I want holiday and I'm retired .
Hopefully I will see some of these folks again on my Wednesday
workout. A couple of course will be leaving or traveling on Wednesday
and will not make it in. That's cool because it's not that big a
deal. It's just that holiday thing that reminds me that it is a
holiday week.
Seems the days are going quickly, each
day in the much closer to the surgery. Surgery is slated now for
December 14 which means like three weeks to the cut date. I have been
dreading this whole thing particularly fearful of how the surgery
will leave me. Cannot say that I am scared just concerned. However
over the past couple weeks I've noticed my level of spasticity is
increasing. My ability to sleep is truly impact of as well as my
mobility. However not as bad as before the last surgery spasms are
getting quite challenging.. I guess what I'm building up to is that
in a funny way I'm looking forward to the surgery if in fact that
surgery will calm my spasticity is not rid myself of it entirely. I
know there will be a trade-off I hope to trade-off is not so severe
that I cannot deal with that trade-off. However, if it means a better
quality life than I'm all for it.
Have to admit I'm kind of excited to
be in this holiday week.
Friday, November 20, 2015
My Posse
I'm just back from working out at
Wellness the Sugarhouse clinic. Today was the second day this week I
made the clinic since I was released to physical activity Tuesday. I
have to admit that I really like going to Wellness not so much for
the physical Workout but for the Association I have with a number of
the folks who come to Wellness..
One of those guys is an old fart named
Tony. Tony is even older than I and It looks remarkably well and good
for a guy his age. I don't know what brought Tony to Wellness but he
is probably been going longer than I. He could be a stroke, head
injury or something but not sure but as I said he's quite a
character. He's one of these guys who yammer's a lot seems to try to
make time with all the girls/female physical therapist and anyone
else he can engage. Sometimes he wears you out but is always, at
least for me, enjoyable to talk to. His only business last summer
that I got to know a little of his background. I still not all that
sure but he had one time worked pretty heavily in the motion picture
industry. Did something in the background keeping things straight or
something. Whatever it was, he seems to know everybody in the older
industry, not so much the new Titans but the old Titans for sure.
Even has his name on the number of credits for the amount of movies
he has lost count on. I'm amazed/impressed with Tony.
Howard is another old guy who tends to
hang with our group. Howard is really interesting. Knows wear shorts
and he's older than I am excited been through the ringer couple
times. Howard is from the East Coast and it looks the part. Yours has
interesting tidbits but are discussing anything New York or the 50s
and 60s. He called himself an old Jew – – nonpracticing. Howard
has graduated From University, Which one I do not know. He's
definitely been around the block and I don't know what his disability
is although he is pretty high functioning. Do not see evidence of
head injury are cerebral trauma of any kind. I think just bad
bone/back kind of stuff.
Then there is Mark, actually there are
a couple Marks: Mark K and March K. I call him Kirk because that's
his last name and helps differentiate when all Marks are on the
floor. Kirk has had some stenosis issues. Is older than I said quite
a life. He small stature is headed back fused really has to rely on
other folks to get by similar to me. Kirk often helps me with
pillows, setting weights and other things around the gym I cannot do
or get to. Is okay for the posse. Kendall is the other Mark. I think
I've written about him before. When I first met Kendall I thought he
was intellectually impaired but I enjoy talking to and Was impressed
to find it actually had a career janitorial services at the Veterans
Administration. I've not seen a lot of Kendall recently. For some
reason Kendall hates Tony works his schedule around when he thinks
Tony will not be in the gym, so I rarely see him anymore.
So this about posse the guys I work out
with. They are a good bunch of guys My wish I knew better. I think I
can get them together is coming Monday or Wednesday see if I can get
a picture of us all that would be fun. Until then I am just using
this picture of Tony, I call I his Frankenstein pose. It may not be
nice but somehow it fits.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Good News Bad News
Just returned home from the medical
clinic, At the University of Utah and all it was a good visit with my
doc. It seems that wound is healing well, it is granulating – –
whatever the hell that means – – and she put another dressing on
the wound and encouraged me to keep doing the same thing for the next
week and hope for closure. She also indicated that I need to increase
my protein intake. She wants me to max out on protein, were talking
up to 100 g a day whatever the hell that means. Hundred grams
protein were talking protein bars,
drinks like Ensure And whatever else might be out there to increase
protein. This of course is to assist the body in what it needs to
finish mending my leg in that same time crept me for whatever is
going to encounter the surgery. I kind of revolted at the hundred
grams of protein but I decide what is right is best to go into the
poker game with the best hand that you get.. She also described
another antibiotic which is bigger and tougher than the last
antibiotic that I got. It's just a lot of stuff considers me. I wish
I didn't have to do all this but I do and got a be easier to work
with. I think again, I've just about burnt out Dianne. I hate to
think of living without her, In fact I think I would die literally on
all levels. Just have to be better.
On the upside Katya, my doc,Has
released me to return to Wellness which is good. I missed working
out. In fact the whole thing About not going to wellness was a bit
of a misunderstanding. Katya understood I was working with my legs at
Wellness which is not the case I work entirely on upper body which is
or has nothing to do with my wounded leg so she says by all means
returned to Wellness. Have to see how the weather looks tomorrow and
whatever since it's a bit of a challenge to wear shorts in the
outside. It's overcast today cloudy cold almost cold Enough to snow.
After clinic we met Bridger and Asher
for lunch at this little place in the Avenues. Places okay They did
not serving Enough food, It was definitely a neighborhood joint but
certainly had character. Boy, there's nothing corporate about it was
almost an entire one-man show. It was kind of fun However little
testy when begin to talk about my issues with compliance to medical
direction. All downhill from there and I suppose it was my fault it
always is. So, I'm going to increase my protein make focus on getting
upbeat for the operation. There's not much I can do otherwise.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Searching For Control
It's Monday afternoon and again I missed my workout this morning at Wellness and sugarhouse because I'm having to take it easy do to my leg. I've been really good in compliance this last week in sitting In such Away that I did not put any pressure on the wound. This is taken almost all my resolve to do. Because, I know tomorrow(Which is my scheduled appointment with m doc)I will have my wound looked at And most likely have a fresh dressing applied which I will have to suffer another week. So I will have just a short time, I think, after I get rolling papers before I have my surgery and who knows how long I'm going to be out of commission following the surgery. It's getting close and begin to feel some anxiety not so much with the surgery, which definitely there is some, but more with what happens afterwards and how much this is going to affect my life our lives Financially particularly in just How We'll get along and home health support the full gamut of becoming elderly/disabled elderly/in America.
I am having to wear a boot over my wrapped of leg. Therefore I have been wearing shorts at this late time of year. Luckily, the days of the Warm and I've not really left the house for any significant amount of time.It would be so difficult to get my booted foot in my pants so I guess I think the boot off long enough To Put My Pants on – – Maybe That's What I Will Do Tomorrow When We Go to the University Hospital at 1115. Today supposed to be the coldest and most wet days this week wearing shorts is not so bad. I've got a check for mail once or twice and it wasn't too uncomfortable.
So this is the way it is for now, I'm not even really exercising home except for my green band. With the way my legs are bound together holding them straight up and down I cannot get close enough into my Saratoga silver to do my daily pump which bums me out. Hopefully I'll be back to my normal workout scenario soon. This has got to stop need to regain some form of control over my life.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Objects In Motion
It's really weird I know the people
who love me and really care – – literally, try to understand why
I hate laying in bed as much as I do But they don't really can't
until they have to lie in the same bed feel the isolation.
One of the weird things I'm having do
or that we are having to do right now is to find a another electric
bed, You know, hospital type it. The one I have that we got from a
local writer provider Being taken back by the vendor something weird
like not being covered by my insurance which is bull because we
checked with our provider in fact it wouldn't even give us the bed
until our provider authorized the bed. Regardless, I'm having to get
a new bed or another bed. So going back to all my resources where the
fully electric hospital bed might be found. One of those places is
the local Independent living Center. In this case the Utah
Independent Living Center . Interestingly enough the person I called
who I thought could give me some good Intel was not there and I left
a message. A few minutes later I was contacted by the director of
the independent living center was also a close friend. Her name is
Deborah or Deb.
Deborah is a high quadriplegic, Deb is
much more involved than I disabilitywise but she is totally
independent as much a she can be. Deb cannot dress yourself, toilet
yourself get in and out of bed by herself but she lives a full life,
is director of the largest IL in Utah has traveled all over the
country and manages your life to the max. As I visited with Deb about
the bed She mentioned how it was impossible for her to also stay in
bed if she didn't have to and if she had to how horrible the
experience was. I can't explain but was so happy to find someone who
understood how I felt.
I stayed in bed wonderful day
this week in an effort to assist my wounded leg heal. I watched
movies one after another all day. Doing this will survivable and got
me through the day but I could not face another day watching the sun
go from one end of my window to the next even if I had total
entertainment. I can use my tablet or my cell phone dictate posts to
the blog, letters, emails or even make calls very same things I would
do if I were sitting at my computer in my computer room up in my
chair. I think it's the
ability to move. Movement regardless of how short the distance is so
meaningful to someone who has reduced ability.. I think it may also
be that scientific principle “objects in motion tend to stay in
motion objects at rest tends to have rest”. I guess I'm afraid if I
stay at rest too long I may not get moving again. Already I'm having
to stay home from working out and even at home because I have to find
my legs together so my injured leg does not press against my foot
pedal cannot get close enough to very and bike or Saratoga Silver to
use it. I'm not losing strength I don't think right now but I'm not
building any strength either.
Dianne
got me up this morning and I'm so thankful. Dianne helped me out of
my shorts and help me transfer into my chair. I shaved, finished
dressing, got me a quick breakfast, took my meds and washed dishes. I
was an object in motion, I am an object of motion and I intend to
stay in motion
Friday, November 13, 2015
Spasms B Not Proud
My spasms of gotten worse over the past
couple of weeks, not looking forward to my upcoming operation, but
this by having the operation my spasticity slackens and I'll be able
to get some sleep then the operation was then worthwhile – – I do
not know the worth deficits which might be left from the surgery
hopefully I can exercise those away or fill them up again however
whatever happens.
I am dragging my butt Today is a result
of not being able to sleep most of which is due to the spasms
experience into the sucking bed, hospital bed. This is a short-term
problem however since we been Informed by Intermountain healthcare
that we need to turn the bed as soon as we can find a replacement for
it, something to do with my insurance provider not covering the bed.
Hopefully I'll catch up on some sleep tonight. I've been searching
around some of my old contacts in hopes of finding a hospital bed
that we can have and which meet my needs. I even put out some feelers
out on the web hopefully someone will bite me some information about
accessible hospital type bed.
I spent the day in bed yesterday in
order to keep pressure off my wound. This drives me crazy Staying in
bed all day. I watched five different movies is about 10 hours of not
more of Amazon viewing. It certainly helped me get past the day I
hate wasting a day watching TV. This morning Carl and I devised a
system that allows me to sit up my chair and have my feet on the
hangers without putting pressure on the side of my leg. I just hope
and pray the medical intervention Fixes the problem. I just don't
understand why things keep getting worse and worse medically. I don't
see the Doc again until this coming Tuesday and hopefully we'll see
lots of progress then.
I really miss not being able to get to
the gym/rehab facility workout. I do what I can here at the house but
it's kind of limiting plus I miss my Association, however limited,
with the other folks who come to the Wellness facility to work out.
Im pretty sure I'll be limited again next week when I go to the
doctor to see how my leg is doing. That means if I'm released to be a
little workout the following week all have to deal with Thanksgiving
and I doubt if I'm going to pay for the month of December since I
will have my surgery in the first half of the month and I be down
for who knows how long after that. Hopefully I'll be able to do some
working out once I have the operation and I am rehabbing on Ward and
after that skilled nursing facility I end up being at.
I know this is a draft posting but not
a whole lot is happening in my life right now just prepping for the
operation: and what comes next hopefully a wonderful spring.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Heal Dam You
It just never stops. I wonder if I'm
going to ever be healthy again, and be truly healthy is much as I can
be healthy as a quadriplegic. A couple days ago maybe a week or two I
was undressing and I scraped by leg. I did not even know that I had
scratched my leg but was told that I had by my wife. I really did not
pay much attention to the fact until couple days later in my
spasticity increased And I was feeling a little pain in my leg. But
my Dianne checked She found I had a major wound on the side of my
leg! We watched the wound for a day or so until Dianne got really
concerned and we made a trip into my doc.
By Doc or more specifically PA is great
and she immediately started caring for the wound space cleaning and
getting the wound ready for dressing. I'm so pleased and lucky Dianne
had been doing all the right things to minimize the wounds impact but
still needed professional attention. However the result was putting
my leg into a boot made of guaz that is medicated. And looks like I
will have to wear this boot for at least a week when I go back to
have the leg looked at and evaluated. Most likely I will have to wear
the boot again for another week and then possibly a week after that.
Plus during this time I can not participate in Wellness are other
activities which might traumatize the dressing in the wound.
Essentially this is home confinement and I had to accept that – –
which I have. I cannot believe this happened in trying to be upbeat
about the whole issue. However I'm going to try to keep some of my
exercise routine here at the house going with the mindset at keeping
my leg is free of pressure as possible. I'm having to do sponge baths
since showers which seems like a step backwards. I plan to use this
time to catch up was writing, sketching and communications as well as
finding a different hospital bed. So I'm going to look upon this
healing time as a gift and enjoy it as much as possible.
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Techno
1001 trying to time the relentlessly
banal I got the paper now he's using is the nice check to see that
the no liability for me lately (I and when was th well that's strange
I don't know Sadie got up I remember you I don't reiterate that
wasn't right unfurling Tibet was designed as I trained I must embrace
another time during the night because it might just make you I drank
not I I I is okay why don't you let me be a little less yesterday
my struggles on the reliable rooms
place eyelet screws were able to call this the warm about know the
Lord bless you how mine is a staff is was I listening to Cedillo on
you absolutely will I think the relentlessly thing right now trying
to not let my imagination but I think that is because that is a nice
is really strange I go on Hannity
I use/have a voice to text program which
I like very much and use as much as I can Overall the program works
pretty well And I'm basically pleased. The program has some issues
which I'm sure if they bothered me enough I could research out and
fix. However, I don't use the program enough and professional
situations where exactness matters. There's all kinds of things I can
do to train my computer to better understand my voice, inflections
and personal vocabulary but so far I have just to lazy to hone the
program. I use a headset which is not the best headset in the world
which I am sure would make a big difference, but again I'm either
too lazy too cheap To make a change.
The first paragraph of this post is the
result of leaving my headset on with the program. What is written in
this paragraph is the result of couple minutes of me talking in the
background, not knowing the program is still functioning, and the
poor program picking whatever it can up through the headphones. It
tries to make words out of whatever he hears resulting an interesting
paragraph to say the least. I thought about deleting this paragraph
but on second thought imagined it would make an interesting post. I
am thinking I might just do this on purpose sometime to see if it
would stimulate any ideas to write about. Will have to see.
Thursday, November 05, 2015
Train Ride
I could not help myself. I have really
been trying to be better at sniping images of people in public which
I think are interesting. I thought about actually offering some of
these people of interest a buck for their image. I just haven't known
how to get around to asking that person for permission. I think I'll
do it though one of these first days. I don't mean to poke fun at
these folks just there images and plights are so interesting to me. I
know I got a great deal of the sport when I was posting an image once
a day from my ride in to work On the train or bus.. I'm afraid as
long as I out in public an have an option to harvest an image here
and there I will do that.
Yesterday was a pretty good day even
though I struggled through the night trying to sleep. If only come to
grips with the fact that my spasticity is definitely getting worse
or my night spasms are getting worse. I tried to sleep with the legs
bent because it's more comfortable for me but my spasms tend to
straighten my legs like somebody was pulling on my legs. Sometimes if
I'm lucky I can raise my bed or situate my body in such a way that my
legs are bent up and uncomfortable for a short period of time and if
lucky can drop off into a sleep. However it seems to always, leg
spasm, I awake start the process all over again. I am blessed
that at least I'm not in pain when this happens – – even though
it looks as if I am. I'm just in some discomfort both from the spasm
in the knowledge that I will not be at the top of my performance the
next day. Hopefully the upcoming operation will lighten up the amount
of spasticity I am now experiencing. I was coming home from my
Wellness session. And I boarded the train at 2100 S. at the central
city station. I sit at the front of the train and look back on the
rest of the seats and in the first seat that I saw and noticed this
large fellow sitting just sort of staring off into the distance. He
looked tired, detached forlorn. The train Rocked back and forth As we
hurled down the track And I clung to my chair to not be thrown out.
This is when I noticed the traveler Had a folded piece of cardboard
at his side. This guy was a better man one of those people who stand
at driveways the supermarkets are interstates with a sign saying they
would do something for money usually work. I cannot read but was
obvious guys placard but obviously he was either traveling from point
a to point B or maybe it reached his daily quota was heading home for
a big night after stopping at the market first or maybe even the
liquor store.It didn't matter to me whether market or liquor
store,hell he had earned his money – – I think begging is one of
the hardest jobs there is. He was most likely going to another
intersection for the going home people. It was the middle the
afternoon when we shared a train. He had the look of a factory worker
with two jobs Just trying to stay awake to make ends meet.
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
November Thoughts
I'm really trying not to let this whole surgery thing freak me out. And I really think I'm doing pretty well. I've accepted the fact that surgeries coming and that I spend time in the hospital and then spend time in a long-term care facility i.e. nursing home rehabbing. So I know this is all going to have it is real now I can almost touch it. However, when I got home today from my workout sugarhouse, Dianne informed me that the surgery is not 10 December as I have been told surgery is now 14 December. Changing the date the surgery is not really a big deal but just sort of irks me. But I remember when I had a discussion with nurse Susie about when I wanted it surgery she often the 14th and I said no I want the 10th soon as I could this was the first surgery date that was open on Dr. Daly's schedule.They can be so screwed up and just doing the calendar what else can they screw up on? Like I said it's not a huge deal is big enough to be just a little bit of stress.
I've been having trouble trying to get my posts on any type of regular basis I don't know why except for I think I'm a little bit shy in dictating to the machine when other people are around. So I try to find times when I'm alone but they never get around to dictating the posting. So for the first time I think I'm going to start working on posts that may be less than the 500 words I have labored to do when updating my blog. I would like to get into some sort of rhythm With my blog posts but that can be real difficult next couple months as I deal with the surgery and its consequences. I would just have to do the best that I can and hope that everything is not surgery focused… I really am trying not to be a major drama mama on this whole thing.
I've been having trouble trying to get my posts on any type of regular basis I don't know why except for I think I'm a little bit shy in dictating to the machine when other people are around. So I try to find times when I'm alone but they never get around to dictating the posting. So for the first time I think I'm going to start working on posts that may be less than the 500 words I have labored to do when updating my blog. I would like to get into some sort of rhythm With my blog posts but that can be real difficult next couple months as I deal with the surgery and its consequences. I would just have to do the best that I can and hope that everything is not surgery focused… I really am trying not to be a major drama mama on this whole thing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)