Chris is in the hospital

[Chris]

I have laptop now. It  was brought Saturday along with a visit with Whitley for 3 to 4 hours.     I need to get home ASAP so I can get her coat back to normal, she shedded like crazy while on the bed. She is not coming out of her crate much.
 
Last talk with doc on Saturday was that they want to send me to a ....well a nursing home by my standards to get full body  physical therapy to get strength back that a normal physical therapy place can not due. Today he was reviewing my chart about some level that is not common to me and want to dig further back in my charts that this stay may have had an affect with my crohn's. I was surprised he was here this late on a Sunday, but not clear what he was looking into.
 
I am bored, in need of coffee on a regular basis, more variety of TV programming and movies ( same movies over and over at the same time everyday! Skyfall, Hobbit, Avengers, Sherlock Holmes Shadow something, Dark Shadows, Here Comes The Boom). I need energy the most among a few other things.

[galvo]

Chris, boredom is a good sign for a hospital patient. It means you're ready for discharge. Do you see the 'nursing home' move as a good idea? Must have been great to have a visit from Whitey. Hang in there, buddy!

[Chris]

No I do not. I do not fully agree with the notion due to all the bad stories I hear and that I need to get things done at home and bills paid. That said, I do understand the reasoning. I just would rather go to an outpatient center.

[billybags]

Chris, this nursing home thing, is it just to recouperate?

[Shaks24]

Hoping you get recovery and are able to go home as soon as possible Chris.

[justme15]

If you were to go back home, do you have someone there that can help for a few days? because it will probably be difficult for you to prepare food, walk safely, get to the bathroom safely, etc. because you are weak. If you had someone to help you at home with those areas, then I would recommend  getting home health therapy. The therapist will come to you!

[Chris]

Chris, this nursing home thing, is it just to recouperate?

No, physical therapy for the whole body. So no recouperation there! He said intense pt and I hope that includes the pool!
I would feel better and safer germwise at home.
PT never did come back and haven't been allowed in the hallways, just moving around room.


And for the love of god, they screwed me over on coffee again! Along with wrong cereal and missing fruit.

[aharris2]

Chris, have they given you a timeframe for how long they expect you to be in the nursing home REHAB facility? How about Whitley and some walking therapy?

[Chris]

Chris, have they given you a timeframe for how long they expect you to be in the nursing home REHAB facility? How about Whitley and some walking therapy?

I do not know at this point. I haven't seen any other doctor, physical therapist, or social worker today. Not even the nurse or tech, but that's ok.
 
The more I think about a nursing center, the more I do not want to go. Get me back to real food and amounts I want and at what times so I can gain my weight back and I'll work on the strength by pushing myself.
 
Food delivery here get's pretty high quick depending on what ones taste is and what the minimum amount the order has to be for delivery. DOTS candy won't make it through the night, nor a sleeve of saltine crackers.

[RichardMEL]

Poor Whitley - sounds like she misses you as much as you miss her

sounds like a lot of hard work to get you back in shape... I guess they want to send you to the nursing home(or whatever) to free up the hossie bed and allow you more specialised care with hopefully the right people and equipment you need - and hopefully better coffee.

Hope you wouldn't be stuck there for too long though

[MooseMom]

Oh my!  Are you convinced that this is what you need?  Are you feeling pressured to go into such a facility?  I want you to get better, but I don't know how best to go about that.  I hope the rehab facility will help you, but I can understand your skepticism.  Is there some other course that you can negotiate?

[Chris]

Today nothing has really been done. The morning started off bad with dizziness and lightheadedness, followed by worn out feeling after shower and spine and neck pain. After lunch then severe nausea with bucket nearby, loopy from pain med, but still in pain, and finally took a nap.
 
The social worker came in to discuss options, what concerns I have, and area I would like to possibly stay. She then went back to look up facilities and to call about having Whitley stay 24/7 for about 3 weeks.
 
 

[MooseMom]

Do you trust this social worker to work WITH you in having your concerns met?

[Chris]

Do you trust this social worker to work WITH you in having your concerns met?

Only second time I have met her and today was while pain in spine and dizziness were occurring. I do not have a vibe on her yet.
 
Forgot to mention not all labs are back yet and more labs were repeated since first done at the begining of August.
 
 

[Chris]

I was going to be released soon when the social worker came down to make plans. She told me I could call my parents to tell them what the plans were as she went back to her office to get something. She called me on my room phone just as I was to push the call button on my phone telling me to stop. Plans changed, more doctors came today from infectious disease. I thought to myself why weren't they called sooner? So now they are going to look to see if it is CMV, c-diff, and a couple other possibilities from blood and other ways
 
I was so hoping to be closer to home or home.
 
Nurse asked me where Whitley was and I said taking her out would be a problem. Her responce was "Oh yeah, there is that! I wouldn't mind taking her out." Great, but what about the rest of the time? Along with trust issues I would have and not knowing how Whitley would react to sommeone unfamiliar taking her out. I would hate to have her get l oose somehow in Chicago.
 
Still getting Epogen every other day and something like heparin shots everyday.
 
Since my dad switched to Direct TV I am able to watch  movies on my pc, just not on my iPhone for some reason. Much better than the same movies over and over on hospital TV. I need comedies when I am awake!

[billybags]

chris, I bet you are right  peed off. Are they no closer to finding what the problem is? CMV, c-diff, which one? Would it not be possiable to have care at home, ie nurse, helper. Some one that will come in and do for you.

[Shaks24]

So sorry that you situation continues like this Chris. I hope there are answers and healing very soon.

[Chris]

I have been home for a day or so, I can not keep track of days. Since I did not want to go to a nursing home (I have my own reasons - primarily transplant health), the doctor allowed me to go home to see if I start feeling better. So far I haven't. I go back this week for labs and p.t. and again on a Saturday. Already fell a couple times moving from one room to another while using a cane. I so far sleep, up for a bit and move around, and back to sleep. Hard to stay awake for TV except when I watched a new movie.
 
Whitley follows me no matter where I go in the house. I was able to comb her, give her heartworm med, flea and tick goop, but petered out to brush her teeth and clean her ears. She  has licked me more than usual and lays at my side while I sleep on the floor.
 
When I came home she was excited, but not jumping excited and neither was our chocolate lab. They both sat on each of my sides being quiet. Even the male cat came up to me while both dogs sat beside me till Whitley got jealous and licked him away. The female cat came up to me much later when all the other animals were in their separate areas.
 
The doctors still do not know what is going on, but wish my abdomen was not bothering me more than the weakness, tiredness, or pain. Stop the discomfort first, then work on the weakness, followed by tiredness, and last would be pain.

[cassandra]

Well, your transplant health sounds like a very valid reason. Any blood results back? Do you eat a bit now?
Can you still manage to drink your litres?

Thinking of you a lot. Take care Chris,

Lots of love, Cas


     

[aharris2]

Chris, how are you doing?

[kitkatz]

Geez, what a nightmare. Sounds close to my recent stay in hospital.  Please get well quick.

[Chris]

Chris, how are you doing?

I went back to the doctors on Saturday and they still do not know what is going on. My liver levels are still elevated, so I have to see a hepatologist and my cortizole level is still low and I have to see an endocrinologist about that to. High doses of prednisone to help with that made me sick and did not help improve the level.
 
I still have not improved and Saturday's trip to the city wore me out, so Sunday I did not wake till 1:48 pm (way late for meds) and went back to sleep for most of the day and night. Monday is going to be a bad day too, monthly labs and physical therapy followed by more physical therapy on Tuesday.

[MaryJoe]

Oh, Chris, I wish they would figure this out. It's harder to fight an unknown entity. I'm really concerned that you are needing so much sleep, are you eating your small meals regularly? Wish I could offer some advice that would help...   

[Chris]

Small meals yes, but that becomes difficult at times due to pain and discomfort. Last night it was in my liver area and sitting or laying down was uncomfortable.

[MooseMom]

How did your PT go?  Have you had lab results back yet?