BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:08 PM

They're out. 36 staples! They disinfected the area afterwards and she has a CAT scan tomorrow. The surgeon said that residual problems like tingling in her right fingers should eventually go away.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:01 PM

Do you get to keep the staples? So's yas can mount them in some kinda art work er what ever?

No matter what they tell ya, wash the staple wounds gently with peroxide (I used isopropyl alcohol after infection set in because I listened to them stunnedasmearses) twice a day for a week. I can supply pics of what can happen if ya don't. Short of pics, here is a hint... it's green.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 04:54 PM

How did the staple removal go?
Your advocacy for Pat makes all the difference in the world as to what care she gets and when. It IS hard work, but so necessary and rewarding.

Here's to good sleep, and continuing improvements.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 07:49 AM

I've worked long hours before, but I was a helluva lot younger then.

The staples come out this morning. I'm told they do NOT use a claw hammer.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 12:05 AM

Ditto Sandra's post. Dang, retirement ain't easy, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:32 PM

I'm glad things are going well for you. It's not the best time of year to be incapacitated. (I recommend February and March, when you want to stay in bed, but that's not always convenient.) I hope it's not too much of a problem for you. I also hope you enjoy the baklava and spanikopita. Greek food is a wonderful thing!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:56 PM

I have the fella's name, address, and phone number -- and I gave them to the cops.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM

Rap, you are a marvel - married to another marvel.

I look forward to further reports of Pat's progress, & your progress with insurance companies & other problems.

Did the cyclist stay after the accident? Were the police involved?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:31 AM

Can you get a two-for-one or a reduction?... get your staples out at the same time?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:48 AM

I can think of lots better ways to spend a couple of weeks than what I just did and will continue to do.

At least tomorrow the staples come out of her head.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bugsy
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 05:26 AM

I've been offline since 2nd Sept. Man! have you had a fortnight from hell!!?!

Glad to hear that your missus is home at last and on the mend.

Send the bills to the cyclist!

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 07:07 PM

You will handle the logistics, Rap. Better than most. You are a librarytarian!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:25 PM

So glad to hear Pat is home - as I bet both of you are, too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:18 PM

Hooray for home!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:48 PM

I'm now an appointments secretary. Doctor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist (for head and neck muscles), case manager, and today the bill for the ambulance: USD 420.00, of which we will end up paying USD 50.00 (and yes, if you can't pay they'll transport you for free).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 09:22 AM

The bills haven't started yet....

We suspect that the nursing/rehab place was happy to see her back because as a staff member there said, "She's a strong woman." She also knows her own mind, what meds she takes or should take, and gets annoyed with the "Well, how are we feeling?" chirp.

The correct answer to that question is, "I'M feeling like the bottom of a shit pile. And you?"

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:12 PM

Navigating the healthcare and insurance systems these days is more and more akin to the capacity to be ok jumping down the rabbit hole. Hope your blood pressure is more stable than has been Pat's.

Pat, recover and thrive!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:01 PM

Pat is home. She got here around 4:45 p.m. today and had a dinner of one dolmade and a small piece of spanakopita -- and a couple blueberry cookies and a bit of mango sorbet. She said, as I brought out the dinner, "Even the smell is terrific!"

Tomorrow morning the home health care nurse comes and does an evaluation, sets up schedules, etc.

There was a real snag getting the authorizations needed to get her out of the rehab place, and finally with all of the orders cut and signed it was found that the insurance company had a contract for oxygen with a different company than the one I selected. Then...a doctor decided that since her blood oxygen levels were excellent she could go home without oxygen (I asked her what she was breathing and she said, "Nitrogen").

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: billybob
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM

Only just seen this thread, sending love to you both, hope Pat is home when you read this.

Wendy xxxxxx

condolences Anne , sending love xxx

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 05:30 PM

How is Pat today?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 04:43 PM

Thank you for the sympathy, all of you - I hadn't meant to hijack Rap's thread. I'm finding bereavement a bit like jetlag in the way it interferes with concentration and selecting the right words.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 02:54 PM

It's just the paperwork now. I've done what I can here at the house.

Anne, I'm sorry about your mother. Please accept my sympathy and know that others are thinking of her too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Dharmabum
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:47 AM

Hope you both have a full & speedy recovery.
Best of luck & positive energy.

DB.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:13 AM

Good to hear from you, Sapper.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Sapper on TIC2 between Edingurgh and Glasgo
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 08:24 AM

Heyup!
Glad to see progress being made, a big relief all round I should imagine.

Ann, my sympathy to you.

Gnu; Yes, still breathing and travelling about the country with Notwork Fail and getting more cynical and cantankerous as I get older!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM

Anne, I'm sorry about your mum.

The next time I open this thread, I hope I'll read that Pat is home!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:05 PM

Anne... my condolences.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 05:55 PM

Any thing any time you need help you call

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Anne Lister
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 04:36 PM

I'm sorry - I missed this too. Haven't been on the 'Cat for a while (my mother died last week). Glad to see progress is being made and that you're taking good care of her. Hope all continues to go well.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 03:33 PM

Rest is good for the blood. Ya musta needed it. Good vibes at youse both!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 01:05 PM

There are some quite attractively designed shower grab bars - a friend in Arizona has one around her tub and shower stall. I've been looking for the manufacturer. The ones at Home Depot are clunky.

Sounds like Pat won't starve!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 12:56 PM

Well, so far I'm missing or missed my nephew's wedding a family reunion, a target shooting match, and Pat.

I bought tyripotakia, dolmades, spanikopita, a slice of roast lamb,and some of those round Greek donuts that are drizzled with a honey sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

I also bought a suction grab bar, a shower stool (with back), and a ton of other odds and ends.

Then I overslept.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 08:04 AM

Just an echo here - others have already said it. Good news!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 07:10 AM

Good news Rap - I'm sure that you will both be much happier and that Pat will recover faster at home. for you, all the travelling to and from the hospital/rehab can be very tiring. Just make sure that you both take it a little easy for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:23 PM

Leave him alone Ragdall ... floozies are fun!

I was called home from a folk club in April 2001 because my wife had flaked out on the sofa with foam coming out of her mouth. (I live in Oz, so this is not that remarkable.) Turned out she had a brain tumour. Various dramas getting treatment advice (and rejecting some of it). After some weeks of tests and surgery, and pressuring the neurosurgeon, we were told life expectancy statistically averages 7 to 12 years. It is now over 13 years later, she is fit, healthy, saner than me (OK - she always was), and her seizures have decreased from three a day to none. She still has the tumour (inoperable) and a mild issue with numbers and communication. Otherwise, all good.

What all this boils down to, Rap, is that the onward road has been pretty much consistently better and more positive, when once I thought it would be all downhill. So all the best to Pat, Rap, and keep the sense of humour that I see sneaking through.

Hope I never need brain surgery ... can't afford the search fees.

Shimbo

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:13 PM

Great news. Good luck with the home health care. I hope all the ladies you get are great. (We had one who liked to hide things.)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ragdall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:53 PM

Well done, Rap! Pat's lucky to have a champion fighting on her behalf.
Best wishes for continued good physical therapy results and getting needed assistance from the home care.

Make sure that you allow yourself to get some rest now, too. Partying with floozies can wear down a man your age.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:48 PM

Close, Dorothy - how about "food for a goddess." :)

I love spanikopita. Baklava also, but it is very rich. Be sure to visit the grilled cheese thread for some great comfort food ideas.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:02 PM

The main prize goes to the one who perseveres! Congratulations! Pat is a very fortunate woman to have you on her side. Spanokipita and baklava!!! Food for the gods! or a healing woman. One day at a time, .....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 04:11 PM

That's great news, Rap. My best as always to you both. Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 03:25 PM

sounds like a good result. hope the being back home goes well, without too much stress. blessings         pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 02:08 PM

That is the best news I've had all day, thanks! You and Pat will be tired for some time to come, so home health care is a good idea...and I do hope physical therapy will enter into the picture. Wonderful news for you both.
************
I'm guessing both spanakopita and baklava would only be sold cooked. I can't imagine why they would have been frozen before cooking, but even if they were for convenience in preparing for the holiday, there would be no reason they couldn't be refrozen unless exposed to unsafe temperatures at some point. re: Refreezing cooked foods "...After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion... "

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 01:52 PM

Coming home!!!

Don't need to type another word... except... GREAT!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 12:05 PM

The point of a rehabilitation hospital is to help you recover, not hinder your progress.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:36 AM

Good to read that she'll be home soon!

About freezing those foods--make sure that if the church froze them, they were frozen before cooking. If they were frozen after cooking and then defrosted, they probably should not be refrozen.

I know around here that some churches prepare their festival foods several weeks in advance and freeze them until the festival dates. I
ve never asked if they are cooked before or after being frozen.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:34 AM

Nothing like one's own bed with clean sheets! (Ya shoulda made the floozies help clean up first. )

Sounds like she will be well provided for... I'd expect nothing less...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 10:46 AM

Well, you do have "Rights"....

The meeting went well and she's coming home Monday afternoon to home health care and a (somewhat) cleaned and straightened house. Or at least clean sheets in her own bed. I've thrown the floozies out and hope to have the cigar smoke and empty likker bottles gone before she gets home.

Actually, I do have to get some food in. Two of those foods will be a surprise -- spanakopita and baklava. The local Greek Orthodox basilica is have a "Greek festival" today and I think I can grab a pan of each and freeze them. That will provide her a change in diet when she's ready! Good thing all those Greeks moved here to work on the railroad after the coal mines in Utah failed, back about a hunnert years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:15 AM

Sandra... yes.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 09:32 PM

yes!

what do single people/people without family or friends nearby do in a similar situation?

suffer?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 03:26 PM

at least it,s better than having your email ignored. hope the meeting achieves the desired helpfulness.