BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 12:43 PM

He now has his bo'sun's whistle around his neck. That works. I can pin it in a handy spot when he's in bed.

Time enough to look for an electronic solution if we need to.

Just back from the pharmacy, Lidocaine patch on Tom's back, also paid the mortgage and picked up some stuff at the store and another drug store.

Fed Tom lunch. (I ate standing up at the kitchen counter, ripping meat off the bones of a rotisserie chicken while putting everything in the sink into the dishwasher.)

Visiting nurse due at 1:00.

THEN I can start making the phone calls...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 12:53 PM

8 minutes to 6pm (sun over yardarm time) here in the UK. I'll have a belated scotch (with a drop of water to wake it up) with you.

Pete

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 01:25 PM

The advantage of living further north, is that the sun goes below the yardarm, that bit earlier. Sometimes, it happens at around mid-day. Depending on how thirsty I feel.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 01:29 PM

YAY!!! There's NO PLACE like HOME!!!!!!

Best wishes for continued progress!!!

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 03:52 PM

What Lilyfestre said. ATB from Charlie as usual.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 04:10 PM

Linn... I will still invest in a few strategically placed bells if it suits the eyesight. Cheap and his whistle needn't be forgotten if he decides to forage at night without waking you.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 07:50 PM

A day filled with minor aggravations, but got a lot accomplished.

All those morning errands required standing in line at each and every place.

The visiting nurse spent several hours (during which I couldn't get anything else done, although she DID set up Tom's appointment with his cardiologist -- waiting for a call back from his PCP), and then got stuck in the driveway. Had to call the place I got his walker -- they gave him the wrong size. So I have to take it and the paperwork back tomorrow and exchange it for the proper one. He's not used it except to get into the house. I realized they'd given me too short a one when it would only go a notch higher. Too short for me, as they told me to adjust it -- I'm 5'4 and Tom's 6 feet. It measures 33" to the black handles -- way too short. Bart, Tom's physical terrorist (who will be back) would be very upset.

It's just been a day of minor aggravations. I even had to complain at Rite Aid, but I haven't killed anyone yet. (I don't usually complain about retail stuff, but of all the vitamins and supplements they had, the only echinacea they had was super expensive and marked "buy one, get second for 50% off -- I didn't WANT that brand at ALL, so I'll buy it elsewhere for less, but it's an aggravation to not get it today.) Everything wanted to fall on the floor, and I DO have to remember to clean the spilled sesame oil off the burner tomorrow. (The fried rice was really good, though.) My back and neck and shoulders are killing me.

Time to fix myself a Rob Roy and go upstair and try to get through to my sister.

G'night.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 07:52 PM

And I'm not going to tell you about the password aggravations on one of Tom's email accounts. Arghhhhhh!

But I did get to talk to a really nice tech with TDS who agrees completely that there's nothing like sacrificing a chicken on the keyboard to get a computer to behave.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 09:48 PM

Good to know that both of you made it safely through Tom's first night and first full day home. I hope you have less busy days ahead.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 08:20 AM

An uneventful night and we both got a good night's sleep.

More running around today, then phone calls. It would be nice if Tom's PCP would call back with an appointment, so I can plan our lives a bit better. Got an appointment right away for his cardiologist.

BTW, when the hospitalist gave Tom a Rx for Lisinopril, we questioned it -- his cardiologist had taken him OFF it two years ago. The hospitalist insisted. When I filled the Rx yesterday morning, the PHARMACIST questioned it. I told him the story and assured him Tom would be seeing both his cardiologist and his PCP within the next few days. Then the visiting nurse questioned it when she got here yesterday afternoon and ran down his list of meds. She called his cardiologist and verified -- NO Lisinopril no matter what the hospitalist says.

Gotta be on top of EVERYTHING. And hospitals are dangerous places and not really good for people except in extreme circumstances. I am REALLY pleased that we got Tom home so he can improve rapidly instead of developing more problems. All of the things I had been concerned about -- confusion, time confusion, lack of mental stimulation, constantly changing people around him complicated by the fact he's BLIND, swollen feet, getting proper nutrition -- ALL of it has improved or the problem has gone away completely just in the short time he's been home.

Whoever changed the thread title with the addition "Home Again!" -- THANK YOU!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 01:18 PM

Okay, appointments set up with Tom's PCP, cardiologist, and W-D hospital for a pharmacological stress test. And I'm off to exchange his walker for one of the proper size, since he'll be needing the correct one to actually GET to those appointments.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: GUEST,SINSULL
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 01:27 PM

Misread the top two titles as Curmudgeon in same sex marriage.
Will have the glasses checked.
Meantime how is Tom other than a good night's sleep?
M

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 04:54 PM

I'm glad Tom is seeing his PCP tomorrow morning. While the swelling in his right foot is almost non-existent, his left foot is still swollen and the front part of it is red. Need to make sure that infection is really gone.

And now he has the proper sized walker, not the "junior" size he was inadvertently given last Friday. He'll need it to get to his PCP tomorrow morning and his cardiologist on Thursday.

But, Mary, he is just so much improved just by being HOME rather in the hospital. He's sleeping better, eating better, and has his mind engaged instead of vegetating.

He's taking a nap right now. Wish I could, but I've got too much to do.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 05:10 PM

"... he is just so much improved just by being HOME rather in the hospital"

That is great news!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 05:33 PM

LOL @ Sinsull. I got me some real fine glasses that can read right through things aand are damn handy when cutting toenails......LOL..........




Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 07:09 PM

All good Linn.
My one hospital experience was a nightmare of complaing roommates and the wish to click my heels together and go home.
LOL Surgeon told me I could go home on Day 4 (not &) if my stapled stitches came out easily. They fell out much to his amazement. I left to the whining complaints of my next bed mate who had been there for ten days and had no intention of leaving.
Home. My own bed. My own TV.
Heaven.
Good on you Tom.

PS Spaw, for pity's sake put those glasses away. LOl

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 08:15 AM

It's going to be a complicated morning...already has been.

First, Tom had trouble getting from bed to wheelchair this morning. Even with a gate belt and me hauling. But just sitting for awhile helped and he got into the chair and over to the table by himself.

He has a 9:30 appointment with his primary care doctor. I'm really glad he was able to get in to see him so early because, besides the hospital stay follow-up, I'm concerned about his left foot swelling and redness. The right foot is now normal.

I had to turn the car around so the passenger side is closest to the house. Of course, it's fuckingsnowing (that's one word). The path is still very similar to what it was on Sunday -- under water on one side and soft on the other. But not as soft as the mud under the car. I had to do quite some maneuvering to get Tom the best surface by the car door.

Wish us luck; I think we're going to need it. Hope tomorrow's snow doesn't keep us from his cardiologist.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 09:13 AM

GO TOM! GO LINN! (Then sleep.)

+++

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 11:22 AM

Once you get past snow and mud seasons this should be easier. One day at a time. You're moving forward - keep up the good work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 01:28 PM

The visiting nurse came (without calling first) about 15 minutes after I got Tom into the house after his doctor's appointment.

She just left after drawing blood so we don't have to go anywhere else to do that. (She's driving a Jeep, by the way, but she still walked down the driveway.)

This weather is just relentless. A snowstorm before the last snowstorm of February, made it the third snowiest February in New Hampshire history with 41.1" as of 2-25-2013. February 1969 had 49.8" and February 1893 had 59".

Tom's got an appointment with his cardiologist tomorrow and we really want to be there, but if we're in the middle of getting the 4-8" they're predicting, Tom is NOT going to be able to get from the house to the car safely and, quite honestly, if the driving sucks, it's a hell of a lot safer for us to NOT drive the 50 miles to the cardiologist and back.

I'm really fed up with snow (and mud) this year. We've had a two year reprieve.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 06:56 PM

I had a LOVELY and much needed nap (three hours). Been trying to do that for the past three days.

Tom said he napped, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 12:12 AM

I hope your roads are good tomorrow, but if not, staying home is a wise idea. No sense having a heart attack while trying to get to the cardiologist!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 08:10 AM

I'll second that

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 03:30 PM

Further good thoughts and best regards from here in Scotland.
Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 03:36 PM

Got my snow shovels crossed for tomorrow. And, I gotta LOTTA snow shovels... and a scoop... and a blower.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 04:41 PM

Well, THAT was fun...(NOT!)

Heading to the cardiologist was uneventful. I like uneventful. Flow snurries snurrying in the air, but the road surface was only a little wet. Nothing sticking.

Borrowed their wheelchair and got Tom up the long ramp and walk and someone kindly got the door open. Had a good and productive discussion with Tom's cardiologist.

But by the time we were finished there, it was snowing a lot more heavily. Had someone assist in getting Tom to the car. Someone had parked too close to the passenger side to get the wheelchair in there, so I moved the car. Done. And then I also didn't have to take the wheelchair back. Decided to give the other Portsmouth errand a miss and just did the two closer to home. Wanted to get home before the snow built up too much. Driving wasn't bad (some reduced visibility), but I was really worried about getting Tom from car to house safely.

Getting Tom into the house again was the real fun part. There was close to an inch of snow on the deck, steps, and the already mushy and wet path to the steps. But we did it and neither of us fell. Deep sigh of relief. His Curmudgeonness says he's not going anyplace until winter is over. (Including to The Press Room tomorrow -- but I'll put in an appearance if the weather cooperates a little bit.)

Okay, the results of today's consult was, first, that Tom is definitely to NOT take the Lisinipril that the hospitalist was insisting on. (Yes, we straightened that all out on Monday.) And that he should be taking the furosomide every day, not just three days a week as the hospitalist wanted. And the major decision was to cancel the hospital-scheduled pharmocological stress test on Monday. There are too many risks for the test when the results would be unhelpful as any treatment resulting from any new knowledge would also involve too many risks.

Glad we're home...safe, dry and warm. Really really tired of winter.

Linn

So basically Tom's doctors have just countermanded all of the hospitalist's orders -- because they know him and his history better.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Mar 13 - 12:48 PM

I'm not trying to monopolize people's attention on Tom's recent health issues, but I know there are some non-Mudcat friends who do not do Facebook who are checking here for updates.

Today has been declared a snow day (conveniently decided because it's SNOWING AGAIN). The visiting nurse called early to see if it would be okay to come on Monday instead -- the driving is very slippery (even in her all wheel drive).

After breakfast (blueberry pancakes, bacon and New Hampshire maple syrup), Tom moved to a comfy chair and put his swollen foot up as suggested by both his docs. He even got a nap in, too.

Meanwhile, I made more necessary phone calls and actually got a few minutes to rest, read and sip some tea.

A little later I'll shovel off the deck and steps and clean off the car. Plow guy did a pass through, too. But it's supposed to be 50°F tomorrow... Go figure.

I'm back to putting the Amergel that Katlaughing suggested last year after his broken ankle on Tom's foot and ankle.

We're getting things worked out.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Mar 13 - 06:01 PM

Yep.. sounds like things are getting sorted... and 50 degrees means Spring IS coming.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 11:57 AM

Glad you made it to and from the doctor's office safely. Lovely to have one test cancelled and not need to do the running around for that!

Keep breathing!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 01:38 PM

Tom says he feels better today than he has since came home from the hospital last Sunday or even since he landed there in the first place on February 18th.

Some of it may have to do with the sun being out. I think it's the first sunny day with a clear blue sky all week. And it's not snowing!

I noted several signs of Spring today -- sap buckets on maple trees, a customer at Radio Shack wearing short plaid pants and a short-sleeved lightweight t-shirt, and, coming the opposite direction on Rte. 152, a dog with his head hanging out the passenger side car window.

Now if all the snow will go away and the driveway mud dry up...

I'm glad Tom doesn't have to go anyplace for awhile.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 06:01 PM

I went to the gym. Got out of the car, and took my jacket off. Ladybugs on windows trying to find a way out. Yeah, I hope it stays like this for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 10:33 PM

Don't you go from snow season to mud season? Good luck with that, and I'm glad Tom doesn't have to go anywhere for a while. I hope you can settle in and enjoy the simple life now. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 12:14 AM

Gee... glad to hear you made it... seems the consult avoided a lot of potential problems.

Yo, TOM! Keep on keepin on.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 08:38 AM

It WOULD be nice if Tom can get to the next Friday Press Room session, but he's got a week to work on that (with Bart, his physical therapist, who will be back on Tuesday for the first time since last summer).

And next Saturday is the monthly sea music singaround. So far this year, Tom missed January (and I kept the session on an even keel) but made it (in good health! -- 2 days before he landed in the hospital) to the February session.

Which reminds me, I have to post the session...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 09:06 AM

I just took a look at Tom's foot and I REALLY don't like the look of, especially, the big toe and the one next to it.

The foot, after being better the past two days, is red again.

Getting dressed and taking Tom to Lee Urgent Care, then, if necessary to Wentworth-Douglass ER.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 09:49 AM

+++

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 10:00 AM

Okay -- when I started helping Tom get dressed, the foot didn't look quite so dire. It's still red, but the two toes weren't purple.

Instead of taking him to Lee Urgent Care (it's still complicated for him to get to the car), I called the VNA and they are sending a nurse out around noon.

I just need to have a better trained medical eye take a look.

He's still on a 3-times-a-day antibiotic (which I have to get refilled this afternoon) and right now he's sitting with his feet up, ordered by both his doctors, and which he's been very good about doing.

I've now got a couple hour reprieve to get my hair washed -- I've missed several windows of opportunity lately and it's desperate.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 03:54 PM

Anybody mind if I scream? (Out of relief at being back home.)

Visiting nurse (not our usual nurse) came around noon. She also didn't like the look of the foot, although by that time I thought it looked a lot better. She suggested Lee Urgent Care and helped me get Tom to the car.

Nothing goes rapidly, of course. By the time Tom got in to see the doctor (actually first the nurse, then a PA, THEN the doctor), the foot looked pretty good -- no purple toes and less red than it had been earlier.

But we sat there for over two hours. We finally all agreed that we should just go ahead as we'd planned: fill the Rx for the same antibiotic 4 times a day instead of 3 time (as per Tom's PCP on Wednesday), continue to elevate the foot, hot compresses, and be seen by his regular visiting nurse tomorrow.

Then, after getting Tom back into the car (I haven't lost my touch with the wheelchair), I had to deal with Market Basket on a Sunday. And then (after just sitting and pounding my head on the steering wheel until I felt better) drive to Hannaford's pharmacy and wait for his prescriptions. (The timing was good -- got there JUST as they came back from lunch at 2:30.)

Arghhhhhhhh! I wanna go home! (Oh, wait. I AM home...)

Now that it's almost 4 p.m., I think we'll have some lunch.

I. Am. So. Exhausted.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 04:34 PM

I hope Tom can fend for himself for a little while (preferably in a chair with his feet up) so I can go upstairs and read, maybe nap. I'm so physically exhausted I feel sick.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 07:22 PM

Read for a bit, then took a nap for about an hour. Woke up still so drained I could barely move.

Ate chocolate. Read.

Finally came downstairs. Seven PM and Tom says he wants to go to bed soon. Haven't had supper yet (I was thinking leftovers instead of the Moroccan chicken I had been planning) but neither of us are really hungry as we had a light lunch at 4 PM.

I feel as if gravity has been turned up past 10.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 07:31 PM

+++(((Linn)))+++

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 07:39 PM

Well, today was shot to hell.

I probably over-reacted this morning when I looked at Tom's swollen foot and two purple toes. Then, when it was better, I still wanted a visiting nurse to look at it. And, since she hadn't seen it before, she thought Urgent Care was a good idea. So off we went...for somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. To find out...keep doing what we've been doing. Fill the new 'script for the antibiotics (which actually WAS on the list for today), continue taking them, continue putting the foot up, put some hot compresses on it...and let Tom's regular visiting nurse look at it tomorrow.

By the time we finally got home around 4 p.m., I knew that NOTHING was going to get really accomplished today. (Well, I got a couple of Tom's 'scripts filled and ran into a woman I worked with over ten years ago.) Walking upstairs drained every last bit of energy I still had left.

I'd had stuff on my list...

I haven't the energy to open the file drawer behind Tom and see if it might be a good place to put all the financial crap we have to keep. Not the really important stuff, just all the other papers.

No energy, either, to call anyone. Damned little now to maybe throw some leftovers in the nuke for supper. Even Tom wants to retreat to bed very very early.

Tom just came to get me -- he wants to go to bed. Now.

I'll get him tucked in, set up the coffee and shut the house down and do the same myself.

Tomorrow is another day...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 08:11 PM

Stress has been high, and running around is tiring, so sleep this early doesn't seem strange. Food is a good idea, because low blood sugar can make fatigue worse. Rest well.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 10:18 PM

Thinking of you and Tom and hoping things settle down soon.

Keep breathing.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 13 - 12:05 PM

Linn, I will say all the below after many weeks on home health and serious post-op complications. The following is not to say you have not been doing a great job-- YOU HAVE. But the health care system we now have is designed to wear you to a frazzle so that you become the next patient. So it's a good idea to be smarter than that!!! :~)


BEST: The visiting nurse, if you trust him/her-- the main, regular one-- will be able to tell you exactly what to look for that needs immediate attention. (Mine did, twice, and the "extra one" who came when called on main-nurse's instrux... saved my life-- twice.)

So don't beat yourself up for "over-reacting", and please know that the main nurse can save you all that worry in future. (Mine wrote down the specifics, because I was on enough pain meds that I needed Hardi to see the instrux himself and not take my word for my recall.)


NEXT: But ultimately you have to trust your gut, and if you need to take Tom to get checked, do it-- but please ALSO remember that you may have friends within phone reach to help manage the process (and the aftermath). A HUGE part of my recovery has been thinking clearly and creatively about non-medical supports that are so GREAT it's hard to believe that, for the helpers, it was a piece of cake they were happy to help with. One BIG one was the till-recently "anonymous" January shopper: groceries, prescriptions, a print job.... at a time when I AND my spouse could not shoulder one more thing. I also had a laundry helper on call, people bringing the right kinds of meals on call (from their freezers), people who took me to appointments when I needed help in and out of the car...... this weekend I repaid that into another friend's support system (lung cancer post-op, daily shifts of non-anxious helpers).

So please, share the load. People love you and Tom. They just need a little direction so they don't feel.... intrusive. (My shopping friend's interruptive response, when I tried to thank her-- "Are you SERIOUS!?!?!?!")

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: GUEST,SINS
Date: 12 Mar 13 - 12:03 PM

Purple toes can't be ignored. You followed your instincts which is good.
Keep your chin and your toes up,
Tom
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 13 - 08:02 AM

Bart, Tom's physical terrorist from the VNA, came yesterday to do an evaluation and will be back to get Tom on the right track to walking again.

Hope his visiting nurse at least calls this morning. She was supposed to come on Monday, but never called and never showed.

It would be nice to know how to plan the day -- I have to go out and pick up the cordless phone that should solve some of Tom's recent problems and frustrations. It's got a large, clear display and large buttons so he can see them and not hit the wrong ones in the middle of a conversation. Then I can look at a couple potential "new" cars, since I need to replace my '97.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 13 Mar 13 - 08:32 AM

"She was supposed to come on Monday, but never called and never showed."

That's unacceptable. Ask her for her phone number so you can call her when she is late by a few hours. She will give you an excuse. Keep the number for the VNA handy and call them late in the day and ask them when the next visit will be so you can schedule your day... with a smile, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 13 - 09:38 AM

RE: VNA-- I SO agree with gnu. They respect the schedules they have to respect, and they fudge what they can fudge, all in the name of triage-- and that IS reasonable-- but remember that they want your insurance bucks and respect-- while you want care, and respect. That is the basic transaction, and they expect to be held to it. Just think how crushed one would be to arrive and find no one there to let them in, after the trip to GET there-- so they have to work not just with Tom, but YOU. :~)

Work it, girl!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 13 - 09:39 AM

PS depending on the agency and its practices, your best friend may be the scheduler, not the nurse.

~S~