Colleen[8]: That's better...

[mdlbear]

Went in to visit Colleen about 11am, so as to be there around noon when her case manager was due to show up. Along the way we were assured by several doctors that she wasn't about to be sent home any time soon. In particular, she will emphatically not be coming home before Thanksgiving, so LOSCON is still on. We won't need the second room, though; overall we'll save $400 or so on room and meals.

(It's not clear just what or who was responsible for the miscommunication -- or more likely idiocy -- that had them setting things up for a Sunday release, nor which of the various people she cried or ranted at put the brakes on. But it seems to be taken care of for now.)

Sang "The Mary Ellen Carter" (my choice), "Wheelin'", and "Quiet Victories" (at Colleen's request).

She will be going to a skilled nursing facility, definitely no sooner than Monday; most likely Tuesday or Wednesday. If we're lucky, there's one very close to our house -- the only questions are whether it has beds and whether it can handle TPN. Kaiser covers 100 days of skilled care per year -- the case manager wasn't clear on whether that was per calendar year or per 365 consecutive days, but it probably won't matter in this case.

When she's no longer at the stage of needing 24-hour skilled care, we'll get training in using the equipment and so on before she'll be allowed home. I've seen the take-home pump; it's in a bag that can be carried as either a shoulder bag or a backpack. It would, at least, let her get around the house using the walker. We'll also get training on the ostomy bag (for the fistula). She'll be getting a home-care nurse initially, then go in for regular appointments at the wound care clinic. A hospital bed should only cost about $20/month to rent; not clear whether it would fit in the sewing room.

(I'm mostly making notes for my own benefit here, so that I can make sure they haven't left anything out.)

She's in good spirits, and looks and sounds healthier than I've seen her in weeks. Maybe months. She also hasn't needed any morphine today, which is good.

Thanks, by the way, to chipuni for his visit today, and to carmiel for the bear and good conversation yesterday.

Colleen, like me, favors getting a split adjustable bed for our bedroom as a longer term solution. I'll miss the lovely oak bedstead that I made a little after we were married, but it'll give us an opportunity for some much-needed and long-delayed cleaning.

Since I will be going to LOSCON with the kids, I obviously won't have Thanksgiving weekend for cleaning. Depending on timing I may have to take some time off work. Hopefully I can do a little every day or so. We'll deal with it.

Comments

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Whew. I'm glad that Colleen is going to get the care she needs.

[mdlbear]

We all are -- there will still be problems, but at least we won't have to deal with that one until Colleen, the family, and hopefully the house are ready.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Things are now making a LOT more sense. Skilled Nursing Facility is logical, cheaper than the hospital, but still not Home. TPN isn't as hard for them to deal with as the care of the Ostomy bag. But the Case Worker should be able to work with Colleen and You on getting her into the proper place. Kaiser has contacts and contracts with these people.

I think some Patient Assistance ferreting out of the stoopid person who was trying to send Colleen home on Sunday may be in order for Monday. That was NOT a safe condition. Not that you don't have a pleasant house, but she still needs more nursing care than she could get at home.

Will try to drop by tomorrow With Flowers! And a Fill in book if I can find one.

[mdlbear]

Many thanks!!

Yeah, it'll be worthwhile figuring out who the idiot was.

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

If it's like the hospital beds that I've seen, I don't think it could be gotten /into/ the sewing room, though it might /just barely/ fit. But if it were in there, I'm not actually sure there would be enough space to walk around it, which would likely also end up being a problem.

My spacial sense could be off, but I don't think it is. The biggest problem is the 'I really don't think there would be anyway to have it make the turn into that room, given the hallway' part, because unlike a normal matress/boxspring/etc, it's not really reasonable to turn those on their sides.

[mdlbear]

I'm inclined to agree, though I think it might work if you could turn it on end. There's more room in the section of the living room between the bathroom and the front window -- it was originally the master bedroom. There's also more junk that would have to be moved, but that's a solvable problem given enough people with functional knees and backs.

And a place to put it, of course. Which would require moving things around in the garage and taking some of them out to be recycled, but that's a recursively solvable problem given...

[brmj.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear you got things more or less figured out. I would have commented on the going home early disaster if I hadn't been busy. In the unlikely case that there is some thing I can do to help (from the other side of the country), just ask.

[mdlbear]

Thanks! (Probably not much you can do where you are, but just knowing that people are thinking of us is a help.)

We had a whole filk circle thinking about you

[capplor.livejournal.com]

including Kathleen Sloan and us (the rest are locals who weren't too sure who you were, but send good thoughts anyway). Lemming was somewhere else, but he clued in Kathleen, so he's worrying about you guys, too.

Re: We had a whole filk circle thinking about you

[mdlbear]

Good to know -- thanks!

Hugs all around.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

This is a relief to hear! Whether the mistake was due to miscommunication or idiocy (or probably both), I'm glad you guys complained loud enough that you were heard.

Good thoughts and *hugs* to all.

[mdlbear]

Thanks! We're both feeling a lot better now.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

There's plenty of both of those around. Including in hospitals. (grrrrrr)

[firecat]

Thanks for the update. Continued good thoughts.

[mdlbear]

You're welcome! (And welcome to my LJ!)

[asavitzk.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness! Great news.

You're very welcome

[carmiel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that the bear cheered her up a little. Hospitals can be such downer places that I thought she might need a little smile. :)

Please keep us all updated.

Re: You're very welcome

[mdlbear]

It cheered her up quite a lot -- it was the first thing anyone sent her.

*grin* Update 9 posted this evening.

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Relief indeed. That sounds much better.

[mdlbear]

Yes; she's at the nursing home now and starting to settle in a little.