Road to recovery alone

[saveinla]

Feb 10, 2015 14:04:42 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Insurance companies are about profits. I wish I could remember the name of the book I read years ago - it was FICTIONAL - but it just about hit the nail on the head about long term illness, medical insurance.  I feel for the doctors who are truly dedicated to getting their patients well and having the best care but are for the most part fighting a losing battle with the insurance providers.   

Was it "The Rainmaker"? It was a scary novel.

[bean29]

Hi Zaire, I also hope you are feeling better today. Sending Healthy, Healing thoughts your way.

[NoNamePerson]

Feb 10, 2015 14:40:10 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Feb 10, 2015 14:04:42 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Insurance companies are about profits. I wish I could remember the name of the book I read years ago - it was FICTIONAL - but it just about hit the nail on the head about long term illness, medical insurance.  I feel for the doctors who are truly dedicated to getting their patients well and having the best care but are for the most part fighting a losing battle with the insurance providers.   

Was it "The Rainmaker"? It was a scary novel.

Nope, but I read that one too and saw the movie.   I hate it when I can't remember but see what happens with old age and the fact that I will read the label on a ketchup bottle if nothing else to read. So hard to remember one from another at times. 

[mmhmm]

Feb 10, 2015 16:04:30 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Feb 10, 2015 14:40:10 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Was it "The Rainmaker"? It was a scary novel.

Nope, but I read that one too and saw the movie.   I hate it when I can't remember but see what happens with old age and the fact that I will read the label on a ketchup bottle if nothing else to read. So hard to remember one from another at times. 

LOL! This cracked me up! I've always said I'd read the ingredients on a tomato juice can if I couldn't find anything else to read!

[Chocolate Lover]

Feb 10, 2015 16:13:51 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Feb 10, 2015 16:04:30 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Nope, but I read that one too and saw the movie.   I hate it when I can't remember but see what happens with old age and the fact that I will read the label on a ketchup bottle if nothing else to read. So hard to remember one from another at times. 

LOL! This cracked me up! I've always said I'd read the ingredients on a tomato juice can if I couldn't find anything else to read!

I've read the phone book before. In my defense, it was the trivia things in the yellow pages part. But I did also thumb through and look for weird names.

[NoNamePerson]

Feb 10, 2015 16:23:19 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Feb 10, 2015 16:13:51 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

LOL! This cracked me up! I've always said I'd read the ingredients on a tomato juice can if I couldn't find anything else to read!

I've read the phone book before. In my defense, it was the trivia things in the yellow pages part. But I did also thumb through and look for weird names.

But do you remember those weird names? Hell, I can't even remember the name of a book        But I think I remember the author and am now skimming book reviews to see if I spot it!! This is going to drive me to drink dammit!!

[Chocolate Lover]

Feb 10, 2015 16:25:46 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Feb 10, 2015 16:23:19 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I've read the phone book before. In my defense, it was the trivia things in the yellow pages part. But I did also thumb through and look for weird names.

But do you remember those weird names? Hell, I can't even remember the name of a book        But I think I remember the author and am now skimming book reviews to see if I spot it!! This is going to drive me to drink dammit!!

Of course not, do you know how many years it's been since I HAD a phone book??!??  Good luck, I hate it when I do that. Or worse, go to the library and get a book then figure out 2 pages in that I've already read it AND I remember how it ends. 

[NoNamePerson]

Feb 10, 2015 16:35:45 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Feb 10, 2015 16:25:46 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

But do you remember those weird names? Hell, I can't even remember the name of a book        But I think I remember the author and am now skimming book reviews to see if I spot it!! This is going to drive me to drink dammit!!

Of course not, do you know how many years it's been since I HAD a phone book??!??  Good luck, I hate it when I do that. Or worse, go to the library and get a book then figure out 2 pages in that I've already read it AND I remember how it ends. 

Oh, more than once this has happened to me. Now when I pick up a book and think hmmm have I read this, I just turn to the end to see if it is familiar    

[Chocolate Lover]

I just read something random in the first few pages.

I just realized on about the 4th book in a series I'm reading that the characters have the same names from the Donna Reed Show. Except the Dad, but his name is the actor's first name.  And there is an extra child...


ETA: No, wait, there is a 3rd kid on the series too, I just don't recall those episodes. 

[lexxy703]

OMG, I'll read anything.  I've been known to read the ingredients in bubble bath when I forgot to take my book to the tub with me. 

I also now read random pages in a book to be sure I haven't already read it.  But sometimes that doesn't work either & I start reading only to get to a specific scene that makes it all click into place & then I remember everything.

[Chocolate Lover]

Poor Z, we've hijacked his thread.......


I'd have just taken a nap in the bubble bath if I didn't have a book.  (Yes, I've done that but in the short tubs that I'm in no danger of sliding underwater in)

[Icelandic Woman]

I sure hope Z hasn't had any kind of set back since he hasn't been here in a couple of days.
Z I hope you are okay!

[Chocolate Lover]

I hope he's sleeping a lot and has been using his pain meds! (appropriately of course )

[mmhmm]

Zaire had said physical therapy was going to be coming by. Those folks get you up and moving around whether you want to, or not. They're not the most empathetic folks when it comes to pain, I'm afraid. They know you've got to get up and going if you're going to recover quickly. I imagine poor Zaire is pretty sore.

[ZaireinHD]

Feb 9, 2015 23:42:17 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Zaire, the hospital sent you home? Just like that? Did they even ask you if you had any help?

I was hospitalized 3 times in the last 5 years. Every doctor, every medical student and every resident asked me "Do you live alone? Is there anyone who can help you?" I had to keep telling them that yes, I live alone, but my son can help with groceries, picking up meds, into the tub, etc. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have discharged me or they would have sent me to a convalescent centre if I had no support system in place. Is it because insurance won't pay for extra days in hospital? It doesn't make any sense.

In any case, I hope you feel better soon.

correct! hospital did ask who I live with
I said I live alone
Hospital assigned a Home Health Aide to change and check / monitor my open cut to make sure healing is progressing and to change the bandage

Home Health Aide also checks blood pressure, temperature, and looks for infection.
NOW - here is the thing
some of the Home Health Aides causes my pain when changing the bandage
I don't know why one day the change will hurt a great deal and I am yelling in pain!
BUT another day it is smooth and no pain at all?
one day I am YELLING HEY TAKE IT EASY and the next I am fine with very minimal pain

[Wisconsin Beth]

When are you taking pain meds in relation to the time the aides are coming by?  If you're taking pain meds and 30 minutes later they should up, I'd guess you'd have a lesser amount of pain.  If you're taking the pain meds 6 hours before they come, I'd assume you'd have more pain. 

And then there's technique for getting the bandages off.  And it might depend on how oozy your cut/incision is. 

[ZaireinHD]

I am currently on pain medication now - feeling better!



here is my circle of pain / confusion / pain management

1- everything I eat AND drink taste NASTY!
2- therefore I don't want to eat or drink
3- now I have hunger pain and need to eat something to stop the hunger pain
4- not eating leaves me week and hungry
5- I force my self to eat something which taste nasty, take sips of water
6- still after forcing to eat, still have hunger pains right after eating
7- which leaves me feeling week, very week without having any strength
8- no strength, feeling week, in constant hunger pain when I am awake
9- when I wake up from sleeping it off most of the day - I wake up in hunger pain
10- but I don't eat because every thing has a bad taste
11- I don't take pain medication - because I think I have to eat to stop the pain

[ZaireinHD]

Feb 11, 2015 13:38:42 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

When are you taking pain meds in relation to the time the aides are coming by?  If you're taking pain meds and 30 minutes later they should up, I'd guess you'd have a lesser amount of pain.  If you're taking the pain meds 6 hours before they come, I'd assume you'd have more pain. 

And then there's technique for getting the bandages off.  And it might depend on how oozy your cut/incision is. 

I was having a misunderstanding of how the pain medication is suppose to work.
but yes
actually it depends on the "technique" of the nurse
rip the tape from my hairy body and pull the bandage out with cold hands?

[mmhmm]

Take your pain medication, as ordered, about 1 hour prior to the arrival of the home health aide. That should put it at peak strength during the dressing change and help quite a bit. You might also ask the aide to shave the hair around the bandage where the tape will be. I've done that for "hairy" folk and it really does help.

[weltschmerz]

Feb 11, 2015 13:20:46 GMT -5 ZaireinHD said:

Feb 9, 2015 23:42:17 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Zaire, the hospital sent you home? Just like that? Did they even ask you if you had any help?

I was hospitalized 3 times in the last 5 years. Every doctor, every medical student and every resident asked me "Do you live alone? Is there anyone who can help you?" I had to keep telling them that yes, I live alone, but my son can help with groceries, picking up meds, into the tub, etc. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have discharged me or they would have sent me to a convalescent centre if I had no support system in place. Is it because insurance won't pay for extra days in hospital? It doesn't make any sense.

In any case, I hope you feel better soon.

correct! hospital did ask who I live with
I said I live alone
Hospital assigned a Home Health Aide to change and check / monitor my open cut to make sure healing is progressing and to change the bandage

Home Health Aide also checks blood pressure, temperature, and looks for infection.
NOW - here is the thing
some of the Home Health Aides causes my pain when changing the bandage
I don't know why one day the change will hurt a great deal and I am yelling in pain!
BUT another day it is smooth and no pain at all?
one day I am YELLING HEY TAKE IT EASY and the next I am fine with very minimal pain

There's more to recuperation than changing bandages. Someone has to be sure you have food in the house. Someone has to help you bathe and keep clean. Someone has to make sure you're able to get the medications that you need. The list is endless.

[Icelandic Woman]

I am currently on pain medication now - feeling better!

LMAO yes I think so!
Try chicken soup. You have to have sustenance!

[weltschmerz]

Feb 11, 2015 13:41:53 GMT -5 ZaireinHD said:

I am currently on pain medication now - feeling better!



here is my circle of pain / confusion / pain management

1- everything I eat AND drink taste NASTY!
2- therefore I don't want to eat or drink
3- now I have hunger pain and need to eat something to stop the hunger pain
4- not eating leaves me week and hungry
5- I force my self to eat something which taste nasty, take sips of water
6- still after forcing to eat, still have hunger pains right after eating
7- which leaves me feeling week, very week without having any strength
8- no strength, feeling week, in constant hunger pain when I am awake
9- when I wake up from sleeping it off most of the day - I wake up in hunger pain
10- but I don't eat because every thing has a bad taste
11- I don't take pain medication - because I think I have to eat to stop the pain

Antibiotics can make your food taste bad. Too salty, bitter or metallic.

[mmhmm]

Yep. Meds often interfere with taste. Try eating a little and eating often. Soups are good, applesauce, ice cream, toast or crackers with cheese, just little bits of things you can nibble on. This won't last forever. The early days of healing are the most difficult.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Feb 11, 2015 13:46:10 GMT -5 ZaireinHD said:

Feb 11, 2015 13:38:42 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

When are you taking pain meds in relation to the time the aides are coming by?  If you're taking pain meds and 30 minutes later they should up, I'd guess you'd have a lesser amount of pain.  If you're taking the pain meds 6 hours before they come, I'd assume you'd have more pain. 

And then there's technique for getting the bandages off.  And it might depend on how oozy your cut/incision is. 

I was having a misunderstanding of how the pain medication is suppose to work.
but yes
actually it depends on the "technique" of the nurse
rip the tape from my hairy body and pull the bandage out with cold hands?

You can use rubbing alcohol to loosen, and gently remove the bandages and also remove any adhesive left on your skin.

[ZaireinHD]

Feb 11, 2015 14:37:16 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Yep. Meds often interfere with taste. Try eating a little and eating often. Soups are good, applesauce, ice cream, toast or crackers with cheese, just little bits of things you can nibble on. This won't last forever. The early days of healing are the most difficult.

yes
I just found out it is the Antibiotics medication
including toast - I have to force EVERYTHING to eat and drink
go according to my memory
this morning I had buttered toast with honey lemon tea!
I can't explain how difficult it was to force that down this morning!
with every disgusting bite!

But memory reminds me it was a normal great breakfast!
this bad taste on everything to eat and drink is very difficult to handle!

[ZaireinHD]

Feb 11, 2015 14:08:52 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

There's more to recuperation than changing bandages. Someone has to be sure you have food in the house. Someone has to help you bathe and keep clean. Someone has to make sure you're able to get the medications that you need. The list is endless.

I do that!
I make sure I have food for me and Kiddo! - done
I have not taken showers just yet, but yes I wash myself
as for getting medication - my dad helped with that at first
then I took care of pick up when doctor changed the medication

[Icelandic Woman]

Just hold your nose when eating and you won't taste anything, kind of like when you have a bad cold and can't taste.

[Tennesseer]

Feb 12, 2015 13:50:16 GMT -5 ZaireinHD said:

Feb 11, 2015 14:08:52 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

There's more to recuperation than changing bandages. Someone has to be sure you have food in the house. Someone has to help you bathe and keep clean. Someone has to make sure you're able to get the medications that you need. The list is endless.

I do that!
I make sure I have food for me and Kiddo! - done
I have not taken showers just yet, but yes I wash myself
as for getting medication - my dad helped with that at first
then I took care of pick up when doctor changed the medication

How is your sense of smell, Zaire? If good, you might hold some food you like the smell of under your nose, inhale, then hold your breath and eat it. Wash it down with a sip of water before your release your breath.

Buy a small container of lemon sherbet/sorbet and if that tastes good, after each bite of food, have a bit of sherbet/sorbet to wash out the unpleasant taste of the food. Lemon sorbet is known for cleansing the palate of the previous food ingested. At fancy, shmancy restaurants and really rich peoples' homes, sorbet is often served between each course to cleanse the palate.

[Artemis Windsong]

I know you are a cat person but doggies are cute, too.




www.msn.com/en-us/news/offbeat/the-best-photos-from-the-kennel-clubs-dog-photographer-of-the-year-contest/ss-AA9n0Se

[Lizard Queen]

I was wondering where you've gone, Zaire, and I just noticed this thread.  So sorry to hear of your troubles  , glad that you are on the mend now!