Hello all,
I apologize for being away, I have not forgotten you at all.
I underwent a total hip replacement mid May and spent just under three weeks away in a rehabilitation hospital. While many are able to pop out of bed and go home the same or next day, I was forced to the rehab hospital due to not hitting all the markers for doing well. My pain was intense, uncontrolled, resulting in my blood pressure going through the roof. After three days of this in the hospital, off to the rehab I went.
Let's talk about night and day! The rehab was nuts. I arrived to one room, then immediately moved to another. Their reasoning? The woman I switched with was "a jumper". How nice of them to describe another patient like this to a patient. On top of which, they didn't update any official paperwork so nursing, meals, or/pt schedules were a complete mess. Apparently the jumping woman is a vegan. Poor thing would receive my food and I hers. Then they'd just switch the plates after we've already been given them. How gross.
Let's break things down...
Food:
I had to fight every single day, every single meal time to be able to have something decent to eat. My first breakfast? The dry turkey sausage patty broke my tooth. Sure, I already have crappy teeth but sausage shouldn't be so hard that it acts like an apple. My goodness. Regarding this, I told everyone I saw- nothing was done. They all laughed! My prescribed diet went from vegan, to diabetic to "normal". While listed as diabetic, I couldn't change a thing offered to me. Sure, I get it and the need to watch carbs/sugars but I am not diabetic so why do I have fight everyone to have an actual biscuit instead of wheat bread that smells moldy? Plus, if we're having chicken pot pie for dinner, where's the "pie"? Cold moldy bread doesn't go with the chicken part... So frustrating. Yet they'd let me have all the fruit/yogurt/jello I could eat. Whaaa?
Finally the Nutritionist with me. Again, I had to explain I am not diabetic, I am however hypoglycemic. I do not have my service dogs with me, I do not know when my sugar is low or normal, so testing is important. I volunteered from day 1 to test myself, but it was written in the nursing orders for them to do it themselves. Every time a new nurse arrived, they'd ask about insulin. Again, I'd have to explain things. Why are we not discussing things amongst staff?
After the visit with Dietary, my "label" was changed to normal yet the food never improved. Oh, this is funny. The nutritionist told me the rehab hospital had hired a new head chef so the food should be top notch- apparently there were loads of complaints before this new person. Sorry to burst that bubble, the food was still horrible. The coffee was burned, too. How hard is it to ensure the soda fountains are clean? It's mind boggling. I do appreciate the addition of optional protein shakes (Ensure Max Protein) and I took full advantage of that. Three shakes a day! How are healing patients supposed to do three hours of intense therapy- physical or occupational - and be able to grow stronger if they can barely eat the food given to them? It's insane to me.
Physical & Occupational Therapy
The staff leading these blocks of time are quite lovely and want their patients to improve. I know with my own scenario, I was no peachy princess to deal with the first few days. My pain was through the roof, no one was listening to me and I was incredibly embarrassed to be in the position I was in at the moment. Once the pain was managed, I did apologize for my actions. I'd imagine they are used to patients not being at their best when they meet.
I pushed myself to do as much as possible during every session. I was already at the facility, why not take advantage of the opportunity to have one on one assistance in order to be better equipped once I go home? I saw how important the tiny things were for stroke patients or those suffering from major accidents. On the other hand, those there for help in rebuilding strength in their limbs after joint replacements, falls, etc and still have full mental awareness, the general feeling was frustration. Limitations to movement, limitations to interaction, limitations to bathing and toileting. Being independent was not a right, it was a privilege. I had to do an evaluation in nothing but a hospital gown with people barging in and out of my room. One woman even brought a damn camera - had I not exclaimed "does that have to be done now!?" I don't know what she would have done. She never returned and no one ever took my photo- guess it wasn't too important.
My story is so much longer. I'll be sure to add to it, but don't want to forget one thing! On discharge day I was given discharge instructions, a list of medications, a jump drive with my medical records (I had to request this) and drumroll a graduation certificate not only printed on cardstock but in a page protector. I laughed and asked where is the frame so I could hang it up on the wall. The person giving it to me didn't find it funny, though. Yet, even on this "graduation" gift, there is something wrong. There are signature lines for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy. Someone signed the Speech Therapy line- I never had Speech Therapy! WTF?
Until next time, dear friends...