I apologize for the length of this post.
I know I've been off the grid for a while but I have had no physical or mental energy to do much of anything.
This has been the absolute worst experience I've had medically speaking. Worse than my cancer treatment in the 90's .I know I am lucky in so many ways compared to others but this just stinks. Maybe because I'm older?
I had posted I was in a rehab facility (nursing home) that was so bad I left after 4 days.
@Jockette- my surgeon was not a fan of rehab facilities and according to his PA only recommended 3 locally none of which was covered by my insurance. But really did not feel I would benefit from one.
It was my mother who kept pushing me to go since the surgery was 2 1/2 hours from where I live. She lives close but didn't want me staying with her.
@SusieShoes-its an actual nursing home that does rehab as well. Unfortunately it was very understaffed but to make matters worse most of the aides and many of the nurses could barely understand or speak English which presented a real problem.
My very first day in rehab they refused to let me use a walker to go to the bathroom until someone from their PT Dept evaluated me. Although they kept saying someone would be there soon the therapist did not come until 6:40 pm. Six hours after my arrival. Needless to say I was not happy and made it known throughout the day. In an effort to shut me up they intentionally overmedicated me with pain meds that evening causing me to be very stoned and dizzy and I felt that if I had gotten out of bed I would have fallen down.
They had absolutely no infection prevention protocol and Aides and CNAs were admintering the antibiotics through the picc- only RN's were supposed to be doing that. It gets worse from there but way too long a story for the forum.
I've had iron deficient anemia for months. But my hemoglobin suddenly tanked and I had to see a hematologist. And on top of everything else I now have to go for iron infusions.
I've also been staying with my 85 y/o mother having no choice after leaving rehab. She is a very young and "with it" 85 but it has been really hard to live with her. Before my surgery I saw her only occasionally. While we get along (because I try really hard to do so) and I do love her (she's my mother) she can be condescending, nasty and a bully at times. And as a result I am really depressed. I feel like a prisoner.
I will be done with the IV's for 2 weeks after the 16th and need/want to go home. I have an automatic transmission car and was wondering if anyone who has had the cement spacer was able to drive themselves with the spacer still in? If so, was it very painful to do? I'm going to try to get in my car later and am hoping I can do so since my spacer does allow some knee movement. When I asked the PA at my OS office before my surgery about driving she said that for the first two weeks she didn't recommend it as I would be really uncomfortable and of course because of the pain meds. But said nothing about after that time.
I don't see my OS again until the 16th but if driving is something I won't be able to do I would like to know now so I can try to make other arrangements.
Thanks for "listening" I really appreciate it.
United States
