robinb
DIS veteran
- Joined
- Aug 29, 1999
- Messages
- 44,697
Just in case anyone missed me
.
I've been away for a week in the Chicago area. My mom went in for pancreatic surgery last Friday for what's called a "Whipple" procedure. Only 10% of patients are even eligible for the surgery, so we were happy with that. Unfortunately, her blood pressure sank and her heart rate sky rocketed the night of the surgery and she was sedated for days and she has been in a coma since then. She is *just* waking up now but she still has a long way to go to recover fully. Anyway ... that's where I've been. Thank goodness for Priceline or I would go broke with hotel rooms.
Update! 8/26
My mom in now in rehab. She is still in the hospital, but in the rehab floor now. We looked at Rehab facilities on Sunday for her but her doctors wanted her to stay in the hospital. I am NOT complaining. The rehab floor has only 37 beds compared to 120-200 beds in the facilities I was looking at. Plus, her PT and OT sessions are one-on-one v/s the PT/OT working with a group of people at once. The nursing ratio is also much smaller in the hospital. Best yet, they are going to work her butt off
. Their goal is to get patients home ASAP and not hoover money from Medicaid.
I have been here for 3 long weeks. Priceline has been my friend, but even at $30-$32 per night it adds up. Plus, I have been eating take out for 3 weeks. I have been bleeding money and gaining weight. *sigh* I go home tomorrow and then off to CT for my nephew's Bar Mitzvah and then back home for a few days. I only live about 150 miles away so it's only about 3 hours when I need to come back to the Chicago area.
Update 9/8:
My mom is now home and so am I. I spent a lot of the last month tidying up my mother's house as she is a (to put it nicely) a pack rat. She now has enough space to get around in her walker. I also arranged for a bunch of "deferred maintenance" like having the toilet fixed, new appliances in the kitchen and she's having a new furnace delivered today. I'm exhausted. My sister, who lives near my mom, is taking the day-to-day care over now. My step-father can't drive so she has to drive my mom to all her appointments and get groceries, etc. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and good wishes
.

I've been away for a week in the Chicago area. My mom went in for pancreatic surgery last Friday for what's called a "Whipple" procedure. Only 10% of patients are even eligible for the surgery, so we were happy with that. Unfortunately, her blood pressure sank and her heart rate sky rocketed the night of the surgery and she was sedated for days and she has been in a coma since then. She is *just* waking up now but she still has a long way to go to recover fully. Anyway ... that's where I've been. Thank goodness for Priceline or I would go broke with hotel rooms.
Update! 8/26
My mom in now in rehab. She is still in the hospital, but in the rehab floor now. We looked at Rehab facilities on Sunday for her but her doctors wanted her to stay in the hospital. I am NOT complaining. The rehab floor has only 37 beds compared to 120-200 beds in the facilities I was looking at. Plus, her PT and OT sessions are one-on-one v/s the PT/OT working with a group of people at once. The nursing ratio is also much smaller in the hospital. Best yet, they are going to work her butt off

I have been here for 3 long weeks. Priceline has been my friend, but even at $30-$32 per night it adds up. Plus, I have been eating take out for 3 weeks. I have been bleeding money and gaining weight. *sigh* I go home tomorrow and then off to CT for my nephew's Bar Mitzvah and then back home for a few days. I only live about 150 miles away so it's only about 3 hours when I need to come back to the Chicago area.
Update 9/8:
My mom is now home and so am I. I spent a lot of the last month tidying up my mother's house as she is a (to put it nicely) a pack rat. She now has enough space to get around in her walker. I also arranged for a bunch of "deferred maintenance" like having the toilet fixed, new appliances in the kitchen and she's having a new furnace delivered today. I'm exhausted. My sister, who lives near my mom, is taking the day-to-day care over now. My step-father can't drive so she has to drive my mom to all her appointments and get groceries, etc. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and good wishes
