I haven't been on the board for the last three months or so. I fell in late August and broke my pelvis in two places. While that was healing, I got sciatica in the opposite side. It's been an interesting time!!! Our kids live with us so thankfully we had help.
To get back to the topic, Claude was put on Hospice last week. Medicare has removed the stipulation that death will occur within six months. Now all it takes is the doctor to certify that the person is terminal. Along with Alzheimers (he's early stage 6), he has Parkinson's, Congestive Heart Failure among other problems.
He now has an aide that comes three times a week to shave, shower and dress him, twice weekly RN visits, most of his meds are supplied, chaplain visits and when I'm able to drive again, a volunteer will come and stay with him so I can get out for a bit. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Even with our kids here to help in the evenings, I have felt so overwhelmed.
Everyone's situation is different, but maybe this new Medicare rule will help some of you.
Oh Redbud, I'm so sorry about your problems. I do hope you will be feeling much better real soon. I know it is a blessing that Hospice is now involved with Claude. That will relieve you of so much - I know it is still hard but you can't do it all and they will help you so much. God bless and a hug to you.
Oh Redbud, I hope you find the whole hospice journey as loving and caring as my Dh's family did when his father was on his journey with AD. They are a wonderful bunch of people. My dh was diagnosed with AD only 3 short weeks before his dad was put into hospice and though they were wonderful with the whole family they paid special attention to my Dh and helped him thru the process of watching his dad take a journey that will at some point be his own journey. I can't say enough for hospice. Special people. I can't imagine how even with help you have been managing all this with a broken pelvis much less the most painful injury I have ever experienced ( sciatica) Glad to hear you will have even more help, get well soon!
Redbud, I also hope you find Hospice to be the wonderful help that we also have with our Hospice. I took my husband to his Doctor this week and I mentioned that I was not sure how long we would get to keep Hospice, he said " They are there for the duration, as long as they allow me any say so." The did make me feel better.
Yes, Hospice no longer requires the 6 months rule, the patient just has to be declining.
Redbud, Sorry to hear of all your misfortune. I don't know how anyone can handle anything else when thier plate is so full. I appreciate you letting us know about medicare ruling. I've got a feeling I am soon going to use this piece of information.
Mary, I'm glad you've got hospice on your side now. But wouldja please take care of yourself? I can't begin to imagine how painful that must have been!
Hospice is great. We've had experience with them before with my brother-in-law. They made his last few months so much more comfortable than it would have been and were also there for us.
Now if I can just get rid of this stupid sciatica :-).
Have you been to physical therapy for the sciatica? I had an amazing therapist. My doctor sent me there while I was still in extreme pain and his job, as he saw it, was to get the pain under control.
Sometimes heat works. Sometimes cold does. Try the heat first. The therapists also have a machine they use on you when you are in pain, and it does help. And there are exercises, and as strange as it sounds, I was given one that stops the pain dead now. It didn't work that well when my sciatica was active, but even then it built me up and helped make it inactive.
Mary, I have a back problem for which surgery would be extremely dangerous. The neurosurgeon suggested that, if it gets really bad and all else fails, to try acupuncture before agreeing to an operation. Fortunately, so far, NSAIDs and a brace are taking care of it.
But I wonder if acupuncture would help you?
(Starling, I've seen that ultrasound can help. Would that be the machine you're talking about?)
I'm not sure what it is, but every physical therapist I've ever been to, and I've done a lot of PT in more than one state, had one. In some cases, mostly my back, they used it on me. I've seen them use it on other people for heel spurs as well.
I've also been gently stretched by more than one therapist. And in both cases it helped with the pain. The pain would go down for several days after the stretching.
Sunshyne I was in intractable back pain to the point of not being able to stand up straight. As a nurse I hate drugs and most doctors (I really am a good nurse). I went for acupuncture with an open mind. Found it painful and I hated it. I also walked out of the clinic upright and within a month was pain free and practicing my yoga.
I originally thought acupuncture was a pile of hooey, until I noticed a lot of info on using it with animals. I figure since the animal doesn't have a clue why something is being done, if it helps, it's probably "real". Then a neurosurgeon, of all people, recommended it, and that impressed me. And it is becoming more main-stream.
If I get desperate, I'll try it ... despite the fact that I turn a lovely shade of green any time anyone gets close to me with a needle. Fortunately, for now, NSAIDs and a brace are keeping everything under control. There's even a remote possibility my problem will clear up by itself.
Sunshyne-I took a college course therapeutic Touch for Nurses. There is no actual touching-just smoothing magnetic fields we all have. As an example-why do you think blind people don't walk into walls. I tried it on one of my unsuspecting cats just as a curiosity. After a bit he looked up at me as if to say-what goes, lady. He definitely felt something. I know you are a curious creature so try this: hold your hands parallel to each other about shoulder distance apart. Slowly bring your hands inward and you will at some point feel a slight resistance-that is your magnetic field.
Our priest (Episcopal-lady) practices this. When my DH and Millie, our doggie, were attacked this summer by hugh german shepherd, Millie was in the hospital for 10 days -vet didn't think she would make it. Priest went everyday and did this on Millie - she did survive and is doing fine. Also came to the house and did it on DH and Millie after she came home. Did it on me too - this was a stressful time - and it surely did help. I continue to use it on DH and Millie and even do it for myself sometimes!
Yeah, we're getting away from the subject but I want to know more about this therapeutic touch. I want to try it on DH's back. How far away from the body do you hold your hands?
Therapeutic touch is taught at over 100 universities and nursing and medical schools around the United States and Canada. Although it was developed primarily for nurses, anyone can learn TT.
State laws vary regarding the practice of TT. In general, laypersons are allowed to practice TT within their families. Therapeutic touch is considered an extension of health care skills, so most health care professionals are covered under the state medical practice act.
Many hospitals have established policies allowing nurses and staff to perform TT on patients at no extra charge. The American Nurse's Association often holds workshops on TT at national conventions. Therapeutic touch classes are often held for the general public through community education, healing clinics, and holistic schools.
— Jennifer Wurges This is not a do it yourself project. Your local hospitals may help you find a certified practitioner
My hands have their own twinges and occasional pain that I massage out. I don't know if my age I would be trainable. Thank you for the information bluedaze. Are you feeling better?