From Hospital To Rehab

Jess is still recovering from knee surgery, but we’re in a different building now, and although it is connected by enclosed walkways to the main hospital, it’s actually a separate entity. Unfortunately, one of the differences is NO wi-fi in the rooms here. However, I’m going to try to write something up, then walk over to the main building and see if I can connect to the wi-fi there and send this. I really miss not being connected!

Yesterday was pretty depressing for a while. Patients are supposed to check into this Rehab Center between 10am and noon. They hurried as along at the hospital to be ready, and Jess didn’t even have his morning therapy before they got us gathered up and brought us over here, supposedly to room 209.

At first we were tickled because he got a private room, as they’d told us it would probably be 2 or 3 days before we got out of a semi-private and into a private room. However, when we arrived his room had been changed to 203. Fortunately, it was still a private room. Unfortunately, it was also still occupied. Discharges are supposed to leave by 9am, but it was late afternoon before we finally go in the room.

All that waiting took a real toll on Jess as he was sitting upright in a wheelchair for a long time, and wasn’t used to it. Eventually they put him in a bed in a semi-private room which helped matters considerably. I was extremely thankful we were not staying in that particular room however! I don’t think it would have been a congenial fit of roommates, to put it mildly.

Once Jess was finally in his room the procession began as several people needed to evaluate him. He saw a P.A.-C (Physician’s Assistant – Certified), a lady from Physical Therapy, a Case Manager, two doctors, and I can’t remember who all else there was.

Today he had Occupational Therapy, which for him, is simply making sure he can do tasks like dressing himself, doing personal hygiene, etc. He complained of pain in his calf, so when the doctor and PA-C came in, the Occupational Therapist mentioned the problem, and they immediately sent him for ultrasound of his legs to be sure there weren’t any blood clots.

Thankfully, the ultrasound didn’t show any problems. He was able to go to a session of physical therapy this morning. While he was at therapy, I took the opportunity to go to the cafeteria and get something to eat for the first time since he’s had surgery. Not that I haven’t eaten obviously, but I’ve just been snatching stuff here and there from vending machines, snacks I brought with me, and some stuff from Jess’s trays as he hasn’t been eating much.

He did eat better today, at least for breakfast and lunch. Not a lot, but more than he’s done since he’s been here. Unfortunately, by supper he’d overdone it sitting in a wheelchair and moving around, and was kind of under the weather.

Tomorrow there are no therapy sessions, but come Monday, they’ll work his butt off with at least three hours of therapy a day.

Wednesday they have a staff meeting with all the different people taking care of him, and will decide how long he needs to be in here. As far as using his knees, he’s doing pretty well with that. At first they thought they’d use a “bender” for him, which is a machine that straps to your leg and bends your knee, pushing you leg up and down. The physical therapist took it back after she evaluated him, saying he was doing too well to bother using it.

We’re rather hoping he’ll get to go home by Friday. I know we’ll both be fed up with hospital living by then. (Okay, we’re already fed up with hospital living!) Since he’s doing some better, I’m planning on going home for a while tomorrow for a nice shower, doing some laundry and a little grocery shopping. He needs me close by more at night, when he sometimes needs to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW, or have his feet moved, etc.

He’s making progress. Once we’re sure there’s not complications, it will be nice to get him home and let him do his exercises there.