It has been awhile since I have written in my blog. I will start with today and work my way backwards. I ran into one of my inpatient therapists from when I was in the hospital in January. She had not seen me since the 16th of January, when I had left went home. Outpatient and Inpatient therapists are usually different people.
Anyways, I was in a line waiting today for a taste of a chocolate energy drink when I saw my PT from inpatient @ Spaulding. She looked at me twice and started to get teary eyed. I asked, "do you know who I am" and she replied that she did. She said she was happy to see how well I was doing and hugged me. As I was leaving, the therapist said to go upstairs and make sure the other therapists and nurses saw me.
When I went upstairs, I saw the nurse in charge of my room first. She started to cry. I then went up to talk to the rest of the people. They were all very nice. Spaulding inpatient floor people can be very emotional.
Earlier in the day I had my brain injury group. It is always great to hear another perspective but today was weird. I was shocked to noticed that there was someone in my group that sounds like me. Now that's scary.
Had Cardiac therapy today also. They have increase my workload again-I actually for the first time felt like I had a mild challenge (still mild though).
My brother is still pretty sick (tranverse myelitis) but has stabilzed. My parent are now in Milwaukee with Glenn and are working their way to Baltimore to John's Hopkins as it has the largest transverse myelitis center in the US. Hopefully things will get better, My Mom has been at this for over 3 months now.
The big push forward now is the return to work. I went to visit my company last Friday. I was tempted to drool at the side, limp, pretend I have a tick, etc., but I figured people would be tenative around me anyways. It will be another transition.
My doctor @ Spaulding is working on my formal return to work letter. Spoke to him today and it should go out this week.
After reviewing this blog, there is 1 word I can use to describe it:
TRANSITION
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
22nd Entry, March 11th , 2009--The transition begins
3-11
The transition has begun. Currently doing cardiac and anoxia rehab, doctors appointments, ICD clinic and clinic. On Saturday, my mother is going home (if for only a short period of time) and I have my more of my independence back. I am still "T" ing it to the hospitals and clinics. My Mom will be arriving in Colorado on Saturday nite but I believe she will get on a plane next week to help my brother, who is out with transverse myelitis in Milwaukee (see last entry).
I had a good appointment from my anoxia (brain) rehab doctor and my recovery is moving forward. Managing the cardiac continuum (doctors, therapists, clinics, administration, has been more work but I am starting to feel better.
3-16
Mom left on Saturday however now my parents are going to Milwaukee on Friday the 20th of March to help my brother Glenn. My guess is that they are going to Wisconsin for awhile. The first 2 days on my own have been great although it has been a little bit more work. Today I did the brain and heart rehab thing. It is funny because there is this person in my group that makes nicknames up for people in one of my rehab groups. Among today's nicknames for people in class were, Jerry Garcia and Mr. Clean. I am sure there are many people in Mercury who see the humor in this.
Today, I worked on work and workout transition items. Oh, and the big news is that I have a new cardiologist-the prior one did not cut it. Over the weekend I went to
RF O'Sullivan's on Friday. I highly recommend the Empire Burger with rings.
My cousins and I took my Mom to the airport. We went took my Mom to Chang Sho , JP Licks to dessert (ice cream) and then dropped her off at Jet Blue departure.
Well time to upload...........Brian
The transition has begun. Currently doing cardiac and anoxia rehab, doctors appointments, ICD clinic and clinic. On Saturday, my mother is going home (if for only a short period of time) and I have my more of my independence back. I am still "T" ing it to the hospitals and clinics. My Mom will be arriving in Colorado on Saturday nite but I believe she will get on a plane next week to help my brother, who is out with transverse myelitis in Milwaukee (see last entry).
I had a good appointment from my anoxia (brain) rehab doctor and my recovery is moving forward. Managing the cardiac continuum (doctors, therapists, clinics, administration, has been more work but I am starting to feel better.
3-16
Mom left on Saturday however now my parents are going to Milwaukee on Friday the 20th of March to help my brother Glenn. My guess is that they are going to Wisconsin for awhile. The first 2 days on my own have been great although it has been a little bit more work. Today I did the brain and heart rehab thing. It is funny because there is this person in my group that makes nicknames up for people in one of my rehab groups. Among today's nicknames for people in class were, Jerry Garcia and Mr. Clean. I am sure there are many people in Mercury who see the humor in this.
Today, I worked on work and workout transition items. Oh, and the big news is that I have a new cardiologist-the prior one did not cut it. Over the weekend I went to
RF O'Sullivan's on Friday. I highly recommend the Empire Burger with rings.
My cousins and I took my Mom to the airport. We went took my Mom to Chang Sho , JP Licks to dessert (ice cream) and then dropped her off at Jet Blue departure.
Well time to upload...........Brian
Friday, March 6, 2009
21st Entry, March 6th, Mom leaves next week and my brother hit by bizarre illness
First quick update:
Based on my last blog, a number of people asked about the sandcastle competition in Revere. Below is the link:
http://www.reverebeachpartnership.com/nessf07/index.htm
I have not started cardiac rehab and am starting to get stronger. The cardiac care portion of recovery remains unstable but is being addressed. My memory therapy and rehab has been great and I am continuing to make progress.
Based on this, I have been given the ok to be off of 24 hour surveillance. Therefore my mother is leaving next Thursday. To all of you who have not had the experience of living with a parent after age 25 for 2 months or more, I can tell you it has been an experience. It has been very very helpful and at times very trying but I do appreciate it. I bought her ticket for tomorrow but she asked me to change for next week, because she wanted to talk to thank some of doctors next week (I have appointments galore). My father has been wifeless for 2 months so I hope he is ready because my Mom is coming home.
My brother is starting to be treated for transverse myelitis; yes it is one of those bizarre diseases that few people have. He got admitted to a hospital on Feb 27 and released on March 2. Transverse myelitis (TM) is an inflamation of the spinal cord. He will be out of work at least 5 weeks (until 4-8) when he sees his doctor. He is treated with steroids. Those of you who know my brother appreciate him for his rare wit, sarcasm and off the wall sense of humor (the stuffed dog). You can tell he is not himself when the characteristics above get replaced with a sense of spirituality and a more sugary personality. Transverse myelitis is a tough disease and we are all really praying for him.
Brian
Based on my last blog, a number of people asked about the sandcastle competition in Revere. Below is the link:
http://www.reverebeachpartnership.com/nessf07/index.htm
I have not started cardiac rehab and am starting to get stronger. The cardiac care portion of recovery remains unstable but is being addressed. My memory therapy and rehab has been great and I am continuing to make progress.
Based on this, I have been given the ok to be off of 24 hour surveillance. Therefore my mother is leaving next Thursday. To all of you who have not had the experience of living with a parent after age 25 for 2 months or more, I can tell you it has been an experience. It has been very very helpful and at times very trying but I do appreciate it. I bought her ticket for tomorrow but she asked me to change for next week, because she wanted to talk to thank some of doctors next week (I have appointments galore). My father has been wifeless for 2 months so I hope he is ready because my Mom is coming home.
My brother is starting to be treated for transverse myelitis; yes it is one of those bizarre diseases that few people have. He got admitted to a hospital on Feb 27 and released on March 2. Transverse myelitis (TM) is an inflamation of the spinal cord. He will be out of work at least 5 weeks (until 4-8) when he sees his doctor. He is treated with steroids. Those of you who know my brother appreciate him for his rare wit, sarcasm and off the wall sense of humor (the stuffed dog). You can tell he is not himself when the characteristics above get replaced with a sense of spirituality and a more sugary personality. Transverse myelitis is a tough disease and we are all really praying for him.
Brian
Sunday, March 1, 2009
20th Entry, March 1st, Warning BWD tomorrow and the 11 items I want to do in Boston over the next 365 days
If you have not heard it yet, we are having a BWD tomorrow. All over TV, my neighbors, my friends and even my mother have warned me about it. I have heard it will be "anywhere from 7"-18" and everything will be at at standstill." The WAHs will be out in droves tomorrow. I have SLP, OT and Cardiac rehab tomorrow. Hopefully everyone will show up.
Today I went to the National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston. As I sat and watched the events, I thought to myself that there was other items like this that I needed to do
in Boston over the next 365 days. So from March 2nd 2009 to March 1sth 2010 here are the 11 things I want to do in Boston in no certain order.
1)Take the red line to the silver line to the airport. I have alway done red line to green line to blue line and this seems easier and I have never ridden on the silver line.
2)Take the Fung Wah or Bolt from Boston to NYC.
3)Cycle Cape in a day starting in Boston.
4)Go to Santarpios for Pizza in East Boston.
5)Try a new Irish Pub a month. The old stomping grounds are getting old.
6)Go hear Irish music once over the next year in Boston. (Prefer if it was the Cheiftans or the Corrs but could go with someone more local).
7)Go see the Beanpot tournament.
8)Go sailing in Marblehead and go to Maddies Sail Loft afterwards.
9)Go to a Patriots training camp and a Patriots game.
10)Go hear a concert in Symphony Hall
11)Go to Revere Beach during the National Sand Castle Competition
This looks like a good Boston posting
Today I went to the National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston. As I sat and watched the events, I thought to myself that there was other items like this that I needed to do
in Boston over the next 365 days. So from March 2nd 2009 to March 1sth 2010 here are the 11 things I want to do in Boston in no certain order.
1)Take the red line to the silver line to the airport. I have alway done red line to green line to blue line and this seems easier and I have never ridden on the silver line.
2)Take the Fung Wah or Bolt from Boston to NYC.
3)Cycle Cape in a day starting in Boston.
4)Go to Santarpios for Pizza in East Boston.
5)Try a new Irish Pub a month. The old stomping grounds are getting old.
6)Go hear Irish music once over the next year in Boston. (Prefer if it was the Cheiftans or the Corrs but could go with someone more local).
7)Go see the Beanpot tournament
8)Go sailing in Marblehead and go to Maddies Sail Loft afterwards.
9)Go to a Patriots training camp and a Patriots game.
10)Go hear a concert in Symphony Hall
11)Go to Revere Beach during the National Sand Castle Competition
This looks like a good Boston posting
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Entry 19, February 25, Landing in Town during my First Fictious European Vacation
I've had one of those not great days today. I have been frustrated today over one of the healthcare continuum's I had to deal with. So as I update my blog, I decided to write about something a little less annoying- My First Fictious European Vacation. I had written in my last blog how I came into the money to afford it.
It was 1988 and I was living in Arlington, Ma, one town down from Cambridge. I had 2 ficitious friends from Boston that had moved back to the Netherlands. I called them ficitious at the time as most people in my family had not met them nor anyone else I knew on my side of the US. My Nanny (my grandmother on my mother's side) and my cousin Lindsay were actually the first to people I knew, which drove some of my family nuts.
I had been invited to go out and visit my friends in Holland and upon receiving the money from my Dad's Mother's inheritance, I purchased a ticket to the Netherlands. I informed my family at the time, that I was going to the Netherlands to visit my ficitious friends and they said where. I said I was not sure. Two days before the flight flew out of Logan a bomb went off in the center of Madrid. It freaked my parents out although Madrid was in Spain not Holland. They called me from Michigan frantically, telling to be very very careful while I was in Europe.
I was picked up by fictious friends at Schipol Airport with the worst JET LAG. This lasted at least 2-3 days, although it just may have felt that way. It was about 3:00am, and I had been to a couple of bars in Amsterdam already. I left for the bathroom when all of a sudden I heard on a pay phone: "Hello Verne, this is a friend a Brian's. We just want you to know we just picked him out of the gutter." I ran out of the bathroom and I guess my Mom had then picked up the phone. My other friend picked up the receiver and said loudly in the background, "hurry up Brian, we're off to the red light district". Of course, when my not as fictious friends handed me the phone, my Mom with panic in her voice said was everything alright. I calmed her down while trying not to breakout laughing. We ended up hanging out in town til 4-5 am in the morning and walked back to my friends apartment. Between the Jet Lag and the late night I had a major headache the next day but it was satisfying.
Brian
It was 1988 and I was living in Arlington, Ma, one town down from Cambridge. I had 2 ficitious friends from Boston that had moved back to the Netherlands. I called them ficitious at the time as most people in my family had not met them nor anyone else I knew on my side of the US. My Nanny (my grandmother on my mother's side) and my cousin Lindsay were actually the first to people I knew, which drove some of my family nuts.
I had been invited to go out and visit my friends in Holland and upon receiving the money from my Dad's Mother's inheritance, I purchased a ticket to the Netherlands. I informed my family at the time, that I was going to the Netherlands to visit my ficitious friends and they said where. I said I was not sure. Two days before the flight flew out of Logan a bomb went off in the center of Madrid. It freaked my parents out although Madrid was in Spain not Holland. They called me from Michigan frantically, telling to be very very careful while I was in Europe.
I was picked up by fictious friends at Schipol Airport with the worst JET LAG. This lasted at least 2-3 days, although it just may have felt that way. It was about 3:00am, and I had been to a couple of bars in Amsterdam already. I left for the bathroom when all of a sudden I heard on a pay phone: "Hello Verne, this is a friend a Brian's. We just want you to know we just picked him out of the gutter." I ran out of the bathroom and I guess my Mom had then picked up the phone. My other friend picked up the receiver and said loudly in the background, "hurry up Brian, we're off to the red light district". Of course, when my not as fictious friends handed me the phone, my Mom with panic in her voice said was everything alright. I calmed her down while trying not to breakout laughing. We ended up hanging out in town til 4-5 am in the morning and walked back to my friends apartment. Between the Jet Lag and the late night I had a major headache the next day but it was satisfying.
Brian
Friday, February 20, 2009
Entry 18, February 20th, my first European vacation
First the update portion:
Went to see the rehab doctor for brain and had good news. My scores from January 29th which thought were low had actually increased significantly over when I left the hospital 2 weeks prior and if tested today I would be even higher. I will be able to be on my own (no 24 hour surveillance) in a week and I got the green light to be evaluated to drive again. He said I can start to plan to go back to work, with somewhere in the second half of March place to start. All great stuff.
Cardiac- I forced myself into Cardiac rehab-a month before they had scheduled me. As I mentioned before my stress test scores were great. Tt has been hard getting their attention since I am not in an emergency. I have been working on remedying that situation. The key is working on it. From now til when I return to my job in March, I will be me working on my rehab to prepare return to MRCY.
Spoke to Wim yesterday over Skype-a great tool if you do not use it. I will probably go to hang out with my Dutch friends and their families for vacation later in the summer. I have known Wim and Alexander both since 1986. I lived in the same house they did in Cambridge in 1986 while they were students. I have been to visit them in Europe 6 times including standing up in both of their weddings. I was telling them how I had paid for my first trip to Europe to visit yesterday.
My brothers and I were not crazy (which is being nice) about my grandparents on my Dad's side.
I think the term ogre was the way I heard my grandfather being describe and my grandmother was a little better however after not seeing us for 3-4 months she would sit us down and force us to listen to her read letter from my California cousins sent 3-4 years prior. She tried to cook but it never turned out quite right. Glenn and I remember the Eggs being to loose (rawish), lots of canned fruits with fruit slime, pineapple juice coming from the leftover of a can of Dole pineapple and as Glenn put it, Flour bomb cookies (hard as rock chocolate chips-flour grenades). I could go on forever but the question would be, what does this have to do with how I paid for my first European vacation?
GP (aka Grandma Primack) died in the mid/late 1980s. As they were settling her estate there somehow was ~10K to the 3 of us. For my two brothers they were down payments on their schooling (Scott medical school and Glenn's MBA). For me, I deposited part of the money and the rest was spent on my first European vacation. It was the nicest thing Grandma and Grandma Primack did for any of the 3 of us. It made me believe there was equilibrium in the world.
That's end of another post,
Brian
Went to see the rehab doctor for brain and had good news. My scores from January 29th which thought were low had actually increased significantly over when I left the hospital 2 weeks prior and if tested today I would be even higher. I will be able to be on my own (no 24 hour surveillance) in a week and I got the green light to be evaluated to drive again. He said I can start to plan to go back to work, with somewhere in the second half of March place to start. All great stuff.
Cardiac- I forced myself into Cardiac rehab-a month before they had scheduled me. As I mentioned before my stress test scores were great. Tt has been hard getting their attention since I am not in an emergency. I have been working on remedying that situation. The key is working on it. From now til when I return to my job in March, I will be me working on my rehab to prepare return to MRCY.
Spoke to Wim yesterday over Skype-a great tool if you do not use it. I will probably go to hang out with my Dutch friends and their families for vacation later in the summer. I have known Wim and Alexander both since 1986. I lived in the same house they did in Cambridge in 1986 while they were students. I have been to visit them in Europe 6 times including standing up in both of their weddings. I was telling them how I had paid for my first trip to Europe to visit yesterday.
My brothers and I were not crazy (which is being nice) about my grandparents on my Dad's side.
I think the term ogre was the way I heard my grandfather being describe and my grandmother was a little better however after not seeing us for 3-4 months she would sit us down and force us to listen to her read letter from my California cousins sent 3-4 years prior. She tried to cook but it never turned out quite right. Glenn and I remember the Eggs being to loose (rawish), lots of canned fruits with fruit slime, pineapple juice coming from the leftover of a can of Dole pineapple and as Glenn put it, Flour bomb cookies (hard as rock chocolate chips-flour grenades). I could go on forever but the question would be, what does this have to do with how I paid for my first European vacation?
GP (aka Grandma Primack) died in the mid/late 1980s. As they were settling her estate there somehow was ~10K to the 3 of us. For my two brothers they were down payments on their schooling (Scott medical school and Glenn's MBA). For me, I deposited part of the money and the rest was spent on my first European vacation. It was the nicest thing Grandma and Grandma Primack did for any of the 3 of us. It made me believe there was equilibrium in the world.
That's end of another post,
Brian
Monday, February 16, 2009
17th Entry, February 16th, Stress Test, Rest, Getting Closer and Movie Mindlessness
Here is the 17th Entry on my Blog:
As my therapy has been mostly for Anoxia, PT (Anoxia) was concerned last week about where I was with Cardiac. Breaking thru the Cardiac continuum is cumbersome and frustrating. Appointments have been scheduled far out with little followup. When PT complained to the Brain side about the lack of clarity on my rehab, person incharge of my Anoxia inturn complained to Cardiac side. I immediately was called for a stress test which got scheduled a day later.
After initial setup by the clinician, the doctor came in. I was t0ld that in this test normal people do
between 6-9 minutes on the cardiac treadmill. They start at an incline at a certain level speed and then increase both inclince and speed every 3 minutes. As you go thru the test, the electrodes on you record heart information.
Initial Observation: I was able to do 10.5 minutes to start with and they told me my score were above average. They asked me how long I had been in Cardiac rehab and I replied that I was not in it because I was still waiting to be seen by a Cardiologist. Based on where I am and my scores, I need to be in it. They told me something I already knew and had tried to fix. I went to
my original case working who set me up for after March 20th (5 weeks away) but to no avail. A large portion of healthcare has Presidents Day off so I start back on my "Cardiac Crusade" tomorrow.
Rest and Getting Closer:
The Speech Language and Pathology keep saying to me get MORE REST. Every appointment the question they ask me is "are you getting ENOUGH REST. It is the 4th appointment in a row where I've been asked that so I have taken it to heart (BRAIN in this case). I know I am starting to get closer to where I need to be brainwise. I will know more on Wednesday.
Movie Mindlessness:
Over the weekend, I said I finally did get some rest. My Mom watched 6-7 movies on TV while I slept and read thru most of them. In the early evening my Mom really wanted to go out, because she was tired of sitting inside. Where did she want to go? The Movies.
That's it for this blog,
Brian
As my therapy has been mostly for Anoxia, PT (Anoxia) was concerned last week about where I was with Cardiac. Breaking thru the Cardiac continuum is cumbersome and frustrating. Appointments have been scheduled far out with little followup. When PT complained to the Brain side about the lack of clarity on my rehab, person incharge of my Anoxia inturn complained to Cardiac side. I immediately was called for a stress test which got scheduled a day later.
After initial setup by the clinician, the doctor came in. I was t0ld that in this test normal people do
between 6-9 minutes on the cardiac treadmill. They start at an incline at a certain level speed and then increase both inclince and speed every 3 minutes. As you go thru the test, the electrodes on you record heart information.
Initial Observation: I was able to do 10.5 minutes to start with and they told me my score were above average. They asked me how long I had been in Cardiac rehab and I replied that I was not in it because I was still waiting to be seen by a Cardiologist. Based on where I am and my scores, I need to be in it. They told me something I already knew and had tried to fix. I went to
my original case working who set me up for after March 20th (5 weeks away) but to no avail. A large portion of healthcare has Presidents Day off so I start back on my "Cardiac Crusade" tomorrow.
Rest and Getting Closer:
The Speech Language and Pathology keep saying to me get MORE REST. Every appointment the question they ask me is "are you getting ENOUGH REST. It is the 4th appointment in a row where I've been asked that so I have taken it to heart (BRAIN in this case). I know I am starting to get closer to where I need to be brainwise. I will know more on Wednesday.
Movie Mindlessness:
Over the weekend, I said I finally did get some rest. My Mom watched 6-7 movies on TV while I slept and read thru most of them. In the early evening my Mom really wanted to go out, because she was tired of sitting inside. Where did she want to go? The Movies.
That's it for this blog,
Brian
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
16th entry, how do you get better after a multi-incident accicent or disease in our Healthcare system?
After sitting in a healthcare professional's office today, I thought to myself how do other people get better if they had multi-incident items in our healthcare system. This sounds like an HDR (Heavy Deep and Real) topic however I found myself contemplating it today. Don't get me wrong, I am getting better but it starts to take it's toll. I was explaining that right now I am managing the following healthcare items.
Coumadin Management Center-Testing daily-Blood test once a week.
Healthcare focal point: RN PB
PCP: Healthcare focal point: Dr. ER
Cardiology: Healthcare focal point: Dr. SC
ICD: Healthcare focal point: Dr. EH
Brain damage: Healthcare focal point: Dr. HC
Other
Oupatient Therapy
PT= KL
OT=VD
SLP=JC
As you can see there are 10 different health care professionals (incl other) before you get to administration, case workers and insurance companies. All the above have their own staff also.
Since the cardiac arrest caused anoxia in my brain there were 2 issues hence the workforce above, which brings me back to my question. How do other people manage this kind of healthcare and still get better and stay sane? If you leave it all to the PCP or case worker I guarantee they cannot do it-it's too much for any person. I am constantly told you are doing a very good job of it, that I am doing better then most and they have not seen anyone with such drive and push. It was also suggested to me today that many healthcare people are not used to not only my drive but the pace at which I push to make progress and at the same time make progress. That sounded like a half compliment which I am sure it was meant to be, however it still left me the question of whether I was impatient (of course we know that could not be true) or is their an issue with the system( of course we know that could not be true).
The answer is of course there are not pat answers. My only 2 pieces of advice.
1)You must do more managing of the system then you did 5, 10 or 20 years ago so be prepared.
How do you be prepared-have all info at your fingertips and push back to the requestor ASAP.
2)Some tools are helpful-healthcare people will tell you which ones are, they are often the ones that are not used by most people.
3)You can drive yourself crazy with this. Take a break when you need to.
I know someone has this down to a science I just have don't know who it is yet.
Too bad it's not a buy a Scotch week,
Brian
Coumadin Management Center-Testing daily-Blood test once a week.
Healthcare focal point: RN PB
PCP: Healthcare focal point: Dr. ER
Cardiology: Healthcare focal point: Dr. SC
ICD: Healthcare focal point: Dr. EH
Brain damage: Healthcare focal point: Dr. HC
Other
Oupatient Therapy
PT= KL
OT=VD
SLP=JC
As you can see there are 10 different health care professionals (incl other) before you get to administration, case workers and insurance companies. All the above have their own staff also.
Since the cardiac arrest caused anoxia in my brain there were 2 issues hence the workforce above, which brings me back to my question. How do other people manage this kind of healthcare and still get better and stay sane? If you leave it all to the PCP or case worker I guarantee they cannot do it-it's too much for any person. I am constantly told you are doing a very good job of it, that I am doing better then most and they have not seen anyone with such drive and push. It was also suggested to me today that many healthcare people are not used to not only my drive but the pace at which I push to make progress and at the same time make progress. That sounded like a half compliment which I am sure it was meant to be, however it still left me the question of whether I was impatient (of course we know that could not be true) or is their an issue with the system( of course we know that could not be true).
The answer is of course there are not pat answers. My only 2 pieces of advice.
1)You must do more managing of the system then you did 5, 10 or 20 years ago so be prepared.
How do you be prepared-have all info at your fingertips and push back to the requestor ASAP.
2)Some tools are helpful-healthcare people will tell you which ones are, they are often the ones that are not used by most people.
3)You can drive yourself crazy with this. Take a break when you need to.
I know someone has this down to a science I just have don't know who it is yet.
Too bad it's not a buy a Scotch week,
Brian
Monday, February 9, 2009
15th Entry, February 9th, Items and blog- FINA, Overdoing it and burnout
I had a tough weekend last weekend.
Before I start writing about it in my blog, below are just general items I want to put in.
First: A special shoutout to Bob S. and Dianne Y. on the 27th anniversary of the worst day
in my professional career. I miss you guys, I hope all is well for you wherever you are.
Second: Happy B-day on Friday the 13th to the L-man.
Third: My brother's friend Bob is not doing well as he is fighting pancreatic cancer. If you have a moment say a prayer for him.
*Blog*
Last weekend was tough. SLP (aka SLOP, Speech, Language and Pathology) gave me a new way to do schedules that would help me with memory and organization. I dove into it on Friday and
pushed to do it correctly; the issues I had was I overdid. I spent 4-5 hours working this new model/schedule and by 5 pm I was tired, really fried. I could not think straight.
The carried over to both Saturday and Sunday. I began to become bummed out, and thought this may lead to terminal FINA. I won't tell you what it is but it bothered me alot. I slept an additional 10 hour over the weekend without energy. Finally today I started to feel like I had more energy.
After going back to OT and SLP today they both said this is good this happened here and not at work. They did not give me guidelines but did not expect someone to dive into it like I did. We relooked at the list and made it more workable. It took going over the edge to learn where it was.
Last item: Pronouncia
I have coined a new word to describe the language I hear alot of these days. It is called "pronouncia". People that are fluent in pronouncia speak in terms of hes, shes, that thing, etc. If you do not speak pronouncia you are who asking, who he or she or what si that thing. If you are fluent to that person's dialect you can understand it. Here is a clue, most people are not fluent.
Brian
Before I start writing about it in my blog, below are just general items I want to put in.
First: A special shoutout to Bob S. and Dianne Y. on the 27th anniversary of the worst day
in my professional career. I miss you guys, I hope all is well for you wherever you are.
Second: Happy B-day on Friday the 13th to the L-man.
Third: My brother's friend Bob is not doing well as he is fighting pancreatic cancer. If you have a moment say a prayer for him.
*Blog*
Last weekend was tough. SLP (aka SLOP, Speech, Language and Pathology) gave me a new way to do schedules that would help me with memory and organization. I dove into it on Friday and
pushed to do it correctly; the issues I had was I overdid. I spent 4-5 hours working this new model/schedule and by 5 pm I was tired, really fried. I could not think straight.
The carried over to both Saturday and Sunday. I began to become bummed out, and thought this may lead to terminal FINA. I won't tell you what it is but it bothered me alot. I slept an additional 10 hour over the weekend without energy. Finally today I started to feel like I had more energy.
After going back to OT and SLP today they both said this is good this happened here and not at work. They did not give me guidelines but did not expect someone to dive into it like I did. We relooked at the list and made it more workable. It took going over the edge to learn where it was.
Last item: Pronouncia
I have coined a new word to describe the language I hear alot of these days. It is called "pronouncia". People that are fluent in pronouncia speak in terms of hes, shes, that thing, etc. If you do not speak pronouncia you are who asking, who he or she or what si that thing. If you are fluent to that person's dialect you can understand it. Here is a clue, most people are not fluent.
Brian
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Entry 14-First some updates, A reminder of fun, a tribute to Jon and Lance
First item: My brother's friend Bob is not doing really well. He is at the Mayo Clinic and has pancreatic cancer. Say a few words for him when you have a moment.
Just came back from the trifecta-PT, OT and SLP. A few things have happened. Starting yesterday I started getting these 1-2 second flashes of things I thought about on Sunday or Monday today. They only last about 2 second max. Some are items that I think I wanted to do orremember. Some are minutia items that I really could have forgotten in the first place. The issue is that they have been coming out and flashing in droves. I carry around a mini steno pad to write them down just in case I do need to remember them. When I asked SLOP and PT about it is delayed memory recall of some sort. The fact that it is 3-4 days later is not what is weird about it, it is the minutia part.
Here is the other weird thing today, I now recognize people in hospitals. Now I have not been requested to be a friend on their facebook but today, I saw 5 healthcare people I know from my last stay at Spaulding and Monday I saw 3 from Mass General.
Blog Entry: A reminder of fun: A tribute to Lance and Jon
Jon and Lance are my first cousins and also 2 great buddies. The 2 things I can always count on the Jon and Lance for are great fun and great humor. These are traits that often clash in the family arena but here it is the opposite.
I spoke Lance aka "the L-man" and told him I saw Hot Dog-the movie (1984) on Tuesday and it was funny. To know surprise to me the L-man knew it and commented how funny it was. I am sure my cousin the Jon aka "the J-man" has seen it also. A couple of months ago he was remarking about Linda Blair and her movie Rollerboogie.
I and 16 and 18 years older then the J-man and L-man respectively. I have been to their birthdays, graduations, batchelor parties, wedding and just hung out with them. I remember fondly of bar hopping with the J-man and my cousin Lindsay at the J-man's Indiana University graduation weekend. Of course that evening ended @ 3-4 am with a trip to have a gut wrenching burrito @ la Bamba in Bloomington. This is the same way I remember going with 9 year old L-man to CB Smith park down the water slides. The L-man would wait, mid way down the slide (after he went down), for me to crash into him which I did.
When it's time to just hang out with the L-man and J-man, the cuisine is Wings and Beers. I'll have to take them to Buff's Pub the next time they are here (http://www.phantomgourmet.com/Showpage.aspx?content=ReportCard&id=3198). The L-man reminded me of a nickname I was given by one of the L-man and J-man's friends. I will only show it abbreviated-see if you can figure it out yourself.
See below:
U80SBG
That's it,
Brian
Just came back from the trifecta-PT, OT and SLP. A few things have happened. Starting yesterday I started getting these 1-2 second flashes of things I thought about on Sunday or Monday today. They only last about 2 second max. Some are items that I think I wanted to do orremember. Some are minutia items that I really could have forgotten in the first place. The issue is that they have been coming out and flashing in droves. I carry around a mini steno pad to write them down just in case I do need to remember them. When I asked SLOP and PT about it is delayed memory recall of some sort. The fact that it is 3-4 days later is not what is weird about it, it is the minutia part.
Here is the other weird thing today, I now recognize people in hospitals. Now I have not been requested to be a friend on their facebook but today, I saw 5 healthcare people I know from my last stay at Spaulding and Monday I saw 3 from Mass General.
Blog Entry: A reminder of fun: A tribute to Lance and Jon
Jon and Lance are my first cousins and also 2 great buddies. The 2 things I can always count on the Jon and Lance for are great fun and great humor. These are traits that often clash in the family arena but here it is the opposite.
I spoke Lance aka "the L-man" and told him I saw Hot Dog-the movie (1984) on Tuesday and it was funny. To know surprise to me the L-man knew it and commented how funny it was. I am sure my cousin the Jon aka "the J-man" has seen it also. A couple of months ago he was remarking about Linda Blair and her movie Rollerboogie.I and 16 and 18 years older then the J-man and L-man respectively. I have been to their birthdays, graduations, batchelor parties, wedding and just hung out with them. I remember fondly of bar hopping with the J-man and my cousin Lindsay at the J-man's Indiana University graduation weekend. Of course that evening ended @ 3-4 am with a trip to have a gut wrenching burrito @ la Bamba in Bloomington. This is the same way I remember going with 9 year old L-man to CB Smith park down the water slides. The L-man would wait, mid way down the slide (after he went down), for me to crash into him which I did.
When it's time to just hang out with the L-man and J-man, the cuisine is Wings and Beers. I'll have to take them to Buff's Pub the next time they are here (http://www.phantomgourmet.com/Showpage.aspx?content=ReportCard&id=3198). The L-man reminded me of a nickname I was given by one of the L-man and J-man's friends. I will only show it abbreviated-see if you can figure it out yourself.
See below:
U80SBG
That's it,
Brian
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
13th Entry, February 3rd- Lost and Forgotten or better put Forgotten and Lost
Here is the big big news first. I went to coumadin training yesterday and I am allowed some alcohol, yea. They said 2 glasses of wine, 2x 12 oz beers or 1 mixed drink. I raised my hand and said that most draughts @ bars come in 16 and 22 ozs and the healthcare provider said with a smirk, "you can do the Math". I suggested they may want to look at there metric again however there is a guy in there clinic that goes wine tasting in France every year and has his blood taken every day while he is on vacation. The good news for me is I am only on Coumadin 3-6 months (hopefully 3 weeks as I have done 5 weeks already).
Yesterday was a bit frustrating. After PT, I had SLP (Speech, Language and Pathology or "SLOP" as I have coined it). I have been going thru testing and yesterday they gave me a test that surprised me. On Thursday I received a memory test with between 20-25 characters that were shapes and lines with names example ": : :"= the word AND or IS (not sure), "l"= to the word TREE. On Thursday, they gave me the pictures for about 30 seconds and to me to remember the shape or item to word. Then they showed them on a chart and asked me to say what they were. This went on for 10 minutes and as they grew the list of shapes and lines I forgot more items (remember this was on Thursday).
Yesterday they showed me the same list but did not tell me were and asked me to what they were in 5 lists. It was very frustrating when I left.
My coumadin training was after that. I mentioned it above. It was good and they asked me to
take a blood test afterwards at MGH. I walked over with the packet of info to MGH after my Coumadin training. I had my blood drawn and then left to meet my Mom. She was visiting a friend in a different Wing of MGH. She wanted to go downstairs to eat something so I went with her to the MGH Cafe. It was there that I had discovered that the packet of info from the Coumadin clinic was gone. I went back to the Wang wing and blood clinic to see if it was there and it was not. There I went over to the Heart wing on Ellison and the packet was not there. I then went back downstairs and scoured the MGH cafeteria and it was not there. It was forgotten first and lost. Frustrating.
That's it for today,
Brian
Yesterday was a bit frustrating. After PT, I had SLP (Speech, Language and Pathology or "SLOP" as I have coined it). I have been going thru testing and yesterday they gave me a test that surprised me. On Thursday I received a memory test with between 20-25 characters that were shapes and lines with names example ": : :"= the word AND or IS (not sure), "l"= to the word TREE. On Thursday, they gave me the pictures for about 30 seconds and to me to remember the shape or item to word. Then they showed them on a chart and asked me to say what they were. This went on for 10 minutes and as they grew the list of shapes and lines I forgot more items (remember this was on Thursday).
Yesterday they showed me the same list but did not tell me were and asked me to what they were in 5 lists. It was very frustrating when I left.
My coumadin training was after that. I mentioned it above. It was good and they asked me to
take a blood test afterwards at MGH. I walked over with the packet of info to MGH after my Coumadin training. I had my blood drawn and then left to meet my Mom. She was visiting a friend in a different Wing of MGH. She wanted to go downstairs to eat something so I went with her to the MGH Cafe. It was there that I had discovered that the packet of info from the Coumadin clinic was gone. I went back to the Wang wing and blood clinic to see if it was there and it was not. There I went over to the Heart wing on Ellison and the packet was not there. I then went back downstairs and scoured the MGH cafeteria and it was not there. It was forgotten first and lost. Frustrating.
That's it for today,
Brian
Sunday, February 1, 2009
12 entry, February 1, 2009- Superbowl Sunday
27-23 Steelers what a game.
Did my PT today and went to a Superbowl party.
So I thought do I need to write anything else today,
Answer NO
That's it,
Brian
Did my PT today and went to a Superbowl party.
So I thought do I need to write anything else today,
Answer NO
That's it,
Brian
Saturday, January 31, 2009
11th Entry- January 31 2 wins 2 day- new TV and win over healthcare provider
2-day was a big day but blog will be short. TGIS- I get a needed healthcare break today although did do my PT at around 11:00 am. Slept into 9:30am psyched. There were 2 very big wins 2 today.
1)Went with Tom K and bought a new 40" flat screen TV to circuit city. It is really great. My Mom took the afternoon off to go to the movies.
2)We have a big win over our health plan insurance provider today. The IMEDECs, inc. (http://www.imedecs.com/Default.aspx), the independent consulting medical reviewer my family and I appealed to when the med insurance company turned down my need for inpatient rehab. We pleaded our way into Spaulding and funded it out of our pockets, but also appealed to the IMEDECs which is authorized as an independent reviewer by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. After reviewing my case, the IMEDECs agreed with the doctors, both hospitals-MGH and Spaulding and my families appeal and overturned the original decision by the health plan insurance provider. Big win, everyone in my family is talking about it.
3)I've spent alot of time over the last 2 weeks explaining to people that I did not have a heart attack but a cardiac arrest caused by an arrythmia. Below is the best breakout I have seen:
CARIDIAC ARREST VS HEART ATTACK
A sudden cardiac arrest is not the same thing as a heart attack, although a person suffering a heart attack is more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac arrest. Here’s how they’re different:
A heart attack is caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle so the muscle begins to die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm. A heart attack is often preceded by chest, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw pain. Nausea and sweating are common. There is rarely a warning before sudden cardiac arrest. Heart attack patients usually remain conscious. Sudden cardiac arrest victims always lose consciousness.
The prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest
One of the leading causes of death among American adults, sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 350,000 people a year, or approximately 1,000 people per day. Two out of every three deaths happen outside of the hospital.
4)Went out to dinner tonight with a friend David Cohen, to RF O'Sullivans. This place has the best burgers in the area and since I am anemic it seemed like a great idea. The only bummer is I had to watch the bartender pour one frothy Guinness after another. After I ordered my 3rd Diet Coke the waitress who had heard my story and me complain at the bar about not being able to order a Stout, threatened to cut me off of Diet Cokes. Food is great, see PGs review below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQUwgs4lJyc
Had the Empire State Burger special: 1/2 pound hamburger, sausage on top, mozzerella, with the works. It was great with rings. At least I can still eat.
By the way, welcome Chris as a blog follower.
That's it for today....................Brian
1)Went with Tom K and bought a new 40" flat screen TV to circuit city. It is really great. My Mom took the afternoon off to go to the movies.
2)We have a big win over our health plan insurance provider today. The IMEDECs, inc. (http://www.imedecs.com/Default.aspx), the independent consulting medical reviewer my family and I appealed to when the med insurance company turned down my need for inpatient rehab. We pleaded our way into Spaulding and funded it out of our pockets, but also appealed to the IMEDECs which is authorized as an independent reviewer by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. After reviewing my case, the IMEDECs agreed with the doctors, both hospitals-MGH and Spaulding and my families appeal and overturned the original decision by the health plan insurance provider. Big win, everyone in my family is talking about it.
3)I've spent alot of time over the last 2 weeks explaining to people that I did not have a heart attack but a cardiac arrest caused by an arrythmia. Below is the best breakout I have seen:
CARIDIAC ARREST VS HEART ATTACK
A sudden cardiac arrest is not the same thing as a heart attack, although a person suffering a heart attack is more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac arrest. Here’s how they’re different:
A heart attack is caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle so the muscle begins to die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm. A heart attack is often preceded by chest, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw pain. Nausea and sweating are common. There is rarely a warning before sudden cardiac arrest. Heart attack patients usually remain conscious. Sudden cardiac arrest victims always lose consciousness.
The prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest
One of the leading causes of death among American adults, sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 350,000 people a year, or approximately 1,000 people per day. Two out of every three deaths happen outside of the hospital.
4)Went out to dinner tonight with a friend David Cohen, to RF O'Sullivans. This place has the best burgers in the area and since I am anemic it seemed like a great idea. The only bummer is I had to watch the bartender pour one frothy Guinness after another. After I ordered my 3rd Diet Coke the waitress who had heard my story and me complain at the bar about not being able to order a Stout, threatened to cut me off of Diet Cokes. Food is great, see PGs review below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQUwgs4lJyc
Had the Empire State Burger special: 1/2 pound hamburger, sausage on top, mozzerella, with the works. It was great with rings. At least I can still eat.
By the way, welcome Chris as a blog follower.
That's it for today....................Brian
Friday, January 30, 2009
10th entry, January 30th
Today was alot easier then yesterday. The only big event today was testing my ICD. My Mom and I had lunch with my cousin Lyza @ the Miracle of Science bar and grille. it's been awhile since I have been there (http://www.miracleofscience.us/). The menu is the periodic table on the blackboard in back if you go to the above site. The food is pretty good. It's been about 8 years since I have been-it was a little tough sitting on a Friday in a good bar not having a Guinness. This was especially tough, when the bartender was overpouring into frosted mugs.
After lunch and a quick trip to Trader Joes it was off to the ICD clinic to have it tested. I met the person who consulted on my ICD implant and the person who put the ICD inside of me. They tested it and everything looks great. I asked about the 3 of the arm "Nos":
1)No lifting arm above the shoulder-----new answer now I can work on range of motion and moving my arm above my shoulder.
2)No pushing or pulling------new answer pushing and pulling in 2 weeks
3)No lifting more then 5 pounds===new answer back to normal daily lifting in 4 weeks
They also said to me you must be going nuts based on how active you were before. They said I would need to make an appointment with Dr. in charge of the implant (the consultant) to put together a plan on how we can get my sport and workout activites on a path back to normalcy.
These were all the right answers. For once, some hope, I tried not to get to caught up in it but it sounded good. I made my appointments and left the MGH Arrythmia clinic in a pretty good mood, so good I bought another scotch I cannot drink yet. I'm still on Coumadin because of the unclear/sure clot.
Monday is the trifecta again (PT/OT/SLP).
That's it for today..........................Welcome Annette and Diana as a new blog followers,
Brian
After lunch and a quick trip to Trader Joes it was off to the ICD clinic to have it tested. I met the person who consulted on my ICD implant and the person who put the ICD inside of me. They tested it and everything looks great. I asked about the 3 of the arm "Nos":
1)No lifting arm above the shoulder-----new answer now I can work on range of motion and moving my arm above my shoulder.
2)No pushing or pulling------new answer pushing and pulling in 2 weeks
3)No lifting more then 5 pounds===new answer back to normal daily lifting in 4 weeks
They also said to me you must be going nuts based on how active you were before. They said I would need to make an appointment with Dr. in charge of the implant (the consultant) to put together a plan on how we can get my sport and workout activites on a path back to normalcy.
These were all the right answers. For once, some hope, I tried not to get to caught up in it but it sounded good. I made my appointments and left the MGH Arrythmia clinic in a pretty good mood, so good I bought another scotch I cannot drink yet. I'm still on Coumadin because of the unclear/sure clot.
Monday is the trifecta again (PT/OT/SLP).
That's it for today..........................Welcome Annette and Diana as a new blog followers,
Brian
Thursday, January 29, 2009
9th Entry-January 29th, 2009 -- How much longer til we get there
You can tell things have a gotten a little better as I am not listing every little task I have to do in my blog to remember however, today is one of those days when you think, "how much longer til we get there?" This turns out to be one of these days where my whole current situation when I think about it and work thru is overwhelming.
Today started with my Internist in the morning. I updated the doctor on everything that has happened in the last month. I was getting exhausted just listening to myself. There turned out to be an issue with my Cardio that needed followup and I found out I have Anemia, I walked into the waiting room where my Mom was waiting for me and I could tell she was getting tired also. 4 hours left today though.
SLP was testing by memorizing words being said forwards and saying backwards, figuring out patterns and puzzles, and doing concentration execises. During one of the tests I asked about the rules but it was standardized testing so you cannot explaining anything besides what you are told. In true Brian Primack form, I got frustrated and snapped at the therapist. The test rules turned out not to be too bad. I did figure out, the problem was I was just more putting more effort into concentrating when I was tired.
After SLP was PT. It was a godsend. You just have to push yourself physically which never has been an issue for me. Just breath deep and cycle, walk, twist, lunge or stretch enough to get those endorphins going. I always feel like I can make progress in PT which I am. Without PT today I would not have made it thru OT.
OT was not as bad after PT. Alot of memory involving shapes, faces and repeating tasks. This was an extended evaluation from the session before so I asked how I am doing? She said you are lucky where you are based on what happened to you and with therapy work you can improve.
I thought that's it. I have been asking my self how much longer til I get better. It's work just in a different form. The next time someone asks me what are you going back to work my answer could be when I can shake this rehab job. Today is one of those days where you just can't see the big picture. It happens to everyone.
That's it for tonight,
Brian
Today started with my Internist in the morning. I updated the doctor on everything that has happened in the last month. I was getting exhausted just listening to myself. There turned out to be an issue with my Cardio that needed followup and I found out I have Anemia, I walked into the waiting room where my Mom was waiting for me and I could tell she was getting tired also. 4 hours left today though.
SLP was testing by memorizing words being said forwards and saying backwards, figuring out patterns and puzzles, and doing concentration execises. During one of the tests I asked about the rules but it was standardized testing so you cannot explaining anything besides what you are told. In true Brian Primack form, I got frustrated and snapped at the therapist. The test rules turned out not to be too bad. I did figure out, the problem was I was just more putting more effort into concentrating when I was tired.
After SLP was PT. It was a godsend. You just have to push yourself physically which never has been an issue for me. Just breath deep and cycle, walk, twist, lunge or stretch enough to get those endorphins going. I always feel like I can make progress in PT which I am. Without PT today I would not have made it thru OT.
OT was not as bad after PT. Alot of memory involving shapes, faces and repeating tasks. This was an extended evaluation from the session before so I asked how I am doing? She said you are lucky where you are based on what happened to you and with therapy work you can improve.
I thought that's it. I have been asking my self how much longer til I get better. It's work just in a different form. The next time someone asks me what are you going back to work my answer could be when I can shake this rehab job. Today is one of those days where you just can't see the big picture. It happens to everyone.
That's it for tonight,
Brian
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
8th Entry, January 28th----BWD (Big Weather Day)
Today was a big weather day today in the Boston area. Locals discuss big weather days a week in advance-it's been going on for about a week. I heard about it in the hospital all this week and even at my blood drawing last week. At my employer I would call this a "WAH" day because people would call in or even plan earlier to work at home for fear of the weather. My Mom got caught up in it on Sunday. The big question for us was:
How will we get to the doctor office with a BWD on Wednesday?
We answered it easily. The snow started early but was light so we took the T. It was extra crowded this morning because the rest of the Cambridge area must have heard about the BWD also. We got to the appointment early, had coffee first.
This morning I listed everything I was doing and managing while being out of work and I will tell you it takes alot of work to be out of work also as well as to get better. Between this doing this blog, scheduling follow on appointments, keeping calendars, appointments, doctors, healthcare providers, homework from doctors and therapists to come home to eating, paying bills cleaning I am exhausted. By the way, I write everything down now to enter it into my PC later also. I was told based on everything I was doing I am doing a great job and seem to be making progress.
Tomorrow is a big day with Primary care in the morning and the trifecta in the afternoon (PT, OT and SLP).
Spoke to Glenn, Aunt Marilyn, Tom K, Amy, Nick O over Skype and Todd E. I missed Alexander's Skype call, will get it tomorrow.
I just have PT left to do today.
That's it,
Brian
How will we get to the doctor office with a BWD on Wednesday?
We answered it easily. The snow started early but was light so we took the T. It was extra crowded this morning because the rest of the Cambridge area must have heard about the BWD also. We got to the appointment early, had coffee first.
This morning I listed everything I was doing and managing while being out of work and I will tell you it takes alot of work to be out of work also as well as to get better. Between this doing this blog, scheduling follow on appointments, keeping calendars, appointments, doctors, healthcare providers, homework from doctors and therapists to come home to eating, paying bills cleaning I am exhausted. By the way, I write everything down now to enter it into my PC later also. I was told based on everything I was doing I am doing a great job and seem to be making progress.
Tomorrow is a big day with Primary care in the morning and the trifecta in the afternoon (PT, OT and SLP).
Spoke to Glenn, Aunt Marilyn, Tom K, Amy, Nick O over Skype and Todd E. I missed Alexander's Skype call, will get it tomorrow.
I just have PT left to do today.
That's it,
Brian
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
7th Entry, 1-27-2009--Outpatient therapy day
This is a late entry as today was outpatient therapy day. No big news last night, we ordered out for Chinese food.
Notebook, Hat and Watch, remember those words.
No list this morning as I had to make it to the red line to have my blood taken at Spaulding for Coumadin reading this morning. We went early as I thought there may be a glitch. There was a slight paperwork problem (45 minute wait) when I got there, but I cleared it, got stuck with the pin and was out less 2 vials of blood.
We (My Mom and myself) went to lunch after my blood was taken. It was a little strange as I saw quite a few PT, OT, SLOP people and RNs from when I was an "inpatient". Most of them did a doubletake when they saw me; I guess they are not used to seeing former inpatient people coming to the cafeteria. It was a little funny.
Outpatient therapy: Today we mostly had evaluation and setting up tests. It was nice however to hear the therapists talk about working out, driving and going back to work as part of our discussion.
Last note: I am the one with the short term memory issue because of anoxia however my Mom lost/forgot where she left her gloves. This makes my Mom forgetting her gloves, her ear muffs and my sunglasses in the last week.
My 3 major problems: Short term memory, Stamina and Multi-tasking
SLP: Best part of SLP is that I did the blog on their request and forgot the piece of paper that I wrote down it's URL. Smart! Went thru eval-the farther I got into each test the tougher they were. The second to last test was the toughest.
PT: My strength (both literally and physically). Went thru my eval; need to work on getting back to normal. Felt like I have lost alot of my fitness in the last month. Took 6 minute walk test and thought I did ok also, strength is still generally good. My PT looks like she could be a sister of Anne Marie formerly of Mercury.
OT: This was interesting also. Ran thru a number of tests but started the eval by saying remember the 3 words, Notebook, Hat and Watch. After 5-10 minutes of evaluation the therapist asked me what were the 3 words she had asked me to remember. I could only come up with Notebook. When she said one was "Watch" I did remember her saying it which means it was "stuck" in my memory and was not retrieved. Hat I did not remember at all. Between OT and SLP they will work on ways to help this.
Note that I am home I need to finish home PT and bills.
Spoke to my Aunt Marilyn today, Cousin Lindsay last night, Marty Moyers, Margo M, Tom K and Amy last nite and today. The red line T was stopped for 35 minutes because of a prioblem between Davis and Porter so I called Amy.
That's it for this entry,
Brian
Notebook, Hat and Watch, remember those words.
No list this morning as I had to make it to the red line to have my blood taken at Spaulding for Coumadin reading this morning. We went early as I thought there may be a glitch. There was a slight paperwork problem (45 minute wait) when I got there, but I cleared it, got stuck with the pin and was out less 2 vials of blood.
We (My Mom and myself) went to lunch after my blood was taken. It was a little strange as I saw quite a few PT, OT, SLOP people and RNs from when I was an "inpatient". Most of them did a doubletake when they saw me; I guess they are not used to seeing former inpatient people coming to the cafeteria. It was a little funny.
Outpatient therapy: Today we mostly had evaluation and setting up tests. It was nice however to hear the therapists talk about working out, driving and going back to work as part of our discussion.
Last note: I am the one with the short term memory issue because of anoxia however my Mom lost/forgot where she left her gloves. This makes my Mom forgetting her gloves, her ear muffs and my sunglasses in the last week.
My 3 major problems: Short term memory, Stamina and Multi-tasking
SLP: Best part of SLP is that I did the blog on their request and forgot the piece of paper that I wrote down it's URL. Smart! Went thru eval-the farther I got into each test the tougher they were. The second to last test was the toughest.
PT: My strength (both literally and physically). Went thru my eval; need to work on getting back to normal. Felt like I have lost alot of my fitness in the last month. Took 6 minute walk test and thought I did ok also, strength is still generally good. My PT looks like she could be a sister of Anne Marie formerly of Mercury.
OT: This was interesting also. Ran thru a number of tests but started the eval by saying remember the 3 words, Notebook, Hat and Watch. After 5-10 minutes of evaluation the therapist asked me what were the 3 words she had asked me to remember. I could only come up with Notebook. When she said one was "Watch" I did remember her saying it which means it was "stuck" in my memory and was not retrieved. Hat I did not remember at all. Between OT and SLP they will work on ways to help this.
Note that I am home I need to finish home PT and bills.
Spoke to my Aunt Marilyn today, Cousin Lindsay last night, Marty Moyers, Margo M, Tom K and Amy last nite and today. The red line T was stopped for 35 minutes because of a prioblem between Davis and Porter so I called Amy.
That's it for this entry,
Brian
Monday, January 26, 2009
6th Entry January 26th
Late start today. I went to sleep at around 1:00 am and got up after 10:00. It is an effort to deal with 7 pills every morning (and 10 per day), today is not an exception. My Mom is currently out with my cousin Lyza which helps when I am trying to write my blog.
Here is my list for today:
1)Read e-mail in morning (done)
2)write blog (doing)
3)PT
4)Fill out forms for SLOP (SLP)
5)Pay bills (always a good thing)
6)Call comcast
Yesterday as I mentioned, I sent my Mom to the movies which helped me cruise thru my list. I got a Skype call from my friend Wim (of the Netherlands fame) yesterday and I am happy to report that the solid waste business in Europe is thriving-he has a plant up and running and is spending money (always good for the economy). One last note, I can tell you it's been 23 years and Wim has not forgotten how to put me in my place. He did note something interesting during the conversation that had to do with my memory. I am writing in my blog some I can remember to tell the SLOP therapist tomorrow. I was talking to him on Skype and the phone rang. After I got back to the phone I started talking about the second to last conversation that we had been talking about not the last. When he asked me what the last conversation was I could not remember. When he gave me a hint I remembered it.
I got e-mail from my friend Dave yesterday. He is a friend of mine, I've known since 1980 in Colorado. I also went with Dave and his wife Phyllis to Alaska in 1989. The mention of the Alaska trip reminds me always of the backpacker bus across Denali National Park. The bus goes 150 miles across Denali. When I went to Alaska with Dave and Phyl in 1989, we planned a 4-5 day backpacking trip in the Denali wilderness. The bus drops you off at a point an you start. Most of these place do not have trails, you have to bushwack,walk by streams, etc, no campsites, no markers, just wilderness and animals. Food had to be stored in cannisters 100 yards from your food site because of bears. You could see the bear teeth marks on your cannister every morning. Sun did not go down until after midnight. I read the book Aramagedon by Leon Uris on that trip. It was a fun trip. We caught the bus on the way back. It was filled with backpackers who had been out in the wilderness anywhere from an afternoon to 3 months. I always chuckle about the bus, because the only way you could make it home safely was to sit in the back of the bus and put the windows down. After the trip out of Denali we went to this great bar called the "Birdhouse".
Off track a bit. My Mom saw Defiance at the movies yesterday. We had dinner and watch
the Last Templar (a DaVinci Code ripoff but entertaining nonetheless). I played Microsoft Hearts which I believe helps me with my memory and also played Simon Tester.
Last note, I was late yesterday in taking my Coumadin. My alarm went off and I went to take it.
My Dad called on the lan phone (I now hate them). I spoke to him for about 5 minutes and then forgot to take my medicine but my Mom reminded me later. Multitasking; it's a bitch.
On telephone spoke to Wim (Skype actually), Glenn, my Dad, my Aunt Marilyn and Tom K
That's it for today,
Happy belated birthday Mar (my sister in law)
Brian
Here is my list for today:
1)Read e-mail in morning (done)
2)write blog (doing)
3)PT
4)Fill out forms for SLOP (SLP)
5)Pay bills (always a good thing)
6)Call comcast
Yesterday as I mentioned, I sent my Mom to the movies which helped me cruise thru my list. I got a Skype call from my friend Wim (of the Netherlands fame) yesterday and I am happy to report that the solid waste business in Europe is thriving-he has a plant up and running and is spending money (always good for the economy). One last note, I can tell you it's been 23 years and Wim has not forgotten how to put me in my place. He did note something interesting during the conversation that had to do with my memory. I am writing in my blog some I can remember to tell the SLOP therapist tomorrow. I was talking to him on Skype and the phone rang. After I got back to the phone I started talking about the second to last conversation that we had been talking about not the last. When he asked me what the last conversation was I could not remember. When he gave me a hint I remembered it.
I got e-mail from my friend Dave yesterday. He is a friend of mine, I've known since 1980 in Colorado. I also went with Dave and his wife Phyllis to Alaska in 1989. The mention of the Alaska trip reminds me always of the backpacker bus across Denali National Park. The bus goes 150 miles across Denali. When I went to Alaska with Dave and Phyl in 1989, we planned a 4-5 day backpacking trip in the Denali wilderness. The bus drops you off at a point an you start. Most of these place do not have trails, you have to bushwack,walk by streams, etc, no campsites, no markers, just wilderness and animals. Food had to be stored in cannisters 100 yards from your food site because of bears. You could see the bear teeth marks on your cannister every morning. Sun did not go down until after midnight. I read the book Aramagedon by Leon Uris on that trip. It was a fun trip. We caught the bus on the way back. It was filled with backpackers who had been out in the wilderness anywhere from an afternoon to 3 months. I always chuckle about the bus, because the only way you could make it home safely was to sit in the back of the bus and put the windows down. After the trip out of Denali we went to this great bar called the "Birdhouse".
Off track a bit. My Mom saw Defiance at the movies yesterday. We had dinner and watch
the Last Templar (a DaVinci Code ripoff but entertaining nonetheless). I played Microsoft Hearts which I believe helps me with my memory and also played Simon Tester.
Last note, I was late yesterday in taking my Coumadin. My alarm went off and I went to take it.
My Dad called on the lan phone (I now hate them). I spoke to him for about 5 minutes and then forgot to take my medicine but my Mom reminded me later. Multitasking; it's a bitch.
On telephone spoke to Wim (Skype actually), Glenn, my Dad, my Aunt Marilyn and Tom K
That's it for today,
Happy belated birthday Mar (my sister in law)
Brian
Sunday, January 25, 2009
5th entry - January 25th
I just sent my Mom to the movies as I could tell it was getting tough today. I have a list of items that need to be done today that include:
1)Read Mail= Done
2)Blog--doing now
3)Return calls
4)PT---forgot yesterday
5)Pay bills
6)Organize desk
Yesterday, I mentioned that one of the items on my list was writing a letter to my brother's friend, a struggling cancer patient and that I thought it would be as much as a letter to myself as it was to him. That was correct.
I got up a little overwhelmed and down over my current situation. The advice I gave Glenn's friend is to think back and transport yourself to a great place, time and situation. So for a change I took my own advice: Logging Lake in Glacier National Park in Montana, 1980, with Kay (from University of Michigan) and Travis (from University of Tennessee) on a backpacking trip and met unequipped visitors on the trail who brought 2 grizzly bears.
Wherever you all are, thanks for a great time.
Entry though:
Yesterday after doing my early list I decided it was time to go to the movies in Arlington. I also
needed to get my drugs at Walgreens. We walked to Porter Square and took the bus to Walgreens to get my Toprol. After we got the Toprol, we walked to the Capitol theatre and went to see Rachel Getting Married (http://www.sonyclassics.com/rachelgettingmarried/). It's an Oscar nominated movie and perfect for those of you that like to see exposes on drug rehab patients and their dysfunctional familes. It was acutally pretty good.
We took the bus back afterwards, went to the grocery store and went home. Heard back from Phyllis from Dave and Phyllis of Colorado yesterday. On telephone spoke to my brothers, Scott and Glenn, my Aunt Marilyn, Todd Ellsworth and my cousin Jon.
Next week starts outpatient week---------
Brian
1)Read Mail= Done
2)Blog--doing now
3)Return calls
4)PT---forgot yesterday
5)Pay bills
6)Organize desk
Yesterday, I mentioned that one of the items on my list was writing a letter to my brother's friend, a struggling cancer patient and that I thought it would be as much as a letter to myself as it was to him. That was correct.
I got up a little overwhelmed and down over my current situation. The advice I gave Glenn's friend is to think back and transport yourself to a great place, time and situation. So for a change I took my own advice: Logging Lake in Glacier National Park in Montana, 1980, with Kay (from University of Michigan) and Travis (from University of Tennessee) on a backpacking trip and met unequipped visitors on the trail who brought 2 grizzly bears.
Wherever you all are, thanks for a great time.
Entry though:
Yesterday after doing my early list I decided it was time to go to the movies in Arlington. I also
needed to get my drugs at Walgreens. We walked to Porter Square and took the bus to Walgreens to get my Toprol. After we got the Toprol, we walked to the Capitol theatre and went to see Rachel Getting Married (http://www.sonyclassics.com/rachelgettingmarried/). It's an Oscar nominated movie and perfect for those of you that like to see exposes on drug rehab patients and their dysfunctional familes. It was acutally pretty good.
We took the bus back afterwards, went to the grocery store and went home. Heard back from Phyllis from Dave and Phyllis of Colorado yesterday. On telephone spoke to my brothers, Scott and Glenn, my Aunt Marilyn, Todd Ellsworth and my cousin Jon.
Next week starts outpatient week---------
Brian
Saturday, January 24, 2009
4th Entry-January 24th
Today I wrote Bob, a cancer patient my brother (his best friend) knows. I have never met him. I am not sure who the letter was really for, him or me.
Yesterday, I did just about everything except fight the cardiac rehab people. I did do my PT earlier in the day which seemed to work and did take all of my meds.
People I spoke to yesterday were David Cohen, Aunt Faye, Glenn, Tom K, Mark and Lance as well as numerous health care admin people.
Today, my Supervisor and I are going to Oscar nominated movies. I think we are going to
see Doubt. I am suffering a bit of cabin fever. If there is anything to write and remember for tomorrow I will do it-next week is outpatient therapy week. 2-4 hours every day.
Last note, I joined facebook on Wednesday and it I liken it to going into a decidious forest without wearing insect repellent in the summer evening. People glom on in droves.
Oh, bought Ardbeg single malt yesterday.
Brian
Yesterday, I did just about everything except fight the cardiac rehab people. I did do my PT earlier in the day which seemed to work and did take all of my meds.
People I spoke to yesterday were David Cohen, Aunt Faye, Glenn, Tom K, Mark and Lance as well as numerous health care admin people.
Today, my Supervisor and I are going to Oscar nominated movies. I think we are going to
see Doubt. I am suffering a bit of cabin fever. If there is anything to write and remember for tomorrow I will do it-next week is outpatient therapy week. 2-4 hours every day.
Last note, I joined facebook on Wednesday and it I liken it to going into a decidious forest without wearing insect repellent in the summer evening. People glom on in droves.
Oh, bought Ardbeg single malt yesterday.
Brian
Friday, January 23, 2009
3rd Entry January 23rd
Yesterday can be described as a day of alot of work but accomplished very little. The big slowdown was in scheduling appointments. Not very restful for someone who came out of cardiac but this is healthcare.
Bitch and Moan Story #1 Scheduling Anti Coagulent
a)Called to schedule on 1-21----->Hung up on (by mistake I am sure)
b)Sent e-mail to center saying that I needed appointment 1-21----->Center for anti coagulent called back on on 1-22 saying that I did not have referral from hospital. Called case worker at hospital; they sent referral last Friday. Asked them to refax the referral.
c)Called anti coagulent center back with e-mail and fax confirmation number on 1-22-->Center called back 15 minutes ago and said they had just received my referral but cannot see me until Feb 2nd.
Bitch and Moan Story#2 Scheduling Dr's Appointment:
a)Called to schedule on 1-22---->said my blue card number had expired and I had a new number. They gave me a new number and booked my appointment but asked me to follow up with admin at hospital.
b)Followed up with admin at hospital and they said that the blue card should be good for life time and that the old number was infact my current number. I asked them to call the doctor's office as they may be looking at something different; they said no my number was was ok. I then asked to put admin on hold, called the doctor's office and conferenced them in the with admijn. They spoke for 15 minutes, I did not listen but could not hang up.
Yesterday, as part of my SLP I had to find a place I had never been before. I decided we would got to Max and Dylans. We went to lunch with Diana Headrick and my Mom (the current supervisor) @ www.maxanddylans.com. If you do not live in the Boston area you have probably have never heard of it, it is a relatively new comfort food restaurant and bar. Food was great, I got to get bummed out when the waiter told me what was on their booze menu. I had buffalo chicken mac and cheese (awesome) and the philly cheese steak spring rolls looked great.
Got home took a nap, forgot PT and did not remember if I took took the arisept (just like the Alzheimer patients) last night. Mom reminded me about coumadin again. Not a good day.
Spoke to my cousin Lance, Diana, Aunt Marilyn, Brian Chen, MGH and Spaulding admin people,
Glenn, Tom, Chris and Don Verville yesterday.
Today items:
Read e-mail.......................done
Update blog for SLP........done after I finish this list
Schedule anti coagulent. done I hope
PT
Get Toprol at Walgreens
Go back into healthcare circle and find out what is going on with Cardiac rehab
That's it for today
Brian
Bitch and Moan Story #1 Scheduling Anti Coagulent
a)Called to schedule on 1-21----->Hung up on (by mistake I am sure)
b)Sent e-mail to center saying that I needed appointment 1-21----->Center for anti coagulent called back on on 1-22 saying that I did not have referral from hospital. Called case worker at hospital; they sent referral last Friday. Asked them to refax the referral.
c)Called anti coagulent center back with e-mail and fax confirmation number on 1-22-->Center called back 15 minutes ago and said they had just received my referral but cannot see me until Feb 2nd.
Bitch and Moan Story#2 Scheduling Dr's Appointment:
a)Called to schedule on 1-22---->said my blue card number had expired and I had a new number. They gave me a new number and booked my appointment but asked me to follow up with admin at hospital.
b)Followed up with admin at hospital and they said that the blue card should be good for life time and that the old number was infact my current number. I asked them to call the doctor's office as they may be looking at something different; they said no my number was was ok. I then asked to put admin on hold, called the doctor's office and conferenced them in the with admijn. They spoke for 15 minutes, I did not listen but could not hang up.
Yesterday, as part of my SLP I had to find a place I had never been before. I decided we would got to Max and Dylans. We went to lunch with Diana Headrick and my Mom (the current supervisor) @ www.maxanddylans.com. If you do not live in the Boston area you have probably have never heard of it, it is a relatively new comfort food restaurant and bar. Food was great, I got to get bummed out when the waiter told me what was on their booze menu. I had buffalo chicken mac and cheese (awesome) and the philly cheese steak spring rolls looked great.
Got home took a nap, forgot PT and did not remember if I took took the arisept (just like the Alzheimer patients) last night. Mom reminded me about coumadin again. Not a good day.
Spoke to my cousin Lance, Diana, Aunt Marilyn, Brian Chen, MGH and Spaulding admin people,
Glenn, Tom, Chris and Don Verville yesterday.
Today items:
Read e-mail.......................done
Update blog for SLP........done after I finish this list
Schedule anti coagulent. done I hope
PT
Get Toprol at Walgreens
Go back into healthcare circle and find out what is going on with Cardiac rehab
That's it for today
Brian
Thursday, January 22, 2009
1-22 Second Entry
Before I start my "official" entry for 1-22 I forgot to mention 2 key items about my current status. They are the drugs and the "no's".
1)The Drugs
Every morning there is the regiment of 7-8 different pills and elixirs. Mine consists of the following:
3xprescription including Toprol mostly cardiac
1xColace
1xPrilosec
1xSt Josephs
My Muslix drink in the morning
At 4:00pm it's 2x 2Mg Coumadin for heart.
At 7:00pm it is arisept. This is for short term memory. They give this to Alzheimer patients, a club I do not want to exactly be associated with.
2)The No's
The No's are all the things I am not allowed to do.
The 6 most important No's are listed below.
1)No alcohol (I went out (walked 1.2 miles) and bought a bottle of Oban 14 yr Scotch to look at)
2)No workout, No sports only PT
3)No driving
4)No working
5)No going anywhere without 24 hr supervision
6)Heart healthy diet with balanced vitamin K (that counts as a no)
"Official entry"
I)Yesterday's accomplishments:
1)Started Blog
2)Put together calendar with all medical appointments and deadlines
3)Did PT
4)Called Alexander in Holland on Skype
5)Made Doctors appointment for next Tuesday
6)Set up facebook and started by torturing my nephew Kyle.
7)Sent e-mail out
People I spoke to yesterday included Tom, Chris H, Alexander, Marilyn, my cousin Mark, Glenn, my father and my brother Scott.
Today:
1)Finish Blog and read e-mail
2)Register at Coagulent (sp) center.
3)Find out why caridiac followup is 10 weeks away.
4)Try to set up cardiac rehab
5)Lunch with Diana H.
6)PT
Big mistake yesterday was being late on my Coumadin, I forgot to take it at 4 pm and also forgetting to take my arisept (that an oxymoron). My Mom remembered hence the supervision. Currently sleeping about 4 hours a night waking up for 45 minutes and going back to sleep for 3 hours.
That's it for today,
Brian
1)The Drugs
Every morning there is the regiment of 7-8 different pills and elixirs. Mine consists of the following:
3xprescription including Toprol mostly cardiac
1xColace
1xPrilosec
1xSt Josephs
My Muslix drink in the morning
At 4:00pm it's 2x 2Mg Coumadin for heart.
At 7:00pm it is arisept. This is for short term memory. They give this to Alzheimer patients, a club I do not want to exactly be associated with.
2)The No's
The No's are all the things I am not allowed to do.
The 6 most important No's are listed below.
1)No alcohol (I went out (walked 1.2 miles) and bought a bottle of Oban 14 yr Scotch to look at)
2)No workout, No sports only PT
3)No driving
4)No working
5)No going anywhere without 24 hr supervision
6)Heart healthy diet with balanced vitamin K (that counts as a no)
"Official entry"
I)Yesterday's accomplishments:
1)Started Blog
2)Put together calendar with all medical appointments and deadlines
3)Did PT
4)Called Alexander in Holland on Skype
5)Made Doctors appointment for next Tuesday
6)Set up facebook and started by torturing my nephew Kyle.
7)Sent e-mail out
People I spoke to yesterday included Tom, Chris H, Alexander, Marilyn, my cousin Mark, Glenn, my father and my brother Scott.
Today:
1)Finish Blog and read e-mail
2)Register at Coagulent (sp) center.
3)Find out why caridiac followup is 10 weeks away.
4)Try to set up cardiac rehab
5)Lunch with Diana H.
6)PT
Big mistake yesterday was being late on my Coumadin, I forgot to take it at 4 pm and also forgetting to take my arisept (that an oxymoron). My Mom remembered hence the supervision. Currently sleeping about 4 hours a night waking up for 45 minutes and going back to sleep for 3 hours.
That's it for today,
Brian
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
First entry 1-21
I have started this blog as part of my rehab for slp (I call slop) which stands for speech, language and pathology.
On Saturday, December 20, I passed out in a gym with a cardiac arrhythmia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrhythmia). My heart stopped for 6 minutes. I was lucky though as both a health club worker and doctor were able to get oxygen to my brain so the damage was not life threatening although has left my with my set of obstacles.
No one knew me in the gym, so I was rushed to Lawrence hospital in Medford and then after someone had figured it out, they sent me to Mass Gen in Boston. I was on a ventilator for only 2 days. They moved me into Cardiac care where later in the week I had an ICD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantable_cardioverter-defibrillator)put inside me.
I was in Mass Gen for about 2 weeks (January 6th). The lack of oxygen to my brain had left me with an anoxic brain injury (http://ezinearticles.com/?Anoxic-Brain-Injury&id=125537) which creates short term memory, stamina and multi tasking issues for me. After long debate and fight with a health care insurer, I finally went to Spaulding rehab for acute anoxic brain rehab. This consists of occupational therapy, physical therapy and slop which I mentioned above. I would have therapy 4-5 hours a day in the hospital. On Saturday, January 17th, I was let out to go home.
I am supervised 24 hours for now, I am not allowed to go anywhere on my own. Slop/OT will have to clear me to from the 24 hour supervision. They also are the ones who have to clear me
on driving and work.
I am at outpatient brain injury rehab now (3 days next week) and starting cardio rehab. My Mom is currently staying with me. I had 51 people visit me in hospitals of which I can only have 43 names. My employer has put a work embargo on me saying that no work is to be done by me period for my job. Health provider (which means insurer) management is one of the big jobs that anyone sick needs to do which sort of flies in the face of telling a cardiac care/brain injury person to take it easy.
I have seen Dr. Chae this week for coumadin and blood check.
I am setting up with coagulent center today.
Cardiac rehab was not set up by hospital and first cardiology appointment wasn't set up until March 20th. They both have to be fixed.
Blood is taken @ Spaulding on every Monday.
Reset up brain rehab for next 2 weeks.
Discussion with health care insurer
It is a lot but my Mother is helping me. That is it for today except the name Vampire=UB came from Mass Gen and UB (uncle brian).
Brian
On Saturday, December 20, I passed out in a gym with a cardiac arrhythmia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrhythmia). My heart stopped for 6 minutes. I was lucky though as both a health club worker and doctor were able to get oxygen to my brain so the damage was not life threatening although has left my with my set of obstacles.
No one knew me in the gym, so I was rushed to Lawrence hospital in Medford and then after someone had figured it out, they sent me to Mass Gen in Boston. I was on a ventilator for only 2 days. They moved me into Cardiac care where later in the week I had an ICD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantable_cardioverter-defibrillator)put inside me.
I was in Mass Gen for about 2 weeks (January 6th). The lack of oxygen to my brain had left me with an anoxic brain injury (http://ezinearticles.com/?Anoxic-Brain-Injury&id=125537) which creates short term memory, stamina and multi tasking issues for me. After long debate and fight with a health care insurer, I finally went to Spaulding rehab for acute anoxic brain rehab. This consists of occupational therapy, physical therapy and slop which I mentioned above. I would have therapy 4-5 hours a day in the hospital. On Saturday, January 17th, I was let out to go home.
I am supervised 24 hours for now, I am not allowed to go anywhere on my own. Slop/OT will have to clear me to from the 24 hour supervision. They also are the ones who have to clear me
on driving and work.
I am at outpatient brain injury rehab now (3 days next week) and starting cardio rehab. My Mom is currently staying with me. I had 51 people visit me in hospitals of which I can only have 43 names. My employer has put a work embargo on me saying that no work is to be done by me period for my job. Health provider (which means insurer) management is one of the big jobs that anyone sick needs to do which sort of flies in the face of telling a cardiac care/brain injury person to take it easy.
I have seen Dr. Chae this week for coumadin and blood check.
I am setting up with coagulent center today.
Cardiac rehab was not set up by hospital and first cardiology appointment wasn't set up until March 20th. They both have to be fixed.
Blood is taken @ Spaulding on every Monday.
Reset up brain rehab for next 2 weeks.
Discussion with health care insurer
It is a lot but my Mother is helping me. That is it for today except the name Vampire=UB came from Mass Gen and UB (uncle brian).
Brian
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