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
Saturday, January 31, 2009
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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