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