[Lovleysons]

Is been since May 31, 2009.......7 months plus Tramua ICU...now rehab? My question is where does one begin to ensure that your loved one is getting the care & rehab he needs. Is there a check list on what we should be doing? what the rehab should be providing? How he can be paricipating ? The
Meds? the therapy.? The helplessness? His question...."am I still alive?'

Lovleysons, on Feb 22 2010, 10:43 AM, said:

Is been since May 31, 2009.......7 months plus Tramua ICU...now rehab? My question is where does one begin to ensure that your loved one is getting the care & rehab he needs. Is there a check list on what we should be doing? what the rehab should be providing? How he can be paricipating ? The
Meds? the therapy.? The helplessness? His question...."am I still alive?'

Could someone just give me a check list?

[Tetracyclone]

No such checklist exists. You have to hang out there a LOT, know what the Doctor thinks and then make sure that is what is happening. Go to therapy with your brother until you are satisfied that therapists are thinking well about his challenges.

If there were a list it would be short- check his skin yourself to be sure it remains healthy.
Make sure your brother is turned regularly in bed.
Look up his meds on the web and make sure they make sense to you and are being administered correctly.

[allis53ca]

"My question is where does one begin to ensure that your loved one is getting the care & rehab he needs.".........DAY ONE ! there is no checklist, but if it doesn't seem right it probably isn't

[guido]

Post SCI is quite a long journey til you reach that point where normal things start to take over again, and each persons journey takes as long as s/he needs.

He'll (You'll) find that you seem to go through stages. The first bit is getting used to the paralysed body - bladder, bowels, sexual function, testing skin to avoid pressure sores (SO important, they're quick to happen and slooooooooow to mend), AD, spasms, nerve pain, meds - not everyone gets these last four. And for some there is the constant pressure of the Black Dog, others not.

You address issues in the order they become most important. Have good days. Have bad days.

Emotions start to creep in. Getting out and about, wrestling with interaction with others. Strangers. People you know. Family. Those who can handle it with ease, those who can't.

You think about exercise, PTs, travel, holidays.

You wrestle with relationships. Old ones, how they change. New ones.

You deal with PAs, finances, home adaptions, not getting your knees under tables at restaurants, disabled loos, adpated cars.

You listen to experts and consultants. You agree with some. You disagree violently with some. You look for others.

You have days where the sun comes out and you realise this is all possible. You find a peace and a happiness.

And a whole range of normal life stuff in between.

You look back and realise how far you've come.

[Lovleysons]

[]
That's Nice Thank-You, I think Ill copy that . Thank You

This post has been edited by Lovleysons: 23 February 2010 - 05:40 PM

[Lovleysons]

Lovleysons, on 23 February 2010 - 03:12 PM, said:

[]
That's Nice Thank-You, I think Ill copy that . Thank You

Thank you again, It seems like ages since on this site, and on this journey,,....new beginings.... I really absorbed more today reading your response , than when you first wrote it several months ago............................Im extremely overwhelmed w/ the care giving responsibilites...( sp ck yuck m)..............family responses.........non-support.......and most of all insurance companies, doctors transportions, prescriptions.....Im sorry Did I mention lack of support...screw state programs, social services......Im spent and its only been since July 7........BUT NO ...I will not ...give up or give in..........Thank You again... aqnd I hope to be able to change my password to one aI can remember

[Tetracyclone]

I love the photo of you and your brother. I'm sending little energy packs your way through the ethers. Kind of like skittles in the wind.

If you are the main carer then another of your sibs should take over all the insurance/payments responsibilities. They are huge.