Silver Stream Stories

It seems that I had my own 9/11 disaster this week, which in retrospect would have been funny enough to win $50,000 on AFV if it had been video recorded! This past week physical therapy obtained an UpLift seat for me to use.

UpLift seat in a chair

 It gives me a boost to lift myself from a low chair to grab my walker and make a transfer and works great -- well a little to good in this case.  At 6:30 in the evening after dinner, I was straightening up my room.  Needed to add some distilled water from a gallon jug  on the floor to my CPAP reservoir.  Put the reservoir on my bed, and then rolled to the side in my wheelchair to grab the gallon water.  Remember that I am in my wheelchair on the UpLift seat and the wheels of the chair are not locked!   As I leaned down to pick up the water, my weight on the seat shifted enough for the lift mechanism to go into action.  It ejected me, the wheelchair moving backwards, and I landed sitting on the floor.  Thank goodness, other than a sore bottom, I was not hurt.  In reach was my nurse call bell, my room door was open and I yelled "help" and the nurses were quickly  in the room.  They got the Hoyer Lift to get me off the floor and into bed.

Hoyer Lift machine

The next morning, I had an appointment with my infectious diseases doctor, whose office is also located two blocks away on Silver Stream Lane.  The attendant arrived and tried putting me in my wheelchair in the back of the van that they have for transport.  BUT my wheelchair was an inch or two too  wide to fit on the lift mechanism.  So deciding that she needed the exercise to lose weight, Kim pushed me on foot to the doctor's office.  After the appointment was over, she hoofed it back to get me.  I got some sun and fresh air and Kim got some exercise!

Dr. Berthold was pleased with the progress of my healing leg cellulitis.  She said that the IV antibiotic

IV pump at work

would run for another week via the PICC line.  Then the PICC line

PICC line where it enters my right arm

would be removed and I will start the same antibiotic (Keflex) by mouth.

Left leg cellulites unwrapped on 9-12-2014 

Rehabilitation

Silver Stream Rehabilitation

Two and a half weeks after being transferred from the hospital to Silver Stream Rehabilitation, I had my first planning conference yesterday.  I have been approved for three more weeks of rehab, with the probability of getting a wheelchair.

The major objective is to get me back on my feet and independent.  Before hospitalization, I was able to ambulate around my home with a walker.  Now I need help to stand up and then to remain standing for a short period. Using one side of the parallel bars, with help, I pull myself to a standing position from the wheelchair.  Today, for the first time I walked the length of the parallel bars between them, three times.  Progress!

Also I have leg exercises consisting of sitting and doing marches, kicks, swings, and ankle extensions. These are repeated in the afternoons with a different therapist, plus I do them on my own often. Occupational therapists work on my arms to strengthen them as well.  These involve lifting weights, bars, and a 20 minute without break constant bicycling action with my arms.  Today, I went 5.4 kilometers -- a new record for me.

The facility has 110 beds and is quite large with very long halls.  My room is about as far away as one can get from the front entrance, gyms, and dining room.  I try to wheel myself to the front, but my wheelchair does not roll easily, so this becomes very difficult. (See last paragraph about a new wheelchair.)  This place should be renamed "The Chandeliers" because there are chandeliers everywhere including right outside my room.  The chandeliers  all burn incandescent bulbs, so the carbon footprint is huge.

I have a large private room which is very nice.  The bed a not very comfortable with a mattress that is too thin for my  big body.  Originally the length was 75 inches which is exactly my height, but they found a ten inch longer mattress for me. 

The administration, nurses, and CNAs are good and attentive with a few minor exceptions. 

The room has the usual amenities including TV, private bathroom, with walk-in shower.  So far, I have not been able to use the bathroom due to my lack of strength and have had to settle for sponge baths in the bed.

Being diabetic, I have been very disappointed in the menu items, which are carbohydrate intensive.  I just discussed my dietary preferences asking them to remove all bread, waffles, pancakes, french toast, and biscuits from my trays.  After all I do need to lose a lot a weight so that my weak muscles will not have so much to deal with.  I asked for more vegetables and fruit.

Eggs, grits, and a sausage gravy covered biscuit

Then I had a discussion about my meal preferences, and for lunch, I received a tossed salad with chicken strips, yogurt, and melon.

Wound care of the left leg cellulitis ulcers has been continuing with daily dressing changes.

Since I arrived, I was assigned a wheelchair that just would not roll or be pushed easily.  Today, they assigned me a new wheelchair that rolls easily, so now I can move myself easily all over the facility. Big improvement.  Because the wheelchairs are too low for me to stand up from, every evening they have to use a Hoyer lift to move me from the wheelchair to the bed.  In the mornings however, I can transfer myself from my bed which I have lifted into a very high position to the wheelchair using my walker to stabilize me during the transfer.

Progress!!!  Goals seem more attainable!