Re: to Stan and Valeri

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/9/2004 12:42:14 PM Central Standard Time, susanoops@... writes:

The nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like than yours appears to be. While we do have good ones, I just do not feel like that is what I want at this time. If I am going to be away from home,sleeping, or probably not sleeping in some strange bed, paying someone most of my meager paycheck (at the going rate they would get

______

Don't know if you have medicare, but if you do, you have 14 days that they pay for, and that should be more than enough to get going. By the way.....how big is Oceanside? I have a friend who lives there.

y

[Guest guest]

, you wrote to Stan:

BTW

> you look taller and thinner than you sound.

--I got a chuckle out that comment. What did I write that made

me " sound " short and fat? Chuckle chuckle!

You also said, and I quote: " The

> nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like than

yours appears to be. "

I'm not sure if the one I went to is typical of France. I do know

that it has a good reputation. It also is located in one of the most

fashionable districts of Nice, France, Cimiez, where many of the

buildings have unbelievably beautiful archecture.

I made my stay there feel like a vacation. I took all sorts of

gadgets--a laptop computer, an MP3 player with tons of songs and

audio books on it, lots of videos on my hard disk, including many of

the " Friends " series, a digital camera, a block flute, etc.

You uttered: " (I am a picky eatter and a vegetarian and my

> experiences with institutional type food has been about all I

liked > was the pudding),

I, too, am a veggie, more or less. However, I found tht the meat

dishes tasted much better than the non-meat dishes so I made some

exceptions. The food wasn't English--with pudding--but French, which

should speak for itself!! In general, I enjoyed the food.

You also said: " or bail me out

> if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

don't > want to be trapped there.

Yeow. What are the places like in the US? I wasn't trapped. I was

the one who made the decision as to when I would leave. It wasn't a

prision. I had originally booked my visit for three weeks, and I

decided that I had spent enough and was well enough to go home after

two weeks. No one said that I couldn't. Please explain the " trapped "

feeling that exists in the " freest country in the world. " I don't

get it.

The " Frogs " have the reputation (in the eyes of the " Gringos " to be

unfriendly. I didn't find most of them that way. In fact, they

usually would giggle at me as I limped through the hallways wearing

a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals with my digital camera hanging from

my neck. The nurses loved looking at the photos on my computer that

I took of them.

C'est comme ça.

Staninfr

>

> ,

> Thanks for responding,

>

> I am in Oceanside ,CA about 38 miles north of San Diego.

>

> Glad to hear you both are doing so well.

>

> Valeri, Hope you are able to walk down the asile at the wedding ok.

>

> Stan, I looked at some of your pics. What a beautiful place. BTW

> you look taller and thinner than you sound. Love the dog. The

> nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like than

yours

> appears to be. While we do have good ones, I just do not feel

like

> that is what I want at this time. If I am going to be away from

> home,sleeping, or probably not sleeping in some strange bed,

paying

> someone most of my meager paycheck (at the going rate they would

get

> it all at 12 days) I better be on some nice vacation someplace,

not a

> few miles from home waiting for my next pt session and pudding

> time.My experiences with institutional type food is I tend to live

on

> the toast and pudding (I am a picky eatter and a vegetarian and

my

> experiences with institutional type food has been about all I

liked

> was the pudding), or could afford to loose 30 lbs, or if I knew

> family would come see me each day and bring me stuff or bail me

out

> if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

don't

> want to be trapped there.

>

> Gotta go to work.

>

[Guest guest]

I've been "lurking" for a few weeks and have gained much knowledge and encouragement from all of you. I, too, am from Oceanside, CA, and am scheduled for my right THR on Friday, August 13 - I'll begin my "marathon" recovery as the Olympics begin. My THR follows a diagnosis of OA 16 years ago - and triggered by a congenital hip dislocation with subsequent significant leg length discrepancy. For me, the more knowledge, the better, and, as a health care professional (and we tend to be a little anal), the better prepared I am, the better I'll do. Thanks to all of you for helping me to prepare - any words of wisdom for dealing with the expected deep tissue injury and pain I've been warned of and for learning to walk again without compensating for a 1 1/2" length discrepancy (my ortho's supposing I'll regain as much as an inch)?

Thanks and quick healing to you all,

martysusanoops <susanoops@...> wrote:

, Thanks for responding,I am in Oceanside ,CA about 38 miles north of San Diego.Glad to hear you both are doing so well.Valeri, Hope you are able to walk down the asile at the wedding ok.Stan, I looked at some of your pics. What a beautiful place. BTW you look taller and thinner than you sound. Love the dog. The nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like than yours appears to be. While we do have good ones, I just do not feel like that is what I want at this time. If I am going to be away from home,sleeping, or probably not sleeping in some strange bed, paying someone most of my meager paycheck (at the going rate they would get it all at 12 days) I better be on some nice vacation someplace, not a few miles from home waiting for my next pt session and pudding

time.My experiences with institutional type food is I tend to live on the toast and pudding (I am a picky eatter and a vegetarian and my experiences with institutional type food has been about all I liked was the pudding), or could afford to loose 30 lbs, or if I knew family would come see me each day and bring me stuff or bail me out if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I don't want to be trapped there.Gotta go to work.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/10/2004 1:45:06 AM Central Standard Time, martyandace@... writes:

learning to walk again without compensating for a 1 1/2" length discrepancy (my ortho's supposing I'll regain as much as an inch)?

______

That's a heck of a discrepancy. Should improve some by what the surgeon can do, but your body will have some fun trying to get to know its new self. No particular advice to give, as yours is a rather unique situation.....will have to be played by what the result of the surgery is at the time. I had a friend who had two knees done that were extremely bowed, and he gained over an inch on each side ......was an entirely new, taller person afterwards.

y

[Guest guest]

> You also said: " or bail me out

>> if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

> don't > want to be trapped there.

>

> Yeow. What are the places like in the US? I wasn't trapped. I was

> the one who made the decision as to when I would leave. It wasn't a

> prision. I had originally booked my visit for three weeks, and I

> decided that I had spent enough and was well enough to go home after

> two weeks. No one said that I couldn't. Please explain the " trapped "

> feeling that exists in the " freest country in the world. " I don't

> get it.

>

For me it was more of listening to dr¹s advice to go to a rehab. I was

given a choice in the hospital. I could have gone home. My PT advised me

strongly to go to the rehab. He said I would get instructions that I needed

and that was true. But the instructions I received *could* have been shared

in a short time. My insurance company¹s only choice was a nursing home.

They wouldn¹t allow me to rehab at the hospital, which I understand was a

very nice rehab. =-(

Blessings,

Vera

[Guest guest]

Stan, all this talk about rehab places, I just wanted you to know that I had my replacements done here in Houston, TX. I stayed 4 days in the hospital with P.T. those 4 days - 3 times a day. Then was sent home with no other P.T. My doctor told me just to keep up the exercises at home and WALK, WALK, WALK. Of course he meant around the house the first few days(with my walker), but I gradually went outside in the driveway, then to the mailbox, then down the street, than before no time I was walking on the hiking paths here in The Woodlands. I used the walker for about 3 weeks, then graduated to a cane for another 2 or 3 weeks than after that the Dr. said he didn't want to see me with the cain when I went for my 6 weeks check-up. I guess it just depends on your Dr., and of course your body.

DorisVera Berry <veryberry@...> wrote:

> You also said: "or bail me out>> if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I> don't > want to be trapped there.> > Yeow. What are the places like in the US? I wasn't trapped. I was> the one who made the decision as to when I would leave. It wasn't a> prision. I had originally booked my visit for three weeks, and I> decided that I had spent enough and was well enough to go home after> two weeks. No one said that I couldn't. Please explain the "trapped"> feeling that exists in the "freest country in the world." I don't> get it.> For me it was more of listening to dr¹s advice to go to a rehab. I wasgiven a choice in the hospital. I could have gone home. My PT advised mestrongly to go to the rehab. He said I would get instructions

that I neededand that was true. But the instructions I received *could* have been sharedin a short time. My insurance company¹s only choice was a nursing home.They wouldn¹t allow me to rehab at the hospital, which I understand was avery nice rehab. =-(Blessings,Vera

[Guest guest]

> , you wrote to Stan:

>

> BTW

> > you look taller and thinner than you sound.

>

> --I got a chuckle out that comment. What did I write that made

> me " sound " short and fat? Chuckle chuckle!

I had a feeling you would think that. Maybe it was your saying

keeping your weight down is important. I thought, that might be a

problem for you, and for tall people thats usually less of a problem,

hence the possibility for " short and fat " . But no.....

>

>

> You also said: " or bail me out

> > if I hated it I

> don't > want to be trapped there.

>

> Please explain the " trapped "

> feeling that exists in the " freest country in the world. " I don't

> get it.

Trapped in the sense that I could't just walk outside and get in

my car and drive home. I would have to track down a phone (I hate

phones) and a friend that was available to come get me and take me

home. All the getting ready I would not have done thinking I would

be else where, like stocking the fridge with fresh stuff, planning

for the visiting nurse, home pt, etc, would need to quickly done, all

the friends that offered to come by and help, and I told not to

bother, I wouln't be home for a while would have to be re-reqruited.

Purely a logistical thing. I now have visions in my head of me

trying to make a run for it in my walker to the closest bus stop.

What I would like to be free of is any more talk trying to convince

me to go to any sort of facility.

Lets save that for the next person thats trying to decide where to

go. I already know where I am going. Lets move on please.

Now on to you. You are quickly approching the 6 week point. Other

than continuing pt, and walking device assistance, what can't you do,

that you still require help with, if anything?

>

>

>>

>

> >

> > ,

> > Thanks for responding,

> >

> > I am in Oceanside ,CA about 38 miles north of San Diego.

> >

> > Glad to hear you both are doing so well.

> >

> > Valeri, Hope you are able to walk down the asile at the wedding

ok.

> >

> > Stan, I looked at some of your pics. What a beautiful place.

BTW

> > you look taller and thinner than you sound. Love the dog. The

> > nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like than

> yours

> > appears to be. While we do have good ones, I just do not feel

> like

> > that is what I want at this time. If I am going to be away from

> > home,sleeping, or probably not sleeping in some strange bed,

> paying

> > someone most of my meager paycheck (at the going rate they would

> get

> > it all at 12 days) I better be on some nice vacation someplace,

> not a

> > few miles from home waiting for my next pt session and pudding

> > time.My experiences with institutional type food is I tend to

live

> on

> > the toast and pudding (I am a picky eatter and a vegetarian and

> my

> > experiences with institutional type food has been about all I

> liked

> > was the pudding), or could afford to loose 30 lbs, or if I knew

> > family would come see me each day and bring me stuff or bail me

> out

> > if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

> don't

> > want to be trapped there.

> >

> > Gotta go to work.

> >

[Guest guest]

, you wrote:

Now on to you. You are quickly approching the 6 week point. Other

than continuing pt, and walking device assistance, what can't you do,

that you still require help with, if anything?

Well, you said not to mention the home, but thanks to my one week in

the clinic and two weeks in the home, I depended on myself for

everything after I got home.

In my fourth week I drove to the nearby village for PT.

I had planned quite well before I went to the clinic. I bought

various aids such as a toilet riser, a reacher, etc. I arranged my

house for my returned, stocked up on a lot of dried foods, and

didn't have to depend on neighbors at all, even though I received

many offers. I prefer to depend on myself.

I go to the village for PT three times a week, where there are small

stores in which I can buy the items I need to eat.

I live in a house with lots of stairs, which I have been using--I

have no choice--since I arrived at home after three weeks.

I can walk a bit without aids, but in order to avoid developing a

limp, I use two canes when I walk outside and none or one in the

house.

I drove to a friend's house yesterday, and we even did a little slow

dancing--not too much.

My muscles are still in need of some developing, but I think that I

improving by the day in spite of occasional pain in my hip and knee.

Staninfrance

> > , you wrote to Stan:

> >

> > BTW

> > > you look taller and thinner than you sound.

> >

> > --I got a chuckle out that comment. What did I write that

made

> > me " sound " short and fat? Chuckle chuckle!

>

> I had a feeling you would think that. Maybe it was your

saying

> keeping your weight down is important. I thought, that might be a

> problem for you, and for tall people thats usually less of a

problem,

> hence the possibility for " short and fat " . But no.....

> >

>

> >

> > You also said: " or bail me out

> > > if I hated it I

> > don't > want to be trapped there.

> >

> > Please explain the " trapped "

> > feeling that exists in the " freest country in the world. " I

don't

> > get it.

>

> Trapped in the sense that I could't just walk outside and get

in

> my car and drive home. I would have to track down a phone (I hate

> phones) and a friend that was available to come get me and take me

> home. All the getting ready I would not have done thinking I

would

> be else where, like stocking the fridge with fresh stuff, planning

> for the visiting nurse, home pt, etc, would need to quickly done,

all

> the friends that offered to come by and help, and I told not to

> bother, I wouln't be home for a while would have to be re-

reqruited.

> Purely a logistical thing. I now have visions in my head of me

> trying to make a run for it in my walker to the closest bus stop.

>

> What I would like to be free of is any more talk trying to

convince

> me to go to any sort of facility.

> Lets save that for the next person thats trying to decide where to

> go. I already know where I am going. Lets move on please.

>

> Now on to you. You are quickly approching the 6 week point.

Other

> than continuing pt, and walking device assistance, what can't you

do,

> that you still require help with, if anything?

> >

> >

> >>

> >

> > >

> > > ,

> > > Thanks for responding,

> > >

> > > I am in Oceanside ,CA about 38 miles north of San Diego.

> > >

> > > Glad to hear you both are doing so well.

> > >

> > > Valeri, Hope you are able to walk down the asile at the

wedding

> ok.

> > >

> > > Stan, I looked at some of your pics. What a beautiful place.

> BTW

> > > you look taller and thinner than you sound. Love the dog.

The

> > > nursing/rehab places around here are much less resort like

than

> > yours

> > > appears to be. While we do have good ones, I just do not feel

> > like

> > > that is what I want at this time. If I am going to be away

from

> > > home,sleeping, or probably not sleeping in some strange bed,

> > paying

> > > someone most of my meager paycheck (at the going rate they

would

> > get

> > > it all at 12 days) I better be on some nice vacation

someplace,

> > not a

> > > few miles from home waiting for my next pt session and pudding

> > > time.My experiences with institutional type food is I tend to

> live

> > on

> > > the toast and pudding (I am a picky eatter and a vegetarian

and

> > my

> > > experiences with institutional type food has been about all I

> > liked

> > > was the pudding), or could afford to loose 30 lbs, or if I

knew

> > > family would come see me each day and bring me stuff or bail

me

> > out

> > > if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

> > don't

> > > want to be trapped there.

> > >

> > > Gotta go to work.

> > >

[Guest guest]

Doris

I think that we would all agree that cultures in various countries

are different. I'm not saying better or worse, I'm saying different.

One of the major differences I've noticed between the US and France

is the time spent in a public facility after an operation. From what

I read, most Americans go home after 3 or 4 days.

In France, at least the clinic where I was operated, everyone stayed

in the clinic seven or eight days, and most went on to a

recouperation center for two or three weeks.

From what I've read, the cost of the process is three times more in

the US than in France. The daily hospital rates are much more

expensive in the US, too. The insurance companies just can't afford

to pay for all that care.

In France there is a universal health care plan for everyone (but

not for me, since I'm American). The attitude toward care seems to

be quite different between the two countries. ly, I felt

comfortable being taken care of for three weeks in a public

facility. My home time afterwards was much easier for me.

I would not be surprised to see France move in the direction of

shorter stays, however, as costs rise disproportionately.

Ciao

Staninfr

> > You also said: " or bail me out

> >> if I hated it (like Veras family did) it may be different. I

> > don't > want to be trapped there.

> >

> > Yeow. What are the places like in the US? I wasn't trapped. I was

> > the one who made the decision as to when I would leave. It

wasn't a

> > prision. I had originally booked my visit for three weeks, and I

> > decided that I had spent enough and was well enough to go home

after

> > two weeks. No one said that I couldn't. Please explain

the " trapped "

> > feeling that exists in the " freest country in the world. " I don't

> > get it.

> >

> For me it was more of listening to dr¹s advice to go to a rehab.

I was

> given a choice in the hospital. I could have gone home. My PT

advised me

> strongly to go to the rehab. He said I would get instructions

that I needed

> and that was true. But the instructions I received *could* have

been shared

> in a short time. My insurance company¹s only choice was a nursing

home.

> They wouldn¹t allow me to rehab at the hospital, which I

understand was a

> very nice rehab. =-(

> Blessings,

> Vera

>

>

>

>

>