My NY trip (other than logistics) - long

[Guest guest]

Now to tell you about our trip - it wasn't a good one. We got in on

Saturday and that evening we walked about half a block up to turn onto

several blocks full of shops and restaurants.

However, we did not realize it was a Jewish holiday, and this area is

mostly Jewish, so most things were closed. We walked several blocks, but

my husband's MS legs kicked in and we barely made it back to the hotel. I

was exhausted too.

We then found out we could order either Italian or Chinese into the

restaurant. (They do have a dining room, but they had a set price of $28

for a dinner). We ordered Italian and it was good and inexpensive. We

were tired and went to bed early.

Sunday we got up and went to a local bakery/restaurant recommended for

breakfast. The service was horrible - we couldn't get coffee for 30

minutes and part of my order never got to us. I complained and got a 10%

discount, so at least they acknowledged their problems. The food is great

though.

We then went back to the hotel and got a taxi to the hospital where we got

to finally meet some fellow chiarians having surgery. If you have

followed, Maureen and Vicki were in there and my husband and I got to visit

with both of them and their hubbies. We stayed several hours and

thoroughly enjoyed meeting more of those going thru the same things we are

- they were all wonderful people. Maureen was an angel in her halo and

Vicki looked like enstein with her traction gear screwed into her skull.

Sunday evening we went to a nearby Mexican restaurant (again, inexpensive

and good), and thought we were getting through a meal without incident when

a busboy dumped what was left in our water pitcher in my husband's lap. He

kept on walking and never apologized. However, our waiter did, and my

husband survived.

At about 11:30 Sun nite I was coming back to bed from bathroom in the dark

and turned to sit on bed and missed the right edge; I fell and smacked my

back on a stool and ended up in excruciating pain and unable to move on the

floor. I had a horrible searing pain if I tried to move my legs at all and

my lower back hurt like h***.

My husband had to call an ambulance and I ended up at NorthShore e.r. An

MRI showed no problems (I do have really strong bones - my one asset - a 49

yr. old with 30 yr. old bones), and miraculously my hematoma was now

gone. Maybe the blow knocked it out; I don't know but that problem is

gone. I guess a non-surgical back problem is a good trade for the hematoma

(normally a surgical problem).

Anyway, they still admitted me (they talked with Dr. Bolognese) and I was

really doped up on dilaudid. I was still in so much pain. Dr. Bolognese

said I should have a pelvic x-ray to be sure there was no break, and it was

ordered, but it took my three calls to x-ray and 10 hours to get it. That

is a huge hospital and I wasn't an emergent case, but still!!

My poor husband went 24 hours without any food and 30 hours without any

sleep. I was miserable. We did meet with Dr. Bolognese Monday morn in my

room for my consult visit. He explained their (Dr. M and Dr. B's) findings

and recommendations. Had my insurance not been a problem, I could have

stayed to have invasive traction for 48 hours, but I knew that they (CIGNA

HMO in NC) would not approve it.

I was told that my orthopaedic doctor here could do the traction and then I

could get surgery in NY approved again before we went back to NY. Anyway,

my back was still so bad that I could hardly move - getting up and down was

agony and took 10 minutes each time I tried. I didn't want to do anything

else until my back felt better. I had a horrific headache along with my

back pain the rest of the day.

I had terrible problems with my care, but I was not on the neurosurgical

floor, and we had plane reservations for Tuesday at 2 p.m. After some

stressful time trying to get discharged, we got out of the hospital at

11:30 and headed to the hotel to finish packing to catch our car service

ride to the airport at noon.

I had a horribly painful trip home, but we made it and if we never had to

go back to NY we'd be happy campers, but we also have full faith in the NY

docs and plan to return for any surgery I will need after traction.

Not a good time for all, but at least we are one step closer to getting

final surgery (I hope).

Good luck to all of you. Beverly