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Need good thoughts, please.

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  • Need good thoughts, please.

    They've been doing work on our street the last few weeks. Part of this involves repairing curbs and driveways. Yesterday they tore up the part of our driveway closest to the street. It may be a week or more until they pour concrete for the new one. There's a park across the street from us with a large parking lot, so we and other neighbors nearby are parking over there for the time being. /background

    My mom has COPD and both knees replaced, so sometimes uses a walker. This afternoon she was about to cross the street when she fell over the curb and broke her leg.

    This all happened while I was on the train home from work. My dad went to the hospital tonight and I'm going to stay home tomorrow to help facilitate talking to the doctors, etc. They're transferring her to another hospital to do surgery. It's apparently a greenstick fracture of her left femur, so I imagine plates and screws and such may be involved.

    Anyway, I'm kind of stressed because I feel like I don't clearly know what's going on yet. My dad's in his late 80s, so he doesn't always ask the right questions, or remember fully what they told him. And I'm worried about this further limiting my mom's mobility.

    I would like to say, our neighbors (not the one's I've mentioned here before, but on the other side) are fantastic. The wife stayed with my mom while they waited for the ambulance and went to the hospital with her so my dad could pick me up at the train.


    Ok, that's all before I go into full on anxiety babbling mode.
    "If you pray very hard, you can become a cat person." -Angela, "The Office"

  • #2
    Oh Mel, I'm so sorry. I hope everything goes well for her in the surgery and that she makes a good recovery. Hugs for her, your dad and you
    Engaged to the sweet Mytical He is my Black Dragon (and yes, a good one) strong, protective, the guardian. I am his Silver Dragon, always by his side, shining for him, cherishing him.

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    • #3
      Lots of good thoughts and prayers coming your way! Hope she makes a full recovery!
      When you start at zero, everything's progress.

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      • #4
        <big hugs> Will be praying for you and your family, keep us updated. I hope everything works out ok, and she makes a quick and blessed recovery.
        By popular request....I am now officially the Enemy of Normalcy.

        "What is unobtainium? To Seraph, it's a normal client. :P" -- Observant Friend

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        • #5
          Two developments today. First, she didn't have surgery today. I don't know precisely, but I think the doctor got backed up in another surgery. So when my Dad and I visited this afternoon, she'd only seen the doctor briefly and didn't have much information. We left hopeful that she would have surgery tomorrow.

          Well, Mom called us later and had finally spoken to the doctor. He's concerned because she has knee replacements in both knees. The break is not a greenstick fracture as my Dad initially said, it's a complete break, but it's right around the femoral implant, which is not unusual. She'll need the entire replacement redone as well as the broken bone repaired. The doctor doesn't want to do that this weekend. It may not happen Monday or Tuesday either.

          From what I've read about these things online, a repair like this needs pre-planning and careful thought, so that's probably why he's delaying a bit. She's 80 and has osteoporosis, so that complicates things further.

          She's at the same hospital she had both her knees done at, but it's not the same surgeon. I'm thinking tomorrow I'd like to find out how to speak directly with her new surgeon. I want to hear this information myself and not filtered through my parents. They're lovely people, but they're in their 80s. I also want to find out about getting a second opinion or consult from her old surgeon, the one who did her knees originally.

          I'm also worried now about how this will affect her mobility in the future. And feeling out the line between advocating for my parents and preserving their dignity. I see their care falling to me in the future. My oldest sister has kids with special needs, my other sister lives in another state, and my brother can barely keep himself out of trouble. But I'm not sure I'm temperamentally suited to this.

          Thanks for listening.

          Edited to add: I forgot the good part! Our wonderful neighbor was so angry about the accident that she got on the phone to the village government. Long story short, we should be expecting a call from the head of Public Works in our town to arrange to pay her medical bills! She's on Medicare and has supplemental insurance, so I don't know how much my parents would actually be responsible for, but it was still good to hear. Apparently the state of Illinois is actually overseeing the reconstruction of our road and another major road in town, and the village is not happy with some of the stuff going on. One of these things I suspect is that some people further up our street have had their driveways torn up for over two weeks. I sincerely hope that doesn't happen to us.
          Last edited by Draper Mel; 08-25-2012, 04:25 AM.
          "If you pray very hard, you can become a cat person." -Angela, "The Office"

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          • #6
            Best wishes going out right now.
            "Kamala the Ugandan Giant" 1950-2020 • "Bullet" Bob Armstrong 1939-2020 • "Road Warrior Animal" 1960-2020 • "Zeus" Tiny Lister Jr. 1958-2020 • "Hacksaw" Butch Reed 1954-2021 • "New Jack" Jerome Young 1963-2021 • "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff 1949-2021 • "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton 1958-2021 • Daffney 1975-2021

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            • #7
              Give your Mom hugs and best wishes from us. Hope she feels better soon.

              You may need to have your mom sign a limited power of attorney so that you can talk with her doctors.
              Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
              Save the Ales!
              Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

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              • #8
                Talk to your mom's nurse about talking to a social worker or case manager. After surgery like that, it's likely your mom will need to do some rehab at a nursing home before going home. The social worker can help with placement & costs and tell you what to expect. Or, maybe your mom can go home with a home health aid for help with things like showers. These are things social workers/case managers do. Just tell the nurse you're concerned about what will happen after discharge. Trust me, the nurse is trying to feel out your mom's support network and is already thinking about discharge planning.

                The nurse may also be able to help you get in contact with the surgeon, or at least point you in the right direction.

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                • #9
                  Well, the surgeon who did my mom's knee replacements originally (Dr. M) is going to look over her tests and examine her tomorrow. It looks like he'll be the one to do the surgery. The surgeon who caught her case was very enthusiastic (relieved? ) that she requested Dr. M do a second opinion.

                  We're still not entirely sure how severe the break is (ie. whether it's a simple break or the bone shattered into pieces). None of us has been around when the doctors stop by. Hopefully she'll get that info tomorrow.

                  Thanks for the well wishes.
                  "If you pray very hard, you can become a cat person." -Angela, "The Office"

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                  • #10
                    I hope your mom makes a fantastic recovery. Also, you have a great neighbor, looking out for your mom.
                    Time! Time! Time is what turns kittens into cats.

                    Don't teach me a lesson; all I learn is that you are an asshole.

                    I wish porn had subtitles.

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                    • #11
                      Here is to hoping for a smooth operation.
                      Engaged to the amazing Marmalady. She is my Silver Dragon, shining as bright as the sun. I her Black Dragon (though good honestly), dark as night..fierce and strong.

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                      • #12
                        Quoth Draper Mel View Post
                        My mom has COPD and both knees replaced, so sometimes uses a walker. This afternoon she was about to cross the street when she fell over the curb and broke her leg.

                        This all happened while I was on the train home from work. My dad went to the hospital tonight and I'm going to stay home tomorrow to help facilitate talking to the doctors, etc. They're transferring her to another hospital to do surgery. It's apparently a greenstick fracture of her left femur, so I imagine plates and screws and such may be involved.
                        Quoth Draper Mel View Post
                        TThe break is not a greenstick fracture as my Dad initially said, it's a complete break, but it's right around the femoral implant, which is not unusual. She'll need the entire replacement redone as well as the broken bone repaired.
                        I would have been VERY surprised if it had been a greenstick fracture - those usually happen to young children whose bones haven't fully calcified yet. It's just like the name sounds - instead of a clean break, the fracture goes most of the way through the bone, but a bit on one side bends rather than breaking (just like if you try to break a green stick, it won't break cleanly the way dry wood does). Happened to my brother (arm) when he was around 4 years old and jumped off the back of a chair - IIRC, SOP is to break it completely before setting it, since trying to set it "as is" won't get it the broken ends seated properly on each other (the unbroken part keeps them from lining up right).
                        Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.

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                        • #13
                          Mom had surgery this evening. The doctor talked to us afterwards and said the implant is not broken. The bone broke right above it. A plate and some screws were all it needed. Don't yet know how long recovery will take. But we're very relieved.

                          Thanks for all your good thoughts.
                          "If you pray very hard, you can become a cat person." -Angela, "The Office"

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                          • #14
                            Good to hear, I hope she heals up quickly *send hugs to Mel's family*
                            Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum! - Don't you dare erase my hard disk!

                            This is Tech Support, not Customer Service.
                            What's the difference?
                            We're allowed to tell you "no".

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                            • #15
                              Glad to hear good news...I'll continue praying for a speedy recovery.
                              By popular request....I am now officially the Enemy of Normalcy.

                              "What is unobtainium? To Seraph, it's a normal client. :P" -- Observant Friend

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