jwife
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2010
- Messages
- 163
- Diagnosis
- 05/2009
- Country
- US
- State
- Alabama
- City
- Lincoln
My husband was diagnosed in April 2009 and we have watched his progression. Everything so far has seemed to be a slow process where he slowly loses skills. He had his PEG tube placed on Feb. 17th. The sedation and pain medicine made it a little difficult to regain his ability to stand for transfers and to walk short distances with his walker. But he was back to doing both a few days later. He was hospitalized again on Feb. 24th for sudden dizziness, blurred vision and low blood pressure. After a 4 day hospital stay, he was released with a diagnosis of low pressure due to medications for hypertension, swelling in his feet and prostate medication. He has not been able to stand for transfers, much less use his walker, since that time. We cannot decide if this is the ALS progression or the result of being in a bed for 4 days. The therapist believe that it is just from the hospital stay and that he might benefit from rehab to regain his ability to stand. Personally, I have not seen him regain any skill that he has lost.
Anyone else with similar experiences? Anyone who has gone to rehab and seen improvement?
Also, please be aware. He was in the hospital from Thurs night until Mon night, but was not able to transfer to rehab because the doctor coded the visit as "Observation". He was not considered "Inpatient" so he did not qualify for a rehab stay. Talked with a Medicare supervisor and Doctors are allowed to keep a patient for an unlimited number of hours of observation without actually admitting them as an inpatient. I am still appealing this with the hospital, but don't expect to make any gains. :-(
Janis
Anyone else with similar experiences? Anyone who has gone to rehab and seen improvement?
Also, please be aware. He was in the hospital from Thurs night until Mon night, but was not able to transfer to rehab because the doctor coded the visit as "Observation". He was not considered "Inpatient" so he did not qualify for a rehab stay. Talked with a Medicare supervisor and Doctors are allowed to keep a patient for an unlimited number of hours of observation without actually admitting them as an inpatient. I am still appealing this with the hospital, but don't expect to make any gains. :-(
Janis