Calvin-CALS
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2014
- Messages
- 42
- Reason
- CALS
- Diagnosis
- 11/2013
- Country
- US
- State
- TX
- City
- Los Fresnos
Hi, All,
I've been a member of the ALS Forums for a while and even posted a question or two. But this is the first time I've posted to this subforum.
I'm the primary caretaker of a good friend of mine, Patti. She was official diagnosed in November 2013, and she's been living with me since July 2014. At first, she didn't need a lot of help, of course. But as she's been living with me, her needs have increased.
Well, she fell getting out of the car Monday when her legs collapsed under her. Up until then, she'd been able to get in and out of the car with a lot of help and the use of her walker. But that's over. She's been basically in bed for the last week because she's afraid to walk, even with her walker, and quite likely it's not a good idea for her to try. We do have a transfer chair, so I can get her around the house, but no way to take her to the doctors, let alone anything fun.
That's bad enough, but we have a bunch of balls in the air right now getting her DME. These are all things we started on many months ago because we knew she'd need them eventually, but bureaucracy (United Health Care, government agencies, doctors, etc., etc.) have dragged things out. So while we're managing all that, NOW is when she needs the stuff. "Eventually" is today.
What she needs and is still struggling to get:
Oh, and have I mentioned incontinence also started this week? Yeah!
This week has been very f***ing tough in a way it hasn't been up until now. It's a blizzard of sh** at once!
After doing what I could about the practical problems, I realize that I also need emotional support. So I'm writing this post, and I plan to participate in this subforum pretty much every day.
Hello!
I've been a member of the ALS Forums for a while and even posted a question or two. But this is the first time I've posted to this subforum.
I'm the primary caretaker of a good friend of mine, Patti. She was official diagnosed in November 2013, and she's been living with me since July 2014. At first, she didn't need a lot of help, of course. But as she's been living with me, her needs have increased.
Well, she fell getting out of the car Monday when her legs collapsed under her. Up until then, she'd been able to get in and out of the car with a lot of help and the use of her walker. But that's over. She's been basically in bed for the last week because she's afraid to walk, even with her walker, and quite likely it's not a good idea for her to try. We do have a transfer chair, so I can get her around the house, but no way to take her to the doctors, let alone anything fun.
That's bad enough, but we have a bunch of balls in the air right now getting her DME. These are all things we started on many months ago because we knew she'd need them eventually, but bureaucracy (United Health Care, government agencies, doctors, etc., etc.) have dragged things out. So while we're managing all that, NOW is when she needs the stuff. "Eventually" is today.
What she needs and is still struggling to get:
- Rehab chair
- Hoyer lift
- Wheelchair van
- Long term care insurance benefits
- Hospital bed
- Bi-PAP
Oh, and have I mentioned incontinence also started this week? Yeah!
This week has been very f***ing tough in a way it hasn't been up until now. It's a blizzard of sh** at once!
After doing what I could about the practical problems, I realize that I also need emotional support. So I'm writing this post, and I plan to participate in this subforum pretty much every day.
Hello!