Jim's Settled/V's Day

Yesterday, we got Jim out of the hospital and into Shipley Manor Health Center, a medicare approved skilled nursing facility (SNF) to keep him safe, healthy, and rehabbed while V goes through her surgery. At the hospital occupational therapy, Jim and Venita had practiced getting Jim into and out of a car. So when the real deal came yesterday, we did it with flying colors. V was so proud of Jim!!

Already today, V has had a phone appointment with the vet (who is an hour drive away) about being more aggressive in treating Max's CRF. V will be starting Max on fluids soon. She needs to chat some with the folks on the CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) and CRF/FD (Feline Diabetes) boards about some things the vet said. That will come much later.

In 2 hours, V has an appointment with her GYN. V is supposed to get PAP smears every 4 months because of cervical displasia. This one is long overdue, put off because of the chemo. Along with the PAP, she will get a colposcopy, which she hasn't googled, but understands to be something of a mini biopsy of the cervical tissue.

After that, V will head out to see Jim and finish the paperwork for his admission. That package had to be 2" thick. All V signed last night were authorizations for physician treatment, labs, and medicines. Also, last night they gave V a list of Jim's meds, and she had to check the insurance company's formulary to see whether they would cover those meds. For many of them, they only cover generic. Why does life have to be so difficult and confusing when folks get old and have less brain power and energy to fight the system. This really sucks, not just for us but for all older folks. We don't understand the "universal" healthcare that other countries have, but we know that healthcare coverage in the US needs alot of improvement, and some universality. We are very lucky to have excellent coverage because of Jim's military career. But we still see what happens to us and to others.