General Ramblings 7/9/09
Thursday, July 9th, 2009
I started this entry, as usual, a few days ago, and originally opened it with bitching about the Michael Jackson coverage on every channel (the useless stupid stuff like all the things he had in common with Madonna and interviewing Bubbles) but since his memorial the other day, it didn’t seem right to open that way. Did you watch the memorial? It was truly beautiful and moving. I was teary, but managed to keep from bawling, until they showed his kids and Paris spoke about her daddy. Then I totally lost it. And now I can’t watch anything about it without bawling. I guess, like most people, I’m choosing to remember the good stuff. The star that shone so bright that night at the Motown 25th Anniversary that I was lucky enough to see back in 1983. I is old.
********************************
So, I went to the orthotic place to get my ankle/foot orthotic brace thingy adjusted. She changed the velcro straps around, but the bottom line is I still need someone to help me put it on. I’m not able to move my right foot and jiggle it around/push it into a shoe so I need help. That’s fine, all home care workers that have ever seen the AFO have asked me if I need them to help me put it on, so I figure they’re prepared for that. I’ll get it put on after I’m dressed and wear it for at least a few hours every day around the apartment.
The next day, Tuesday, I had Janice put it on me after exercises. It was a bit of a struggle, but we got it on and I wore it all day. I could definitely feel a difference, walking was better, even getting up from the chair at my desk was easier for some reason. It seems to keep my leg from stiffening up or something. Even after I took it off, I could notice I walked better that night. It’s like it trains your foot to stay straight and not drop! I was pretty excited.
I called my Home Care nurse/coordinator Gail to let her know I needed the “help put on AFO” added to my “care plan” (every little thing the caregivers do needs to be written in your care plan and they’re supposed to tick it off in your book every time they come; the Health Region loves paperwork). She said no problem, she’d call the Vendor (company who sends me Janice and the others, it’s all so complicated) and let them know.
A few minutes later my phone rang. It was Gail, with a biiiiiig sigh. “They have to send out a supervisor and an O/T”. WHAT? “To make sure it’s being done properly”. Are you kidding me? How do you do it WRONG? It’s either on, or it’s not. Gail agreed, and said she got quite snarky with them about all their “procedures”, and that I had worn the AFO that day with Janice’s help already. This is so fucking ridiculous, it should just fall under “dressing”, like putting on shoes does. It’s no different than putting on a shoe with more force than usual. Like Gail said, “they all know how to do it, they have lots of clients with AFO’s”. Half the Health Region is on holidays and who knows when an O/T and a supervisor will be able to be here at the same time as Janice. And what about when it’s not Janice? Saturdays? Holidays? I’m pissed. And Janice was told not to put it on me again until a supervisor and O/T come out, so I haven’t worn it since that one day. &@*{?!@?!!!!
Speaking of my O/T, he is really pissing me off. He’s the one that showed up that day unannounced and I heard tell the wheelchair rep that he KNOWS he called me and my MS must be affecting my mind. He is an arrogant, high on power ass, like it seems a lot of them in his position are, but I have been tolerating him because I rely on him. I only hope I have another option. Because I spoke to him the other day about the delivery of my power chair (a few weeks yet) and while I had him on the phone I asked him about setting up an assessment for self-managed care once I’ve had the chair for a bit, and see how that helps my independence. He spoke to me in such a condescending manner, like I’m a complete tool, and even laughed at me a couple times, that there is no way in hell I’ll be getting him to do that assessment. I really hope they can send me a different O/T for that because I am ready to file a formal letter of complaint against this asshole. I’d like to know his IQ because I’m pretty sure mine is higher and I’d like to rub that in his smug, self-righteous little face.
****************************
That was the part I started the other day. My life is so exciting, isn’t it? I’m understanding why Olivia Newton-John said (with regards to her cancer) to have someone else deal with the “stuff” so you can focus on healing. If only it was that simple.
My home care coordinator called me yesterday to find out if I had heard from my O/T about coming over for my AFO. I told her no, and while I had her, I mentioned my frustrations with that O/T and that I wanted someone else to do my self-managed care assessment. She said “I’m going to have to say something, because you are not the first person to complain about him.” What she failed to tell me, however, is that it appears I am the first person to officially request another O/T because of his attitude. This led to a meeting between my coordinator, the O/T, and a clinical supervisor in which they discussed MY complaints (no one else’s, which pisses me off, because now I have been singled out and the O/T knows I complained about him) and I need to meet with all three of them to “come to an understanding”. I guess there isn’t another O/T for this area to refer me to, so I need to air out my concerns with everyone and the O/T “needs to understand how he comes across” (as a condescending prick). I don’t know when this meeting will take place, but I need to get my thoughts organized. I want an O/T who will be supportive and helpful, not make me feel guilty for needing equipment and assistance. Like this guy does. I need to make a list of my grievances and be ready. My home care worker said today that she has other clients that hate him, but never say anything because they are afraid of how he will retaliate. So I get to do it. Oh, lucky me.
I also found out today from the wheelchair place that I don’t even go in for a seat fitting until August 17, so it looks like I won’t get my power chair until around that time. Bummer.
******************************
It is a couple days later now. I really need someone to deal with the “stuff”, this is exhausting and as you can see, takes over my life. Didn’t I used to talk about other things?
This morning when Janice was here, my O/T, Gail and a supervisor all came over to see how much work it is to put on my AFO. It took all of two minutes and it was agreed that it was a waste of time for all, but rules are rules. So now I can wear my AFO every day.
After Janice and her supervisor left, it was just me, Gail and my O/T to have our little “meeting”. The clinical supervisor that was also supposed to be included couldn’t make it. Nothing much was resolved; I sort of came to the conclusion that the O/T is the way he is, very by-the-book/black and white and not as much there to help the client as he is to make sure all his T’s are crossed. He didn’t understand what I meant by calling him “condescending” so I told him if he ever did or said anything to offend me or piss me off in the future I would be sure to tell him directly. We talked enough so that Gail called me later and said “I know what you mean about him.” I expressed my concern again that when I get my self-managed care assessment, he is not the type that will be supportive and helpful because he is not the least bit lenient or pro-client. She told me she would be my advocate and would help me with that when the time comes. So I told her she sure as hell better not leave her position, EVER.
Oh, also when Gail was here she commented that I seem to be moving a lot better. I held up my bottle of StemEnhance, which I believe to be one reason why. But again, I’m not saying too much until the 4 month mark and I’m only half way there.
Well, my next entry should have some more life to it. Lately, the above HAS been my life, so not a lot of fun for me. However, tonight I am going out, Saturday is Russ and Lisa’s wedding, lunch with another friend Lisa next week, going to the Calgary Folk Music Festival as a guest of the fabulously wonderful Good Lovelies, and some hopefully interesting stuff to talk about.
Some recent shots of Pita and her hanging front paws habit. Which cracks me up.
Hanging out on Momma’s walker
Streeeeetch!
I started this entry, as usual, a few days ago, and originally opened it with bitching about the Michael Jackson coverage on every channel (the useless stupid stuff like all the things he had in common with Madonna and interviewing Bubbles) but since his memorial the other day, it didn’t seem right to open that way. Did you watch the memorial? It was truly beautiful and moving. I was teary, but managed to keep from bawling, until they showed his kids and Paris spoke about her daddy. Then I totally lost it. And now I can’t watch anything about it without bawling. I guess, like most people, I’m choosing to remember the good stuff. The star that shone so bright that night at the Motown 25th Anniversary that I was lucky enough to see back in 1983. I is old.
So, I went to the orthotic place to get my ankle/foot orthotic brace thingy adjusted. She changed the velcro straps around, but the bottom line is I still need someone to help me put it on. I’m not able to move my right foot and jiggle it around/push it into a shoe so I need help. That’s fine, all home care workers that have ever seen the AFO have asked me if I need them to help me put it on, so I figure they’re prepared for that. I’ll get it put on after I’m dressed and wear it for at least a few hours every day around the apartment.
The next day, Tuesday, I had Janice put it on me after exercises. It was a bit of a struggle, but we got it on and I wore it all day. I could definitely feel a difference, walking was better, even getting up from the chair at my desk was easier for some reason. It seems to keep my leg from stiffening up or something. Even after I took it off, I could notice I walked better that night. It’s like it trains your foot to stay straight and not drop! I was pretty excited.
I called my Home Care nurse/coordinator Gail to let her know I needed the “help put on AFO” added to my “care plan” (every little thing the caregivers do needs to be written in your care plan and they’re supposed to tick it off in your book every time they come; the Health Region loves paperwork). She said no problem, she’d call the Vendor (company who sends me Janice and the others, it’s all so complicated) and let them know.
A few minutes later my phone rang. It was Gail, with a biiiiiig sigh. “They have to send out a supervisor and an O/T”. WHAT? “To make sure it’s being done properly”. Are you kidding me? How do you do it WRONG? It’s either on, or it’s not. Gail agreed, and said she got quite snarky with them about all their “procedures”, and that I had worn the AFO that day with Janice’s help already. This is so fucking ridiculous, it should just fall under “dressing”, like putting on shoes does. It’s no different than putting on a shoe with more force than usual. Like Gail said, “they all know how to do it, they have lots of clients with AFO’s”. Half the Health Region is on holidays and who knows when an O/T and a supervisor will be able to be here at the same time as Janice. And what about when it’s not Janice? Saturdays? Holidays? I’m pissed. And Janice was told not to put it on me again until a supervisor and O/T come out, so I haven’t worn it since that one day. &@*{?!@?!!!!
Speaking of my O/T, he is really pissing me off. He’s the one that showed up that day unannounced and I heard tell the wheelchair rep that he KNOWS he called me and my MS must be affecting my mind. He is an arrogant, high on power ass, like it seems a lot of them in his position are, but I have been tolerating him because I rely on him. I only hope I have another option. Because I spoke to him the other day about the delivery of my power chair (a few weeks yet) and while I had him on the phone I asked him about setting up an assessment for self-managed care once I’ve had the chair for a bit, and see how that helps my independence. He spoke to me in such a condescending manner, like I’m a complete tool, and even laughed at me a couple times, that there is no way in hell I’ll be getting him to do that assessment. I really hope they can send me a different O/T for that because I am ready to file a formal letter of complaint against this asshole. I’d like to know his IQ because I’m pretty sure mine is higher and I’d like to rub that in his smug, self-righteous little face.
That was the part I started the other day. My life is so exciting, isn’t it? I’m understanding why Olivia Newton-John said (with regards to her cancer) to have someone else deal with the “stuff” so you can focus on healing. If only it was that simple.
My home care coordinator called me yesterday to find out if I had heard from my O/T about coming over for my AFO. I told her no, and while I had her, I mentioned my frustrations with that O/T and that I wanted someone else to do my self-managed care assessment. She said “I’m going to have to say something, because you are not the first person to complain about him.” What she failed to tell me, however, is that it appears I am the first person to officially request another O/T because of his attitude. This led to a meeting between my coordinator, the O/T, and a clinical supervisor in which they discussed MY complaints (no one else’s, which pisses me off, because now I have been singled out and the O/T knows I complained about him) and I need to meet with all three of them to “come to an understanding”. I guess there isn’t another O/T for this area to refer me to, so I need to air out my concerns with everyone and the O/T “needs to understand how he comes across” (as a condescending prick). I don’t know when this meeting will take place, but I need to get my thoughts organized. I want an O/T who will be supportive and helpful, not make me feel guilty for needing equipment and assistance. Like this guy does. I need to make a list of my grievances and be ready. My home care worker said today that she has other clients that hate him, but never say anything because they are afraid of how he will retaliate. So I get to do it. Oh, lucky me.
I also found out today from the wheelchair place that I don’t even go in for a seat fitting until August 17, so it looks like I won’t get my power chair until around that time. Bummer.
It is a couple days later now. I really need someone to deal with the “stuff”, this is exhausting and as you can see, takes over my life. Didn’t I used to talk about other things?
This morning when Janice was here, my O/T, Gail and a supervisor all came over to see how much work it is to put on my AFO. It took all of two minutes and it was agreed that it was a waste of time for all, but rules are rules. So now I can wear my AFO every day.
After Janice and her supervisor left, it was just me, Gail and my O/T to have our little “meeting”. The clinical supervisor that was also supposed to be included couldn’t make it. Nothing much was resolved; I sort of came to the conclusion that the O/T is the way he is, very by-the-book/black and white and not as much there to help the client as he is to make sure all his T’s are crossed. He didn’t understand what I meant by calling him “condescending” so I told him if he ever did or said anything to offend me or piss me off in the future I would be sure to tell him directly. We talked enough so that Gail called me later and said “I know what you mean about him.” I expressed my concern again that when I get my self-managed care assessment, he is not the type that will be supportive and helpful because he is not the least bit lenient or pro-client. She told me she would be my advocate and would help me with that when the time comes. So I told her she sure as hell better not leave her position, EVER.
Oh, also when Gail was here she commented that I seem to be moving a lot better. I held up my bottle of StemEnhance, which I believe to be one reason why. But again, I’m not saying too much until the 4 month mark and I’m only half way there.
Well, my next entry should have some more life to it. Lately, the above HAS been my life, so not a lot of fun for me. However, tonight I am going out, Saturday is Russ and Lisa’s wedding, lunch with another friend Lisa next week, going to the Calgary Folk Music Festival as a guest of the fabulously wonderful Good Lovelies, and some hopefully interesting stuff to talk about.
Hanging out on Momma’s walker
Streeeeetch!