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Another Let Down!!!


Kj mcmeekin

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Sometmes I wonder why I keep fighting?

 

I took Chris to Moss Outpatient Rehab to their seating clinic. He was having some mild problems due to his field cut with his vision. Nothing that I don't think could have been corrected with continued practice and patience. The PT also told me that he has "left sided neglect." Because of these 2 problems she has refused to recommend him for a power chair.

 

I tried to explain to her that he is never left alone per Dr.'s orders and that if he would have any problems someone would be with him to help him. I also tried to explain to her that the power chair would be a big help to me. I told her that I wasn't getting any younger and getting him up and down ramps is getting more and more difficult. The chair would be a bigger help to me.

 

She has still flately denied him. I am dealing right now with alot of anger. Chris and I are becoming very homebound. The only time we go out anymore is to go to the doctors. I cannot manage him by myself - I need help to get him in and out of the house. This situation is driving me crazy.

 

I talked to his sister today and explained the situation to her. She had said that if I could locate a used power chair that the family would all pitch in and help pay for it. That's great - but I always feel like we are in debt to them.

 

I know that there are people that are in worse condition than Chris is - how do they get their chairs? I have contacted several vendors and all state that he will have to go through a seating clinic to get approved. Will all clinics do the same that Moss did?

 

We can't live the rest of our lives only in this house. Life needs to be lived........it can't be stopped just because Chris had a stroke.

 

Hopefully I will figure out what to do..........................

 

3 Comments


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Hi, sorry to hear your disappointing news. As a survivor with a field cut in my vision and I still struggle with Left side neglect. I was taught in rehab to adapt and compensate. I compensate for the left side neglect by turning my head to the left so my right eye sees the whole field of vision. But it took alot of repetion to automatically turn my head and compensate. Maybe before the next seating clinic, you both can practice the compensating. It won't happen overnight that he will remember to turn his head and use the other eye, but at this point it is worth a shot.

Lots of luck to you both,

Pam

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That really is royal disappointment! I have a prescription for a power chair for Don but I keep putting off making an appointment to go through the process of getting one because I feel like it will turn out like yours. He'll get his hopes up just to be dashed and I'll have wasted a lot of time.

 

I wouldn't be so quick to turn your family's offer down. They probably feel badly that they can't help more as it is and used power chairs aren't as expensive as you might think. Often times people just want to see them go to a good home. We got a used one given to us. It worked good for two years, but now needs some major work.

 

The best thing we did since the stroke was move to a house with no ramps. When I weighed our freedom to be on the go up against a house I'd lived in for decades, the house had to go.

 

Jean

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You mean those ads I see on TV are wrong? They practically promise a chair.

 

Why don't you suggest the therapist push and lift a chair where there are no ramps. Most of all (and I'm putting my foot in my mouth----_I blame the Stroke Association. They will not stand on their own and hide behind the Heart Association. I know people who have had heart problems and automatically get chairs if needed, and parking permits when it is a known fact that some people with heart conditions are to have simple "exercise" like walking. The Stroke Association does not fully look out for us. Also, while they are good to give warning signals, what about those who are beyond that? Or simple put "What have you done for me lately?"

 

I think the situation stinks!

 

Phyllis

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