I\'m Tired of Being Pushed around by Others!

Thursday, October 9, 2008 -- 7:55 PM   Things in my life seemed to be going better until today.  Then the roof caved in.  I should have expected it, but I thought that maybe my life had taken a turn for the better.  The verdict is still out on that.   I went to the clinic for my pool therapy this morning.  My therapist told me that since I had gone to the hospital, she wanted to talk with me to catch up on what had been happening.  By the time I finished telling her of the whole ordeal, there was not enough time for me to go into the pool.  She worked on stretching my back and legs instead, after taking measurements of the burn wounds, which were still on my legs.   After 30 minutes of that, it was time for me to leave.  Before I could do so, my therapist gave me a list of things that she wanted me to talk to my social worker about.  This had to do with my having some daily therapy at home, (known as Passive Range Of Motion), which was to be provided by the CNAs who worked with me.  I would then be going to the clinic for the pool therapy.  She wanted to know whether Medicare would pay for that.  She also had another series of questions about what they would or would not pay for.   I got home and sent my social worker an e-mail trying to point out each of the questions that my physical therapist had mentioned to me.  By the time I was done writing, I was thoroughly confused, not to mention being upset.  I included a note in the e-mail, telling the social worker that I hoped she was not as confused too.   About five seconds after I sent that e-mail off, I received an e-mail from my social worker.  Our e-mails must have crossed in cyberspace.  She said that my doctor had prescribed more pool therapy for me, and she had been trying to find a place in Denver that offered the type of therapy that I needed, so that I would not be required to continue going to the physical therapy clinic indefinitely.   She listed several places, including rehabilitation centers and hospitals that knew about the pool therapy, but did not offer it.  That certainly was not a big help!  The only place she could find was Easter Seals.  I would not mind that, but there are two catches there.  It is my understanding that Medicare will not pay for this type of therapy.  That means I would have to pay $30 for each session with a therapist working on a 1:1 basis for 30 minutes.  I cannot afford that myself, but I have reason to believe that my family would help me out.   The second problem is that they do not have someone who could transfer me from my wheelchair onto a hydraulic lift that lowers into the pool.  I would have to find a CNA, who could accompany me to the pool and provide the help needed.  I suspect that my home health care agency could supply someone for me, but that would probably take an order from my doctor.   I wrote back to the social worker explaining all of this to her, and asked if it would be possible for either her, or my doctor, to contact the Director of Staffing at my home health care agency.  Since I have been on somewhat shaky ground with the head of the agency, I feel it would be best to have a request come from one of them.   After writing all that, the electricity went out in my apartment, and everything I had written was gone.  When the electricity returned, I had to write everything all over again!  I was extremely angry by then.   I strongly suggested that my social worker contact my physical therapist directly, rather than going through me.  I then provided her with a telephone number where she could reach the physical therapist.   There is no reason why these two people cannot work together in order to get all of these problems solved and a program for me established.  I feel as though I am stuck in the middle, and I do not like it.  I am sick and tired of being pushed around by others, and the way I feel tonight, I am not going to be known as "Mr. Nice Guy" much longer!  I have just about had it.