Here we go again.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Prayers and hugs for you (((Cat))) and (((Tom Cat))). Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Yes, Ann I did mean "downhill". Thanks for calling my attention to it. Fever or not, that is still not acceptable.

[Parsi]

My internet access this trip is at the library. [It's a good thing I wrote the URL for BT down] I don't have internet at home so any news or messages that way are hit and miss. So fixing anything through me is not practical. I believe some of you are on her FB Friends list so perhaps you can reach her there.

[agate]

As of a couple of days ago Cat Dancer was quite happy because when she landed in the nursing home she found she could get online. I hope she'll feel up to letting us know what's going on there soon.

[Catdancer]

So I posted this VERY long post, which got swallowed up somewhere. I'm way too tired to repost it. Probably a good thing as I would have bored you all to death.

Yes, the Cat is back. Barely. I could never get in using my "old" registration, so created a Gmail account just for here. I'm in a nursing home. I have a permanent port installed in my left arm, with an antibiotic dripping through it 24/7, 4 hours off, 4hours on, for the next 6 weeks. For awhile after surgery I had one in my right arm, dripping saline. I have a wound vac attached to my butt, sucking 24/7, for the "next several weeks", depending on how the wound heals. I have a urinary catheter. I have a colostomy pouch hanging on my belly. My legs have totally quit working. I have two hearing aides. The cataract surgery went well -- I can see quite well close up, but I haven't gotten back to the eye doctor for a prescription for distance. At least I can see stuff on my kindle. Anything more than three feet away is a blur. I have bacterial infections in the spine and pelvis, and kidney. I'm considered medically fragile, so for the first few days I have a nurse in the room every two hours. Now only every four hours...sleep is a challenge.

How is YOUR day?? ����

Cat, not feeling much like dancing, nor very uppity...

[Howie]

Hello Cat. It sounds like things went well, just lots to adjust too for the time being. I guess the word for the day is HEAL!!! Things will improve with time, but the toughest is behind you. (pun intended) Thanks for checking in.

[SuzE-Q]

GOOD to hear from you, Cat!

Sounds like you've got a LOT going on, but honestly, it sounds like your treatment plan is just what you need to zap the infections and get your health back on track.

I'm sure the infections are messing with your MS, so, don't worry if your legs are worse or your hearing has been affected, I'll bet they'll rebound once your body has the upper hand with the infections, and your wound is improving. Good food, good sleep, good reading (for your mind) and good thoughts. Just do whatever you need to do to regain your strength, keep your resolve and optimism and turn the corner. I know you can do it again!

My best to you with many healing thoughts sent your way!

[Catdancer]

the pine and pelvic infections are troublesome as they can spread very quickly and cause organ failure and death pretty quickly. They were going to keep me in the hospital, but since I'm not running a fever Medicare wouldn't pay for that. The nursing home fortunately is just blocks from the hospital, so at least is the next best thing. This is the same nursing home I was inll15 months ago. At the time it didn't have internet access; now it does.... so things are manageable...at the moment..

[SuzE-Q]

Seems strange that whether you have a fever or not is a deciding factor, given how MS can impede our ability to HAVE a fever triggered when it's warranted!

How are YOU feeling? Are they treating you well there? How's your mood? How's TC handling this?

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi Cat, It sounds like they are staying on top of each of your issues. I am glad you are getting IV antibiotics to knock out the infections. You have been in my prayers for a long time and I will keep you in them. I'm glad you can update us on how you are doing. Tom Cat is also in my prayers. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Welcome back, uppitycats! You may be surprised at how fast those weeks will go by, and you'll have bounced back from this just as you've bounced back from so many other setbacks.

And gosh, if you have access to the news on TV or on a computer, you can EVEN follow the exciting and often humorous US political scene if you have any spare time and energy!

Is TC in touch by phone or other means of communication?

So Medicare "does" only fevers--as SuzEQ points out, that leaves a lot of people with certain illnesses out of luck. Opinions differ about what a fever is, too.

You've helped many people here to deal with their MS. If what goes around comes around, I hope the people in charge of your care will help you in any way they can. Maybe the social services sector of the nursing home can put you in touch with a person or agency who can provide good at-home care when you go back to your cats and Tom Cat.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Cat,, I am of many who worried you were using your 9 lives up,, glad things on the upswing, well in a way,,us Midwest gals,are made of pretty tough stuff,,hang in there my friend,,

[Catdancer]

Jeanie, are you the one who suggested honey to treat the pressure sore?? I keep remembering to respond to you, but then shut down before I d o. They've tried a variety off things to treat this thing, including medition-honey , pure, natural , just run through a finer screener than otherwise would be used. Each of them has worked for awhile, some better than others. The honey showed great promise for the two and a half months we were using it....then stalled. We still have a tube of it in case they cycle through the treatments again...

[Virginia]

So glad to see you Cat! Talk about going through some things - you have and still are. However, we all are praying, keeping you in our thoughts and anything we can think of to get you totally healed.

You are teaching us a ton of stuff, though I am sure you would rather not and we would rather you did not have to. As others do, I find it interesting that Medicare doesn't pay for someone in your condition unless there is fever. One thing you certainly need is a Doctor who knows how to work the system enough to put down whatever is needed to keep you wherever you need to be.

Glad you have internet and Kindle and stuff to keep your mind busy (as you feel like it).

Let us hear from you as often as you can.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Cat)))))) ~

So glad that you were able to create a new account so that you can post. I did PM Mike Weins about your problem logging on, but I haven't heard back from him yet. So, good for you to have a new identity, and that the nursing home now offers internet access!

You do have a very full plate, but I'm grateful that you're receiving appropriate care, which will lead you to a faster recovery. I'm praying that the antibiotics will knock out the infections.

Medicare not covering your hospital stay, because you don't have a fever, is just nonsensical to me. Until you are well beyond the place, where the infections can go South, it seems reasonable and logical to keep you in the hospital. Insurance companies don't factor in the cost of transport and re-admission, if a patient isn't ready for a nursing/rehab facility.

I too want to know how you're feeling, how the food is, and whether you like the nurses and feel you're getting good care, as well as how Tom Cat is and what your visitation agreement is with Tom Cat. Just being nosy!

You're in my prayers, as is Tom Cat.

May you feel better and stronger every single day ~

Love & Light,

Rose