Continued GUEST blogger 5/25/17

Jeff here - continuing as the GUEST at the request of my lovely bride.

I spent a couple of hours at the hospital in Baltimore (Johns Hopkins) with Patti yesterday afternoon/evening.  I did meet two of the docs - floor or "provider" docs.

For those of you that are not aware, Johns Hopkins is a teaching hospital, and as such, you get to meet new docs/nurses in training - under supervision of the resident and instructor.

Our primary care doctor, is a Professor in the School of Medicine - and of course, still has a few regular patients.  She is simply a wonderful doc, and provider - while it is a bit of a hike to Baltimore for us, (about 50 miles) - the care has always been wonderful.

The current discussions have moved from rehab - now to home care... with Medicare providing some assistance with nursing, Physical Therapy, bathing, etc.  They are even talking about providing a rental hospital bed for some period, since she really can't go up the stairs... and they don't really want her sitting in the recliner 24x7.

Patti was fretting - because during these discussions - the word DISCHARGE was tossed about, and I spoke to our primary care doc, that she did not seem READY - yet - and she explained that the discussions by some of the floor personal were premature - we are just PLANNING HERE...DON'T FRET..

Clearly, it does take some time to get authorizations, and make arrangements, so all these discussions are simply in the preliminary - what CAN we do, phase....in order to make reasonable and rational decisions.  However, to this fellow, and Patti as well, it simply feels like the ol' "push 'em out"  routine. 

Current status - as of late yesterday afternoon, just before dinner, the knee is getting better, less swollen, less pain.  The right calf/foot still bad.  There is still a need to drain/absorb the fluid that has pooled from the ruptured cyst, and determine if there is a "impinged nerve" - Orthopedics, and even Neurology will probably be more involved.  Apparently, the normal treatment for a Baker's cyst is elevate the affected leg, cold (ice) packs, rest, and time..followed by Physical Therapy. 

The nursing staff has been great! Patti is still struggling and frustrated, because this is taking so long, and we are being told - THIS CONDITION TAKES TIME.... (so, HOW LONG is reasonable?) the unanswered question.

I kinda suspect, that Patti will be discharged tomorrow - or Fri - before the holiday weekend.

We will see....
-J-