Ok. I've had it. My OT called me while I was at work, so of course I couldn't talk to him. He left me a long-winded "I'm busy and this is a pain in the ass situation I'm in for." kind of voice mail. He is apparently seeing 8-9 patients per day, plus still dealing with some outpatients. He sounds exhausted and like he's trying like hell to make things happen, so I'm trying to be patient, but it's never been my strongest quality. As it stands right now, we're in a for a battle. He called the manager of the equipment services I receive and because this chair is technically owned by the government, they are hesitant to let me add the standing component because of confusion of ownership. My OT says he thinks it's bureaucracy. I think it is also, and really, how hard is it? I get record of the fact that I paid for and own the standing component. Better yet, if there's confusion of ownership, the government should just pay for the standing feature and shut up. It's not like they paid for my standing frame. So, my OT has to write a letter to the Ministry of Health explaining why I need such a specific thing. Perhaps because I can't stand independently, just a thought. Anyways, he's going to do that and I will check in with him Tuesday (he asked me to call so I did, but I couldn't reach him.) If all else fails, we will try and get private insurance to front at least part of the bill for a standing chair or I will yet again start saving. We will also see if we can get some funding through some non-government agencies. I don't like it but, I'm ready to fight and make phone calls and do whatever else I need to. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.” – Tom Krause
J
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Hmmmm
Hey all,
I got my first yelling outburst on the phone today. It sucked.
On a good note, I did order my Ride cushion today and ended up getting it for $450. Awesome. I also left a message for the lady at the driver rehab department and left an oh-so-sweet, sugarcoated not tell you how I really feel kind of voice mail for my OT about the standing component because I'm having a heck of a time sitting for 7-8 hours per day, everyday, without a break so, hopefully he'll get a hold me soon.
Hope all is well!
J
I got my first yelling outburst on the phone today. It sucked.
On a good note, I did order my Ride cushion today and ended up getting it for $450. Awesome. I also left a message for the lady at the driver rehab department and left an oh-so-sweet, sugarcoated not tell you how I really feel kind of voice mail for my OT about the standing component because I'm having a heck of a time sitting for 7-8 hours per day, everyday, without a break so, hopefully he'll get a hold me soon.
Hope all is well!
J
Sunday, July 24, 2011
I Knew It,
Anxiety is creeping in and has been super awful for the last couple of weeks. I feel like I'm loosing control and in fact, am feeling like a pretty horrible person at this particular moment. I don't even feel like me. I haven't even been able to say a good prayer for like... a month. Please pray for me to feel like myself and get back to being myself again soon.
Work is awesome. I'm still really enjoying it and everyone has been very accommodating. It has, however, affected my ability to horseback ride because I work part of the afternoon and all evening. I still go riding when I can, but at this point it isn't exactly weekly. I need to make money to pay for my damn cushion. I got an email from my DME and... are you sitting down? Sit down. The J3 cushion I am currently parked on retails for $826! Did your jaw drop? The Ride Forward I fell in love with back in May retails for $590. Not cheap. Not horrible. DME guy is aware I'm not made of money and he will give me the J3 for $650 and the Ride Forward $565 if it is the only thing he orders. If he can include it in one of his orders, he can do $450. I appreciate this guy, he and the rest of his staff understand that stuff is expensive. They are still in the process of getting the Joey Lift sorted and those plans may have come to a halt for a bit. We were at the lake last Monday and it hailed. 45 minutes of baseball sized hail later, we may very well have a totaled van. The back window is gone. The body is dented. It's a mess. As far as the cushion choice goes, my vote goes to the Ride cushion because it doesn't need air and is generally way more comfortable.
PT is going very well. I just need to get used to doing the exercises at home. My therapist is impressed with my postural improvements so, that's a good thing. Joey we continue to work on trunk control and core. We are also now at a point where we are working on strengthening with Therabands. Within a month or two, his wife who is a PT also, is going to be coming in and looking at how my manual chair is set up and from there, we will be focusing on pushing technique because the ultimate goal is getting back to the manual chair while being able to keep my shoulders healthy and properly strengthened. This guy's got a game plan and a head that appears to be securely and straightly screwed on. What more can a girl ask for in a PT?
I'm stilling waiting on news about the standing component for my wheelchair and to be perfectly honest, I'm starting to get pissed off at my OT. He was supposed to find out about it on June 22nd and forgot. Then, on July 12th I heard from him about the cushion and asked about this and he told me he forgot, but would call them that day (July 13th) and I've heard nothing from him since. I know he is busy with the patients he sees daily, but I have not been discharged from his care and he told me he would help me f I needed something and I feel like he's not. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, it just feels like unless you're seeing someone weekly, they forget about you and your needs.
J
Work is awesome. I'm still really enjoying it and everyone has been very accommodating. It has, however, affected my ability to horseback ride because I work part of the afternoon and all evening. I still go riding when I can, but at this point it isn't exactly weekly. I need to make money to pay for my damn cushion. I got an email from my DME and... are you sitting down? Sit down. The J3 cushion I am currently parked on retails for $826! Did your jaw drop? The Ride Forward I fell in love with back in May retails for $590. Not cheap. Not horrible. DME guy is aware I'm not made of money and he will give me the J3 for $650 and the Ride Forward $565 if it is the only thing he orders. If he can include it in one of his orders, he can do $450. I appreciate this guy, he and the rest of his staff understand that stuff is expensive. They are still in the process of getting the Joey Lift sorted and those plans may have come to a halt for a bit. We were at the lake last Monday and it hailed. 45 minutes of baseball sized hail later, we may very well have a totaled van. The back window is gone. The body is dented. It's a mess. As far as the cushion choice goes, my vote goes to the Ride cushion because it doesn't need air and is generally way more comfortable.
PT is going very well. I just need to get used to doing the exercises at home. My therapist is impressed with my postural improvements so, that's a good thing. Joey we continue to work on trunk control and core. We are also now at a point where we are working on strengthening with Therabands. Within a month or two, his wife who is a PT also, is going to be coming in and looking at how my manual chair is set up and from there, we will be focusing on pushing technique because the ultimate goal is getting back to the manual chair while being able to keep my shoulders healthy and properly strengthened. This guy's got a game plan and a head that appears to be securely and straightly screwed on. What more can a girl ask for in a PT?
I'm stilling waiting on news about the standing component for my wheelchair and to be perfectly honest, I'm starting to get pissed off at my OT. He was supposed to find out about it on June 22nd and forgot. Then, on July 12th I heard from him about the cushion and asked about this and he told me he forgot, but would call them that day (July 13th) and I've heard nothing from him since. I know he is busy with the patients he sees daily, but I have not been discharged from his care and he told me he would help me f I needed something and I feel like he's not. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, it just feels like unless you're seeing someone weekly, they forget about you and your needs.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
J
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
New Things!
Hey All!
I got a job yesterday and start training today. It is full-time over the summer.
Physio started Monday and I think it's going well. My physiotherapist said that my problems really aren't caused by my rotator cuff tear, but that my shoulder muscles are not doing the jobs they should be because one part of my shoulder is way stronger than the other. He is trying to get me to use my trunk more to have better posture. He says my trunk muscles are there, but I need to learn to use them. He also has me doing the same pec stretch my OT had me doing.
I also got an email from my OT saying that insurance will not pay for my new cushion and there will be "no exceptions." So now, I get to pay out of pocket for more equipment because you know, I have nothing better to spend my money on. Yes, I'm bitter towards insurance
Hope everyone is having a great summer!
J
I got a job yesterday and start training today. It is full-time over the summer.
Physio started Monday and I think it's going well. My physiotherapist said that my problems really aren't caused by my rotator cuff tear, but that my shoulder muscles are not doing the jobs they should be because one part of my shoulder is way stronger than the other. He is trying to get me to use my trunk more to have better posture. He says my trunk muscles are there, but I need to learn to use them. He also has me doing the same pec stretch my OT had me doing.
I also got an email from my OT saying that insurance will not pay for my new cushion and there will be "no exceptions." So now, I get to pay out of pocket for more equipment because you know, I have nothing better to spend my money on. Yes, I'm bitter towards insurance
Hope everyone is having a great summer!
J
Friday, July 8, 2011
They've Reached an Agreement.. Tentative that is..
The Health Sciences Association and SAHO have reached a tentative agreement. This contract restored the 8 percent wage differential to people who hold senior positions. The agreement also restores some differentials that recognize educational achievement and also provide a stand-by wage increase for rural EMS workers. There are other details that have not been released, but, it does not address the chronic under staffing problem. The Health Sciences Association expects the whole process will be finished in 30 days and they will continue to make everyone aware of that issue.
Thank you all for your prayers about this :)
J
Thank you all for your prayers about this :)
J
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
I'm Looking for Feedback
I'm hoping some of you can provide me with feedback on a couple things.
First off, a totally random question. Do you keep in touch with any of your old PTs/OTs/STs etc. and if so how? Facebook? Email? Phone calls? Visits? I have lost touch with a lot of therapists over the years and some of them, I don't care, but others I would love to keep in touch with. So how did you or did you at all, keep in touch with them? Parents of kids with special needs, do you keep in touch with any of your child's old therapists?
Also, is there any particular topic that any of you would like me to do a blog post on for informational purposes? Wheelchairs? Standing? OT/PT/Hippotherapy questions? ADLS?
Please feel free to ask because I really do want this blog to be somewhere that is a source of information and not just a blog about what I did on what particular day :)
First off, a totally random question. Do you keep in touch with any of your old PTs/OTs/STs etc. and if so how? Facebook? Email? Phone calls? Visits? I have lost touch with a lot of therapists over the years and some of them, I don't care, but others I would love to keep in touch with. So how did you or did you at all, keep in touch with them? Parents of kids with special needs, do you keep in touch with any of your child's old therapists?
Also, is there any particular topic that any of you would like me to do a blog post on for informational purposes? Wheelchairs? Standing? OT/PT/Hippotherapy questions? ADLS?
Please feel free to ask because I really do want this blog to be somewhere that is a source of information and not just a blog about what I did on what particular day :)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
2 Weeks Therapy Free and now... Physio!!!!!!!!!!
Hey all,
We got our insurance deal figured out so, I have my first PT appointment for my shoulder on Monday morning. Bright and early. Hopefully it will do something for me.
I think we also FINALLY found a cushion that is going to work for my power chair and my OT will put in a request for that.
Riding is going awesome. I stood by myself for 15 seconds yesterday and that was after a two week break. I have also started in a group and am warming up to the idea, so that's a good thing. We are working on functional skills now, like controlling the horse. I saw a rider yesterday who can ride on his own, and my therapist said to me that that's where we're heading (he had someone walking alongside him). We talked a lot about positioning which is something that as a rider, but especially a rider with CP or other challenges that cause positional difficulties, you HAVE to pay attention to HOW you are riding... All. The. Time. We went riding around the arena to warm up and when my therapist told my horse to halt, I wasn't quiet expecting the throw I got :). I thought for a split second I was going to be off that horse before anybody could do anything about it. All was fine. It actually, in a way, becomes easier when you get to tell the horse what to do, because even though it requires coordination to hold the reigns and position, you know when to expect the movement. The one thing I'm struggling with is when I tell my horse to walk on, he has to feel my legs sort of "kicking" him and initating leg movement is certainly difficult. It will come with time and practice.
I went to see someone from the Learning Disabilities Association today and I will be able to get some tutoring through them for hopefully, at least my first semester of online classes. She saw my Ed Psych report and she said it does appear that I have some kind of learning disability. UGH! Why can't someone figure this out? It would probably help me get more support.
I continue to ask for prayers for the Health Science Association (I have no real ideas as to what is haappening because there hasn;'t been any strike action in a while. I also ask you to pray as far as PT goes (works for my shoulder, that I'll like my therapist, that insurance will work out (we get $400 worth of coverage. First visit is $70 and every vist after that is $45 and OT thought I would need at least 6 months. Dad's insurance kicks in in October or November)) I also ask for prayers in regards to transportation for PT. I booked a bus, but myy appointment goes from about 9-10am and I have to be waiting for the bus by five after 10. I also ask for prayers in regards to anxiety (It's somewhat bad right now).
Thanks all!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
We got our insurance deal figured out so, I have my first PT appointment for my shoulder on Monday morning. Bright and early. Hopefully it will do something for me.
I think we also FINALLY found a cushion that is going to work for my power chair and my OT will put in a request for that.
Riding is going awesome. I stood by myself for 15 seconds yesterday and that was after a two week break. I have also started in a group and am warming up to the idea, so that's a good thing. We are working on functional skills now, like controlling the horse. I saw a rider yesterday who can ride on his own, and my therapist said to me that that's where we're heading (he had someone walking alongside him). We talked a lot about positioning which is something that as a rider, but especially a rider with CP or other challenges that cause positional difficulties, you HAVE to pay attention to HOW you are riding... All. The. Time. We went riding around the arena to warm up and when my therapist told my horse to halt, I wasn't quiet expecting the throw I got :). I thought for a split second I was going to be off that horse before anybody could do anything about it. All was fine. It actually, in a way, becomes easier when you get to tell the horse what to do, because even though it requires coordination to hold the reigns and position, you know when to expect the movement. The one thing I'm struggling with is when I tell my horse to walk on, he has to feel my legs sort of "kicking" him and initating leg movement is certainly difficult. It will come with time and practice.
I went to see someone from the Learning Disabilities Association today and I will be able to get some tutoring through them for hopefully, at least my first semester of online classes. She saw my Ed Psych report and she said it does appear that I have some kind of learning disability. UGH! Why can't someone figure this out? It would probably help me get more support.
I continue to ask for prayers for the Health Science Association (I have no real ideas as to what is haappening because there hasn;'t been any strike action in a while. I also ask you to pray as far as PT goes (works for my shoulder, that I'll like my therapist, that insurance will work out (we get $400 worth of coverage. First visit is $70 and every vist after that is $45 and OT thought I would need at least 6 months. Dad's insurance kicks in in October or November)) I also ask for prayers in regards to transportation for PT. I booked a bus, but myy appointment goes from about 9-10am and I have to be waiting for the bus by five after 10. I also ask for prayers in regards to anxiety (It's somewhat bad right now).
Thanks all!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
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