I reached middle ground with my Doctor somehow. He just left and he agreed with me that just because I “look 60”, I am not. I am 74 and he also feels these so-called care-givers, him included, forget this and do not adjust their….will I use the words, delivery of information to me, attitudes ??-----modes of communication to account for some slippage in my mind with age and with the traumas induced by drugs, pain, misunderstandings, all the legal crap etc. of the past 5 years to allow me to grasp all that is being thrown at me.
I am not overwhelmed, nor senile. I stop them and ask for clarification. Should one comply, we can remain on common ground. Should those who see a “young whippersnapper” amongst the Old Folks (Karla included, I see) then I must reign them in and slow them down to my speed of comprehension.
Those reading this might have started at the same time, but one could be at the end of first paragraph, while another will be at the end of the second paragraph. Just a small difference in the speed with which we pick up knowledge.
Karla takes her duties seriously, but can overstep and I am not senile yet and when I asked her to bring me $100 cash, she did, but asked me what it was for. I glanced her a little glance and said to note it on her sheet as $100.00 to me and I would provide the receipt(s) for placement with the others. At the same time, I reminded her that I had asked her to contact Ellen to come in to see me at her convenience. Putting 2 and 2 together I skipped over the fact that Karla was encroaching on Ellen’s work, therefore depriving Ellen of what would be her job and her income……. Not the bill Karla presented to me----paid for before, but to Ellen. Therefore, I get the word to Ellen about what I want her to do, that the Super will let her in when I tell her to, and lock up after. (Karla has the keys and I cannot have her lining up times and dates with Ellen.)
Writing my previous message gave me the impetus to “step up” my own advocacy, as Karla has no say here, over the Rules. There have been changes since that message re my care, but Karla is invaluable for filling in the gaps (a sounding board, if you will) left by those who are speaking to a “younger person” than I am, even though they are speaking to me. This is a Government Health Facility, once Karla’s employer, but she got out of the “manure pile”.
Today Dr.s (Otho surgeon) Orders were followed and I have gone all day with my leg/knee bent in a seated position, not sticking out in front of me in an elevated foot rest. I’m quick. Monday, the taxi driver was pushing me up the ramp to the level back floor, but too fast and would have rammed my foot into the back of the seat ahead and only Heaven knows the damage that could have done. I yelled, “Whoa” thrust my arms out to either side and grabbed the walls, bringing my foot to a stop about 2 inches from the seat back.
I was prepared, in a way, as Karla ordered the wrong Taxi Co. ( 6 cylinder vs. 8 cyl, from the trip TO the hospital), driver was foreign, and I was being vigilant, as K. couldn’t see into back of cab and didn’t know.
Whew It’s dinner time and I must post and go get my table.
Just letting you know and might have to elaborate on something? Dunno
Love all
IZZ
