Welcome to Rehab

I've been moved.

Again

But this time it's a nice move.  This wing of the hospital is about 2 years old, and even the semi-private rooms are essentially private by design .. we really only share a bathroom. My suite-mate is being discharged tomorrow, but so far all I've seen her do is sleep. I'm good with that, so I'm not so sure about her being discharged (even if her visiting daughter and grandchild are loud),  that could bad for me ... you never know who the next tenant will be!

The admitting nurse and I will not get along.  I can tell that from the get-go.  We're about the same age, but I'm the fit-but-disabled patient, and she's the unfit-but-abled medical person.   Wow ... lecturing me on my eating and drinking habits.  Already.  15 minutes in.  And then standing outside my door bitching to a colleague about how overworked/hard done by they are.  Hmmm ... one of those people who, if she'd spend as much time working as she did bitching, she'd have nothing to bitch about.  Complete with the insecure-but-bossy personality that comes with being a victim of the world. All the staffing inconsistencies that I have been complaining about are going to turn into a blessing if it means our paths don't cross very often.  Maybe I'll change my mind, but first impressions go a long way. Afternoon nurse told me that it will likely be this chiquitta who takes out my staples, so I have to  be nice to her until at least then.

I have heard the entire life story of my afternoon nurse.  His supermodel girlfriend, his advice - don't get a supermodel girlfriend, they're way too high maintenance - how he wants to emigrate to Australia and how he got a stupid DUI charge and maybe he'll lose his licence.  He obsessed over the DUI oharge.  Plopped down in my guest chair and talked to me for 20 minutes. "I've hired a lawyer, what am I going to do, what if I can't drive, hell I just paid $20,000 for that car" blah, blah, blah.  Okay. Look at where you work ... you don't wonder why people tell you to take your problems somewhere else? 

I am surrounded mostly by older stroke victims, so I am probably  the youngest one here (unless there is an accident victim I haven't seen). Everyone is assigned a "team" of specialists in their treatment program. My team is considered small by comparison ... I have no need for the occupational therapist, the speech therapist, the cognitive therapist or the social worker. Just me, my neurosurgeon and the physio dude. Tomorrow is my full assessment with my team and plan development for my rehab program. I will be reassessed week to week and we go one step at a time.

This is going to be an interesting place ...