Dr. Visit. And moreI

Okay finally have a minute here the latest.
Mom go home late Wednesday night June 16.  Thursday she really looked terrible.  I mean her face was distorted besides being thin and hunched over and hurting.   I took her to NUCCA  Dr. And he would not even work on her.  he advised us to go to the emergency room and get a CAT scan.  There were members of the family who didn't want her to do that so we didn't go.  I felt that mom was frustrated with that decision because she felt like we weren't doing anything for her.  On Friday I took her to see her primary care doctor.  Almost immediately upon seeing her, her doctor ordered a CAT scan.  Her office staff scampered around trying to get one right that minute, But it was Friday afternoon and nobody wanted to do it for her.  So she has one on the books as soon as they call us.  She did not like the way she looked at all and in fact kept repeating how much she had changed since she has last seen her.  She wants a CAT scan so she has a baseline , If in two or three weeks mom has a real setback.    We need to watch for fever, dizziness, nausea, Confusion, repetitiveness,unsteadiness. Dr. Also ordered physical therapy, had me call right then while I was in the office and get that scheduled starting Tuesday.     I have been trying especially today, to let mom do a few more things for herself.  She has so much time on her hands and just sits there and Thinks of things for me to do and I am sorry to say but I don't have all the time in the world to just sit and pamper her every minute.   I still rub  her with essential oils two or three times a day.  She is not ready to go out anywhere yet. She would love someone to come by and polish her nails or do her hair or let her tell them about Japan. Oh let me stand corrected : it is Okinowa not Japan. If anybody has a few minutes anytime during the day, it sure would help me out.    Thank you all for your prayers.
I will write again in a few days.

Welcome Home Grama!

 Here Aunt Kay...does this help?

See you all next week. :)

SHE'S BACK!

 I am searching for a way to insert the picture I took of her onto this blog.  That's so far no luck.
She is still dizzy and Has a hard time finding her words.    
Her pills are a mess and she has no idea what  they are, I'm hoping a lot of that has to do with her just being tired.   All I have to say is: good thing I got nosy one day and took notes.
I have a little yellow notebook with a.m. and p.m. meds, HOORAY for me!   The box of pills that she sent to Seattle has not made it back yet.  I told her to sleep long and hard but I'll give you all a jingle in the morning.

unrelated to mom

but of note to family business.... who wants to go to Renaes memorial? short trip... up on dads birthday back on Monday. most likely

money

I also don't want Steve stuck holding the bag for the cost of this adventure. I will help with costs.
I for sure think we should have had more communication with each other, I thought the blog was an answer but maybe we need to re think it if its not working??? I know information wise, my kids love it but if its not working for everyone we need to talk about it.

From Steve via Kay.....

He said all is well as far as he can tell.

 But don't expect to see the same mother who left here three weeks ago.

Sounds like she is weak and frail, (But just as stubborn as ever.). Mostly, probably, because of lack of exercise and any nutrition.

He got there at almost midnight, they went straight to bed and was just getting up this morning when he called me.  So he hadn't really read any of the documents, any of the doctors orders, anything like that. They will  spend the day doing that type of thing and they will leave first thing Wednesday morning and get here tomorrow night, Wednesday night, my house probably around nine

From Kay:

She will be very tired but I'm sure if you want to see you would love to see you all.

Thursday, I suspect she'll sleep most of the morning.  

I have her an appointment with Dr. Noorda Thursday afternoon.  

I thank Nette for the blog and the communication that it has helped string between us, Easing the burden of phone calls etc....

There is another thing we need to discuss..... I'm not sure how many of you mother told this story to, but the story goes like this..... The insurance company paid for Steve to go to pick her up.     

chapter 2:  Steve had enough SkyMiles to upgrade grade to a seat that would lie down.     the end But wait,    the sequel to the story is that, Steve used his credit card to finish taking care of incidentals with the hospital.     

Now you know how stories can get twisted and a new line Added here and there;  Well I for one, want to take care of this. I think it is wrong.                 Steve, if you're reading this, you can come home and beat me then, browbeat me,  For sticking my nose in your business, I don't care but if you would speak to us about things like this, we could help.  I love my brothers and sisters and don't want to squabble. 

Happy Birthday Steve!

What fun for you! :(  hope you have a tolerable day flying on your birthday. It will be good to get her back home, Thank you for spending the time and effort and money to go get her. Doug and Suzumi have done so much for her, we are grateful for their kindness, and all of the inconvenience. 

From Steve 6-22

I just talked to Mom again.  She's feeling muuuuch better today.  She said she's not 100% yet, but her head has stopped spinning so fast.  She's looking forward to coming home.  I think she'll be fine to travel.
I leave tomorrow morning and we'll be back Wednesday nite about 9:00. 
Mom sends her love,  Steve

from Steve 6-21

I just talked to Mom.  Still dizzy.  Got a chiro treatment from Akira today.  Planning to come home Thursday.  Love,  Steve

Steves text 6=20

Just talked & skyped with Mom.  She's looking & sounding much better today.  Still dizzy.  She has enough critical meds to last until she gets home.  She's not going to Seattle right now.  She'll call Aunt Fern.  She will have a follow-up with a doctor early next week.  Then probably travel mid-week. I will go and travel home with her.  I can use miles on Delta to get a seat where she can lay down.  I think that will be best.

I talked with Doug and Suzumi.  Doctors are not guarding the airport.  Doug has talked with the travel insurance people and so have I (again today).  Doug is working to get all the paperwork we need from the hospital.  He says that he'll get it before he pays them, because after they're paid they won't be nearly as helpful.

Mom can get up to the bathroom by herself now.  Has some bruises but is feeling generally pretty good except for the dizzies. 
Love, Steve

6-19 9:45pm

I just talked to mom, she sounds good, but she is still really dizzy. Doesn't know why she is so dizzy ( head injury maybe mom?) but she sounded good, Suzumi is taking good care of her.

medicare info

Medicare does not pay for expenses, but we have to file anyway to get a denial for Select Health.  The Medicare claim will need physician notes and supporting documents, proof of payment and itemized statement.  We need the originals to mail in and keep copies for ourselves.  I have e-mailed Suzumi with the information we will need so they can get it now and Mom can bring it home with her.

calling and Skypeing

We had problems with our Skype call also.  They could not hear us, so we called as well as watching and listening on our end.  Suzumi gave us a local number to call--435-215-4669.  In order to call them on Skype, the computer and Skype both need to be on, so it would be best to call by phone first so they can get the computer going.

Latest from Steve 6/19

Steve Talked to mom this morning at 6:00 everything is normal she just needs time to heal. 

I tried to skype her twice last night with no luck.

I spoke to mom last night. There is something comforting about hearing your mom's voice. She was really dizzy, and frustrated because she doesn't know what to do. She was holding food down a bit. Nothing to do  but wait.

Handling the bill

I talked to Select Health this afternoon.  They pay for urgent and emergency care out of the country.  First we need to send the receipts to medicare. After we get results from medicare ( payment or denial) we submit the claim to Select Health.  They will pay 100% of the limit allowed for such services in the policy. (For example if the policy says it pays $500 for the ambulance and mom had to pay $600, select health will only reimburse $500 of that $600).

To process the claim they will need:
 result from Medicare claim.
 receipts showing all expenses and itemizing what was done for her.
 credentials of the doctors- (proof they are doctors).

If there was a bill for ambulance, we will need that too.

Mom talked to us

Jim and I talked to Mom via Skype last night and she is dizzy and sore, but no visible bruises on her head or face.  She is holding down food now.  Frustrated about when she will be able to get back to the states.  The doctors won't let her fly home.  I wondered how they would stop her, but I guess the doctors over there are more powerful than here.  Apparently the doctor called the airport and told them not to let her get on the plane.

6-18 update on mom

Last night 6-17 about 7:30 I got a text from Steve...
He says mom is weak and woozy but she is doing well.  Doug said she is doing a lot better today sinice she got home. 

Today 6-18 9:00 AM Steve says
Mom had a good day.  Spent mostly in bed, but she is getting up and trying to get some strenght back.  She was able to eat and keep it down.  It is midnight there now. 

She is out of the hospital

Kay got a call about 12:30 they have released mom from the hospital and Doug and Suzumi have taken her home.... it is the middle of the night there and they have had no sleep.  appearantly she is still unable to keep anything down and the hospital will not release her to fly home until at least next week. we will know more later...

As of Monday morning

Status update

How is she today?.?

This is a blog to try to keep track of mom...