Home from hospital {once again}

Bruce came home today! Such a relief to be out of that warped place. There was a debate about discharging him since Friday morning. I was unsure he was stable enough yesterday because he could hardly walk on his own, having dizziness, and just didn't want to get out of bed. Today he suddenly got energy and was able to walk around on his own. He had the dialysis yesterday so it probably helped him feel better and get rid of some leftover drugs. It is hospital policy that he has an appointment somewhere for dialysis before he is discharged. The hospital did not get the coordination started with the dialysis center in time and insurance was not going to get approval until Monday, so he was going to have to stay until Monday after he has dialysis at hospital. Dr. Burtch (surgeon) fought this rule all day starting at 7:30am.

At 12:45 we got approval to leave. Papers were ready so all we needed was a person with a wheelchair. We waited for almost an hour and a half for that wheelchair! I went to ask what is taking so long and the nurses decide he can just walk out if he wants to and is able to. They also had to let him leave with 2 hospital gowns on because they made me take his belongings home and he had no clothes there since we did not plan for this today. We walked to the elevators and I started thinking that is was going to be long walk so we see a wheelchair parked near elevators with no one around so we stole it and took off. Perfect ending to this completely insane stay at this hospital. When we were on main floor, with his gowns on and me pushing the wheelchair fast, it really looked like we were leaving AMA.

So Bruce is much happier now and has not even had a nap- because he is so glad to be home maybe? He is certainly in better spirit and moving around normally. There is long way to go before he has no pain. We have to go back to the hospital Monday for dialysis... we hope. We have a name and number to call at 9am Monday to get it set up. Dr. Burtch went to great lengths fighting it out with the head of social services at the hospital all day so maybe it will go smoothly. He is swollen from holding too much fluid but it should get better with each dialysis and keeping diet in check. He has to go on a different diet than before and limit fluid intake to 1 quart a day which includes water in foods. We have to get dialysis place to order some special thing to protect his dialysis catheter so he can take normal shower. There is a follow up with surgeon on Tuesday and the stitches will come out in 2 weeks. The incision is no where near as bad looking as what I thought. It is just stitched (with staples) skin, not scabs or anything. AMAZING. He will see his Nephrologist Dr. Russo sometime when he goes to his dialysis center.

Overall the hospital stay was pretty horrific but most of it was made that way by bad care and organization. The physicians were all wonderful we have NO complaints there! It is just hard to figure out how it can be run so badly. Also Dr. Burtch said at least 4 times about how much infections are in the hospital. Kind of alarming don't you think?