More Excuses

So worker's comp called back around 5 today. This time the case manager said that it wasn't that the aquatic was too expensive and Rassie should be all healed.  The excuse this time was that 18 visits (which totals out to 6 weeks) was way too long for him to need therapy.  AND that tomorrow at his appointment the doctor needs to make sure and note exactly WHY Rassie needs therapy and what is going on. All this has already been done but whats one more time around to TRY and get this taken care of.  She also said that the doctor needs to call the worker's comp insurance so they can talk to him personally.  

Just pray that everything gets worked out and Rassie gets approved for the physical therapy that he really does need and deserve.

God Bless & Good Night

Worker's Comp and All It's Glory

More phone calls today. Trying to get Rassie's physical therapy figured out.  He hasn't seen a physical therapist since December 9th except to do an evaluation to be accepted into the physical therapy at S&W.  On December 9th, Dr. F decided it would be best to do PT as an out patient at the hospital instead of as a home patient because one physical therapist or PT assistant wasn't cutting it here at home.  Especially when he had no use of either of his legs and had 3 falls during PT at home. 

Waiting, waiting and more waiting.  Lots of phone calls and what... 2 weeks later?  We finally got some answers today.  I happen to be calling about our insurance statements because our personal insurance is being billed for the worker's comp related medical stuff.  Got that straightened out and in then I was told that just yesterday the worker's comp insurance had called and denied Rassie for PT.  She said it was a verbal denial and they would not know the reason until they received the paperwork and we should also receive a denial in the mail ourselves.

Lots more phone calls.  Rassie's nurse case manager for worker's comp is on vacation until January 3rd.  After calling all over, getting voice mail after voice mail saying to call this number and that number and several messages left, we finally got a call back.   Dr. F had suggested aquatic therapy at the pool.  Apparently aquatic therapy is TOO expensive and that is why they had him doing home patient therapy.  Well, they canceled the home patient therapy on December 9th when the suggestion of doing out patient therapy was made.  So once again he has been left without any 'real' therapy since then.  Then the case manager proceeds to tell us that Rassie's initial diagnosis of neurapraxia should already be healed and there shouldn't be a need for PT any longer.  Well he's not healed!  Not to mention, all the discharge papers say paraparesis.  They are similar but the healing times are different, etc.

SO, we have another appointment with the rehabiliation doctor, Dr. F tomorrow to try and clear things up with what is going on.  Physical Therapy is a MUST.  Hopefully we will get somewhere.

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Rassie's CML seems to be doing ok.  No labs this week.  He has to do labs on the 6th of January and then on the 7th we have an appointment with Dr. W to go over how things are going and pretty much just check up on everything.   The last labs done, Rassie's WBC was at 7,500.  His calcium was low, uric acid was good, sodium was border line low.   That's about it for now.

God Bless & Good Night

A Christmas Miracle

We were sitting around the tree Christmas morning in the midst of opening gift with the kids when Rassie realized he could FEEL his left leg.  Not only could he feel it he could MOVE it!!  The feeling in his left foot is still not back but the foot was originally numb, the leg was not.  Rassie has been moving his left leg like crazy now. Using it for everything. I told him not to overdo it because those muscles are going to be sore but he's like a little kid and doesn't listen :)  But I know he is excited. I am excited too!!!  It was a true Christmas Miracle!  God is Great!

God Bless

wait, wait, wait

I feel like we are constantly waiting. Maybe I am just impatient.  Rassie called the hospital today to check on his physical therapy schedule.  As of yet the worker's compensation has not approved it.  Last Thursday the hospital told him they should know something within 72 hours. I am thinking with the weekend it took a little longer.   But still, I am ready to hear something back on his therapy schedule.

Rassie stood again today. Twice.  We stimulated the spot on his foot and he took control of his left leg.  The first time he stood he took a few steps.  This time I pull his right pants leg to help him keep that foot straightened out so it wouldn't turn in where he stepped on the ankle again.  He did much better.  The second attempt, he just stood and bared weight as much as he could tolerate.  I am proud of him for trying so hard at standing these past two days. 
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Tonight after Rassie got out of the shower he told me his hair was falling out.  He said there was a big glob in the shower. I reminded him that he is on a chemo medication.  Gleevec IS chemo in the form of a pill.  Then we laughed it off when I told him my hair was falling out too because of Lane!  About 3 months after both of my pregnancies my horomones went crazy and my hair started falling out.  I told Rassie we could lose our hair together.  At least for a little while.   

Alright, that's really all there is to say for tonight.  I hope everyone has a great Christmas weekend.  Stay safe.

God Bless & Good Night

Still Waiting

We are still waiting to hear back on when Rassie's physical therapy will be scheduled.  We know it will be 3 times a week though.  The nurse case manager for worker's comp is on vacation. Which should not make a difference because there is another lady handling her cases while she is gone.  But the hospital had also mentioned not setting up to start PT until after the first of the year.  I am sure everything is hectic with Christmas and New Year's right around the corner, literally.   Today my brother and I helped Rassie stand and walk while he did his at home PT.  There is a spot on his left foot.  If you firmly press it it sparks some nerves that gives him controlled mobility of his left leg.  So we did this a few times and Rassie used the walker.  I got a little upset when he was dragging his right foot and was not stepping on it right. Instead it was turned and he was pretty much stepping on his ankle.  I made him stop and sit down.   It worries me he doesn't realize what he's doing because he still can't feel his feet and legs.  I don't want him doing more harm than good.  So next time he / we just have to be extra careful.   Rassie is also coming down off of his pain meds slowly.  Dr. F cut the dilauded in half and cut one pill a day off of the slow release morphine and soma.   This wasn't a problem because Rassie was already taking himself down slowly on his own.  His pain level in his back is getting better and better.  I hope that means the swelling is going down and the nerves will start conducting like they should soon.

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Rassie talked to the oncology nurse today after labs.  His WBC is down to 7.6K Woo Hoo!  Great numbers, well within normal range.  I am not sure when they will be checking to see the decrease in abnormal cells but his next real appointment is January 25.   Rassie's calcium is also a little low.  They told him just to add simple things like cheese into his diet.  He loves to drink milk but lately its been upsetting his stomach with all the meds so he hasn't drank as much.  Also, his uric acid levels are back within normal range and so he only has to take allopurinol twice a week now.   They also suggested extra strength tylenol for the body aches. And they are 95% sure the soreness and body aches are from the Gleevec.  That's about it for now.  I'll update if I remember anything else.

God Bless & Good Night

Rehab Evaluation

Rassie had his evaluation for outpatient rehab today. Scott & White approved him for three times a week. He will be doing all of his physical therapy in the pool. There will be the occassional out of pool evaluations to see the progress he is making. All we are waiting on now is approval through the workers comp insurance.

Rassie's WBC* last week was down to 18.7 k which is an improvement from the first week of 6leevec's 28k. He was not scheduled for labs this week so we will find out next Wednesday if his WBC* has continued dropping.
Three weeks on the Gleevec and everything still seems to be going good. Rassie gets some soreness and bodyaches in the morning every so often but we're not sure if thats from the back or the meds. He had a little nausea too but we all ended up with a stomach bug so not sure if that was the bug or the Gleevec either. Thats about it for now.

Good Night & God Bless

Results & Appts

Today Rassie had his weekly labs at normal.  We should be able to get the results on his WBC* tomorrow.  We probably could have called back late this afternoon but that's ok.  He seems to be doing well on the Gleevec. Still no major side effects. *Knock on Wood*

Today Rassie had another follow up at the rehabilitation clinic with Dr. F.   We asked about the two nerve studies done on Monday afternoon.  Both came back with good results.  His nerves seem to be conducting just fine.  This is good news, it means that none of his nerves have been severed.  It is still looking like the swelling is keeping the nerves compressed and the cause of the loss of feeling to his lower limbs.  The swelling in his back has gone down some but not nearly enough.   They are still working to get an MRI and CT scan of his upper back for the off and on numbness in his left arm and the cramping in his right shoulder.  It shouldn't take so long but it does.  Everything has to be sent through worker's compensation and approved before anything is set up.  We're going to call and check on all the appointments tomorrow though.  

Ok, so back to today's appointment.   I think it went fairly well.  Dr. F checked Rassie over thoroughly as usual.  He did lots of same things physical therapy does just to see how much movement Rassie had. Then he poked and prodded with a needle up and down the legs, back and stomach.  Then he checked reflexes, all were good.  Lastly he took his reflex tool (sorry I don't know what its called) and at the opposite end it comes to a dull point.  Dr. F scraped it on the bottom of Rassie's feet.  When he got to Rassie's left foot, Rassie could feel pain shooting up his foot and into his back.  That was a good sign.  And then for some reason the scraping stimulated some nerves and Rassie's left leg lifted up and the muscles kind of cramped.  And for about a minute Rassie had some controlled movement of his left leg.  This is the leg that has most recently gone numb!  It was so exciting to see and Rassie was super excited and happy.  He laughed and smiled and was just over all tickled about the entire situation.  

Dr. F is very optimistic that Rassie will recover.  "When" is the question though and the answer to that is "indefinitely".  Physical Therapy will no longer be at home.  We're moving back to the hospital to do PT as an outpatient. I think that this is a great idea and there were be lots more people and resources to help him get better and push him to try.  We also threw out the idea of aquatic therapy. Dr. F thinks that is a great idea and is going to recommend it.  Rassie is supposed to follow up with Dr. F again in 4-5 weeks.  We should be hearing back about our new schedule of events as soon as everything is approved through worker's compensation.  Our nurse case manager has been fairly good about getting things taken care of so it shouldn't take too too long hopefully.

That's about it for now

God Bless & Good Night

WBC = White Blood Count