admitted for tune up

[cfgf28]

Delete post

 

[nmw0615]

The hospital I am admitted to had a B. Cepacia case, so precautions went way up. I used to be able to walk around the hospital with a mask, and avoid touching extremely germy areas, like elevator buttons. After the B. Cepacia, I was only allowed out of my room when escorted by transport, although my nurses did take pity on my one day and let me walk to the outpatient coffee store to get a latte and frappuchino. I had to wear gloves, a mask, and a special gown.

As far as leaving the actual hospital grounds, I have not been able to do that for at least 10 years. Insurance looks at it like if you're healthy enough to leave for a few hours, you don't have to be there at all. The closest I could come to actually leaving the hospital while admitted was walking the hospital grounds outside.

See if he can get a piece of exercise equipment for his room. I get an exercise bike and it helps.

 

[nmw0615]

To answer your question about doing home IVs: that is different than actually being admitted to the hospital. I often start treatment in hospital and am discharged to do meds at home. I am no longer considered an inpatient when I do meds at home because of that discharge order. If he is an inpatient at the hospital, he likely won't be able to do meds at home until he is discharged, if they are deemed necessary.

 

[nmw0615]

I am no long allowed outside because of risk of infection, although its lung infection not PICC infection.

And I agree with you on the insurance view, however, that's insurance's policy, not mine. In their eyes, it's not subjective. If he can leave, he doesn't have to be at the hospital. I used to be able to go out to eat with my family, even when I was pretty sick, but insurance stopped those quick by saying if I left hospital grounds for any length of time (because I had to get a day pass, it was recorded), they would not pay for the hospital stay.

 

[stephen]

cfgf:

As many here can attest, home infusion can really be quite easy! It's not like an IV in the hospital.

The drugs come in pressurized tennis ball sized containers, (or pumps as they are often referred to). They have a three foot long tube attached. A fitting at the end of the end of the tube screws on to the PICC line. Once the pump is attached, it can be placed in your pocket and you are free to do anything that is not too strenuous. The pump/ball shrinks as the drug is infused. This usually lasts about 30 minutes. At the end of the infusion, the tubing is unscrewed and the PICC line is flushed with saline, which comes in syringes. These are attached to the PICC line the same the same way the medication "balls" are.

It's really is quite easy. There were many times that I drove a car while infusing.

Maybe next time he should give home infusion a try. It' much better than staying in a hospital.

 

[jaimers]

ask his doc to put in orders for PT to take him outside for exercise. That is the only way i'm allowed to leave the hospital.
also you may have to initiate the conversation about home IVs. if they don't bring it up but it's something that he wants to do in order to have more freedom then advocate for that!