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View Full Version : Wife has been Diagnosed with als (hard times)


Livejim56
12-03-2006, 08:02 PM
I have been sorta lurking around as my life has been turend upside down. My wife Nancy (just turned 50) in an Acute Long term care facilty. She was diagnosed on 11 Aug 2006 at the Medical College fo Georgia- we were given a Bi-pap, cough asssist and a home suction machine and a Px for Rilutek it was also suggested we look into a peg. Nancy had lost a lot of weight and looked really bad and all she could eat was pudding and yougurt.
We had the peg surgery down on aug 15, 2006. Her arms and legs swelled and on the 21st of August we spent a day in the er with a possible congestive heart failure epsidode. Then on the 22nd back to Mcg for another Mri. At this time Nancy was using a walker and a wheelchair but could talk but it was pretty slurred.
On Sept 4 she had a shortness of breath feeling and was rusehd in the Easly Baptist Er. She was immedialty vented and they told me it did not look good. She was on the vent until the 16th of Sept, when they put in a trach.
She was moved on the 21st of Sept 2006 - to Regency Hopsital Company in Greenville South Carolina - where they do not know anything about Als and patient Care on this point I am adimit- do not ever and I mean ever take an Als patient here !!
after 3 days there she has bed sores and to this day they are worse and much more severe, They insisted that she could be weaned off of the vent - in 50 days yes they weaned her totally off of the vent - never checking blodd gases etc - In the 3rd week - her health declined and at my insistance - they checked her blood gased I remember something about 87, but thats all, they tried doing Nippy tereatments ever 4 hours, but now she is on the vent 24/7 with a rate of 12 - I blame this on there ignorance.
Tommorrow she will be taken to a facilty againts our hopes and desires, but since it is just me, I cannot possible care for her. She has movemnt in her legs, her arms and hands still function- remarkable after 80 odd days in the hopsital with no Pt - they informed me that she was not capable of doing any Pt and it was best not to do anything. I have been there every day and she can do very well with range of motion exrecises. In fact she actullay enjoys it and her limbs work better afterword.
I will be talking to the hosptal Ceo - but right now

My needs are finding caregivers or oragnizations that can assist me with donations or grants to bring here home. The state of South carolina will provide 48 hours per week of LOng Term care. But I need about another 70 or so.


This is a terrible disease and I sincerly hope treatments or cures are in gods plans.


Jimmie Cals to Nancy
DX - 08/06
Walker wheelchair - 07/06
Trach 09/06
vent 09/06

The lord has helped me carry this burden for a long time, I praise him and give him all the glory - Only God can correct the sins of man.

Jimmie

scientist1
12-04-2006, 12:55 PM
So sorry to hear about the terrible time you are having. Many places are not used to dealing with ALS. My best suggestion would be for you to have her evaluated at Duke Medical Center. There are experts in ALS there that can help put you life in order, as much as it can be.
Take care,
Lisa

BobbyB
12-04-2006, 06:42 PM
Charlotte - MDA/ALS Center at Carolinas Medical Center
Carolinas Medical Center
PO Box 32861
1010 Edgehill Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28232-2861
Phone: 704-446-6ALS(6257) or 1-800-924-7620
Fax: 704-446-6255
E-mail: jrosenfeld@carolinas.org

http://www.carolinas.org/services/brainspine/alscenter.cfm

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/carolinas-als/messages

Livejim56
12-04-2006, 09:59 PM
Today she was moved to a Rehab center in North Augusta, South carolina. I ma not happy with this,, but it is a blessing as she can be seen by an Als Doctor at the Medical College of Georgia.

I still want to bring her home and any suggestions will be greatly apprecaited.

We have South carolian Medicaid, Medicare and Tri-care for life.

I have made a million phone calls and no one seems to feel I can bring her home as I am the sole provider and care-giver.

God Bless

wallyw1
12-05-2006, 01:22 AM
I am so sorry to hear of your terrible situation. Every state is different as far as what is available in the way of home health care. Is there a possibility that your state will provide a service coordinator or social worker (maybe a discharge nurse at the hospital). An ALS Center may have equipment that you can borrow and maybe even some sort of help with providing information on getting help at home.

Best to you, Wally's Mom

Livejim56
12-15-2006, 01:44 PM
Well folks I am still trying to read stuffs on here and get Nancy home. Sometimes it is overwhelming. She is in good spirits and fighting hard to hang in there.
I cry often and pray more often than that.

I am a wee man and have came to the end of my fuel tank.

I will rest and get back in the fight.

God Bless all cals and Pals

scientist1
12-22-2006, 12:06 PM
Contact the local chapter of the ALS association, ALSA. You can find them on line. There are people there who can help you and your wife, as well as help you take care of her. It is an excellent organization. I've added the contact information below
Wishing you all the best.

South Carolina Chapter-in-Organization
PO Box 280
Charleston, SC 29402
843-971-0933
866-492-4821

Greenville, SC ALS Support Group
St. Francis Hospital
Greenville, SC 29601
Cheryl Porterfield
877-568-4347
info@catfishchapter.orgx
www.catfishchapter.org

Lancaster ALS Support Group
Serving Northern SC
Springs Memorial Hospital
Northern, SC 29730
877-568-4347
info@catfishchapter.org
www.catfishchapter.org

Livejim56
12-22-2006, 12:19 PM
Well folks, I can make a list of every Als Scociety I have contacted but I will keep it short, I have contacted The South carolina Als Chapter, Ga Chapter, North carolina Chapter and the National Chapter,.

As of today no one, and I repeat no one has had a good suggestion other than Hopsice of self pay- so when I hear to contact the local Als association it adds to my frustration.

I think I will list every contact and phone number to prove how ineffective that this system really is.

Jimmie