Re: Companions

[Guest guest]

I, too had a companion when I had the sleeve gastrectomy ( not sure if this

is spelled correctly). She was wonderful and took care of all my needs. Her

name is Annie and I have her home number at home. Email me if you would like

it. I plan to use her again when I have part 2 done (in the middle of

July...unless I get pushed up).

Terry

[Guest guest]

a, a companion at Mount Sinai is $135 for a 12-hour shift. You

can also hire someone for 8 hours. You can't really line it up in

advance; someone has to go to the second floor while you're having

the operation and make the arrangements. Without the very kind woman

who cared for me I wouldn't have had clean hospital gowns, slippers,

linens, or sponge baths. She came in from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

She was also wise enough to know when I needed an R.N., and to get

one into my room when necessary.

In my opinion, by the way, the nurses at Mt. Sinai are mostly very

very good. There just aren't nearly enough of them. A companion is

helpful because the non-nursing (technical) staff is overburdened,

and some of them act as if they're doing low-level retail work or

something (One actually said to my dear and very polite father when

he asked where he could get me some ice, " I'm on my break. " And she

wouldn't say anything else.)

Best wishes,

Deborah

lap bpd/ds (Gagner) 11/6/00

Starting BMI 43

Present BMI 31 (down 64 pounds and still amazed)

> Can someone tell me how to go about getting a companion at

> Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC? How much do they cost and how

> long do they stay with you? Also, how much is a private duty

> nurse? Any info would be greatly appreciated as surgery is this

> Friday