Re: to linda & other belgian hippies

[Guest guest]

Yes, there are phones. The Europeans do not like medications, but will

certainly give you additional pain meds if you need them. The tennis player,

Saeed , graciously left his raised toilet seat at the Holiday Inn for hippy use

so you may be able to have one there if you request it. I took beaucoup drugs

prior to surgery so that I could function and needed nothing after. Not that

this will be the case for everyone, but was amazed. Best of luck to the new

group of Belgian hippies!

Rock climbin' Jude

LBHR De Smet 09/11/02

to linda & other belgian hippies

Dear Folks,

Thanks so much for all of the info you've given. I've gotten

the " what to pack " and " how to email home " questions answered,

thanks to many of you. I'm wondering if there are phones in the

Belgian hospital rooms so friends and family can call?

Also, I don't think my OS is willing to prescribe pain meds to take

with me, and, as I've said before, Tylenol does absolutely nothing

for me. Have any of you NOT taken your own pain meds with you and

asked the nurse or Dr. DeSmet for more medicine, and did they give

more to you??? I know I sound like a big baby about pain (and I am)

but I'm already needing a fair amount of meds to deal with the pain

now before surgery. (I had a hip scope operation for a labral tear

and sheared cartilege last July, and have been on crutches with

increasing pain since then.) I feel vulnerable about the thought of

lying there in a foreign hospital in uncontrolled pain.

And a small thing, but very irritating--my insurance company won't

pay for my sock applier and raised toilet seat because they are

for " personal convenience and personal hygiene " and not " medically

necessary. " I told them that I thought going to the bathroom and

getting dressed were certainly not " convenience items " to me, that

dressing and toileting independently are 2 of the 5 (or whatever)

basic life activities as considered by other insurance companies.

They said well someone else could use the raised toilet seat

for " convenience. " How is the ability to go to the bathroom not a

necessity? I hate stuff like that. I know it's a drop in the

bucket compared to what I'll put out financially, but I needed to

vent, and I thought this was the place. :-)

Limmpy

[Guest guest]

Hi Limpy,

During the admitting process at the hospital you can request a phone in

your room. Or if you forget, like I did, just ask one of your nurses. When

I called to make the reservation at the Holidan Inn I requested a raised

toilet seat and a double mattress (just a second matress under the one

already on your bed). Both were delivered to my room shortly after I

checked in. I think they now have a supply of these things for Dr. De

Smet's patients. You might want to call again before you leave to let them

know your needs. If you haven't already bought a raised toilet seat, you

probably won't need one by the time you get back home. After dealing with

the restrooms in restaurants during the trip and on the plane coming home, I

found I was able to simply lower myself with both hands on the seat and the

operated leg extended. The international flights to and from Brussels had a

handicapped restroom that was larger than the standard size restrooms on

planes. It was worth the wait to have more room to manouver!

I don't know of any Belgian hippies who asked for stronger pain relief

while in the hospital and were refused. You just have to ask. Before

you're transferred to the HI ask Dr. De Smet about additional pain relief.

The hospital fills prescriptions for the Enoxaprin (an anticoagulant) and

Indomethicin (an NSAID given to prevent bone overgrowth which also treats

pain). You'll be taking both of these for a total of three weeks, first at

the HI and then at home. I'm sure he would add a prescription for pain if

you need it. When Jan comes to change your dressing the first time he'll

probably ask if you need anything for sleep or pain or for muscle

relaxation. If he forgets, ask him for whatever you need. He carries quite

a little pharmacy in his dressing change kit!

Sounds like you're about ready to go. Take care and keep us posted!

to linda & other belgian hippies

>

> Dear Folks,

> Thanks so much for all of the info you've given. I've gotten

> the " what to pack " and " how to email home " questions answered,

> thanks to many of you. I'm wondering if there are phones in the

> Belgian hospital rooms so friends and family can call?

>

> Also, I don't think my OS is willing to prescribe pain meds to take

> with me, and, as I've said before, Tylenol does absolutely nothing

> for me. Have any of you NOT taken your own pain meds with you and

> asked the nurse or Dr. DeSmet for more medicine, and did they give

> more to you??? I know I sound like a big baby about pain (and I am)

> but I'm already needing a fair amount of meds to deal with the pain

> now before surgery. (I had a hip scope operation for a labral tear

> and sheared cartilege last July, and have been on crutches with

> increasing pain since then.) I feel vulnerable about the thought of

> lying there in a foreign hospital in uncontrolled pain.

>

> And a small thing, but very irritating--my insurance company won't

> pay for my sock applier and raised toilet seat because they are

> for " personal convenience and personal hygiene " and not " medically

> necessary. " I told them that I thought going to the bathroom and

> getting dressed were certainly not " convenience items " to me, that

> dressing and toileting independently are 2 of the 5 (or whatever)

> basic life activities as considered by other insurance companies.

> They said well someone else could use the raised toilet seat

> for " convenience. " How is the ability to go to the bathroom not a

> necessity? I hate stuff like that. I know it's a drop in the

> bucket compared to what I'll put out financially, but I needed to

> vent, and I thought this was the place. :-)

>

> Limmpy

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info! That's amazing to hear that you didn't need

any meds after surgery. :-)

Limpy

> Yes, there are phones. The Europeans do not like medications, but

will certainly give you additional pain meds if you need them. The

tennis player, Saeed , graciously left his raised toilet seat at the

Holiday Inn for hippy use so you may be able to have one there if

you request it. I took beaucoup drugs prior to surgery so that I

could function and needed nothing after. Not that this will be the

case for everyone, but was amazed. Best of luck to the new group of

Belgian hippies!

>

> Rock climbin' Jude

> LBHR De Smet 09/11/02

>

> to linda & other belgian hippies

>

> Dear Folks,

> Thanks so much for all of the info you've given. I've gotten

> the " what to pack " and " how to email home " questions answered,

> thanks to many of you. I'm wondering if there are phones in the

> Belgian hospital rooms so friends and family can call?

>

> Also, I don't think my OS is willing to prescribe pain meds to

take

> with me, and, as I've said before, Tylenol does absolutely

nothing

> for me. Have any of you NOT taken your own pain meds with you

and

> asked the nurse or Dr. DeSmet for more medicine, and did they

give

> more to you??? I know I sound like a big baby about pain (and I

am)

> but I'm already needing a fair amount of meds to deal with the

pain

> now before surgery. (I had a hip scope operation for a labral

tear

> and sheared cartilege last July, and have been on crutches with

> increasing pain since then.) I feel vulnerable about the thought

of

> lying there in a foreign hospital in uncontrolled pain.

>

> And a small thing, but very irritating--my insurance company

won't

> pay for my sock applier and raised toilet seat because they are

> for " personal convenience and personal hygiene " and

not " medically

> necessary. " I told them that I thought going to the bathroom and

> getting dressed were certainly not " convenience items " to me,

that

> dressing and toileting independently are 2 of the 5 (or whatever)

> basic life activities as considered by other insurance

companies.

> They said well someone else could use the raised toilet seat

> for " convenience. " How is the ability to go to the bathroom not

a

> necessity? I hate stuff like that. I know it's a drop in the

> bucket compared to what I'll put out financially, but I needed to

> vent, and I thought this was the place. :-)

>

> Limmpy

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Again, thanks for all the detailed answers. In reply to your

question as to what to call myself when I don't limp anymore, how

about " Bionic Belgian Babe? " LOL

Limpy (for 10 more days.)

> Hi Limpy,

> During the admitting process at the hospital you can request a

phone in

> your room. Or if you forget, like I did, just ask one of your

nurses. When

> I called to make the reservation at the Holidan Inn I requested a

raised

> toilet seat and a double mattress (just a second matress under the

one

> already on your bed). Both were delivered to my room shortly

after I

> checked in. I think they now have a supply of these things for

Dr. De

> Smet's patients. You might want to call again before you leave to

let them

> know your needs. If you haven't already bought a raised toilet

seat, you

> probably won't need one by the time you get back home. After

dealing with

> the restrooms in restaurants during the trip and on the plane

coming home, I

> found I was able to simply lower myself with both hands on the

seat and the

> operated leg extended. The international flights to and from

Brussels had a

> handicapped restroom that was larger than the standard size

restrooms on

> planes. It was worth the wait to have more room to manouver!

> I don't know of any Belgian hippies who asked for stronger

pain relief

> while in the hospital and were refused. You just have to ask.

Before

> you're transferred to the HI ask Dr. De Smet about additional pain

relief.

> The hospital fills prescriptions for the Enoxaprin (an

anticoagulant) and

> Indomethicin (an NSAID given to prevent bone overgrowth which also

treats

> pain). You'll be taking both of these for a total of three weeks,

first at

> the HI and then at home. I'm sure he would add a prescription for

pain if

> you need it. When Jan comes to change your dressing the first

time he'll

> probably ask if you need anything for sleep or pain or for muscle

> relaxation. If he forgets, ask him for whatever you need. He

carries quite

> a little pharmacy in his dressing change kit!

> Sounds like you're about ready to go. Take care and keep us

posted!

>

>

> to linda & other belgian hippies

> >

> > Dear Folks,

> > Thanks so much for all of the info you've given. I've gotten

> > the " what to pack " and " how to email home " questions answered,

> > thanks to many of you. I'm wondering if there are phones in the

> > Belgian hospital rooms so friends and family can call?

> >

> > Also, I don't think my OS is willing to prescribe pain meds to

take

> > with me, and, as I've said before, Tylenol does absolutely

nothing

> > for me. Have any of you NOT taken your own pain meds with you

and

> > asked the nurse or Dr. DeSmet for more medicine, and did they

give

> > more to you??? I know I sound like a big baby about pain (and I

am)

> > but I'm already needing a fair amount of meds to deal with the

pain

> > now before surgery. (I had a hip scope operation for a labral

tear

> > and sheared cartilege last July, and have been on crutches with

> > increasing pain since then.) I feel vulnerable about the thought

of

> > lying there in a foreign hospital in uncontrolled pain.

> >

> > And a small thing, but very irritating--my insurance company

won't

> > pay for my sock applier and raised toilet seat because they are

> > for " personal convenience and personal hygiene " and

not " medically

> > necessary. " I told them that I thought going to the bathroom and

> > getting dressed were certainly not " convenience items " to me,

that

> > dressing and toileting independently are 2 of the 5 (or whatever)

> > basic life activities as considered by other insurance companies.

> > They said well someone else could use the raised toilet seat

> > for " convenience. " How is the ability to go to the bathroom not

a

> > necessity? I hate stuff like that. I know it's a drop in the

> > bucket compared to what I'll put out financially, but I needed to

> > vent, and I thought this was the place. :-)

> >

> > Limmpy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Again, thanks for all the detailed answers. In reply to your

question as to what to call myself when I don't limp anymore, how

about " Bionic Belgian Babe? " LOL

Limpy (for 10 more days.)

> Hi Limpy,

> During the admitting process at the hospital you can request a

phone in

> your room. Or if you forget, like I did, just ask one of your

nurses. When

> I called to make the reservation at the Holidan Inn I requested a

raised

> toilet seat and a double mattress (just a second matress under the

one

> already on your bed). Both were delivered to my room shortly

after I

> checked in. I think they now have a supply of these things for

Dr. De

> Smet's patients. You might want to call again before you leave to

let them

> know your needs. If you haven't already bought a raised toilet

seat, you

> probably won't need one by the time you get back home. After

dealing with

> the restrooms in restaurants during the trip and on the plane

coming home, I

> found I was able to simply lower myself with both hands on the

seat and the

> operated leg extended. The international flights to and from

Brussels had a

> handicapped restroom that was larger than the standard size

restrooms on

> planes. It was worth the wait to have more room to manouver!

> I don't know of any Belgian hippies who asked for stronger

pain relief

> while in the hospital and were refused. You just have to ask.

Before

> you're transferred to the HI ask Dr. De Smet about additional pain

relief.

> The hospital fills prescriptions for the Enoxaprin (an

anticoagulant) and

> Indomethicin (an NSAID given to prevent bone overgrowth which also

treats

> pain). You'll be taking both of these for a total of three weeks,

first at

> the HI and then at home. I'm sure he would add a prescription for

pain if

> you need it. When Jan comes to change your dressing the first

time he'll

> probably ask if you need anything for sleep or pain or for muscle

> relaxation. If he forgets, ask him for whatever you need. He

carries quite

> a little pharmacy in his dressing change kit!

> Sounds like you're about ready to go. Take care and keep us

posted!

>

>

> to linda & other belgian hippies

> >

> > Dear Folks,

> > Thanks so much for all of the info you've given. I've gotten

> > the " what to pack " and " how to email home " questions answered,

> > thanks to many of you. I'm wondering if there are phones in the

> > Belgian hospital rooms so friends and family can call?

> >

> > Also, I don't think my OS is willing to prescribe pain meds to

take

> > with me, and, as I've said before, Tylenol does absolutely

nothing

> > for me. Have any of you NOT taken your own pain meds with you

and

> > asked the nurse or Dr. DeSmet for more medicine, and did they

give

> > more to you??? I know I sound like a big baby about pain (and I

am)

> > but I'm already needing a fair amount of meds to deal with the

pain

> > now before surgery. (I had a hip scope operation for a labral

tear

> > and sheared cartilege last July, and have been on crutches with

> > increasing pain since then.) I feel vulnerable about the thought

of

> > lying there in a foreign hospital in uncontrolled pain.

> >

> > And a small thing, but very irritating--my insurance company

won't

> > pay for my sock applier and raised toilet seat because they are

> > for " personal convenience and personal hygiene " and

not " medically

> > necessary. " I told them that I thought going to the bathroom and

> > getting dressed were certainly not " convenience items " to me,

that

> > dressing and toileting independently are 2 of the 5 (or whatever)

> > basic life activities as considered by other insurance companies.

> > They said well someone else could use the raised toilet seat

> > for " convenience. " How is the ability to go to the bathroom not

a

> > necessity? I hate stuff like that. I know it's a drop in the

> > bucket compared to what I'll put out financially, but I needed to

> > vent, and I thought this was the place. :-)

> >

> > Limmpy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >