The relief in the weather promised for the weekend has so far failed to show up. At least we still have only a powdering of snow. There’s more in the west.
No news. Helen came to see me. I did some knitting.
When Rachel phoned yesterday she said she had’t had any Christmas cards in the post. The same is true of Helen (and of me, but in my case it’s understandable as so many of my old friends are dead). That could only be because the strike-bound postal service is collapsing into chaos.
Someone — I think it was you, Tamar, but I can’t find the comment — wrote to me about the way the sun behaves at the solstice. I used to watch the Sunrise/Sunset numbers in the paper every day, this time of year, just until I was sure they had remembered to throw the switch. And the behaviour of the sun is indeed slightly odd. One is certainly aware of the opposite effect in June, however brightly the sun shines and however one may try to pretend it isn’t happening. Five more days.
Looking for that comment took me back through everything you have been saying about hip replacements. Again, thank you.
My mother was in pretty good nick at my age — there was worse to come. I do want to have enough money for a REALLY good nursing home, when I get to that stage. Dare I blow it all on a hip replacement now?
Wordle: I did it in three— and the big news is that I have achieved my goal of having my percentage score equal my age. And I’ve got eight months or so before the next birthday.
Thomas Miles and Big Rachel also got three — everybody else, four. My starter words produced three browns. I’m no fan of anagrams, but today I persevered until I found a word that satisfied all requirements — and it was right. The moral is to eschew Jean-words, however useful they sometimes prove. I already knew that.
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ReplyDeleteHere's a thought; how many weeks of nursing home fees are the same as the cost of a hip op?
ReplyDeleteMeaning that it might only cost a smaller number of weeks of nursing home care than you think.
DeleteIf you can "blow" all your nursing home money on a private hip replacement, you may not have enough money for a nursing home. If you have the hip replacement soon, you may not need the nursing home at all or at least for not as long. The sooner it is done, the better your quality of life will be and the sooner you will recover. Given the state of the NHS, it may well be more than a year. Everyone I know who has had one has wondered why they didn't do it sooner.
ReplyDeleteCold in Chicago, snow on the ground.
Marilyn
India?
ReplyDeleteSeconding KnitNance: The hip replacement may make it unnecessary to go into care at all. My friends who had knees and hips replaced are all pleased with the results.
ReplyDeleteIt was unexpectedly pleasant outside this afternoon in MD. I swept the bunches of accumulated leaves off the walk, lest there be a freeze.
The adage to take care of today, today doesn’t always work so easily with limited money funds, so I understand your reluctance, Jean. It’s a gamble. But if it were me, seeing all the evidence around me of happy joint replacement recipients, I would go with the joint replacement. A miserable, painful life - your hip is not going to get better - in a cushy retirement home - for me - would not be a good alternative. A possible work around might be gene therapy. I don’t know much about it or the cost but here in the U.S. I’ve heard it is covered by Medicare under some providers. It might buy you the year - IF your hip is still healthy enough - until your NHS opportunity but …again, it’s really new science and the results aren’t guaranteed, and your new hip replacement would last the rest of your life. There might be other joint issues later on for which NHS might be perfect, but this one is urgent. If it were me, I would do it. There is so much to gain. Of course, get a good doctor and consider carefully his/her advice. Chloe
ReplyDeleteOh, whoops, temporary nursing home. That’s different than a permanent retirement home…still the hip issue remains the same. Chloe
ReplyDeleteI got Wordle in TWO yesterday. After no greens or tans in my first word I got lucky! I agree with the others that if you can move around more easily and in less pain you may stave off the nursing home for much longer. Although here in the US there are waiting lists for hip replacements, no matter the insurance. An 80-year old friend has been waiting months.
ReplyDeletePlease do not unduly delay the hip replacement. My mother had both hips replaced, and described it as “getting my life back”. You will have a better quality of life, and a healthier one, with better mobility. Prompt surgery is also likely to give a better outcome, as unused and atrophied muscles lead to a slower recovery.
ReplyDeleteAs far as future nursing home bills, it may not be as bad as you fear. On paper, my parents residential bill was quite eye watering, but their total monthly spending did not increase all that much because they didn’t have many of the usual monthly bills that they were paying before they moved in.