I am in hospital for 4rd time. Today I may go home. I was told in house theapy buy Dr had no orders. This time I fell front first and I am improving. It had been a long ride. I still have my independence. But think I will done how keep my phone on me.

@oregongirl

I am so sorry to hear of your falls! Has your surgeon discussed follow up PT yet?

Teresa

Yes at home. I totally felt as though they thought I was beaten and did not want to disclose it. What? I was so messed up in the face from falling forward. I fainted going down I guess. Blood all over my kitchen. My kids came and they said it looked like a murder took place. My doctor thought I may have had a seizure

Hi, @oregongirl -- how are you doing? Guessing you are still recovering from your fall?

@contentandwell I agree with you in so many ways, but when I had Legionaires my small town doctor recognized it immediately, when it had been missed at large hospital. He started treatment immediately with three other doctors saying no they didn't think so. He insisted and saved my life. This was very early on when it was hard to diagnose and almost all who had it did not survive. 1982. After he died, I was helping his wife to get her books in order and I mentioned how he had saved my life and she told me that he read constantly, every new thing that came up, he was very reponsible that way, so I was blessed to have him. Lately, I’ve been doing some. reading about possible long term after affects of the disease. I don't know much yet, but plan to keep studying this. We definitely need to be our own advocates and to take casre with our families too.

@gemmax things were different in 1982. Now almost all PCPs work for the hospital, there are virtually no private practices anymore, so when you have something serious like Legionairre's you end up being treated by a changing stream of hospitalists, not the doctor whom you carefully chose and built a rapport with. When you go into the hospital, your PCP is "hands off". PCPs are now like businessmen, they work 9 - 5 and that's it. They actually have it better than most businessmen because they don't ever end up working overtime! I think it has made for less caring physicians.
You are right, now more than ever we need to be our own advocates.
JK

@gemmax By the way, if you do hear of any long term effects please let me know, I am definitely interested. I had no idea there might be any.
JK

@contentandwell Yes I sure will. I Just discovered an article on this. I have alot of health problems, but I did not connect them at all to Legionaires, except, of course, autoimmunity, which is a common and sadly lifelong result of having had a severe infection.

@contentandwell Yes I am very much aware of the changes and they continue. It must be difficult for doctors too who are trained in one field and end up sending their patients off to innumerable specialists. Many hospitals use revolving ER personnel that are shared with other clinics and hospitals, so that means that the ER doc rarely has no clue who you are. I am blessed to have had the same doctor for 15 years, but I also see a number of others in a variety of fields. Sometimes zifeel as if that isall that i do. And that is enough to cause a peron to get depressed if they were not before!

I agree. I see so many specialists. Now and pain mgt to the list