The journey to open heart surgery Part 10

I don't know about you but when I first heard that I would have to spend a few weeks in rehab after my operation I pictured a dark, gloomy building witrh very old and sick people sitting by the doors to their rooms looking at death's door.

Trying to get information about from my doctors or insurance company has been like pulling teeth and finally I found out that I have a few places to choose from and when I check in on July 20th I can tell the case worker who will be assigned to my case where I would prefer to go, consequently, I went 'rehab hunting' yesterday.

The first place I went to was St. Anthony's rehabilitation center and I was floored. The place was bright, polished and really looked like a resort hotel. They have 26 rooms of which 18 are private. They have a pool for aquatic exercises. They have a formal dining room where you can choose to have your meals or you can eat them in your room. They have scheduled activities which you can partake or not.

Next door is St. John's center which is a larger facility. They have such things as a beauty/barber shop, pet therapy, etc. Depending upon your doctor's evaluation as to how much rehabilitation and the intenseness you would be assigned to St. Anthony if you need more and St. John's if less. If I have a choice it will be St. Anthony's.

I looked at a 3rd place which was older but in it's behalf it does have an ice cream parlour!!!  :O)

Each of the people who took me around emphasized that I will be in a lot of pain the first few days but will be getting pain medicine. They said not only would I not smoke but I won't want to smoke. We will see about that!! LOL

They also told me that the first 8 weeks will be a roller coaster ride of emotions and will take longer than that for me to even get to feeling somewhat like my old self.

At least, little by little, things are falling into place and I guess it won't be an easy time--heck, I'll have to exercise!!! :O)

As one of the ladies said, "Think of it as a 2 month blip in your life out of many years." I am trying to get in teh frame of mind that it is an adventure, another aspect of my life and that, maybe, I can help guide others in what happens so they won't be as clueless as I have been!