Visiting a Loved One in Rehab

Last week, we visited a loved one in drug rehab.  For reasons other than the obvious, it was not as easy as I thought it would be.

We were told visitation was at 11:30.  When we rolled up we found out it was, in fact, at 12.  Okay, we’ll wait in the car – the car with broken air conditioning…awesome.  Hubs asked if I wanted to play Frisbee since we had time to kill, but I didn’t want my blood sugars to drop, plus it was almost 100 degrees outside and we were already panting.

I thought I was super smart leaving my insulin and meter at home since I didn’t want it sitting in the car with temps that rivaled Hades.  We were about fifteen minutes from home, and visitation was an hour (we thought) so I was sure we’d be home for lunch and my shot in no time.  My sugars were running low so I brought glucose tabs and a juice box.  Just before going in, I drank the juice.

They had no record of our loved one (!), so we sat waiting another twenty minutes.  When they brought him in, an employee told us we’d have to move tables for “the program”.  Um, what program???  Why the family education program that goes until 2:30 of course!  Visitation is then from 2:30 - 4:30.  You cannot arrive just for visitation.  You either stay for all or nothing.  We moved tables and I ended up in a broken chair with remnants of the residents’ lunch on the floor below me.  I begged Hubs not to let me pass out on that floor.  He’s a good D-Hub, he assured me he wouldn’t.

Our group project was to determine “who lived and who died” if six people were on a list for a heart transplant.  I found the project offensive for several reasons and became, let’s say – feisty.  Yep, I was feisty and ready to give the bird to the people that denied the heart transplant to the disabled nine-year-old, when the instructor called for break a little after 1:30.  Hubby said I was beginning to resemble a T-Rex (seems they are pretty feisty too) and that we had better get going. 

We explained to the instructor that with the “Nothing is to be brought in” policy – I had none of my medical supplies with me.  He responded that I could bring it in next time, but when I said – “So you’ll let me bring insulin and a syringe into the building?” he replied “Oh, you’ll have to keep it in the car and leave for your shot”.  I explained that insulin could not be left in a smoldering hot car.  He seemed puzzled.  Of course, I do see his point, medications – even prescription ones, can pose serious problems in a place like drug rehab.   

Feeling shaky, I chomped on glucose tabs most of the way home.  Generally my insulin, meter and tabs are on my person instead of banned from buildings.  I freak out not having my bag of medical tricks on me at all times.    

I felt bad leaving early.  We’d visited rehab before at another facility and it was always an hour.  I’m sure there are things I could learn from family education class, but with low blood sugar (and admittedly a smidge of PMS) I wouldn’t be learning anything.  It seemed likely they’d be learning about combative-low-blood-sugar-girl instead.  I’m glad we got to hug and talk to our loved one.  The visit was worth the inconvenience.   

I’m off to buy a car cooler.