Pierre wrote:
I personally don’t see why a support person would be needed unless the patient is mentally or physically challenged. I know that I preferred not having to keep someone entertained for 4 hours. Besides, why should my wife or somebody waste 15 hours of every week just sitting around for something which is really a routine procedure.
Pierre, I am neither mentally challenged or physically impaired, but I am deeply in love. I have been married to the same wonderful woman for 21 years and we are together 24/7, which is our choice, and we could not be happier.
We have always been there for each other, regardless of the circumstances, through the good and the bad, through the healthy times and the not so healthy times and, besides me, she is my number 1 advocate when it comes to my health.
I don’t like the thought of her sitting there every treatment for 4 hrs while I dialyze, but she wouldn’t be anywhere else; believe me, I have suggested many times that she go and do something else besides just sit there and, even though she is not allowed back, she will have nothing of it. She is going to be there regardless of whether she is just keeping a chair warm in the waiting room or not.
Granted, she is the only one in my clinic that stays, most are dropped off by their spouse or drive themselves, but regardless she is not going to move from the clinic while I am there.
This being the case, and her making the choice to stay, still does not afford her the opportunity to see the Doctor when he makes his rounds, even though she is present in the clinic.
I just found it interesting that my clinic does not want anyone, support person or not, back under any circumstance while you are being treated.
This is one reason I will be glad when I am allowed to start home hemo and will be making appointments to see the Doctor in his office instead of the clinic setting where it is hard to discuss anything with him in the first place.