I came home last Friday, via a wheelchair bus. I really could have used another week or two of physical therapy but the co-pay required would have cost me over $1200 for just this week. No money for that, but I can do the rest myself.
The PT crew's knowledge and encouragement was very helpful, they have helped thousands through the same thing I went through. They all seemed to be contract staff except for the newest staff member. They work at many places as the demand calls for them. They helped me a lot! It was not helpful that there was no PT available on weekends because once you make progress the last thing you need is to be idle again.
I asked Grok what the rate of muscle strength degradation is during an ex-tended hospital stay, because what I experienced took me by surprise:
Muscle weakness during hospitalization
Critical Illness / ICU Settings (Much Faster)
~1–2% per day on average in the first week, with some reports up to nearly 3% per day.
Meta-analysis: Critically ill patients lose ~1.75–2.1% per day (rectus femoris thickness or cross-sectional area) in the first week.
Up to 15–20%+ total loss in the first week in severe cases; rates highest early (e.g., peaking ~2.4% per day in weeks 1–2 for muscle).
ICU-acquired weakness affects ~48% of patients
Key Caveats and Context
Strength loss often exceeds muscle size loss (e.g., 3–4x faster initially due to neural and other factors).
Variability: Higher in lower limbs, with inflammation/critical illness, older age, or poor nutrition/protein intake. Rates slow over longer stays. Hospitalization overall increases sarcopenia risk (e.g., ~20% of patients develop it).
Mitigation: Early mobilization, resistance exercise, adequate protein/energy intake, and nutrition can help reduce losses.
I am getting stronger, but still require a walker or a wheelchair. The wheelchair was a bit humbling but when dealing with household tasks it serves better than a walker and it does strengthen the upper body and the larger leg muscles just moving it. So I got over the embarrassment of it all and just gave gratitude the rehab center loaned me their wheelchair until mine arrives.
I was looking in the mirror last night and noticed I have crease in my upper lip, by caused by that feeding thing they put down my throat. I noticed the nurses kind of panicking when they saw the mark but I thought it was the internal lip damage that is nearly healed now. I am hoping it goes down, because right now it looks like I have a cross on my upper lip in the way it is perpendicular to the folds of the space between my nose and upper lip. May have to visit a dermatologist later on.
I have received some email from people who are wheelchair bound and I tell you I have a new appreciation for the strength you have, and your will to push on even given life's setbacks. And I share your desire that the Medbeds arrive soon to alleviate your mobility issues.
I've got a leg vein issue that has been bouncing me in and out of hospital, but I am learning what to watch out for and what drives the situation requiring the hospital. My situation is temporary I believe, and I will be walking before the end of April. Still I need to heal the root issue, either by inner technology or external tech like a Medbed/crystal healing chamber. We all could use a good renewal of our forms after all we have been through on this planet regardless.
Perhaps there will be some triage based on ailment upon their introduction and distribution. Rumor has it those exploited by trafficking, and those were abducted for off world break away civilizations are being treated now, and I cannot imagine a better use. Hopefully the tech will be ubiquitous upon the planet shortly.
The ship hulls are full of needed 'Star Trek' level technologies for this planet. Remember that next time someone tries to tell you this planet is being invaded. We live in an occupied planet for thousands of years. The sky displays you are seeing all over the Earth now are our human cousins from other planets, or other similar humanoids (head, torso, legs, arms) because its a very useful for life in physicality.
I've come to see I need to change how have been doing things. I need to de-emphasize the ride share driving which has me sitting on my leg veins in high stress traffic, raising my cortisol stress hormones. Standing is good, walking even better for my legs. Healthy legs healthy heart. I can write from home, I can expand what I have been doing and going into other areas of interest and perhaps advocacy either for the infirmed, or perhaps help people through the coming collapse of various belief systems when confronted with the fact they were told lies to control them through fear. I'll see where the energetic trail leads. And I can do this from home without a vehicle. Robotic cars are being introduced so the writing was on the wall for the driving gig. When my amigos arrive perhaps I can be an Earth/Galactic liaison of some sort. It's hard to know what will be needed until the moment comes. My task is staying healthy and walking again in the mean time.
There are AI tools available now by which I can go through mountains of Galactic data I have written over the last 13 years and put the data in a more readable and perhaps publishable format (with correct spelling and grammar!). Publishing could mean residual recurring income, if I do a good job at it. But that takes time.
In the mean time I would like to raise $1500 or better for April. Beginning of the month bills will become due shortly. I have to spend what I have had on food (threw out spoiled food in the fridge), and various supplies required for living from a wheelchair.
Those of you who helped out last month my deepest gratitude! I had no idea I'd be spending about 20 days in a rehab center after the hospital.
I love you all!
Terran
PS: I thought I'd share this story while I was leaving the rehab center. I don't get comms as clear as this very often.
