Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2009 8:20:45 GMT -6
This is rather lengthy, and I apologize, but it's a good example of how the VA treats the majority of us veterans. As many of you know, I have had ongoing issues with what we thought was my gallbladder. The last couple of years flareups would come and go, but recently they have gotten worse and last longer.
In April of this year, I finally convinced the VA to perform a Nuclear Scan on my gallbladder. Of course it showed normal function with the gallbladder filling and emptying within 20 minutes.
Sooo, the VA wanted to do an endoscopy to have a "look see" in my stomach, etc. The EARLIEST they could schedule it was for August 26th, which is about normal waiting period for any surgical procedures.
On the 14th of August in the morning, I received a phone call from the Dublin VA that they had to cancel my endoscopy because they have NO anethesia techs, and do NOT know when they will be able to reschedule.
Meanwhile, I'm still in pretty much now constant pain, no appetite,
tender upper right abdomen.
Usually, I'm a laid back, easy going person - BUT every now and then
I get mad and perturbed.
I fired off an electronic communication to Department of the VA Headquarters, outlining the situation, and end with the statement "I feel that this level of health care is totally inexcusable, and I am seriously considering contacting the media".
The 17th of August, Monday afternoon - I receive a call from the Head Surgeon at the Dublin VA, who is Dr. Graham. He spoke at length with me on the phone for over an hour, asking question after question. He said that it sounded like I may have an enlarged liver, and wanted me to come in the next day for him to check me out and for me to have yet MORE lab work.
Da Honey and I went the next morning, did the required lab work and saw Dr Graham at 11:30. He did a quick physical examination then began to ask a billion question about my entire family's health history. We answered all his questions, and his "diagnosis" was that I am overweight and constipated (fat and full of crap, in plain English). It may be a little bit too much TMI, but I am one of the MOST regular people there is - more than once daily on the average. No offer of a ultrasound or catscan to determine the actual cause of my pain - but he did suggest that I be "weaned" from the pain meds.
The next day I had my regular follow up appointment at the Macon outpatient mental clinic with our shrink, who is one of the best ladies we have ever met - even though she does work for the VA. We discussed the situation, and she could not believe that they didn't schedule a cat scan or ultrasound. When I got back home, I contacted VA Headquarters again to relate my latest experience with Dublin.
Thursday morning my regular VA doc calls to inquire if I am allergic to any of the dyes used in the scans. I told him no, and he said that as soon as they can schedule it, he wants me to come in for a full catscan with contrast dye which hopefully will reveal the true source of the abdominal pain.
Believe it or not, I have a catscan with contrast scheduled for very early morning on September 10th. Hopefully this will reveal the cause of the pain, and I'm fervently praying that it is not something too serious.
If you've ever wondered why veterans sometime flip out, the "wonderful" health care we DON"T receive could be part of the problem....
Again, sorry this was so long, but just had to
and rave for a few....
In April of this year, I finally convinced the VA to perform a Nuclear Scan on my gallbladder. Of course it showed normal function with the gallbladder filling and emptying within 20 minutes.
Sooo, the VA wanted to do an endoscopy to have a "look see" in my stomach, etc. The EARLIEST they could schedule it was for August 26th, which is about normal waiting period for any surgical procedures.
On the 14th of August in the morning, I received a phone call from the Dublin VA that they had to cancel my endoscopy because they have NO anethesia techs, and do NOT know when they will be able to reschedule.
Meanwhile, I'm still in pretty much now constant pain, no appetite,
tender upper right abdomen.
Usually, I'm a laid back, easy going person - BUT every now and then
I get mad and perturbed.
I fired off an electronic communication to Department of the VA Headquarters, outlining the situation, and end with the statement "I feel that this level of health care is totally inexcusable, and I am seriously considering contacting the media".
The 17th of August, Monday afternoon - I receive a call from the Head Surgeon at the Dublin VA, who is Dr. Graham. He spoke at length with me on the phone for over an hour, asking question after question. He said that it sounded like I may have an enlarged liver, and wanted me to come in the next day for him to check me out and for me to have yet MORE lab work.
Da Honey and I went the next morning, did the required lab work and saw Dr Graham at 11:30. He did a quick physical examination then began to ask a billion question about my entire family's health history. We answered all his questions, and his "diagnosis" was that I am overweight and constipated (fat and full of crap, in plain English). It may be a little bit too much TMI, but I am one of the MOST regular people there is - more than once daily on the average. No offer of a ultrasound or catscan to determine the actual cause of my pain - but he did suggest that I be "weaned" from the pain meds.
The next day I had my regular follow up appointment at the Macon outpatient mental clinic with our shrink, who is one of the best ladies we have ever met - even though she does work for the VA. We discussed the situation, and she could not believe that they didn't schedule a cat scan or ultrasound. When I got back home, I contacted VA Headquarters again to relate my latest experience with Dublin.
Thursday morning my regular VA doc calls to inquire if I am allergic to any of the dyes used in the scans. I told him no, and he said that as soon as they can schedule it, he wants me to come in for a full catscan with contrast dye which hopefully will reveal the true source of the abdominal pain.
Believe it or not, I have a catscan with contrast scheduled for very early morning on September 10th. Hopefully this will reveal the cause of the pain, and I'm fervently praying that it is not something too serious.
If you've ever wondered why veterans sometime flip out, the "wonderful" health care we DON"T receive could be part of the problem....
Again, sorry this was so long, but just had to
and rave for a few.... 
I know about the poor quality of care (IF ANY) that our Vets are getting, & sadly enough, it seems to have been getting progressively worse over the past decade. My brother-in law has some serious medical problems... & he has a Purple Heart, but even that doesn't seem to impress the VA! If I heard right, he was told that they can't do anything for him if his medical problem isn't war-injury related! That's such BS!
I'm glad that you're getting results from the V A Headquarters (even though you have to keep prodding the Dr's from there), & I'm thinking that you might also want to contact your Congressman & ask him to push for better funding, so our VA medical facilities can do the job they were meant to do. I don't know much about your state, but I know first hand, that my Congressman here does read emails (& replies to them), & listens to voice mails & can get results.... even when it's not an election year. (He doesn't know I won't vote for him!) 
It's certainly not my intention to stir anything up. 
Dont ever corner sumthang meaner dan you!