Post by oldgaredneck on Apr 11, 2008 0:25:38 GMT -5
Thought I would brief everyone on the outcome - Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes - Looks like I'll be around for awhile yet - no stents, no bypass, only 40% blockage, but I am seriously considering going to a civilian hospital for a second opinion....
This was my third cardiac cath in the last ten years, so I'm familiar with the procedure....
Got to the hospital at 630 AM on the 8th, got the lab work done by 7 AM, they had me in the bed and prepped by 8 AM, when the cath was SUPPOSED to be done. Now remember, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight. After lying in bed ALL day, hooked up to an IV and with a urine catheter in place, they finally moved me into the Cath OR at 530 PM. Yeppers, that's right folks - I said PM!!! They had problems with the equipment and didn't have the courtesy to come tell anyone that all of the scheduled caths were being delayed. I actually had two cardiologists for the procedure - one was a student, and he did my surgery with the other supposedly experienced doc at his elbow....
they attempted to access the right femoral artery 3 times with no luck, On the second attempt they finally managed to access the LEFT femoral artery. I've got TWO holes in my groin for the price of one! I was not this sore and bruised when I had my appendix out and subsequent hernia repair ten years ago! After a couple of tries, the student managed to get the "wire" into the proper spot to administer the dye, did so and proudly announced "You have NO blockages!" The 40% blockage I had two years ago had apparently mysteriously "healed itself" - but somehow I've still got no energy, having sporadic angina, etc. The doctors sent the cardiac nurse out to recovery afterwards with the news that I do still have one 40% blockage after all, which is still not enough for the VA to consider using angioplasty or a stent - "Continue to monitor your diet and medication" blah blah....
Anyway, I will be filing an officlal complaint with the Veterans' Administration, for what it's worth. I do not feel that the procedure was properly done - pictures of my heart were not taken from all the angles, blah blah..... We were not informed that the equipment was malfunctioning and could have possibly rescheduled the procedure (even though I wanted to get it done - I would like to have it done properly).
I do have Medicare also, but it's kinda hard coming up with my 20% deductible, but I'm gonna find it somewhere. I would like to have a cath done properly by a regular cardiologist who is NOT associated with the Veterans' Administration. I'm tired of being tired....
I'm tired of us veterans being jerked around by a government that promised us "lifetime medical care" for serving our country - I'n tired of being used as a teaching aid - I'm tired of being this grumpy
On the plus side, our 'maters and pepper plants are looking great. They're a little on the leggy side, but when we get them transplanted into the garden, we always bury them deep - I like a good root system.
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes....
__________________
Deja Moo - the feeling you've heard that bull before.....
This was my third cardiac cath in the last ten years, so I'm familiar with the procedure....
Got to the hospital at 630 AM on the 8th, got the lab work done by 7 AM, they had me in the bed and prepped by 8 AM, when the cath was SUPPOSED to be done. Now remember, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight. After lying in bed ALL day, hooked up to an IV and with a urine catheter in place, they finally moved me into the Cath OR at 530 PM. Yeppers, that's right folks - I said PM!!! They had problems with the equipment and didn't have the courtesy to come tell anyone that all of the scheduled caths were being delayed. I actually had two cardiologists for the procedure - one was a student, and he did my surgery with the other supposedly experienced doc at his elbow....
they attempted to access the right femoral artery 3 times with no luck, On the second attempt they finally managed to access the LEFT femoral artery. I've got TWO holes in my groin for the price of one! I was not this sore and bruised when I had my appendix out and subsequent hernia repair ten years ago! After a couple of tries, the student managed to get the "wire" into the proper spot to administer the dye, did so and proudly announced "You have NO blockages!" The 40% blockage I had two years ago had apparently mysteriously "healed itself" - but somehow I've still got no energy, having sporadic angina, etc. The doctors sent the cardiac nurse out to recovery afterwards with the news that I do still have one 40% blockage after all, which is still not enough for the VA to consider using angioplasty or a stent - "Continue to monitor your diet and medication" blah blah....
Anyway, I will be filing an officlal complaint with the Veterans' Administration, for what it's worth. I do not feel that the procedure was properly done - pictures of my heart were not taken from all the angles, blah blah..... We were not informed that the equipment was malfunctioning and could have possibly rescheduled the procedure (even though I wanted to get it done - I would like to have it done properly).
I do have Medicare also, but it's kinda hard coming up with my 20% deductible, but I'm gonna find it somewhere. I would like to have a cath done properly by a regular cardiologist who is NOT associated with the Veterans' Administration. I'm tired of being tired....
I'm tired of us veterans being jerked around by a government that promised us "lifetime medical care" for serving our country - I'n tired of being used as a teaching aid - I'm tired of being this grumpy
On the plus side, our 'maters and pepper plants are looking great. They're a little on the leggy side, but when we get them transplanted into the garden, we always bury them deep - I like a good root system.
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes....
__________________
Deja Moo - the feeling you've heard that bull before.....