Monday, June 24, 2013

VA Clinic Trip

Trip to the VA clinic was actually a lot quicker than I figured it would be because of several factors. I arrived at 8:10 and was out of there by about 9:20 even without an appointment.

(Score one for the VA)

I saw a nurse rather than a doctor, but supposedly she passed on the info to a doctor who forwarded info back to me by her. They don't know what it is, but think it is either an infection or clot and I'd have to have an ultrasound on it to find out which???

No blood work done so...

(Scratch one for the VA)

Problem with the ultrasound is that the VA hospital in Big Spring is already booked up for that for several weeks so I couldn't get that done for weeks and I'd have to figure out how to get all the way from Terlingua to Big Springs in several weeks and then get back home.

(300 miles one way and that ain't happening so...

(Scratch one for the VA)

She said they would try to have something scheduled in Alpine some quicker and I said the problem with that is getting to Alpine.

65 miles from my place so...

(Scratch one for the VA)

She then said Ok we'll try to get it scheduled in Fort Stockton instead.

120 miles from my place so...

(Scratch one for the VA)

They gave me a prescription for 3 days of stronger antibiotics than I had been taking. They want to try antibiotics before anything else so...

(Score one for the VA)???

The other 4 days worth are being send to my mailbox on the ranch road so
I'm going to have to figure out a way to get back there within 4 days.

(Scratch one for the VA)

Side effects of the antibiotics are as follows.

May cause swelling of the calves and feet.

(Scratch one for the VA)

Because my right calf and foot are already swelled near the point of skin splitting. Oh Joy.... There is also a chance of tendon rupture in any tendon of the body, but especially in the Achilles tendons.

Of course then there's the one about may cause breathing problems. Oh Swell on that because I have COPD and already have breathing problems and they know that so...

(Scratch one for the VA)

May cause Death is another one among many others. Perhaps I should just say to heck with the antibiotics and other trips to where ever and at least that would keep me from having to go through all the other side effects besides death.

Everyone at the clinic was friendly and easy to get along with. (So was I in return)

(Score one for the VA)

3 Scores for the VA

7 Scratches for the VA

During the Viet Nam war some were spit on by Hippies. I guess that wasn't too bad because now all of us are being Shit on by the VA.

57 comments:

  1. Very glad you got your leg seen to by the professionals.

    Dunno how an ultrasound will diagnose a clot or infection... And what about the red line? Something wonky going on...

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    Replies
    1. And simple blood work would've confirmed infection... !?$&?!

      Delete
  2. I can't believe a doctor did not look at your medical history, examine your leg or have any bloodwork done. I'm thinking 10 scratches for VA. Take care.

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  3. No blood work???!!!! OMG, David! Please just go to a real hospital!!!

    Caren

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  4. David! Please just go to a real hospital!!!AGREE ON SAID BY ANONYMOUS, many people all through Tx worried about yu , me included, in Houston (can not do nothing from here) Happy, someone a good Samaritan drove yu there I assume dude.
    ---------------------
    Again and lastly man : The law is on the books, yu live in Tx. Benefit from it. GO to the Alpine Hospital, start again, they can not deny yu medical service (Emergency Room man). When bill (s) come, forget about them, can not be enforced, no garnish in Tx, nothing to yur belongings,property etc (of course no jail for unpaid debts etc). YU SERVED YUR COUNTRY MAN, yur story is not unique, is widespread. If yu do not move on from those fixed old "ethic" standards and do not let the system help yu, yu might be death, yu ve said it. Yu need to STOP that yu have, whatever. Go to a real hospital. If I were there I would take yu to the Alpine one, talk for yu, help yu understand those "debts" -"medical Debts"- man are crap, do not die. Not needed. The Law is on the Books. At present Obamacare is not in force, yu need to take what exists.

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  5. I am with the rest. just go to the hospital in midland or odessa. If it is a blood clot, there is a chance you could lose your leg like Gary. Don't play around with your health. The bills don't matter.

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  6. I'm afraid you are going to fool around until you lose that foot or worse. Blood poisoning or blood clot, either one can kill you. Get some reliable help!

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  7. Well folks, it looks like I won't be going in the hospital any time soon as I have pressing business in Terlingua brought on bay an attempted Coup in my absense. That is an attempt to remove me as commander of the legion. I'll be there during that attempt to correct the problem.

    Dave, I bet that would be real convenient wouldn't it, See you Wednesday or Thursday. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Anon, that's kind of like calling the kettle black isn't it? I've seen you plenty messed up there to. As for the frag in the tent comment am I supposed to take that as a threat? Ironic that two of the people wanting to take over are not even qualified to be legion members much less officers and another one wants to run the place solely by themselves. I've heard some really stupid ideas around there and you can bet the place won't last long if they ever get implemented.

      It all boils down to people wanting to pad their own pockets off of the legion and who care little about what the legion stands for and is supposed to be doing.

      Delete
  8. DAVID!!! People can't just take over command!! Worry about your life!!! --not about Legion stuff right now!!!!

    Caren

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  9. I'm coming to get you tomorrow if you will agree and bring you to DFW to get some competent treatment. Will you email me the address where you are?

    Caren

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    Replies
    1. Caren - Bless you for the offer. If necessary, I'll e-mail you a Google Earth image of where he is.... (evil grin)

      I can't believe the treatment that has been dished out...

      Delete
  10. Relax, Caren. I'm going to a real doctor in the morning and having real test (blood work and others done) My niece is the doctor's nurse. Things will be good and I'll be able to deal with the BS in Terlingua on top of that.

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  11. Matter of fact the BS is in the works of being taken care of as I type this.

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  12. WRITTEN BY A FAMILY EMBER HERE IN HOUSTON who is a Doctor : (hpe it helps) :
    Assuming no insect bite or bite by an animal, your symptoms are worrisome for a deep vein thrombosis(DVT) or a lymphangitis. Both need urgent medical treatment. If it were a DVT, if untreated, it would put you at significant risk of heart attack or stroke from the clot going somewhere else, plus you may lose your leg. If a lymphangitis, the infection can spread and you may eventually go into sepsis, an overwhelming infection. I would recommend you to seek medical care in a big city hospital as soon as possible.
    ----------------------
    Hope helps david
    from Pablo (Houston Tx)

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  13. I was disappointed by the lack of lab work and not being seen by an actual doctor. I guess I expected more from a VA hospital.

    Glad to later read in the comments that you will be seen by a real doctor tomorrow and even better that your niece is his nurse.

    Please take care of yourself and forget about the legion problems. Your life comes first!

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    Replies
    1. There was no VA hospital involved from what I read. He said that he went to a Clinic which then offered him a number of choices for follow-up treatment. None of those choices were acceptable to David. I can not see that a VA hospital is in any way to be faulted.
      Also, a VA Clinic are usually NOT equipped to do lab work, blood may be drawn but is sent away for the lab work. The Clinic's offer of follow-up treatment at other locations would have included such lab work.

      Delete
    2. WRONG! I was given one option only. Wait several weeks to go to the VA hospital for a sonogram and come home to get the rest of the antibiotics (Which clearly would NOT have cured the condition.) I didn't even see a doctor so basically they were saying go home and die.

      Delete
  14. Overwhelmingly, there seems to be a consensusTNT EVERYONE thalhasa commented above that the "medical treatment" dished out to you yesterday was sadly lacking.

    David, EVERYONE has YOUR best interests at heart and we are ALL concerned that your leg is NOT what has been diagnosed by the NURSE. You went to see a doctor, not a nurse - why did the doctor not give you the care he/she has sworn to provide to all who seek it?

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  15. Oh - and by the way- Thank you very, very, very much to whoever was kind enough to take you to the VA clinic :)

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  16. MsB, The VA ain't what it used to be (Not to say it was ever very good) As for the Legion? I'd be moore than happy to give up command if there was someone wanting in power that had the Legion's best interest in hart and not someone who just wants to exploit it. That and someone who is legally qualified to be commander. There are only two people still in the running who are.

    Dani, those Google coordinates are not where I am. ;)

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  17. Obamacare, in action! If it cost anything to treat a vet,let him suffer!!!

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  18. Texas Guy please educate yourself , yur comment just shows IGNORANCE, will not debate at that level, hope yu experience it some time in future, ignorance deserves it xxxx

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  19. Pablo, I'm pretty sure Texas Guy was being sarcastic : )

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  20. I hope David doesn't mind my sharing. . .

    He called this morning. He has a blood clot. They "made" him go into the hospital (he jokingly said they had him in a straight jacket).

    He thinks he'll only be there for a day.

    He didn't say, but I would assume they will put him on blood thinners and monitor carefully.

    So . . . YEA! He's getting the help he needs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bless you - for taking the time and letting us know.

      I am SO relieved that he is finally getting the medical attention he needs - that leg didn't look good.

      Thanks :)

      Delete
    2. as said, A CLOT : (A family member -He a Dr- said it- above, pray for him and good luck) :

      ( WRITTEN BY A FAMILY MEMBER yesterday in this Blog HERE IN HOUSTON who is a Doctor : (hope it helps) :

      Assuming no insect bite or bite by an animal, your symptoms are worrisome for a deep vein thrombosis(DVT) or a lymphangitis. Both need urgent medical treatment. If it were a DVT, if untreated, it would put you at significant risk of heart attack or stroke from the clot going somewhere else, plus you may lose your leg. If a lymphangitis, the infection can spread and you may eventually go into sepsis, an overwhelming infection. I would recommend you to seek medical care in a big city hospital as soon as possible.
      ----------------------
      I m praying for him. god bless .Thank yu Big Foot for sharing.

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. Did you guys give him a lift there? Many, many thanks if you did :)

      Delete
  22. Thank you Foot family for the update!

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  23. David's family member picked him up from his cabin and took him to Odessa.

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  24. David is resting and in a private hospital in Odessa. Able to eat anything he wants, but no ciggies. So glad he's under a real doctor's care finally.

    He's a great guy and we don't want anything to happen to the old grump.!!

    Bigfoot

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  25. Thanks for the update Bigfoot! This is good news. I'm so sorry the VA let him down, but happy the niece & doctor came through for him.

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  26. to Melissa on her property location :
    Thank you Pablo! The property description says blk 215, sec 13 tr 5146 that's the only address I have

    PabloJune 26, 2013 at 3:14 PM

    Try contacting TERLINGUA RANCH , website and phone attached, enter ,by those locations ask if was sold by them in past etc. they will have that info. IF WERE NOT THEM let me know I ll research further.
    -----------------------------------------
    cut and paste

    http://www.classiccountryland.com/properties/texas-land-for-sale/terlingua-ranch/#page=overview
    -------------------------------------
    phone number is (972) 649-6200 x105
    ------------------------------------
    I m assuming within that place is yurs located.

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  27. Thank you Pablo!
    YEAH David is getting the help he needs!! Get better, we are all thinking about you and grateful you cared enough to get the help you needed.

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  28. Melissa,
    Track 5146 is caddy cornered NW of John Well's Field Lab. You are west of 118 about 2.5 miles. I am pretty sure these coordinates should be of your tract. 29.550463,-103.588292 put them into Google maps and it should take you right to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you Lance! I have plugged it in and now I can actually see it!

      Delete
  29. Hello Everyone,

    I was released from the hospital about an hour ago and am very happy to be out of that place! All is well, but I will have to hang around here until the 3rd and go see the doctor for a final checkup and release. It turned out to be both a clot and infection so if I hadn't gone to the hospital I'd have surely been dead before the VA would have done anything. I guess possibly with in a few more days.

    I had intravenous antibiotics and a lot of other stuff going in 24 hours a day for the past three days.

    Thanks for all your thoughts.

    David

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  30. I love a happy ending. Glad it all turned out all right.

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  31. VA should be reported for this, if such a thing can happen. So glad you were able to get the vital medical care necessary. I know you're very grateful to your family. Rest up and enjoy the view of the big city (then hurry home).

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  32. Rita B, there is nothing that can be done about or against the VA. (Unfortunately)

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  33. Glad you overcame your stubbornness. Please - thank Ring and your niece for doing the necessary - we owe them :)

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  34. Good news for me on the medical. The doctor reviewed the hospital records and said I only had an infection instead of an infection and blood clot. He said if it would have been a clot then I'd have to be on medication for it for the rest of my life and have to make weekly trips to Alpine to have it checked. Other wise it would have meant death because clots keep coming back. I'd have still died if I hadn't gone to the hospital though.

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  35. I am so happy it was on an infection and that you now have a clean bill of health.

    Like Dani says "glad you overcame your stubborness" :)

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  36. geeze...meant to say "it was only"...need to read what I write before I hit the send button!

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  37. MsB, it was a load off my mind and in the process of it all, I now have the second doctor that I really like in my life time. He is a great guy and really cares about his patients and people in general.

    No biggie on the mistake. We all make them including me and I'm perfect. You believe that don't ya? ;)

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    1. Lol, Mr. Perfect :D

      At least something good came out of all this...you found a wonderful and caring doctor...that is like winning the lottery!

      Take care of yourself.

      Delete
  38. Oh and what can I say. I've been working on being stubborn for 65 years and am really good at it. (Good or bad)

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  39. We all need to be good at something MsB.

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