Aa
First appt with new PCP at VA.
Right up front I can say that I'm not sure if I like this new PCP. I think this is mostly because it was a rushed appointment as I was only scheduled as a follow up. I think because she stated right up front that it was only a follow up appointment that she would not be able to get to everything on my list ( which I admit was long). She also seemed to be very argumentive with me about some things. Which also left a bad taste in my mouth. On the good side she did schedule 1 hour for my next appoinment which is in August. All of my appointments with my old PCP was always rushed.
For my BP she kept on insisting that I was not taking one of my BP meds, which I know I have been. In fact when I got home I checked my bottle and had about 1 weks worth of it left. So that is not why my BP has been up. But regardless she did switch that BP med to another one as the VA is no longer carrying the other one. Maybe this new one will work better, One of the turn offs with this new doc.
For the bladder problem she gave me an Rx for an anti-biotic to see if that would help. I'm not sure about her thinking on this one. How would an anti-biotic help with bladder control problems?
The final thing we covered dealt with smoking. Here she kind of ticked me off again. I have been trying to get some help with being able to quite smokeing for about 1 year. The old PCP was of no use and had to practically beg him to give me referral to the stop smoking clinic. Once I went to that I find out that the doctor and Nurse there could not give anyone an Rx for any stop smoking aid. And was told I would have to get that through my PCP. This I told to the new PCP and she kept insisting that the stop smoking clinic gave out the Rx's. Finally she called someone and found out that what I was telling her was how it works now so she relented to give me an Rx for Chantix. After all I have gone through to get the Rx I sure hope this works. Oh yeah one other point while I was talking to her about somkeing. At one point she help up the list I had brought with me and said anyone with an OCD tendency to make out a list like this surely can quite cold turkey. So I countered with I made out the list because I forget things a lot. Which she said if you quit smioking your memory would improve.
Ok now for the fun part, the trip report. After months I finally got to see a deer on the trace. It was a nice large doe and the way she kept looking back into the woods behind her she must of had a fawn in there. I also got to travel on the raod that was closed on the last trip due to the flooding in Nashville. It was amazing to see some of the damage that was done. Yoo could see the mud lines on trees 10 feet about the road, 200 year old rock walls tumbled over like they were made of paper. There was even a section of railroad track being repaired as we drove past and it was a good 15 feet above the road. Almost every house along a 10 mile streach had damaged funrniture and stuff piled out by the road.
Dennis
For my BP she kept on insisting that I was not taking one of my BP meds, which I know I have been. In fact when I got home I checked my bottle and had about 1 weks worth of it left. So that is not why my BP has been up. But regardless she did switch that BP med to another one as the VA is no longer carrying the other one. Maybe this new one will work better, One of the turn offs with this new doc.
For the bladder problem she gave me an Rx for an anti-biotic to see if that would help. I'm not sure about her thinking on this one. How would an anti-biotic help with bladder control problems?
The final thing we covered dealt with smoking. Here she kind of ticked me off again. I have been trying to get some help with being able to quite smokeing for about 1 year. The old PCP was of no use and had to practically beg him to give me referral to the stop smoking clinic. Once I went to that I find out that the doctor and Nurse there could not give anyone an Rx for any stop smoking aid. And was told I would have to get that through my PCP. This I told to the new PCP and she kept insisting that the stop smoking clinic gave out the Rx's. Finally she called someone and found out that what I was telling her was how it works now so she relented to give me an Rx for Chantix. After all I have gone through to get the Rx I sure hope this works. Oh yeah one other point while I was talking to her about somkeing. At one point she help up the list I had brought with me and said anyone with an OCD tendency to make out a list like this surely can quite cold turkey. So I countered with I made out the list because I forget things a lot. Which she said if you quit smioking your memory would improve.
Ok now for the fun part, the trip report. After months I finally got to see a deer on the trace. It was a nice large doe and the way she kept looking back into the woods behind her she must of had a fawn in there. I also got to travel on the raod that was closed on the last trip due to the flooding in Nashville. It was amazing to see some of the damage that was done. Yoo could see the mud lines on trees 10 feet about the road, 200 year old rock walls tumbled over like they were made of paper. There was even a section of railroad track being repaired as we drove past and it was a good 15 feet above the road. Almost every house along a 10 mile streach had damaged funrniture and stuff piled out by the road.
Dennis
I hate that your appointment did not go well for you. Hopefully the next one will be better, I just wanted to drop you a note about the Chantix. I took it about a year and a half ago. It did work very well but I had horrible side effects from it after only a few weeks of taking it.
It also has ALOT of neurological side effects. It even has MS listed as a rare side effect. I think what it does in some people is it brings out the MS symptoms.
I just wanted to give you heads up. I hope it works wekk for you without any problems. I wish I could handle it as I have started smoking again, but I can't. My PCP even had me list Chantix as a drug allergy because of the problems I had with it.
So good luck and I truly hope it works well for you. Just pay close attention and call your PCP if you notice any changes.
Mandy
It also has ALOT of neurological side effects. It even has MS listed as a rare side effect. I think what it does in some people is it brings out the MS symptoms.
I just wanted to give you heads up. I hope it works wekk for you without any problems. I wish I could handle it as I have started smoking again, but I can't. My PCP even had me list Chantix as a drug allergy because of the problems I had with it.
So good luck and I truly hope it works well for you. Just pay close attention and call your PCP if you notice any changes.
Mandy
i want to comment on your PCP and another part of me just says to hell with the VA and it's kind. for me, i keep telling myself to just walk away from this horrid nightmare of federal health rationing system...but you and i have no where else to go
i trust many here now know why there is a push via some vet groups for the feds to give veterans health insurance cards so we CAN go and get new doctors versus the fraternity wall at the VA
the BS is just mind boggling to me
i trust many here now know why there is a push via some vet groups for the feds to give veterans health insurance cards so we CAN go and get new doctors versus the fraternity wall at the VA
the BS is just mind boggling to me
yeah I think I'd have my back up a little over this doc's comments, esp the part about not believing you re the BP meds. I'm sure many patients aren't truthful for one reason or another with their docs at some time or another but shouldn't a doc get to know a patient first before they make up their mind which ones lie?? And have evidence to support the alleged lying?? Well hopefully she was knocked down a few pegs when she realized you were right all along about the smoking med. And then the flippant answer about your memory and smoking. Oh no she di'nt!
We all have off days and maybe this was one for her. She'll have another chance with you at your next appt and perhaps not being so rushed she will be more helpful. Perhaps she doesn't work well under pressure....if so, not such a good quality in a doc! If next time is no better, perhaps it's worth it to shop around, if this is permitted where you receive care. With those behaviours it would be a challenge to form an effective relationship with her.
Good luck with the quitting smoking, it is SO important, I know you know that of course or you wouldn't be seeing the need to quit. My mother smoked for decades and is now walking around with an abdominal aortic aneurysm inside her, kind of like a time bomb you hope doesn't go off, and is also recovering from a double bypass. I know if she could turn the clock back, she would. But it's never too late to do better than you did yesterday. I wish you well with this.
We all have off days and maybe this was one for her. She'll have another chance with you at your next appt and perhaps not being so rushed she will be more helpful. Perhaps she doesn't work well under pressure....if so, not such a good quality in a doc! If next time is no better, perhaps it's worth it to shop around, if this is permitted where you receive care. With those behaviours it would be a challenge to form an effective relationship with her.
Good luck with the quitting smoking, it is SO important, I know you know that of course or you wouldn't be seeing the need to quit. My mother smoked for decades and is now walking around with an abdominal aortic aneurysm inside her, kind of like a time bomb you hope doesn't go off, and is also recovering from a double bypass. I know if she could turn the clock back, she would. But it's never too late to do better than you did yesterday. I wish you well with this.
Lulu,
Yes I felt like I was put threw a wringer ( the old hand crank type) by the time I got out of there. A few times I really felt like slapping her and I don't have a violent bone in my body. I don't take to kindly to someone calling me a liar ( BP MEDS stuff ).
Yes I had to give a sample ( as well as some blood drawn by an attila the hun lab tech). My arm still hurts and that was 10 hours ago. Thanks of the Info about infects and bladder control. I had no idea about that so her giving me anti-biotics made no sense to me.
With all the work I have had to go through to get the Chantix I think I am in the right state of mind to stop. I can easily cut back my smoking to about 1/2 pack a day on my own. It is just that last little way I need some help to get me though.
Dennis
Yes I felt like I was put threw a wringer ( the old hand crank type) by the time I got out of there. A few times I really felt like slapping her and I don't have a violent bone in my body. I don't take to kindly to someone calling me a liar ( BP MEDS stuff ).
Yes I had to give a sample ( as well as some blood drawn by an attila the hun lab tech). My arm still hurts and that was 10 hours ago. Thanks of the Info about infects and bladder control. I had no idea about that so her giving me anti-biotics made no sense to me.
With all the work I have had to go through to get the Chantix I think I am in the right state of mind to stop. I can easily cut back my smoking to about 1/2 pack a day on my own. It is just that last little way I need some help to get me though.
Dennis
Alex,
You are so right, what is the name of your PCP? It would be worth the drive :) I sure could use a good PCP.
The more I think about that appointment the angrier I get. So I better stop thinking about it or I'll work myself into a heart attack again. :)
Dennis
You are so right, what is the name of your PCP? It would be worth the drive :) I sure could use a good PCP.
The more I think about that appointment the angrier I get. So I better stop thinking about it or I'll work myself into a heart attack again. :)
Dennis
Dennis, it sure sounds like she gave you the mental sparing match during this appointment. The next appt. should be more relaxed if she scheduled an hour for you. I'll hope so, anyway.
"How would an anti-biotic help with bladder control problems? " - if you have an infection of any sort, it can irritate your bladder and cause incontinence, leakage, pain .... etc etc. Did they take a urine sample?
Good luck with the Chantix - even with the drug it will still take you have the mindset to quit.
Nashville sure looks horrible on the tv news - I can't imagine what the devastation must look like in person.
take care, Lu
"How would an anti-biotic help with bladder control problems? " - if you have an infection of any sort, it can irritate your bladder and cause incontinence, leakage, pain .... etc etc. Did they take a urine sample?
Good luck with the Chantix - even with the drug it will still take you have the mindset to quit.
Nashville sure looks horrible on the tv news - I can't imagine what the devastation must look like in person.
take care, Lu
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