VA Neuro Appt yesterday

[Sailorsong]

Well yesterday was my latest appointment with my Neuro at the VA. Well almost I should say. Evidentially they are getting more MS patients or just trying to cut costs as I saw their NEW MS NP. But they only had one attending Neuro on duty instead of the usual 3. So did they replace 2 attending Neuros with one NP? :)

Today I feel just lucky that I survived the trip. While my new shaker alarm clock does wake me up I still don't trust myself to get woken up with the result of only 1.5 hours sleep the night before. Sp the day was very long to say the least. On the way up I saw 7 deer along the Trace. 3 fawns, one yearling and 3 does. But I also had to stop 3 times and I do mean completely stop for turkeys in the road. They just didn't want to get out of the road for anything.

Despite this I did manage to arrive in time for my 10AM appointment (good thing I left 1/2 hour early). My BP was pretty good even though I was having some wicked spasms (136/69) which made me happy. The NP seemed to know what she was saying as we discussed what has been going on with me and did a fairly through Neuro exam. as she was doing the exam she kept writing number on a paper which I know mean something to her but not to me. you know 4/5 3/15 and so on. She informed me that an oder for a cooling vest had been put in for me and that I should stop by Prosthetics so they could order it for me. she also said I should stop by Blood Draw for a CBC she was putting in for me.  When I told her I am planning to move to Oregon she told me several of her patients are also moving there most because of the MS Center of Excellence out there (Portland) and also due to the better climate. Could not help to go Hmmm (Guess I'm not the only one that think the care here is lousy) in my head of course.

But here is where the day went down the tubes. I head to prosthetics and the man I talked to at the window tells me that I have to go to prosthetic about the cooling vest. Duh where did he think I was? I told him we are in the prosthetics department and he says oh I meant physical therapy.  So I head over to physical therapy and they tell me that is handles in Prosthetics and beside there is no order in the system for me to get a cooling vest.  So I headed back over to Neurology but they have all gone to lunch by this time.

SO I figure I would head down to the lab for the blood work and maybe by that time someone would be back from lunch in Neurology. So I drag myself down there, and I do mean drag as I am so tired I can lift my legs any more, and wait for my number to be called. I give the tech my name and she looks on the system  the order is in the system but no one has signed it so she can't do the blood work. By now it is almost 2 hours since I saw the NP and the order has not been signed.

Well it is almost 1PM now and I catch the nurse in Neurology and tell her about the Cooling vest problem. By now I didn't really care about the blood work as I have another appointment in a couple of weeks. But I did want to get the cooling vest. So the nurse calls the NP to have her put in an order for the vest.  So now back to Prosthetics for me. So I tell the tech about the neurology had just put in an order for me to get the vest and he has no idea of what to do about the order and has to go talk with someone else before he knows he has to find out what size I need. So he measures my chest and waist and tells me he will send the order over to purchasing now.  I have no idea of when I will get the vest though.  Time Now 2PM. fours hours to do what should have taken only one hour. Got home at 4:30 and went to bed and slept until 8AM this morning.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

Last week I got a letter from the VA informing me that my appeal hearing will be on the 21st of next month. I am hoping that I will be moved by the end of next month. It will kind of depend on how badly the hearing wipes me out if that will hold true.

Dennis

[Lulu54]

jeez, Dennis.  I think they do this on purpose to you to test your determination.  I am so glad you stuck it out.

How are the moving plans going?  If you do make the change I trust you will do it before the weather turns cold.  

I will post a picture for you in my photos - just two days ago DH and I were leaving the house and in the neighbor's yard was this doe and her fawn.  I couldn't get a great pic with my phone, but this was better than nothing....

I hope your vest comes soon.

[sllowe]

Sounds like a dang grocery store full of rookies! Rookies, to take care of Vets! aaaaaaaaaaargh!
Glad you slept well :) and made it home in good order :)
-shell

[debgen]

I am so sorry you both got the royal run around. You both really deserve a big break. Get some rest.
I just got back from my neuro appt. which began what I thought was a big run around. First meeting with the PA, then off to the imaging center to pick up the disc fom my latest MRI (which I thought they sent a copy to the neuro office.) ThenI went back to see the PA who had obviously not seen the disc, but as it turns out she hadn't read the report either! Giving her time to review all of this, I left to the lab to have some more blood work done (third time in a week). Back to the PA. We agreed that ai should start taking Gilenya so more blood tests, an eye exam and an EKG, along with 5 days of steroid IV's beginning Monday. The fun never ends!!!!

Good luck and I hope things start going smoother.

(((hugs)))
    Deb

[HVAC]

Sorry sounds frustrating. I have frustration even with Duke. They wanted me collect a stool sample for C-diff. I had to go to many drugstores for the supplies and I was really sick. Then I get the sample and call to ask where to take it. A day later they said no one knew where to take it. I said I have trouble getting a ride and I have been waiting all day. She said just toss it and forget it. I had three appointments. A blood draw I had to wait and hour, I was late to the Oncologist so I had to wait two hours. Then up to chemo. Waiting is the name of the game. I spent 8 hours at the hospital. We only have one neurologist as does UNC so you see P.A.s or N.P.s. The waits are two or more hours. I like the P.A. better than the residents who do not know much.

At UNC I was one day from dead they took such bad care of me and I was paying full price. When I got to Duke two weeks ago My heart and kidneys were going into failure. I had no immune system and several infections. I need blood I was so anemic. Duke is way more expensive. I had to spend two days in the hospital. The V.A. here has the Duke Doctors so I guess it is better than most. It is right next door.

I hope you get your cooling vest. I am sorry for your frustrations. I can relate to the long waits and hassles.

Oregon sounds better.

Alex