Mini-Update (Updated as of Sunday 1-19-2014)

So good to hear something so positive from a doctor visit- especially the VA. Glad it was such a positive experience for you. Now fingers are crossed for some actionable results from the neurologist!!!!!

thanks, worried and diane,

I was nervous in advance, because I wasn't sure how I would be received, and how caring the atmosphere would be. But was pleasantly surprised across the board. From the security guards at the entrance, to the receptionist, to the admin people, the nurse, the doctor, and even the pharmacist.

Was treated with utter respect. Never felt like I was just a number, but a person right from the start. This puts this new venture off to a very good start in my book, and I hope and trust it will stay that way.

The old Greenville Outpatient Clinic, which I hadn't used in nearly 20 years, and closed less than a year ago, did not have this reputation. It was a pretty shabby place, with ridiculous waits and problems.

The VA went above and beyond in the design of the new facility. Everything I saw was first class equiptment, like they had the best of everything to work with.

Very impressed. Will now have to see what their follow through is like. See how long it takes to get my first VA meds to arrive, the ones I am getting will be in 90 day allotments, which will relieve some monthly stress. And be interesting to see how long it takes to get that so needed dental appointment. The doctor said, that if I need a full dental surgeon, that I could use my existing one, and they would foot the entire bill. That was a relief just knowing that.

Their opinion about specialists, is if you already have a good doctor, they prefer you keep your doctor, assuming you have insurance other than VA. They said it was cheaper for the VA to act as the secondary, in my case, to Medicare, than to pay for the whole thing using their doctors.

Since the VA doctor knows my oncologist, he told me things about him that I didn't even know. How he donates so many hours a month, providing advanced oncology care to those without any insurance for free. I knew from experience, that he is a very caring, compassionate person, but didn't know he did things like that on the side. Must be one busy guy. As he's on staff at Spartanburg Regional, plus he blended his personal practice into the Gibbs Cancer Center that I go to.

Been a while since I had a good experience like this. Feels good for a change.

David

Thanks, Jane.

Not familiar with UK Veteran's benefits. This program is specifically for U.S. Vets that served in Viet-Nam, then later contract prostate cancer. The VA has to presume that the vet came in contact with Agent Orange, a very carcinogenic agent that was used to defoliate the jungles at that time.

Yes, my wife will later qualify under a different military insurance since I was rate 100% disabled. She currently has her own health insurance.

David

Thanks, Andrew

Based on my distant memory (more than 20 years ago) of working with the VA for medical matters at the outpatient level, and more than 40 years ago on more serious VA care, I was afraid it was going to be the same old story.

At least to start, I am highly impressed with the quality of the place, the services, and all the personnel I have met thus far.

Plus its an easy 20 minute drive from my house.

David
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Friday Update

My new VA assigned doctor, called me this afternoon, just to see how I was feeling, if I needed anything, and wished me well, and told me I could contact him by phone (he said much more difficult) or by e-mail anytime - that he would always respond as soon as possible. Pretty impressed with this as well.

Thanks for checking, Aimzee,

Was suppose to hear from neuro's office today, about a follow up visit from all the tests, but didn't hear a word, and I was tied up most of the day. If I don't hear anything by noon tomorrow, will give them a call.

My hips have been very unstable ever since I went shopping on Saturday. More so than normal. Going to PT in the morning, then having one of my massage session there, hope it helps bring some relief, even if it is short time.

How's Ron doing? Any improvement in his ailments? Hoping for better days for him, as well.

David

thank you klondiker, glad you are doing well. see your latest PSA came back well under .10. A little bit of a climb, but not enough to worry about at this time.

david

81, Thanks.

The "old" VA Outpatient in Greenville was a terrible, inefficient place, and had a bad reputation. Local vets gladly endured driving to either Columbia or Asheville so as not to have to deal with them.

However, based on my initial visits and my first real appointment at the "new" Greenville clinic, it seems very favorable across the board. From the moment you enter the doors, you are greeted and treated with genuine respect. Those I have had to deal with, go out of their way to be both friendly and informative. My new medical team is off to a good start with me. My new doctor really took the time to listen closely to what I was saying, and took an unbelievable amount of time going over my extensive medical records, taking plenty of notes along the way.

And when he called me unexpectently at home the next day, just to check up on me, that went well with me.

Hope it continues like this. Just by them taking over my meds and Ostomy supplies will save me several hundred a month out of pocket. I am currently waiting for my first dental appointment, and I have a meeting in February to go over reimbursements owed over the past 4 years.

Wish this quality of service was consistent with the VA across the country, but sadly I know its not the case. Hopefully, other clinics will be re-built and re-staffed in the future.

David

David, in my experience, and my R. N. wife has said this too, blood pressure goes up when a person is in pain. So, as pain increases, it's not surprising to see the BP rise. Other than that, have you started any new medications that might cause a rise in BP?

Hi David ~ not the news I had hoped for, but the VA does seem to care. Ron's BP goes up and down depending on his pain level. Take care and I hope more help is on its way!

Hugs,
Aimzee

David,

Glad to see that your new VA team is taking ownership in your treatment. They seem to take the challange to find out the cause of the latest problems, and look for a treatment to improve your quality of life. Your problems would make for a great research paper from your Doctor's, and hopefully someone will want to do so to help someone else down the line. My Urologist devotes all day Friday every week to research, and he and his associates have many published papers on prostate cancer. Praying for you to find relief from the pain.

Beachbum

David:

Your pain buddy here, sorry I've not been around a lot lately, but as you know, I 2was in the hospital for 3 weeks and then had to have IV antibiotics here at home for 1 1/2 weeks.

Sounds like your visit at the VA went well and everyone was so nice to you. I hate to hear that your pain is getting worse. (((((gentle Hugs)))))). I do hope that the neurologist can provided you with some news about why you have the pain so badly throughout your body .

As for all the other stuff in life, how are you doing? I certainly understand all the stress and such, affects us big time. Try to get as much rest as you can, make sure you keep up with good nutrition. Don't give up keep fighting and know that you're in my daily prayers and I think of you a lot throughout, the day.

Take care and hang in there David, I'll be here if you need me anytime day or night.

Hugs,
Barbara

Barb:

Thanks, my dear. Was so glad to read that you finally got out of the hospital. Left you a note on the Lupus site, dedicated my 23,000 rd post at HW to you! Can't think of anyone more deserving than you.
Hope you continue to improve, even if its in tiny, baby steps

Dave:

Thank, you my friend. One can never have too many prayers, that's for sure. And having the VA as still another medical resource, is certainly going to expand my options, for what ails me now and in the future.
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Sunday Update: January 19th

Looking forward (in a way) to my Neuro appointment on Wednesday. Sure hope the doctor found something of interest, in all the tests that were done, any thing, that might help point a more thorough diagnosis.

Left hip is getting progressively worse. First it was just the hip going out (and the right, but more often on the left), then it expanded to the hip and upper leg, and now, in the past week, my entire left hip, left upper and lower leg down to my ankle. When it gives, I feel like my entire left side is just made of rubber. Even holding onto the walker or a shopping cart, getting harder to keep from hitting the deck.

Woke up this morning in severe pain. That's usually the signal that it's going to be a "major pain" day, and sure enough it was. Woke with severe burning in the muscles of both upper legs, severe groin pain, and hip and lower back pain. Switching to a new Fentanyl patch did little to offer any relief. Tried to nap this afternoon, but pain kept me from relaxing enough to sleep. But it did get me off my feet for a couple of hours.

Now for two weeks, pain has definitely progressed equally to both shoulders. A new one for me. My upper body and upper body strength has always been one of my strong suits, but no longer. By the end of the day, my shoulders ache incessantly. If I do any bending or lifting, it would only make it worse.

Whatever is going on, diagnosed or not, its spreading further and further, and this bothers me, as, what's next to give out on me?

David