Posted on Nov 23, 2015
Has the VA ever just given you or tried to mess with current medications without ANY type of diagnosis? UPDATE AT THE END
27.4K
179
126
22
22
0
So about a month ago, I FINALLY got to go to a neurologist. FINALLY! Now the one they had before was GREAT. Testing... making sure the diagnosis met the symptoms.
So I go in and there is a new Dr. and reminds me of a Doogy Houser. (people my age should know what I am talking about.) But I have been having some serious symptoms. My left hand will go numb for hours, maintaining a WHOLE lot a water that I have been prescribed water pills twice a day, not to include the overall pain associated with the access water and numbness.
SURELY this man is going to let me know what is going on!
I go in... he asks me to describe the symptoms... I do... he does the whole reaction testing on the knee, hand, I think elbows... and he states this...
"So what I am going to do is UP prescription A. Take away prescription B. Give you prescription C."
ME: "But WHY? What is my diagnosis?"
Bone spurs... I have it too. Here, feel.
"How do you know this? NO. It has taken me YEARS to feel the way I feel at the moment (mentally) and you are NOT changing my psych medications or anything else. ESPECIALLY with NO diagnosis. (I mean, you can't see "bone spurs" with the naked eye!! AND my shoulder didn't "feel" anything like his did.)"
Well then, why did you come to me for?
"So that you can run some tests, Xray maybe, diagnose, tell me WHAT is going on and how we are going to fix this."
Well there is a significant difference of reaction between the left and right side...
"OKAY, so why? What tests are we going to do?"
WELL, if you WANT an MRI then I can get you one.
"You know what... Am I going to die due to the symptoms?
NO.
"Then we are done here. Don't change my meds. Don't do anything."
Well, I am going to give them my suggestions.
"Go ahead and do that, but you will not be messing with my medications."
Then I proceeded to walk out. A hour and a half drive for absolutely NOTHING. Still don't know what is wrong.
Have any of you experienced something like this??
GREAT news is that my primary physician is the BEST. So there, I am a very lucky Vet.
http://www.pilotonline.com/news/military/doctor-veterans-get-hooked-not-healed-at-va-hospital/article_c1f138b0-c78e-5d57-8111-3de575b563d8.html
PS. STOP CHANGING HEADINGS... IT REALLY JUST ERKS ME. IF YOU THINK I SHOULD WORD IT BETTER, THEN LET ME KNOW, OTHERWISE STAY OFF MY DAMN PROFILE!!!!!!!!!
So I go in and there is a new Dr. and reminds me of a Doogy Houser. (people my age should know what I am talking about.) But I have been having some serious symptoms. My left hand will go numb for hours, maintaining a WHOLE lot a water that I have been prescribed water pills twice a day, not to include the overall pain associated with the access water and numbness.
SURELY this man is going to let me know what is going on!
I go in... he asks me to describe the symptoms... I do... he does the whole reaction testing on the knee, hand, I think elbows... and he states this...
"So what I am going to do is UP prescription A. Take away prescription B. Give you prescription C."
ME: "But WHY? What is my diagnosis?"
Bone spurs... I have it too. Here, feel.
"How do you know this? NO. It has taken me YEARS to feel the way I feel at the moment (mentally) and you are NOT changing my psych medications or anything else. ESPECIALLY with NO diagnosis. (I mean, you can't see "bone spurs" with the naked eye!! AND my shoulder didn't "feel" anything like his did.)"
Well then, why did you come to me for?
"So that you can run some tests, Xray maybe, diagnose, tell me WHAT is going on and how we are going to fix this."
Well there is a significant difference of reaction between the left and right side...
"OKAY, so why? What tests are we going to do?"
WELL, if you WANT an MRI then I can get you one.
"You know what... Am I going to die due to the symptoms?
NO.
"Then we are done here. Don't change my meds. Don't do anything."
Well, I am going to give them my suggestions.
"Go ahead and do that, but you will not be messing with my medications."
Then I proceeded to walk out. A hour and a half drive for absolutely NOTHING. Still don't know what is wrong.
Have any of you experienced something like this??
GREAT news is that my primary physician is the BEST. So there, I am a very lucky Vet.
http://www.pilotonline.com/news/military/doctor-veterans-get-hooked-not-healed-at-va-hospital/article_c1f138b0-c78e-5d57-8111-3de575b563d8.html
PS. STOP CHANGING HEADINGS... IT REALLY JUST ERKS ME. IF YOU THINK I SHOULD WORD IT BETTER, THEN LET ME KNOW, OTHERWISE STAY OFF MY DAMN PROFILE!!!!!!!!!
Disabled Veteran
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 52
A cured patient is a lost customer. That totally sucks your time was wasted like that.
(11)
(0)
MSG (Join to see)
Sgt Gus Laskaris - I kind of see your point, as you do make some good points. I started developing acute anxiety disorder (as stated by a Psychiatrist at the COSC in Basra) right about half way through my tour in Iraq. When I got home and went to my first VA appointment, the doctor, upon hearing that I have anxiety induced chest pains, instead of asking what was causing those issues, and before he even brought up seeing a therapist, his first question out of his mouth......HIS FIRST QUESTION........was "What kind of meds do you want for your anxiety?"
(0)
(0)
7
7
0
Yours is a story many patients, including veterans have expressed for many years. When our eldest son was just a wee bit, he kept getting diagnosed with "bronchitis." This went on for about 3 years and about 3 or 4 different docs all felt the same. We move and my new health insurance was a John Hopkins HMO. The first time we saw the MD, she suspected allergy related asthma. Ordered some test and low and behold, her diagnosis provided the best treatment in all those years.
It unfortunate that Doogie didn't order some tests? Shouldn't the MRI, CAT or X-ray tests already be in your chart? Shouldn't many of the other tests already be there as well? Interesting that the neurologist didn't order an EMG for the numbness either. Not sure the patient advocate can do much for you. My thought is to ask to speak with the Chief of Medical Service and ask your questions. If you can't get to the Chief of Medicine, then ask your Congressman/woman to inquire on your behalf. I would cc a copy of the letter to the Medical Center Director. When we ran into a problem with a Healthnet provider, our Congresswoman's rep sent the typical letter, however, it was the cc letter to the Director that had her calling us on a Saturday night at 20:00 before the Congresswoman's rep did a thing.
And if you are really pissed at Doogie, then send a complaint to the state medical board citing his failure. Of course he won't like it, neither will VA, but then again, do you want failures like this collecting your tax dollars and doing nothing for the next veteran?
It unfortunate that Doogie didn't order some tests? Shouldn't the MRI, CAT or X-ray tests already be in your chart? Shouldn't many of the other tests already be there as well? Interesting that the neurologist didn't order an EMG for the numbness either. Not sure the patient advocate can do much for you. My thought is to ask to speak with the Chief of Medical Service and ask your questions. If you can't get to the Chief of Medicine, then ask your Congressman/woman to inquire on your behalf. I would cc a copy of the letter to the Medical Center Director. When we ran into a problem with a Healthnet provider, our Congresswoman's rep sent the typical letter, however, it was the cc letter to the Director that had her calling us on a Saturday night at 20:00 before the Congresswoman's rep did a thing.
And if you are really pissed at Doogie, then send a complaint to the state medical board citing his failure. Of course he won't like it, neither will VA, but then again, do you want failures like this collecting your tax dollars and doing nothing for the next veteran?
(7)
(0)
(2)
(0)
(4)
(0)
Sgt Spencer Sikder
SGT (Join to see) - Looking at OIG reports for something else and tripped over this one which reflected neurology consult delays: http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-14-02890-497.pdf
EÓg-ó'ÔÙNIkIñu0ÿ ûr^¡·fjmËÖØõÑ*º3XÈÎÓ"ÄvõÎ %LêÈ` ÔÄt»xuLèäáïÁ§l,&ÂãåêèmAiGµwåEFÂûa:RñÑ+#è]GÜeØ x¿!Zfëc4ñôÒ·Ôôlm:ÆÜ@uùûÆÊßµ2E[ðéÀãjÁÒÖ «>ÎÓó]8W;æW7AÝéBJnËDÂÚtNüÓ7Õ\éÇâP|syIr+Ûv(yª9qEÿvNÙOeÚ"r/J«Õ''Âg ª;ñ=Á9ý\GäP,Ê¡¡Æ2$bÄZCo"Ç0Jp ·êjQ3~LJð5(Ë6Ð.äµ|ß9îhô,TóÄ@
(0)
(0)
Sgt (Join to see)
We as a group a major Group and an important ( 20 - Million ) strong part of American Society will be shocked to find , by way of F.O.I.A. requests 20 years from now. That we were shafted.IN that the V.A. was actually ordered to cut back on the care , treatment and testing. To be given the same med's that the higher up's order. And that the negative out-comes were to be over looked. Until a Law Suit. In other words we are being shafted as we speak.
(1)
(0)
5
5
0
My only advise to you is go get a 2nd opinion from another source outside the VA. I ended up finding out I had a pinched nerve in my neck, had I fell the wrong way I could have become paralyzed.
(5)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Well, they have said that a while ago. Whatever it is, its getting worse. But it's bone spurs. WHAT?????? My head, in the back, is completely numb. My face will go numb. But what is scaring me is the lack of strength. It's weird. And I exercise 6 days a week...so its something.
(3)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Wow!! I didn't even think about that. It's mainly the elliptical or just plain running/walking. I will steer clear until there are answers
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google