My Ongoing VA Journey

[unhappycamper]

I'm relatively new to the VA; I signed up with them in November of last year. This March was my first VA medical appointment with the Hearing Guys. This May i was seen for cataracts.

On May 8 I went in for cataract testing. Wowsa.

This time they used three kinds of drops to dialate my eyes. After another thorough examination, we went off to another room to measure my eyeballs for the replacement lens.

After this was done, the Dr. took me to the lady who schedules ORs for cataract surgery. (Let's call her Jane.) We chatted briefly and I told her "The inability to see is impacting my quality of life; you can call me at 0330 and I will be there by 0530". Evidently she listened. She told me I was tentatively scheduled for surgery in June, but she had a cancellation and did I want a May 21 surgery date? O my, I jumped on that like Louie Ghomert jumps on stupid.

The next day, Friday, I received a call for the VA asking me if I wanted to do the surgery this coming Wednesday, 5.14. They had one question about an implanted heart monitor; I'm off to my HMO tomorrow morning to see if I can get the type of device implanted in 2006.

--

My reflections on the VA to date:

1. They are professional.
2. I know the West Roxbury VA has the best Spinal Cord care in the entire VA.
3. I'm glad I was not going to the VA 40 years ago (think Agent Orange). The VA has come a long way in 40 years. .
4. I like Secretary Eric K. Shinseki; he's doing one hellova job.

[newfie11]

1. I agree with you

My husband and I were 40+ years in the medical field. We heard all the horror stories about VA.
Time for retirement and my husband decided to give the VA. try.
The diagnose him with diabetes from Agent Orange and severe hard of hearing due to VietNam. 100% disabled.
All his meds are free, doctor visits are free, even free rides to the hospital if in another town.
I had free medical care with VA because of him, free meds, etc.
Once I was on Medicare my ChampVA turned into a supplement. I see private doctors and 100% is paid for between the two.

This country so needs this for all citizens.

One last thing, we were both very pleasantly surprised at the quality of health care by VA.
We are in western SD and the VA hospital in Hot Springs is the one we've both used.

[rasputin1952]

2. The VA has made great strides under Shinseki

When Max Cleland was running the VA, the times were slightly different, but he too make the VA a close to state of the art system. Once Max's tenure was up, the VA went down hill. Shinseki has revitalized the VA. He has made service connected potential suicides a priority, sexual abuse has become a priority, women's health has become a priority, veteran homelessness has become a priority.

Under Shinseki, the VA has become a a place where new employees, both professional, semi-professorial and staff members are caring about the veterans they serve. This is a new VA; once you are in the system, things happen. I am going in next month for a thyroidectomy, they have done very well by me, and I expect nothing but the best treatment. I urge all vets to get into the system, (can be a little ponderous, but we're vets, we're used to that), and the wheels start turning.

Shinseki is a "don't give me any shit" kind of guy, known for getting things done. He was a damn good general, caring for the troops under his command; that hasn't changed since he too over the VA. I urge every vet to start the process of getting into the system, it may seem like it takes a bit to get an initial appointment with your primary. So much can be done online and through the Patient Call Center.

One last thing, if you are even considering harming yourself please call 1-800-273-8255; they will help you.

[mopinko]

5. the aca is changing ALL healthcare

iirc, a lot of aca money went to bringing the va system up to speed.

but i am extremely happy to hear this. tammy duckworth is trying to kick some ass here after the appalling revelations of late. maybe she can call out the national guard!

to the both of you.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Best of luck with your cataracts!

I've had both done. Thanks to the lens implants, I no longer wear glasses except to drive.

[rasputin1952]

11. I had both done as well...

I need to wear bi-focals now because I can't "close focus", ie to read, but can see rather well w/o the regular lens of my glasses, I'd say I'm in the 20/30 range w/o specs.

Glad to back on DU, been having some serious health problems...I'm just too friggin' ornery to die, even satan said "stay the hell away from me!"...

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. It was nice after 40-plus years of wearing glasses to not have to anymore.

Sometimes I forget that they're not there anymore and it's been two years.

Sorry to hear that you've been unwell. Take care of yourself!

[tom_kelly]

4. Thank you for sharing that Camper

I have been going to the VA for 10 years now and have never experienced anything but the best of service.

[Augiedog]

6. Flashback

Your comment on agent orange reminded me that I still have the questionnaire the V.A. Sent me ages ago concerning my possible exposure to agent orange in viet nam. Never sent it back because I was so pissed off at the military and a bit loopy from nam that I just wanted nothing more than for the whole thing to just go away. That did not work out so well, the denial I mean.

[newfie11]

8. Send it in now. Nt

[rasputin1952]

14. I've come to the realization that the only...

way to deal w/my experiences is to deal with them head on. Doesn't work for everyone, but the VA has excellent MH care now, especially in "crisis mode".

The Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) Pass this on to anyone who may need it; they're working on Homeless Vets as well.

[Victor_c3]

15. I have to agree with that

The mental health people there are great.

I never called the crisis line, I just show up to the VA in person. The closest VA hospital is right down the street from where I live and everyone in the building is eager to help when they see a troubled vet stumble in through any door of the VA hospital. You will get seen almost immediately by someone within 15-60 minutes.

I believe most people work for the VA because they want to actually help vets - and it is very apparent to me. I don't work for the VA, but as a federal employee I feel a huge sense of satisfaction doing what I do for our government and our country. I'm sure employees of the VA feel the same too.

[santamargarita]

7. If we can keep the goddamn Republicans away from the VA

it will continue to be the greatest healthcare you can get.

[Gman]

9. The way the VA handles low vision is a model

for how it should be. No program does what the VA does in not only medicine, but issuing "prosthetics" like CCTV's, computers and OCR reading machines.

[unhappycamper]

10. 5.12.2014 UPDATE

I just received a call for the JP VA asking me if I was willing to move my surgery up to 5.13. Evidently they had the heart monitor stuff in the data dump they received from my HMO.

Yowsa!

I'll be there at 0630 tomorrow morning.

[pinboy3niner]

13. Congratulations on getting an even earlier appointment

Good luck with the procedure tomorrow!

[unhappycamper]

16. D'oh UPDATE to my 5.12.2014 UPDATE

Last edited Thu May 15, 2014, 08:44 AM - Edit history (1)

That call I received on 5.12 was to confirm surgery on 5.14; I was so excited I put down Tuesday as my surgery date.

D'oh.

I was at the VA Wednesday morning for my cataract surgery. They called me in around 0740 into pre-op. The usual stuff - what part are we fixing today? What's your name, DOB and SSNO? At least four or five different folks stopped by including two docs.MY BP was something like 158/95, but anyone messing with my eyes or needles or surgery pumps it up a bit.

They wheeled my ass into surgery around 0845. The gas passer said she would give me a little something to relieve anxiety which worked as I remember NOTHING about the surgery.

My bud picked me up around 1030, we went down to the Pharmacy to pick up eye drops and dropped me off at the hacienda.

Yesterday was a weird day. I could read signs at a distance, I saw the moon without a halo yesterday evening. I can see colors again and differentiate between shades of colors. I can see details again.

Today is equally weird - I'm typing this note (no reading glasses) while I'm wearing this pirate pin cushion eyepatch. I can see both the screen and the keyboard through the eyepatch.

Once my right eye is done and healed I have a bunch of stuff to do again:

1. Go to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
2. Assuming this will cure my night blindness, I should be able to drive at night.
3. Picture puzzles.
4. Newport, RI, New Hampshire, Maine, Cape Cod and Boston.
5. Use my camera again.
6. Put Nova Scotia back on my bucket list.

.. the list is quite large.

I have a 0730 day after checkup this morning. With any luck I will have to wear my pirate-gear eyepatch only for sleeping.

So far I'm impressed as hell.

on edit to add:

Just got back my my first post-op checkup. Everything's going great and I have a one week post-op appointment 5.22. Depending on how that turns out we could also be talking about doing my right eye.

Oh, and I do not have to wear my pirate pin cushion eyepatch during the day anymore.

I'm a happycamper.

[unhappycamper]

17. 5.16 UPDATE

It feels/looks like my left eye is almost up to HD quality. Depth perception is almost normal in my left eye.

Now I am really looking forward to doing the other eye.

Serious kudos to the JP VA.

[unhappycamper]

18. 5.18 UPDATE

Today is the fourth day after my surgery.

I have HD-quality vision in my left eye; my right eye (usta be the good one) is like watching a 17" tube television on rabbit ears.

Next appointment: 5.22.

Thank you JPVA!!1!

[unhappycamper]

19. 5.22 UPDATE

I had my one week post-op appointment yesterday. My left eye is healing fine and I still need to keep putting eye drops in for another three weeks. I have my next appointment with Optometry 6.23.2014.

At the moment my left eye is HD quality and my right eye is like a 17" B&W TV with rabbit ears - depth perception in my left eye and not so much in the right one. My visual cortex is have fun sorting these views out.

Kudos to the Jamaica Plain VA!