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@berdie @Sighlass @Applewood http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,344993.0.html Part 2
So now that we have the history taken care of,we get to present time,that SEEMS to have began with my cancer diagnosis.
For months now my left leg has been so swollen with pus that I can only wear big overalls or shorts. My left is too big to fit into regular pants. It is not black and purple like it was the last time it was seriously infected,but it does hurt like a bastard. It is not unusual for me to go two days in a row with no sleep or only a couple of hours,thanks to the pain.
So I decide to go to a different VA hospital that is about 250 miles away because I have heard so many good things about it,and sure enough,it is so different the staff there might as well be aliens from another solar system. Maybe THE nicest bunch of people I have ever dealt with,as well as the most helpful. No,I did NOT get to see a vascular surgeon that day. The system just isn't set up that way,but I did get an appointment to see one a few weeks later,and it was a real revelation when I did.
Within 10 minutes of my scheduled appointment the surgeon himself walked out into the waiting room,introduced himself,shook my hand,and led me back to his office to have me explain my problems,answer his questions,and have him do an ultrasound test on my left leg.
When he finishes,he tells me "The bad news is that the VA is not equipped to deal with your problem,but I have a few ideas and need to talk with the chief of surgery to see what we can do. Please sit tight. I should be back in a few minutes."
When he came back he has the Chief of Surgery with him,and she smiled at me,shook my hand,and told me they had decided that I needed to be sent to a private clinic that WAS equipped and qualified to deal with my problems,and to not worry about the expenses because they would have the VA pay all the expenses under their "fee basis program".
Not only that,but the private clinic was only 130 miles from home,and they also told me they would pay my travel expenses and motel expenses.
Sooo,they sent me home to wait.
Then the whole Covid-19 thing blew up,which means that both the VA hospital AND the private clinic lost at least 1/3rd of their available patient rooms. Not to mention their staff.
Which means that the bean counters that run the private clinics start to pick and choose patients based on their health insurance plans.
Which means a few months later I got a letter from the director of the private clinic telling me I do NOT have "a vascular problem,but a wound care problem,and they do not do wound treatment,so were referring me back to the VA for treatment."
The SAME VA whose Chief of Vascular Surgery had told me they were not equipped to treat me,and referred me to that private clinic because they could,and because the clinic had a contract with the VA to treat VA patients the VAMC couldn't help.
A short time later I get a letter in from that same VA hospital telling me I have an appointment at their wound treatment clinic in 30 days or so,and that if I miss that treatment it can result in the loss of my "privilege" to be treated at the VA hospital.
These cretins expect me to drive over 500 miles round trip and rent a motel room overnight,JUST TO GET A FREAKING BANDAGE CHANGED,and are threatening to remove my VA Hospital privileges if I miss the appointment.
Keep in mind that I am changing these bandages 2 to 3 times a day myself,right here in my house.
Sooo,I called my new Congresscritter about this,and learned that "Due to Covid-19 our office is closed,so please call XXX-XXXX."
I call that number and get his office assistant who is now running his office from her home. I told her about this and even sent her an email,but to be honest I was so out of it at that time due to fever and Oxy that I have no idea what I said or what she said to me.
Been meaning to call her back,but due to fever and being bombed with pain pills,I kept forgetting.
Now the pain is worse than ever,my fever is returning,and the local doc is refusing to refill my Oxy prescription because he is "afraid you will become addicted".
On top of that the vascular surgeon at the good VA hospital is not returning my phone calls or emails. For all I know,he may have been put on leave as the VA cut operating staff due to Covid-19.
Frankly,I am running out of options as well as patience. In NORMAL times,I honestly don't think this would be much of a problem,but thanks to Covid-19 the whole damn world seems to be in a full-fledged panic,and it is impossible to maintain communications.
I can NOT be the only one having these communication/appointment problems.
Any suggestions that doesn't involve rifles?
