salty dog

I go to one of the best cardiologists in the southeast. On several different occasions a VA doctor has ignored his instructions on medications... one time changing my medication to another type. I didn't know this happened.... just thought the VA doc prescribed a generic equivalent instead... Then I had a heart attack...... My DIL brought my meds into the emergency room. The next day I was told that my doctor (the cardiologist) threw one bottle of VA meds across the room. He told my DIL that it was "no wonder" I had an attack. He fired off a letter to the VA doctor and was apparently very hostile because the next time I went to see the VA doctor, they told me that I needed to make sure that they got everything from the cardiologist. Well, I went back to the cardiologists' office and a nurse showed me the documentation where everything had been transmitted (records). Oh, by the way, there are several retired officers who go to this cardiologist. About a year later, the VA doctor reduced the dosage of one of my heart meds by half....... no letter...... no nothing.... without the benefit of any lab tests... or having seen me for over 9 months. Rather than fight the VA I got the cardiologist to write a script for the correct dosage. Three months later, the same VA doctor reduced my dosage of K-dur by 50%, and to my shock reduced it by another 50% the next month, both times without the benefit of lab tests or having seen me or even talking to me on the phone. When I don't take the proper dosage of K-dur, I get increasingly irregular heartbeat. I have two DILs (daughter-in-laws) who are RNs..... One works in a heart hospital emergency room, the other worked in heart surgery for many years. Both stated that any doctor should NEVER change K-dur by that amount without benefit of lab tests....... My cardiologists only statement was, you're lucky to be alive.... and be thankful you will soon be on medicare. Don't ask me why I take such a large dose of K-dur....... It was determined I needed that much during a week long stay in the hospital. I just wanted to pass this along to let you know what happened to me..... and I hope it never happens to anyone else.

Got a letter a few days ago to come in for a "fasting" lab before I could get my monthly scrip for methylphenidate (I have narcolepsy). I went in to the clinic and was promptly given a specimen cup.... I asked what it was for, and a very rude and bossy lab tech told me, "for your pain medicine".... I told her that methylphenidate is NOT a pain medicine. I also told her that I get NO pain meds from the VA. Just then I noticed another lab tech smiling at me. So then, I asked the bossy lab tech again, "What is this test for?"....... well, I got no answer, except that I would not be able to get my "PAIN MEDICINE" without complying with the test. Well, I do take hydrocodone prn... prescribed by a neurologist.... and the VA doctor said that I should keep going to that doctor. So, I guess I should just forget the VA..... go pay my other neurologist $400 for an office call and get a year's worth of prescriptions for the methylphenidate..... which costs $4 per month.... at Walmart. That would save me from driving 110 miles a month to the VA clinic. I guess nobody else has asked the question at that clinic, because several other vets were asked for specimens while I was there. I'm a little curious about how the VA can get away with drug screening without following federal mandates, like informed consent and chain of custody, etc. I know a little bit about drug testing since I helped write the original legislation for the commercial nuclear industry (10CFR.... well, I forget.... it's been a long time...)