hypertension Hypertension Heart Disease

[JohnM]

My husband had a stress test last month, it states " A trace of Hypertension Heart Disease"

We seen his VA primary Dr. for the 2nd time since he has been rated 100%, we talked about this during that appointment. He said nothing to worry about. John does not have high blood presure. Sometimes at rest it gets low.

Two days later I called and ask for a referal to see a Cardioligist. Yesterday we got a letter from him stating not at this time.

Question

Are you allowed to see a doctor if you request it? Can the primary so no? and What can we do about this?

I wanted to complain to the Advocate but he wants me to keep quiet. Says I do not no anything about military.

What can and should I do if anything?

[Pete53]

The first thing would be to ask a Patient Advocate to help. Since you said advocate in your post if that was Patient Advocate I would write a short letter and send to the VA and ask for a Hearing. They have to do it within one week.

It is not right to not let your husband see a specialist its his life that is on the line not the Primary Doc's.

You might ask for another Primary Doc and tell them why.

[jbasser]

Mrs John M, What type od stress test did your husband have? Did he walk on the treadmill or was he injected to make his heart race?

In 2005, I had a VA stress test and the Doc said it was normal.

I was having angina so I went outside to another cardiologist. He did a heart Cath and found that I have Heart disease.

If you can afford to do so, or if John had a red/white/blue card go for a second opinion. Take the VA notes with you.

I have posted before that I do not put too much emphasis on stress tests or echos because a cath is an actual person seeing what is going on.

JBasser

[JohnM]

He was injected to make his heart rate. I read it again and it said a patchy trace of hypertension heart disease. Well John does not have high blood presure actually he has low and and rest it sometimes goes lower than it should. He also has the problem falling asleep all the time. and he was actually falling asleep during the stress test and they had to keep waking him up and telling him to stay awake. since he was rated 100% we stopped our other insurance. In Feb. he will be able to get Medicare and I think we should get a second opinion. Right now he has so many other things going on. He needs to see a surgeon for a disk problem on his neck. And he wants to wait on everything else. When he gets Medicare can he go to a doctor outside of VA for a second opionion? I am not sure they will except just medicare.

[Ricky]

Yes medicare will allow him to be treated for anything meaning he will not have to depend on VA care if he does not want to. However, there will be a copay for any treatment he receives. A small copay is worth it in my opinion because it will allow you to get the treatment needed.