Second Opinion?

[Buck52]

  Sorry kinda personal  post.

Need  a little information on the VA Hospital.

Question

If the VA only has one Dr  to do prostate surgery? or scrotum surgery?..do we have to use him?

I do not want students  getting their education on me or my body.

I am fearful of that type medical practice.

My VAMC only has one Dr in Urology  the rest are students doing their residency.

I am not sure yet  on this surgery  or what is wrong  but something is wrong down south.  some type of growth growing?  no pain no blood are any dizzyness  just a slight dull drag on my right side and scrotum is swelled and red  but no pain....kinda feels like a fluid  and or a cyst? from what I've read about.

I am hoping meds will work so I don't have to have this surgery.

If we have a choice  I may want to get the mission act program  to out source me  I know a good urologist Doc. 

Anyone know?

Thanks  in Advance  to all my brothers and sister veterans  out there and members here on hadit.

[ShrekTheTank]

As far as I am aware if there is a concern with a doctor you can for sure bring it up!  The VA can refer you to another doctor outside of the VA.  You need good reasoning for it, but you should be able to talk to your PCP and work it out.

[Buck52]

 

Thank you Shrek,

Well unfortunately for me  my PCP won't go to bat for me and a lot the others  she strictly VA all the way.

I just don't like being a guinea-pig  and on display for about 5 or 6 medical students hoovering over me ..

Although That might be ok if the Dr  does  it and has  a lot of successful  years  experience and does a good job  but there's trust hanging there?

can I should I trust them?

If this was for another type surgery  like knee replacement  or  Hernia or something I might think different.

I'd like to hear from Veterans that's had this type of surgery  bout how it is and what to expect?

Thanks

Edited February 4, 2021 by Buck52

[broncovet]

I think the problem is with you, not with the docs.  Yes, I get it, you dont want the boyz displayed on the six o clock news.  But, each doc needs assistants such as nurses, anethestists, and, yes, others have to learn how to do procedures, often by watching the pro's do it.  There are people learning medicine in almost every hosptial.  Nurses, nurses aids, doctors, respiratory, all of em have to learn somewhere.  Sure, they can learn "on somebody else", but that "somebody else" probably does not have your problem and they may run into it again later in their career, so great docs have a wide variety of cases so they know how to treat them all, with experience.  

Think of it like you are giving a gift.  You are letting them see your intimates, so that they can help "the next" Vet, who may have your disorder also.  You are probably not the only one to EVER have that condition.  

In my state, (if not EVERYWHERE), there are very strict privacy laws.  My wife, a retired nurse, could not put the name of a patient ON THE DOOR, in case someone they knew walked by and stops in and says, "gee what are you in for"?  Different hospitals and different states have different policies on this, so I have no idea what your state is. 

If doctors, nurses, nurses aids or whoever "talk about you" in "other than medical way", they would be fired, or says my wife, and I trust her.  

I had an injury (worse) to the boys down south in the military.  It didnt bother me.  Part of it, is that "is not a top priority with me" what so and so thinks of me.  He can think "what he wants", that does not affect my salvation, and I am not gonna live my life desperately trying to impress others. 

You know, spend money you dont have, to impress people you dont know.  

I know we always want to think a problem is with "someone else" but, sometimes, the problem is us, and we cant see our own problems.  

Even when we pray, sometimes we have to accept the problem is not with God or others, but with us.  I suggest you pray for your surgery, ask others to pray  also, and then leave the result to him, and have peace about it.  That is what I do.  IN our church we can ask for prayer, and most of the time, we dont include surgical details.  You may include surgical details, if you desire, or you can just ask God that he guides the surgeons and helpers hands to give you a good result and heal you completely.  

[GBArmy]

Good advice from Shrek and Broncovet; usually is. My understanding is the VA Heath Care we know today was founded on the principal of being close to an existing civilian medical hospital and draw from their expertise as well as being a "teaching hospital" where residents get experience witnessing the specialist work. I've had 5 surgeries at the VA; I always look up the background of the surgeon who is the lead and now days we always get a consult with them before surgery. It is up to the veteran to ask the right questions, like "Doc, are you the one who is going to do the cutting?" If you don't like the answer, try another approach like Shrek recommends.

[Buck52]

On 2/3/2021 at 9:06 PM, shrekthetank1 said:

As far as I am aware if there is a concern with a doctor you can for sure bring it up!  The VA can refer you to another doctor outside of the VA.  You need good reasoning for it, but you should be able to talk to your PCP and work it out.

The Urology Clinic only has one surgeon that can do this type of surgery...he teaches students  sometimes they let the students go in there and do the surgery  B.S. ....and  I just don't think they should do that, I know the student need to get experience  but I disagree they use us Veterans .

This is what medical school is for specialized in different major Medical Needs different schools and universities and special schooling.

I'll be put out  and not know who did the surgery until after the surgery  and they will assume the Dr did it. and not the student.. BS,

i get out of the hospital and a week or two later end up back in the hospital for something that was not performed correctly during the surgery.

I realize there are no guarantees in any surgery  but  they do have highly experienced Dr' s with years and years of this type surgery.

My VAMC just has one Dr to do this type surgery   we should have a choice to choose  what Dr   or at least be outsourced.

 

I got my information from asking other Veterans at the VA Urology Clinic.