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Veterans Benefits/Medical Issues Forum
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by Anonymous 15 years ago
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Topic starter
I am a type 2 diabetic, also have peripheral neuropathy,osteoarthritis,High blood pressure,and two heart blockages,(1) left facicular (2) right bundle
my thyroid was taken in a botched surgery at the VAMC in Feb,2000, I have not had stable hormones for more than a few months at a time since 2000, therefore I occasional suffer hypothyroidism which slows down my matabolism and causes weight gain,because of the painfull peripheral neuropthy,and osteoarthritis, I am not able to exorcise, I am rated 100% iu my PCP Dr. William White on three different occasions has sent a consult for Lap Band Surgery for me, and on three different occasions Dr. Piatt has cancelled them,
I called Dr. Piatts office many times to no avail, he would never come to the phone, I left him many messages and to this day(going on three years now)
he would not give me a reason for cancelling my consults,finally I contacted my Congressman,when the Congressman asked them why, he received a letter from the acting Director of Phx VAMC Dr. Robbins, advising that I was attempting to cure my health problems with surgery,and at his facility surgery was never the first course of action.He further advised my Congressman that after carefully studying my health record I did not meet the criteria for the lap band surgery.Well of course my Congressman thought I was some kind of fool and advised I could possibly appeal, I asked my Crongressman if he could possibly find out just what the criteria called for as no one at the VA would ever tell me. He contacted Dr. Robbins again and Dr. Robbins sent him VHA Handbook 1102.6 Criteria for Bariactric Surgery when I received this info I was completely astounded, then I realized that Dr. Piatt nor Dr. Robbins had ever even opened my file, the criteria read almost verbatim to my health record. When my Congressman contacted them again he was told I was on a list. I have been trying for a couple of months now to find out what list. They only told Congressman Franks that to get him off their backs, what list? Who controls this so called list? Where is the list kept?
who makes the decision on who moves up on the list? Was I entered on the list the first time Dr. Piatt cancelled my consult nearly three years ago? On the first consult I was called at home by the manager of fee for service and told I was approved for the lap band surgery but they did not do the operation at the VAMC and I was to find a surgeon to do the surgery and the VA would pay for it, that I must make sure that the surgeon and hospital would take fee for service from VA. I asked her who she recommended and was advised that she was not permitted to suggest anyone as apparently people had been taking kickbacks previously. Upon finding a Dr. to do the surgery I called my PCP and asked him if he knew this Dr.My PCP was surprised that I had been cleared so quickly for fee for service and he advised I should call her back and make sure Dr. Piatt had approved the consult, when I called her back and asked this question she put me on hold and when she came back to the phone she said Dr. Piatt had just this minute
discontinued my consult, I asked why and she put me on hold again and when she came back she advised he would not give a reason . While I was researching Doctors to perform the surgery I found that many will not do this surgery for anyone 60 years or older because of their insurance carriers, at present I do not have any of the contraindications for this surgery but if they keep stalling I certainly will develope at least one. I weigh 325 lbs, and my BMI is 40.27 and this fact alone is criteria enough for the surgery, but I have everything on the criteria and a few they don't mention, I also have been through the M.O.V.E. weight loss program which the criteria calls for and I have seen a diabetic dietition and a weight loss dietition for many months. My PCP and both dietitions know that I need this surgery,Dr. Piatt and Dr. Robbins know now that I need this surgery, I know without a doubt they did not even look at my records before they started with their lies. I was told by a person at the VAMC that one of the previous Directors received great bonuses for saving VAMC money but that he did it on the back of employees, depriving them of supplies and intruments to better serve Veterans, and depriving Veterans of care they need and deserve. That Director was John Fears, when he retired his replacemnt came from a VA Med. Ctr. which was under investigation for 12 negligent deaths of veterans, needless to say he never lasted long now we have Dr. Robbins acting Director. I don't know what anyone of you could do to help but at least you know my story, and if someone has a suggestion I would love to here it, I need this surgery before I develope one of the contraindications, or I time out on age. If I could afford this operation I would have had it long ago but I'm sure a good many of you know just what it is to try to live on disability.
Posted : 2009-06-25 12:40
Word to Encourage
😮 Carl I'm sorry to hear about the RUN AROUND,but be sure that you are not alone. This kind of thing has gone on for more years then one would want to know. That being said I will say there is good and bad people in any hospital you go to,so my Prayer is that you will find those good Dotor's and people and get your treatment you Need. God Speed .
Posted : 2009-06-25 15:30
Topic starter
Phoenix VA Med Ctr.
Thank you Jerry,
I probably should not have vented my anger on our Web Site, but they have me at the end of a string just dangling, Over a period of nearly 3 years my PCP a VA Doctor put me in three times for a consult for lap band surgery and three times his boss Dr. Piatt cancelled or discontinued them and would never tell my why they were cancelled, It is hard to understand how a Doctor can just arbitrarily,cancel my consults without ever seeing me or talking with me and overriding my PCP who has seen me practically every month for many years and is also a VA. Doctor in the same clinic.When I got my Congressman involved, Dr.Robbins the Interim Director of the VAMC told him that I, like all patients, wanted to go the easy way and use surgery for weight loss and in his clinic surgery was not the first option, he further stated that I did not meet the criteria for lap band surgery, trying to make me look small and stupid in the eyes of my Congressman. My Congressman's assistant asked Dr. Robbins for the criteria which I had been trying for three years to attain, when the criteria was forwarded to my Congressman, I knew at once that this DR. Robbins nor Dr. Piatt had never even looked at my health file,the criteria read almost verbatim to my health file, when my Congressman confronted Dr. Robbins with this he advised that I had been placed on a list for the surgery, to this day they have not notified me that I am on any kind of list and I know they told my Congressman that to get him off their backs. So I wrote another letter to Dr. Robbins trying to ascertain what list?where is the list? who controls the list?what is the criteria for moving up the list?to which I have not had a response, nor do I expect one but I know that my Congressman will not give up on this he has seen too many lies from them and with this and a few other items I believe he will eventually get them an investigation.
and after being treated in the Phoenix VA Med. Ctr. for almost 20 years I am glad to see it coming.
Again Thank You
Carl Rice
Posted : 2009-06-29 02:44
get a lawyer !!!
you may have to sue the SOBs.good luck and semper fi !
non illigitimus carborundum:)MAF gripe ... deadbugs on windshield...action taken...R&R with live bugs!
Posted : 2009-09-04 12:48
VAMC reluctance to acknowledge problems
Having been in Helos (12 years active) and 21 reserve...it took the VA over 2 years to consinder tintinitus and a 50% hearing loss. Artillery personell can get the rating within 6 months...after their discharge, or reserve status...go figure...there's more, but it just be boring...many medical records are missing...so they deny there is a claim...
Hooper
My advice is to tell these kids now a days is to not serve, or document ever visit to the health people, and get a copy...
Posted : 2009-09-05 14:43
lots of MOSs
you have to be a jag lawyer,an S-1 clerk,and a corpsman ,besides flying , in order to cover your own six. i could've sworn they told us the reason for low pay is because the VA would take care of us later !:mad:
non illigitimus carborundum:)MAF gripe ... deadbugs on windshield...action taken...R&R with live bugs!
Posted : 2009-09-05 17:18
VA treatment
Yes sir...that's what they said...pls don't mention that to the wife, as it's worst than a sand burr in her hair...
But I did get (finally) a realy great set (2) of digital hearing aids which are difficult to wear, as I can hear everything...and more...even the wife from three rooms or so away...LOL:eek:
Posted : 2009-09-06 16:32
thomas.zuppke;23959 wrote: Yes sir...that's what they said...pls don't mention that to the wife, as it's worst than a sand burr in her hair...
But I did get (finally) a realy great set (2) of digital hearing aids which are difficult to wear, as I can hear everything...and more...even the wife from three rooms or so away...LOL:eek:
😉 Hey Tom! Just how and what kind hearing Aids did you get? Think I could use them and then won't get scolded for eaves dropping. I can be in the garage and still be able to hear what they're cooking up . LOL:rolleyes:
Posted : 2009-09-07 11:20
Hearing Aids
Like the gal said...don't be alarmed, you're gonna be hearing things that you've not heard for a long time...she was so right...I put them away and haven't used them since...
Posted : 2009-09-08 12:38
hearing aids
Yep, they are free. That is if your 100% S.C., or are rated for a hearing loss. They keep trying to talk me into getting new ones, as mine are both over 5 years old. I hear fine, and tell them 'no thank you'. At one time I had 4 sets. I gave them all back except 2 sets. S/F, Ready-App.
Posted : 2009-09-09 03:05
Carl try the mayo clinic, they should be able to do the surgery and they should except payment from the va
Posted : 2009-11-17 19:10
Topic starter
The Phoenix VA Medical Center
I am a boots on the ground Viet Nam Veteran, I have been diagnosed with Diabetes type 2 and Peripheral Neuropathy both caused by agent orange in Viet Nam according to the VA Doctors who diagnosed me. I am rated 100% IU
and have been since 2001, since being diagnosed with Diabetes I have contacted other morbidities caused by the diabetes , high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastro reflux, two heart blockages, and obesity. I am 330 lbs.with a BMI of 40.30 and getting fatter almost by the week. My cardiologist advised that I must control the diabetes and get the weight off. However I take two different kinds of insulin daily and an injection of testosterone ever other week, testosterone is a steroid and the insulin acts as a steroid. Because of the Peripheral Neuropathy and osteoarthritus and carpal tunnel in both hands I am unable to exercise so I just get fat. My VA PCP gave me three consults for baractric surgery which would solve 95% of my problems. Dr. Piatt at the Phoenix VAMC stopped all three consults , so I got my Congressman involved,Dr. Piatt lied to my Congressman advising him that I did not meet the criteria, I meet and far exceed the criteria, when I proved this to my Congressman he asked Dr. Piatt
to please advise why he had cancelled my consults, Dr. Piatt did not answer the questions but simply said I had been put on a list and when an opening came I would be called, This was another lie, I called all fourteen VA facilites
which perform bariactric surgery and none of them found me on any list.I wrote letters to Dr. Cross Assistant Secretary for Health at the VA Washington D.C. (NO HELP) Senator Webb (NO HELP) Senator KYL (NO HELP)
General Shinseki Secretary Veterans Affairs (NO HELP) none of the above would go up against these Doctors WHY? Dr. Piatt said the surgery was an elective however my file has a letter from my VA PCP advising that it is a medical neccessity for me,the VA dietitian and the VA diabetic dietitian both know that my obesity is caused by my meds, so Dr. Piatt who has never met me or talked with me goes over the head of my PCP and Dietitians who have known me and cared for me for years.The surgery I seek will cure my diabetes,will cure my sleep apnea, will cure my gastro reflux, will take about 125 lbs off and help diminish my peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis.
I saw recently that the average life span for a boots on the ground Viet Nam Veteran was 64-65 years of age. PERHAPS THIS IS THE WHAT AND WHY OF IT ALL. Does the VA wait for us to die so we don't cost them money and take from their 24 MILLION DOLLAR bonuses paid out in 2008.Am I really on the death list??????? Recently I found a VA facility which would perform the surgery for me, all I needed was a letter form Dr. Dolan Chief of Surgery in Phoenix VA. I sent him word through a Doctor and the Patient Advocate that I would pay my on way there and back and the Phoenix VA would not be out any money, he would not submit the letter WHY???? If I could find a VA facility to do my surgery why couldn't they???? Was the Veterans Administration set up for needful Veterans or for furthering the careers and lining the pockets of administrators and Doctors????????
Carl Rice
Sgt. USMC
Viet Nam Mag 16 Danang and Marble 1965-66
Posted : 2010-01-13 13:12
so soorrryyy G.I. !
28 mil in bonases and now we'll be helping the people in Haiti that hate us.maybe the VA figures we got used to waiting in the service ! 🙂
non illigitimus carborundum:)MAF gripe ... deadbugs on windshield...action taken...R&R with live bugs!
Posted : 2010-01-13 16:37
Phoenix va, and so sorry G.I.
I tried to post this at 05:15 this morning, but it just went to a white screen. I'll post again. Carl, please call the Mayo Clinic and set up an apt. with them. I'm sure they will do the operation, and they have people that knows how to make the va pay for it. It will extend you Life for sure. The va is good at that. If the Mayo Clinic takes you, they will get their money from them for sure. Please do not wait. Lurch, you are so right. We can help everyone but ourselves. Not saying we shouldn't help them, but 100 million bucks with the corrupt gov. they have, not much of the money will be accounted for. Then our leader said we would send a whole bunch more. Bet we rebuild the whole country, and for what? Most of them would stab us in the back given the chance. The question is, Would they help us if it happened here? I wouldn't hold any Breaths if I were you. China sent only 1 million, then changed it to 4.4 million. WOW.!! WE are just about to have an instant 20 plus million new Hatian citizens, as well as 17 plus million friends from the south side become citizens. Just love the closed door policy on bills. Nice isn't it? Semper Fi, and Ready-APP
Posted : 2010-01-15 18:24
Topic starter
Phx va med ctr.
John,
I have already been to Mayo and they want me to retrace all the steps and jump through hoops again in preparation for this surgery at a cost of $32,000.00 and a time span of 6 months. And unless VA pre-approves payment there is no way they can make VA pay. I thank you for your thoughts and concern.
Carl Rice
Posted : 2010-01-16 11:48
Good to see
[ Hey there Carl I was glad to see you back on our posting broad . Hope you'll give me a holler and let me know more of whats up ? Just wanted to send you a early Good Morning and will try getting a bit more off to you later today. God Speed and again Glad to see you around . JJ:)SIZE="4"]😀
Posted : 2010-01-17 00:34
so sorry G.....
I believe I miss counted the number of Hatian citizens we will be getting. News reports say there are only about 9 million people that live there. I seem to have been way off by saying 20 million. They did delay the return of a lot for 18 months or so. No telling what will happen then. Semper Fi, and Ready-APP.
Posted : 2010-01-17 15:22
