Hey, hey...calling tjhay!

bfbear
bfbear Member Posts: 380
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi TJ,

I am curious as to what your experience was with the VA, and how your mammogram, dx, biopsy, surgery, treatment experiences progressed.
Was it as prolonged and weird as Mr. 1 Percent's?

Thanks ahead of time for sharing this.

With hope and love,
Debi

Comments

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    That would be interesting.
    That would be interesting! Thanks Debi! :)
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    I would like to know that
    I would like to know that too. Hugs, Lex
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    Tjhay anwsering the call
    Well my experience was very different then Mr 1percents. I found my lump and called my primary care doctor through the VA. The next day I was getting a mammo and a sono. With in 2 weeks I was in the surgeons office. Two weeks later I had surgery. Five weeks later I saw the oncologist and treatment was discussed and decided on. The next they put in my port and the very day after that chemo started. It was not until the start of radiation was I outsourced, and the only reason then was due to the travel distance.
    This is why I am surprised at the process that is happening with 1%. I agree the VA can drag its but at times, but never like this. I have had several medical concerns that were addressed right away. I just don't understand what is happening there.
    Tjhay
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    tjhay said:

    Tjhay anwsering the call
    Well my experience was very different then Mr 1percents. I found my lump and called my primary care doctor through the VA. The next day I was getting a mammo and a sono. With in 2 weeks I was in the surgeons office. Two weeks later I had surgery. Five weeks later I saw the oncologist and treatment was discussed and decided on. The next they put in my port and the very day after that chemo started. It was not until the start of radiation was I outsourced, and the only reason then was due to the travel distance.
    This is why I am surprised at the process that is happening with 1%. I agree the VA can drag its but at times, but never like this. I have had several medical concerns that were addressed right away. I just don't understand what is happening there.
    Tjhay

    Thanks TJ! Yea, it is
    Thanks TJ! Yea, it is strange. And, congrats on finishing your treatment TJ!!!!
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    Kristin N said:

    Thanks TJ! Yea, it is
    Thanks TJ! Yea, it is strange. And, congrats on finishing your treatment TJ!!!!

    The VA
    My husband goes to the VA and I have some bennies at the VA as well. We have never so far had a problem waiting. Unless they feel it does not need attention right away, then you might wait for a appointment. I started my journey with the VA and I was taken care of ASAP. I do not get all bennies like a Veteran, so I did move on to another Hospital. Our VA is very good.
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    Kat11 said:

    The VA
    My husband goes to the VA and I have some bennies at the VA as well. We have never so far had a problem waiting. Unless they feel it does not need attention right away, then you might wait for a appointment. I started my journey with the VA and I was taken care of ASAP. I do not get all bennies like a Veteran, so I did move on to another Hospital. Our VA is very good.

    The VA
    Thanks Kat that is my point exactly, I have full bennies, but this delay is very unusual
    tjhay
  • bfbear
    bfbear Member Posts: 380
    tjhay said:

    The VA
    Thanks Kat that is my point exactly, I have full bennies, but this delay is very unusual
    tjhay

    Thank you
    Thanks tjhay...I had a feeling his case was rather unusual and wanted to see what your experience had been. Obviously things have gone much better for you.
    I hope you are getting stronger, my friend.

    Gratefully, with Hugs,
    Debi
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    bfbear said:

    Thank you
    Thanks tjhay...I had a feeling his case was rather unusual and wanted to see what your experience had been. Obviously things have gone much better for you.
    I hope you are getting stronger, my friend.

    Gratefully, with Hugs,
    Debi

    It was good to read that VA
    It was good to read that VA does act quickly if needed to. I knew that they would. I think lots had a feeling the other was a bit unusual. Good luck to you TJ!
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    bfbear said:

    Thank you
    Thanks tjhay...I had a feeling his case was rather unusual and wanted to see what your experience had been. Obviously things have gone much better for you.
    I hope you are getting stronger, my friend.

    Gratefully, with Hugs,
    Debi

    Very unusual..

    Very unusual..
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    Noel said:

    Very unusual..

    Very unusual..

    Justing sitting back waiting to see how this all plays out.
    I don't have Va benefits, but I'm finding this all very interesting too...
  • The1percen
    The1percen Member Posts: 135

    It was good to read that VA
    It was good to read that VA does act quickly if needed to. I knew that they would. I think lots had a feeling the other was a bit unusual. Good luck to you TJ!

    Thank you
    I am so glad that because I am a man and I have lumps that they don't need to move as quickly with this as a woman. Some of you don't like remarks that are said about your condition, I think some of these comments are rather insensative too.
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769

    Justing sitting back waiting to see how this all plays out.
    I don't have Va benefits, but I'm finding this all very interesting too...

    All VA hospitals are not the same
    Not all VA hospitals are the same. Some work quickly and others slower. There are waiting lists at some VA's and some of the veterans wait years to see a PCP because there are not enough doctors. A lot of the times veterans have to wait for their PCP to refer them for tests and if they don't have a PCP then they got to the ER or Urgent care at the VA for referrals to see specialists and then sometimes if there aren't specialists right at the hospital they have to fee them out and some specialist don't want to take a veterans and it isn't because of the veteran it is because the specialist in the past has had to wait so long for payment from the VA. If there are specialists at the hospital there is a waiting list there as well because of short staffing and not enough specialists.

    I wish all VA hospitals were the same. I don't think it has anything with being a female or a male--sometimes I think it just the system.

    Margo
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member

    All VA hospitals are not the same
    Not all VA hospitals are the same. Some work quickly and others slower. There are waiting lists at some VA's and some of the veterans wait years to see a PCP because there are not enough doctors. A lot of the times veterans have to wait for their PCP to refer them for tests and if they don't have a PCP then they got to the ER or Urgent care at the VA for referrals to see specialists and then sometimes if there aren't specialists right at the hospital they have to fee them out and some specialist don't want to take a veterans and it isn't because of the veteran it is because the specialist in the past has had to wait so long for payment from the VA. If there are specialists at the hospital there is a waiting list there as well because of short staffing and not enough specialists.

    I wish all VA hospitals were the same. I don't think it has anything with being a female or a male--sometimes I think it just the system.

    Margo

    I agree with margo. This has
    I agree with margo. This has nothing to do with gender. The VA hospitals have 99% male patient's in them. May be a bit less now day's, but when I go there it's mostly men, from young to old. Can't speak for all hospitals, but ours here is great. I do know however, there is always someone you can call if you feel you are not getting proper care. There is a lot of watch dog groups out there. You can also contack your local DAV, Viet Nam Vets, american legion, and our US Congress, just to name a few. If I thought my husband was falling through the cracks in the system, and all goverment systems have some cracks, I would make the call's, write the letter's, whatever it take's to get what he needs.