I have been in and out of ICUs since April with Congestive Heart Failure, they sent me to MUSC and Dr Peura she evaluated me for either as LVAD device (same type of machine that Dick Cheney has) ot for a heart and lung transplant, which the team after all the tests and lab work came back and stated that my only option is medicate only, that there are no surgical options available for me.
They allowed the only thing that can be done is to install a Bi-ventricular pacemaker made by Saint Jude Medical.
Since I deal with the Veterans Administration I had to go thru their CHF clinic, my first experience was at Augusta VAMC, Augusta, Ga, the doctor there made my wife mad with his rude comments, he made a remark to the effect "if you want a good doctor then go to a civlian hospital and you pay for it, here it's free and you get whatever doctor we assign to you, and you shut up" so my wife checked into the Dorn VA here in Columbia, SC as they were the ones who had her fathers pace maker installed back in the 80s at Providence Heart Hospital, here in Columbia.Number 1 heart hospital in Columbia SC.
After going thru the VA CHF center at Dorn, we learned that due to my status of being 100% P&T disabled veteran that they would do my surgery on what they call fee basis, as long as I could find a civilian doctor and hospital that will accept what the VA will, pay and agree not to charge me additional copays.
My regular cardiologist at Lexington Medical Center saw me in 6 Sep, and set it up for me to see the surgeon who will do the implant on Thursday the 8th, in the meantime we saw the regular CHF doctor at Dorn VA and told her that we wouldn't know anymore until the next day about when the surgery would be done.
On Thursday I was surprised that the doctor set it up for Wednesday, I report to Providence at 6 am on the 14th and the VA will pick up all of the bills.
I understand that this is just routine surgery these days, but I am normally one of the type called "Murphy's Law" what can go wrong will. When I had a triple bypass in Feb 1997 the normal stay is 4 days, I was there for 6 weeks. I was told I would have 15 years of "good life after the surgery, I had my nexy heart attack from a blood clot 3 month's later, in August 97 they had to place a stent to re-open a blocked artery, in Nov 97 they placed a second stent, in Feb 98 they angiolstaied one of the original by passed arteries to re-open it, and on Fathers day 1998 I suffered a stress related heart attack. So much for 15 good years.
I became totally disabled by SS after a heart cath in October 2002 that showed an ejection fraction of 25%, anything less than 30% is automatic approval for SSD, I was aslo diagnosed with PTSD about 4 months later in January 2003, so my claim with the VA was set in motion, they approved my PTSD claim first and I had to go thru more than 7 years of appeals to get the Board of veteran Appeals to hear my case and they approved my claim for CAD and hypertension in April 2009, with back pay to Dec 2003.
I get excellent medical care from the VA, sometimes you have to work the system like we did between Augusta and Columbia, but inn the end we got the care at the facility we wanted it at, within 10 miles of home and thus making it easier on my wife if I end up spending more than the scheduled two days.
Before the end of the month we will file the comp claim to get the ICD/Bivenntricular device rated at 100%, and will file for Aid and Attendence and hopefully get the housing grant approved for widening the doors to the bathroom to accomodate the wheel chairs either the power or push chair. With a little luck expand the bathroom. Walking it not something I can do very easily any longer if I can make it 50 feet without having to stop to catch my breath and rest 10-15 minutes, excercise is not possible anymore. I am very limited to my capabilities and my body tells me when I push it to mhard.
So that is where I have been this spring and summer and hopefully by fall I wll be doing better, the docs seem to think the implant will improve my cardiac function, so if any of you have time to spare for a prayer or two on Wednseday this old veteran will be ever so grateful/ I hope I see you this week end with an update with good news.