The VA sent me here because no one else could mix the mental health issue of the trauma associated with my condition. and my condition.
I can tell you the mental health care here at VB Harlingen is the best I have ever seen in some 40+ years of working in the mental health field. The VA has a close relationship with VBH and is confident in their care.
I HAVE BEEN IN AN ENDLESS BATTLE OVER MY CHRONIC INABILITY TO SLEEP.
The miracle drug known as QUETIAPINE 75 MG, IS THE MOST NATURAL DRUG FOR SLEEP
They started me at 50 mg. We settled on 75 mg. I sleep 8 1/2 hours. Now this is not solid because they are waking me for labs, BP and to change the IV. But they are telling me I fall back to sleep really fast. On the rare occasion I wake to use the bathroom, they say I go back to sleep really fast. This is what I mean by natural. This is how your sleep cycle should work.
WARNING: I do not know what drugs you are on. I do not know your allergies, so do not run to Matamoros for the drug. You must follow your doctor's directions.
My VA doctor was immediately against it for its side effects. Hell, reading my blog has side effects. I have no known side effects. Yes, my blood sugar is high, but that was the case from the infection before I started the medicine.
ADDRESSING ANY ADDICTION TO THE PAIN KILLERS
Morphine rarely helps me. It was one of two I was on in the beginning. They switched me to hydrocodone with the morphine as a bridge until I qualified for another hydrocodone. I am now off the morphine. They are very serious about this. It is a good thing. In time when I get use to every four hours on the hydrocodone, they will begin to make me wait longer between doses. By the time I leave here I should not be on a painkiller. This is all good.
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR AND LEAD DOCTOR IN CHARGE OF MY OVERALL CARE ARE AS GOOD AS THE NP THERAPIST AND PSYCHIATRIST
People have offered to fly me to NY and I say why. I have checked, there is no better care anywhere.
THE CARE IS A CHALLENGED.
Multiple CT scans did not tell the story. My ear doctor who restored my hearing was adamant I needed an MRI with contrast. The VA refused to do it. I am cleared for the MRI notwithstanding my brain shunt and spinal stimulator. I have had 5 or 6 since both were placed in my body. The VA is adamant, they are not safe.
So, I lost nearly 2 months waiting on the appointment. In the end I got it on an emergency basis here at VB Harlingen. Once they saw it everything changed. For that period of time the infection just got worse. They kept on giving more antibiotics.
THE BASIC PROBLEM WITH THE CARE IN REGARD TO ANTIBIOTIC INFUSION THERAPY
There are infectious disease doctors who will not treat you. The doctors disagree whether the best diagnostic tool is a CT scan or MRI with contrast. Even there I am waiting on the VA to do a CT scan with contrast of the chest to verify if a tumor is benign or cancerous.
I have to wait another 2 months before the Thoracic CT scan with contrast can be one at BAMC in San Antonio.
Other problems address the post hospitalization care. Some say I will be at high risk for infections in the future. The VA actually has a very good post hospitalization care program. There is not much agreement on this.
Here, I am strongly encouraged to use a special bath soap and to shower every day. They keep my bed and room very clean.
BUT THEN REALITY KICKS IN
You can go to the best hospital, and they will have problems with nursing and some doctors. There is a shortage of nurses.
Every so often I get a bad nurse. All the other nurses know how I operate. I do not call them unless absolutely necessary.
I waited for the IV change to bathe and go to the bathroom, so they only have to work with me once,
They now allow me to go to the bathroom on my own. This helps everyone. They allow me to bring the IV pole into the bathroom with me.
If I need something special, I wait for meds. But when the nurse is more than an hour late on a scheduled painkiller, I cannot accept that. I cannot accept the IV alarm going off for an hour. It is like an ice pick in my left ear.
Tonight, the nurse was on time with the painkiller. He will finish with my meds later on. The pain is the only one which needs to be on time.
Every patient is different. I compound things with the hypothalamic dysfunction. I took control of it and my dehydration is under control, my BP is amazing, and I have lowered my blood sugar significantly. I know my bowels and how the hypothalamic dysfunction impacts them. I took control and now I am very regular, and they are no longer worried.
Unfortunately, very few doctors know anything about hypothalamic dysfunction.
SO, ON BALANCE I AM GETTING THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE
I need to just get through the bad shifts where the nurses are not working out. My BP was just amazing, so that should tell you how great the day is going.
AGAIN, TAKE FROM THIS A LEARNING PROCESS. I WILL BE FINE, BUT MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
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