My love-hate relationship with the VA continues.
@kaylachan (58906)
Daytona Beach, Florida
May 4, 2024 6:47pm CST
A week or so ago, I ordered George's peg tube supplies. Everything I ordered came, except the syringes. I had gotten as much use out of his existing syringes as I could. But, was forced to order more online from amazon because of course, the VA order did not come through. This is why I don't like relying on delivary of things, because I have no control of when they come up. If I could walk into wal-mart and get syringes, I would. And, even if I switched to gravity bag, I would still need syringes to flush the tube.
The syrange I bought I think is meant for kids, it's only 35 mls, and I've been using 60 mls. It's okay, it will fit George's tube, but it's narrow which will make pouring fun. And, if not, I can always draw it up and do the push-pause method. He's been asking me to do that to speed up the process anyway.
I know what some of you are thinking, but I'll tell you right now... writing to his doctor won't work. Once the script is in process, there's nothing that can be done. I've tried with other scripts to get them switched. Yeah.... didn't happen. I was lucky to catch a couple scripts and get them switched before they could be mailed, but this one's in limbo or something.
And, no, I can't not use the tube. I have to at least flush it every four hours. I can use the syringes I bought off of amazon even if I can only put half the ammount in at a time. It still works.
13 people like this
10 responses
@MarieCoyle (29429)
•
5 May
The scramble for medical supplies and some medications is beyond frustrating. I am not familiar with the VA since my Dad passed away long ago, I am sure sorry they put people through all this. Jumping through their hoops isn't fun.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
No. I mean they are happily supply George with everything he needs, but it's all mail order.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
@MarieCoyle Yes, I know. I was smart to ask for refills on things. I have more food and sponages than I'll need for a while. I also have more than enough inhaliers. But, what I don't have.... are those dang syringes. I know they aren't designed to be used forever, no matter how well I clean them.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29429)
•
5 May
@kaylachan
I do know mail order medical supplies are a problem. My neighbor is ill and his family orders from the VA, their items are often late arriving to their house, even when they order and plan ahead as soon as they can.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55609)
• United States
5 May
If it makes you feel any better, regular insurance is all screwed up too! Both my husband's and mine are through the State of Louisiana, where we both retired from state government. The insurance now required pre-approvals on some proceedures, prescriptions, etc. You never know until you get a call or email or go in to pick up your medicine that they are waiting on the pre-approval. Now guess who does the pre-approval? Not your doctor, NO. It's CVS! Tell me there is not a kickback involved!! It is crazy to delay someone's medication that a doctor prescribed. We have waited up to 4 days before. This better not happen on my husband's insulin or I'll be going a bit crazy on them!
2 people like this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
I have the free medicare. That's not much better. Unless it's a med I don't want, then it's suddenly in stock.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62713)
• United States
7 May
Oh, I know your pain. I have to get one prescription from my “civilian” doctor because the generic brand that the VA uses has an inactive ingredient that makes me sick. It’s so much easier to go to the “mom-and-pop” pharmacy and tell them which brand I need than it is to deal with the VA.
They are good when they work, and they’re atrocious when they don’t. I know they have over six million patients, system-wide, and their hands are tied by miles of red tape (it literally takes an act of Congress to change things 
). They do the best they can, and sometimes that’s “above and beyond” while other times it’s hardly worth the “effort” they allegedly put forth.
). They do the best they can, and sometimes that’s “above and beyond” while other times it’s hardly worth the “effort” they allegedly put forth.1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 May
No kidding. George and I don't have private insurance. Irronically, he's too young for medicare, so going to an outside doctor on our own isn't an option for another two years. That's when he qualfies for medicare. The downside to retirment, he lost the health insurance he paid for. So, we'd have to pay out of pocket for a script for the damn syringers then pay full price at a pharamcy for it. Nope. I get them without a script off of amazon. And, they're clean. so.... I do what I can I suppose.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
Magic? I don't know. Use it until I literally can't anymore and it breaks? Buy them out-of-pocket online? Which I did by the way.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (460361)
• Switzerland
6 May
@kaylachan - They are so careless, we should not be obliged to spend our money, but we finally must go that way.
@RasmaSandra (74114)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
Sounds like a very sloppy way to work with medical supplies. Online it shows that Amazon has 60 MLS syringes but then I don't really understand what you do with them, I hope you can figure it all out and it will work for you, Hope you, George, and Chilly have a good start to the new weekend,
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
I screw them onto the tip of George's tube and put formula and water down them. It's how I get the stuff from the carton to his stomach.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (75074)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 May
Good grief, they are so messed up with orders and delivery dates! And I wonder what they think you are suppose to do, without the syringe they should have sent! Then, if people get frustrated or upset, they basically ignore it:( It would feel better if they cared.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
No kidding. I completely agree. I ordered when I usually do. The supply is supposed to be a 30-day supply. Guess how many syringes they send, four. And, then try to explain to a stroke survior, who was already easily confused, why I'm using a different syringe. It's clean, it's new.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (75074)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 May
@kaylachan He asks you what's wrong? Well, that wasn't your choice, it's the fault of those people!
@GardenGerty (157871)
• United States
5 May
I have had the same problem for prescriptions sent through VA. Except when we go to ER and they want him on antibiotics immediately, then we go home with them.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
Yeah, of course. You go to the ER medis are magically avaible.
@kaylachan (58906)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 May
So do I. I found one that I had when we came home from the hospital (barely used) so I've been using it the last couple of uses.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158582)
• United States
5 May
I'm sorry you're having problems with your deliveries. I hope it gets straightened around.
1 person likes this
