I have a love-hate relationship with the VA.
@kaylachan (84785)
Daytona Beach, Florida
March 19, 2024 5:29pm CST
I love the VA, because their medical care covers a lot of things. Getting everything my husband needed too. But, they also can be slow. Which is where the hate is coming from. They also appear to be clueless.
George has been home from the hospital for two months now, and his primary doctor is starting to catch up. She wants him to see all thease specialists and go for all the tests. However, the clinic here in town where we go is limited. So, they want us to go to the Orlando VA in Lake Nona for all the tests and appoitments. Which is a 45-hour drive each way. George isn't driving.
And, if he was, that's to far a drive. He won't even see his sister in Ovideo. Not to mention how exhausted we'd both be. It's not that simple and it's a lot of work.
I've requested community care, several times, but still get phone calls from Lake Nona acting like we can just magically make appoitments after being told repeatidly not an option.
8 people like this
7 responses
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
19 Mar 24
Oh no that is dreadful..they'll have to get up to speed on this and get you nearby ..that is way too far.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
Yeah, not to mention, weather he's behind the wheel or not.... George wants nothing to do with the interstate.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
@RebeccasFarm George did his fair share of living on it in his youth. Now he's not interested.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
20 Mar 24
@kaylachan I know that..neither do I..its deadly out there.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98004)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
That brings me to a question since George cannot drive yet and you have not means of other transportation would the Orlando VA be able to provide you with transportation? Just asking I don't know how these things work. Take a look if this can help any
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
I know some time back, there was a bus that would go to gamesville. Guess Orlando now. But, we were responsible for getting ourselves to the in-town clinic to catch it. At like 6Am. And it's only for vets, not their famlies. On top of that... it doesn't matter who's driving. George wants nothing to do with the interestate.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
@RasmaSandra I can't force him to get on the interstate, nor can I legally force him to have something done he doesn't want. He's capable of saying yes and no still, and as he is the patient, the doctor is going to take what he says over me.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98004)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
@kaylachan then best of luck to you both on deciding what can be done so you don't have to make such a trip
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
21 Mar 24
@kaylachan I'm so sorry you are having to deal with that! It should not be that way!!
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
Oh, I do. They appoligize, tell me they'll get back to me about community care, and a few days later I get a letter like the one I got today. Claiming they had been unseccusful and want me to give them a call to expidite scheduling. It's like the different departments don't communicate with each other. Now it's the lung people who wanted us to go there. Yeah, no.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135770)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Mar 24
Hubby doesn't use our VA up here because they want him to go all over for things.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
If we didn't, George would have no health insurance. And, we would be up to our eyeballs in medical bills given the fact he spent two months in hospitals and rehab.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
Yeah. It's doubbly so, because I'm the one speaking on his behalf. It's not that George isn't capable of speaking for himself, but he's always had me field doctor's appoitments.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
20 Mar 24
@kaylachan I get that. It is good that you dont mind doing it.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
@Happy2BeMe No. I don't mind. Even if he spoke to whomever it was himself, he'd be leaving it up to remember.
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (12206)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
20 Mar 24
When we use to live in Milton Fla we had to take a few trips to
Biloxi Miss, & we'd go the day B-4 the appt & get a motel so
it wasn't so hard for us to rush to the appt.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84785)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 24
We'd have to do the same. And the VA ain't going to go for that. And, as mentioned before, I couldn't get George on the interstate for anything.
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (12206)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
20 Mar 24
@kaylachan you have your hands full doing what needs to be done.
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
20 Mar 24
I'm assuming that's 45 minutes? lol You would think that they could provide some type of transportation. Have you asked about that?
