Aa
What a waste
Per Lulu's suggestion under my post about belly button attack by a tick I called my Neuro this morning. I was amazed at how quickly the nurse got back to me ( 10 minutes). I was told to wait to start the Cellcept until after my temp returned to normal and to have the tick bite checked out by my PC. So far so good...
Next I called the VA hoping that they would just call in an RX for some antibiotics. The nurse said she would call back in just a few minutes after I had explained everything to her. Well 1 1/2 hours later they call back and tell me I have to come in so they could make sure that all of the tick was removed. I really didn't want to make that 2 hour trip as my TN pain was really bad. But since I knew that more than likely some of the tick stuff got squeezed into me trying to get it out I needed the drugs. So I took a 1/2 dose of my pain med ( didn't want to get too loopy on the drive up) and headed to the VA ER Dept.
I get to the VA and the ER waiting area is mobbed with people so I immediately knew I was in for a long wait. Evidentially being in 10/10 pain makes no difference on how quickly you get seen as they were taking people back that just needed a medication refill before me. 3 1/2 hours later they finally take me back to see a doctor.
Well the doctor I saw was like just about every other doctor I have seen at the VA. LOUSY! After explaining everything to her she took a q-tip and alcohol swab to my navel and pulled it out and said "it just looks like some belly button fuzz, are you sure it was a tick?, what did it look like?" she completely ignored the fact that parts of the swab were red from blood. I then told he that my friend pulls off 2 - 3ticks every day from himself so we both know what a tick looks like.
With that she took another swab to clean things out better and then announced "There is a small back spot at the bottom. ( IE the ticks head). She then went off and got a tweezer and said since I drove myself she couldn't give me anything for the pain while she dug around in there. ( Haven't you head of locals? ) By this time I just kept my mouth closed as if I said anything I would have ended up in the psycho ward.
After digging around in my navel for 5 or 6 minutes she said she couldn't get it out. Told me to watch for the signs of infection and to come back at that time and they would cut open my belly button to get it out. Then sent me on my way with the antibiotics I had wanted all along when I first called them.
In all this all took 10 hours and a $50 co-pay from the time I left for the ER and I got back home.
Dennis
Next I called the VA hoping that they would just call in an RX for some antibiotics. The nurse said she would call back in just a few minutes after I had explained everything to her. Well 1 1/2 hours later they call back and tell me I have to come in so they could make sure that all of the tick was removed. I really didn't want to make that 2 hour trip as my TN pain was really bad. But since I knew that more than likely some of the tick stuff got squeezed into me trying to get it out I needed the drugs. So I took a 1/2 dose of my pain med ( didn't want to get too loopy on the drive up) and headed to the VA ER Dept.
I get to the VA and the ER waiting area is mobbed with people so I immediately knew I was in for a long wait. Evidentially being in 10/10 pain makes no difference on how quickly you get seen as they were taking people back that just needed a medication refill before me. 3 1/2 hours later they finally take me back to see a doctor.
Well the doctor I saw was like just about every other doctor I have seen at the VA. LOUSY! After explaining everything to her she took a q-tip and alcohol swab to my navel and pulled it out and said "it just looks like some belly button fuzz, are you sure it was a tick?, what did it look like?" she completely ignored the fact that parts of the swab were red from blood. I then told he that my friend pulls off 2 - 3ticks every day from himself so we both know what a tick looks like.
With that she took another swab to clean things out better and then announced "There is a small back spot at the bottom. ( IE the ticks head). She then went off and got a tweezer and said since I drove myself she couldn't give me anything for the pain while she dug around in there. ( Haven't you head of locals? ) By this time I just kept my mouth closed as if I said anything I would have ended up in the psycho ward.
After digging around in my navel for 5 or 6 minutes she said she couldn't get it out. Told me to watch for the signs of infection and to come back at that time and they would cut open my belly button to get it out. Then sent me on my way with the antibiotics I had wanted all along when I first called them.
In all this all took 10 hours and a $50 co-pay from the time I left for the ER and I got back home.
Dennis
Thanks ladies!
I know all of the usual ways to deal with ticks as I have to deal with about a dozen every year. But when it is 1/2 inch inside your belly button those just don't work. That is how deep my innie belly button goes.
The so-called doctor at the VA must have really tore up my belly button as 24 hours afterwards I still had stuff oozing out of it. Also have an area of 8 inches by 10 inches around my belly button that is still red and itchy. I don't remember a tick bite cause red and itchy skin for this lone afterwards.
Dennis
I know all of the usual ways to deal with ticks as I have to deal with about a dozen every year. But when it is 1/2 inch inside your belly button those just don't work. That is how deep my innie belly button goes.
The so-called doctor at the VA must have really tore up my belly button as 24 hours afterwards I still had stuff oozing out of it. Also have an area of 8 inches by 10 inches around my belly button that is still red and itchy. I don't remember a tick bite cause red and itchy skin for this lone afterwards.
Dennis
wow, Dennis. I take back any kind thoughts I was starting to generate about the VA's treatment of you......... that is so uncalled for.
BUT I am glad you had it checked out. Those little blood suckers can create all sorts of havoc for our bodies.
In addition to a cigarette or the hot but extinguished head of a stick match (make sure you blow out the flame before holding it near your skin) we also found that covering the skin area around the tick with petroleum jelly (vaseline) or something else equally thick, slowly urges the tick out. It might be something like they aren't getting adequate oxygen but I'm not sure - all I know is it will work if you are patient.
I found heat works best, though. My son once had multiple ticks in his hair when we were camping. He was about a 6 year old towhead (still is a blond at the age of 35) and when he went in the lake and came out, they were obvious. We hadn't seen them through his curly hair. It took tons of time and patience to get them all off his scalp.
Despite the craziness with the VA medical care, I am glad you got the antibiotics ....
feel better, Lulu
BUT I am glad you had it checked out. Those little blood suckers can create all sorts of havoc for our bodies.
In addition to a cigarette or the hot but extinguished head of a stick match (make sure you blow out the flame before holding it near your skin) we also found that covering the skin area around the tick with petroleum jelly (vaseline) or something else equally thick, slowly urges the tick out. It might be something like they aren't getting adequate oxygen but I'm not sure - all I know is it will work if you are patient.
I found heat works best, though. My son once had multiple ticks in his hair when we were camping. He was about a 6 year old towhead (still is a blond at the age of 35) and when he went in the lake and came out, they were obvious. We hadn't seen them through his curly hair. It took tons of time and patience to get them all off his scalp.
Despite the craziness with the VA medical care, I am glad you got the antibiotics ....
feel better, Lulu
really!! OMG!!! are they nuts or what! we deal with ticks here alot! and use to smoke years ago we -always- got tick off with cigeratte-they back right out with their head.
they dont like the heat! but ya got family dr- id give them a call.
they dont like the heat! but ya got family dr- id give them a call.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Dennis,
I have no idea what to say, OMG just doesn't seem enough lol your stories often make my head spin.
I'm sorry for the crap you have to deal with!!!!
HUGS............JJ
I have no idea what to say, OMG just doesn't seem enough lol your stories often make my head spin.
I'm sorry for the crap you have to deal with!!!!
HUGS............JJ
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