Posted on 09/01/2013 7:00:40 PM PDT by Black Agnes
We've very nearly had our first obamacare victim in the family. We'll see next week.
Daddy goes in for open heart surgery in Houston sometime next week. Prayers would definitely be appreciated...
My father is a heart patient for 25 years. Had bypass surgery in 94 and clean arteries after that. Had a mild clotting incident in '05 and was put on warfarin. Warfarin leads to aortic stenosis (calcification of the aortic valve) in some patients, particularly older men.
Daddy started noticing symptoms of heart failure last spring (spring 12). He wasn't given any medical options. Just 'let's wait it out'. (which I find now is death for this type of thing. the earlier you operate the higher the chances of success, the longer you wait the weaker the heart the bigger the risk of death...)
Fast forward to this spring. He had a major episode and they did a balloon catheter on him. Said they could do that repeatedly (a lie). 3m later he has another episode and now they mention transcatheter valve replacement. But, they tell him they don't use the size he needs so he has to participate in a clinical trial that's testing that size.
So, daddy has a cousin in TX who is a bigwig with marathon oil. Who has a buddy who's an even bigger (retired) bigwig with marathon oil and a donor to Texas Heart Institute. A phone call is made on a Tuesday and daddy has an apointment with a Dr. Fish on a Thursday.
During that appointment the doc tells him that transcatheter has a much higher risk in HIS age group of knocking clots loose and causing problems. And since daddy's had open heart surgery before and knows what that recovery is like they can replace the valve with the correct size that way. But his only concern is with daddy's lungs...
My dad was like ...'what's wrong with my lungs?'...
'Well, you are a heavy abuser of nicotine and have smoked for 60+ years it says here in your medical record and that sort of risk factor concerns us'...
**Daddy's never smoked a cigarette in his entire life.** ...
They were death paneling him because he was supposedly a smoker.
We're still wondering how THAT got on his medical record and how many OTHER older white people have that?
And the great part is...with Obamacare you have no rights to see your medical record...unlike Experian. To correct things that might death panel you w/o your knowledge.
So here's the rundown.
Baptist (Jackson Heart) wasn't going to do open heart surgery on him, at all. Didn't even present it as an option with risks due to his 'smoking'. Just told him 'we'll wait and watch'...Which we find out (from reading pubmed and his asking the surgeon and cardiologist in Houston) is the WORST thing you can do with heart failure from a replaceable valve...
So here we are, a year and a half later with GREATLY reduced heart function, waiting for heart surgery in Houston...
Again, prayers appreciated...
Who told you you can’t get your dad’s medical records? If your father as a patient signs a HIPAA-compliant release authorization, his health care provider to whom the release is addressed is to release the records in his/her/its custody. Usually there is a fee. There are businesses making a lot of money doing nothing but retrieving and preparing copies of patients’ records.
For my work, I get patients’ medical records from a variety of facilities on a regular basis. I think someone is giving you bad information or there’s a communications gap somewhere along the line.
Unbelievable story, FRiend. I know from personal experience that you are definitely correct - 'we can only send your medical records to other doctors, not you' - is total BS.
Our heartfelt prayers go out to your Dad, and to the doctors who are and will be treating him. God bless...
I will ping my biggest list here for more prayers momentarily...
Thank God!!
I wonder if things like this will be possible once ObamaCare really gets going... :-(
Prayers up.
Prayers up. God bless.
Wow... that's fantastic!
One more BTTT before I sign off for the night...
Praying for him.
Saying Hail Marys. The ones who really better start saying their prayers is every Democrat and RINO asshole who voted for ‘’Commiecare’’ bullshit, pardon my French but this is nuts. We’re Americans damn it, this is still America, not Belgium!
Prayers up for your Dad and for your entire family.
BTTT
Prayers up for your dad!
Praying at the same time against Obamacare!
Prayers.
I’m so sorry to learn about this terrible situation. Your father and all your family will be in my prayers.
Prayers for your father’s successful surgery and complete recovery!
Prayers for you too BA!
It’s horrible. And I think obama/obamacare hates vets worse than older people! Prayers that he’ll get the treatment he needs and deserves!.
Thank him for his service!
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