My Dad has a deep brain stimulator for his Parkinson's Disease.
It helps regulate the tremors he gets. The battery popped an alert that it needed to be swapped a few weeks ago, and yesterday it failed entirely.
My understanding is that the sheer backlog of people needing care, mixed with the inefficiencies of the VA system have slowed things down to a crawl.
Currently he's not due for a consult until May 16th. Not a battery swap... A consult.
Meanwhile his tremors are out of control.
@NiveusLepus
I hate this for him, you, and everyone impacted by the greedy dysfunction that passes for health care.
@NiveusLepus
I am not in treatment atm. I clawed my way to remission, so now the task is to stay there. I will be getting surveillance oncology follow-ups every three months for two years. First one is on May 21.
@NiveusLepus
My currently most urgent struggle is my left eye in which I have glaucoma and for which the insurance company has denied the surgery I need. They only pay for bigger, more invasive procedures. My doc is appealing. Meanwhile my optic nerve continues to die.
@publickovacs These barriers to care are beyond frustrating. You have every right to the care you need, yesterday.
May we each find ways to be the caveat to such compounded and monetized suffering that is being caused by these companies and their policies.
@publickovacs I know you have your own experience with this as you bravely fight your cancer.
The stories you brought from your group the other day continue to ring with heavy resonance in my mind.
How are you progressing? How are you feeling as you continue to get your treatment?