Thumper
05-16-2014, 07:19 AM
WARNING!! Thump post .... ;)
Youse dufes may remember when I awoke a week or so ago with pain and swelling in my left 'nad. The next day, Lynn and I were leaving town for the weekend and I farted it off. Well, upon our return, Lynn chewed my ass for not doing something about it immediately. Heck, by this time the pain and swelling was gone ... but that didn't matter to her. She called my local VA doctor and told her what had transpired. My doc called back and said she wanted a sonogram/ultrasound performed, but they were backed up until July. My doc then suggested we head over to Tampa and have it done at the hospital.
Ok, with no appointment, we head over about 6:00 am yesterday morning. I was questioned and examined by triage and was told I could have had a minor infection/injury ... OR it could be something more serious ... but they were not going to take any chances and scheduled some testing. We had walked into the hospital around 6:30 - 6:45 am ... by 7:30 am I looked like this. (Lynn caught me snoozing)
3022
I was immediately given blood and urine tests as well as plumbed for an IV in case anything pressing was discovered and I needed to be rushed into surgery. Blood and urine was rushed to the lab and the results were in my docs hands within the hour. While this was happening, they served me breakfast (and brought Lynn a snack). The test results were examined and it seems my liver numbers (enzymes?) were up just a tad (totally unrelated to why I was there). The doc looked at my records and they were up 2 (whatever their unit of measurement is) at my normal check-up in January ... and up another 2 yesterday. He said it's not too terribly alarming, as an increase in the thousands is what really throws up red flags, but he'd still like to know why there was an increase in case something needs to be "nipped in the bud".
He sent a message to my Primary Care Physician here at my normal clinic in town regarding the liver thingy. Then he ordered a sonogram for my nutsack. The department was backed up with appointments (remember, I was a "walk-in"), so the doc told them to get me in asap that same day. They said they'd get me in at 5:30 pm. Ok, the doc tells us there's no reason to be stuck in bed all day awaiting the sonogram and released me so we could kill some time while awaiting the test. Hmmm, we'd just had a bite to eat at the hospital, but since our favorite Chinese restaurant in town was right down the street, we decided to drop in for a snack. (they have the BESTEST calamari I've ever had in my life!) Lynn wasn't hungry (but I can ALWAYS eat), so I had a treat ... the best squid you could ever ask for!
3023
While we were at lunch, my Primary Care Physician calls my cell phone and said my doc (at the hospital) had called her regarding the liver "problem" and she informed me she wants to schedule a sonogram of my liver as well. Ok, after lunch, we ran around and did a bit of shopping etc. just killing time, then headed back over to the hospital. We went to the ultrasound department and had the coolest dude you could ever meet to do the testing. I asked if Lynn could accompany me and was told that it's not normally done, but if she really wants to be there, he had no problem with it. As he was setting up, I told him about the liver thing and asked if there was any way he could just slide up a bit after playing with my nutsack, and take some shots of my liver? Kind of one-stop shopping. He checked the computer and said he saw the order from earlier that morning, but I need to fast for at least 8 hours for the liver sonogram. Dang! Could'a killed two birds with one stone if I'd known. The test took a good 30 minutes or more and we were all cracking up with the jokes and general fun conversation during the testing. Nothing like cracking jokes while a dude is playing with your family jewels! The technician said he saw the lump on my left 'nad (some medical term a mile long) and said in HIS opinion, he saw nothing alarming, but the doctor would have to examine the results for an official opinion. They said they'd shoot the results over to my Primary doc here in town and she'd contact me with the news either today or possibly Monday at the very latest, plus she's setting up the liver test.
Afterwards, we headed out to our favorite Persian restaurant for dinner and had some Middle Eastern food for supper. Our town is nothing but old farts and snowbirds who frequent nothing but National Chains with "early bird specials" ... so the restaurant diversity in Tampa is a real treat.
Anyway, I've said it before ... under the circumstances (no appointment, etc) ... I couldn't have asked for any better medical care than I received yesterday. I know the VA has been getting a bad rap lately, but I can't find a thing to complain about locally. I'm lucky to have the care they provide for me and the staff couldn't be friendlier or more helpful.
Youse dufes may remember when I awoke a week or so ago with pain and swelling in my left 'nad. The next day, Lynn and I were leaving town for the weekend and I farted it off. Well, upon our return, Lynn chewed my ass for not doing something about it immediately. Heck, by this time the pain and swelling was gone ... but that didn't matter to her. She called my local VA doctor and told her what had transpired. My doc called back and said she wanted a sonogram/ultrasound performed, but they were backed up until July. My doc then suggested we head over to Tampa and have it done at the hospital.
Ok, with no appointment, we head over about 6:00 am yesterday morning. I was questioned and examined by triage and was told I could have had a minor infection/injury ... OR it could be something more serious ... but they were not going to take any chances and scheduled some testing. We had walked into the hospital around 6:30 - 6:45 am ... by 7:30 am I looked like this. (Lynn caught me snoozing)
3022
I was immediately given blood and urine tests as well as plumbed for an IV in case anything pressing was discovered and I needed to be rushed into surgery. Blood and urine was rushed to the lab and the results were in my docs hands within the hour. While this was happening, they served me breakfast (and brought Lynn a snack). The test results were examined and it seems my liver numbers (enzymes?) were up just a tad (totally unrelated to why I was there). The doc looked at my records and they were up 2 (whatever their unit of measurement is) at my normal check-up in January ... and up another 2 yesterday. He said it's not too terribly alarming, as an increase in the thousands is what really throws up red flags, but he'd still like to know why there was an increase in case something needs to be "nipped in the bud".
He sent a message to my Primary Care Physician here at my normal clinic in town regarding the liver thingy. Then he ordered a sonogram for my nutsack. The department was backed up with appointments (remember, I was a "walk-in"), so the doc told them to get me in asap that same day. They said they'd get me in at 5:30 pm. Ok, the doc tells us there's no reason to be stuck in bed all day awaiting the sonogram and released me so we could kill some time while awaiting the test. Hmmm, we'd just had a bite to eat at the hospital, but since our favorite Chinese restaurant in town was right down the street, we decided to drop in for a snack. (they have the BESTEST calamari I've ever had in my life!) Lynn wasn't hungry (but I can ALWAYS eat), so I had a treat ... the best squid you could ever ask for!
3023
While we were at lunch, my Primary Care Physician calls my cell phone and said my doc (at the hospital) had called her regarding the liver "problem" and she informed me she wants to schedule a sonogram of my liver as well. Ok, after lunch, we ran around and did a bit of shopping etc. just killing time, then headed back over to the hospital. We went to the ultrasound department and had the coolest dude you could ever meet to do the testing. I asked if Lynn could accompany me and was told that it's not normally done, but if she really wants to be there, he had no problem with it. As he was setting up, I told him about the liver thing and asked if there was any way he could just slide up a bit after playing with my nutsack, and take some shots of my liver? Kind of one-stop shopping. He checked the computer and said he saw the order from earlier that morning, but I need to fast for at least 8 hours for the liver sonogram. Dang! Could'a killed two birds with one stone if I'd known. The test took a good 30 minutes or more and we were all cracking up with the jokes and general fun conversation during the testing. Nothing like cracking jokes while a dude is playing with your family jewels! The technician said he saw the lump on my left 'nad (some medical term a mile long) and said in HIS opinion, he saw nothing alarming, but the doctor would have to examine the results for an official opinion. They said they'd shoot the results over to my Primary doc here in town and she'd contact me with the news either today or possibly Monday at the very latest, plus she's setting up the liver test.
Afterwards, we headed out to our favorite Persian restaurant for dinner and had some Middle Eastern food for supper. Our town is nothing but old farts and snowbirds who frequent nothing but National Chains with "early bird specials" ... so the restaurant diversity in Tampa is a real treat.
Anyway, I've said it before ... under the circumstances (no appointment, etc) ... I couldn't have asked for any better medical care than I received yesterday. I know the VA has been getting a bad rap lately, but I can't find a thing to complain about locally. I'm lucky to have the care they provide for me and the staff couldn't be friendlier or more helpful.