Fine at both ends
Mar. 29th, 2012 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chrishansenhomeThis morning I went to the Foot Clinic for the normal 3-week foot checkup. While it took me around an hour and a half to be seen, the news was good: the wound from the operation in November has finally closed. So, I no longer need a dressing or pad on my left foot. I also no longer need to take antibiotics. I will have an emergency prescription for two weeks, just in case (I'll take that to the US with me) but I won't be taking them routinely.
The more worrying appointment was this afternoon. In January I went to Guys Hospital to have pictures taken of my retinas. As you may or may not be aware, my diabetes diagnosis was made in 1992 because I had diabetic retinopathy and laser surgery. Since then I've had to regularly attend the eye clinic at St. Thomas's to have an opthalmologist take a look. Last year, instead of having me make an appointment at St. Thomas's, they "discharged" me to Guys for retinal pictures. I duly went and had pictures taken. A couple of days later I got a letter saying that the person who examined the pictures had some concerns, so they had made an appointment at St. Thomas's.
Well, I went there at 2 pm, was dilated, and then a scan was taken, followed by an examination by a (very cute) ophthalmologist. He took a look and said that everything was fine. My question to him was: why was I discharged to Guys, and then what was of concern to the people over there that they referred me back to St. Thomas's. He didn't know, and fumbled around for a meaningful answer. I suspect that they try to save money by discharging people to Guys when their eyes are stable, but my examination record didn't follow me there. So the people at Guys were concerned about something that hadn't changed and that wasn't concerning. So, I'm back on a yearly exam schedule with St. Thomas's. No more pictures at Guys.
So, I had a celebratory mocha at Starbucks on my way home.
The more worrying appointment was this afternoon. In January I went to Guys Hospital to have pictures taken of my retinas. As you may or may not be aware, my diabetes diagnosis was made in 1992 because I had diabetic retinopathy and laser surgery. Since then I've had to regularly attend the eye clinic at St. Thomas's to have an opthalmologist take a look. Last year, instead of having me make an appointment at St. Thomas's, they "discharged" me to Guys for retinal pictures. I duly went and had pictures taken. A couple of days later I got a letter saying that the person who examined the pictures had some concerns, so they had made an appointment at St. Thomas's.
Well, I went there at 2 pm, was dilated, and then a scan was taken, followed by an examination by a (very cute) ophthalmologist. He took a look and said that everything was fine. My question to him was: why was I discharged to Guys, and then what was of concern to the people over there that they referred me back to St. Thomas's. He didn't know, and fumbled around for a meaningful answer. I suspect that they try to save money by discharging people to Guys when their eyes are stable, but my examination record didn't follow me there. So the people at Guys were concerned about something that hadn't changed and that wasn't concerning. So, I'm back on a yearly exam schedule with St. Thomas's. No more pictures at Guys.
So, I had a celebratory mocha at Starbucks on my way home.
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no subject
Date: 2012-03-29 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-29 10:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-29 11:55 pm (UTC)Gee, is there a Dolls Hospital next door, or a Gals Hospital round the block? ;-)
In other news, a wealthy sports enthusiast in Seattle has made a proposal to build a new arena contingent on lining up both an NBA and an NHL franchise to fill it. His name, of course: Chris Hansen.
no subject
Date: 2012-03-30 08:43 am (UTC)I have no interest in sports, but I do have a second cousin in Seattle. His name isn't "Chris Hansen", but I'm unsure whether he has any progeny.
Actually, I've never been to Seattle. The closest I've gotten is San Francisco and Idaho.
no subject
Date: 2012-03-30 12:30 am (UTC)Healing
Date: 2012-03-30 04:12 am (UTC)Retinal care here is somewhat different. They started me off with exams every couple of months, then every three months, now every six months. They took photos of my retina on my first visit, on my most recent visit, when I first scheduled my cataract surgery and at least once more (I'm not sure). I've had laser surgery once as a result of a retinal scan.
Re: Healing
Date: 2012-03-30 08:48 am (UTC)If they do find something worrying, they don't schedule another appointment for laser surgery. They bring you down the hall to the laser room and do it right then and there.
I gather that the lasers they use nowadays are much less powerful than the ones used on my eyes 20 years ago.
Apparently those diabetics who do not have retinopathy are consigned to the picture-takers every year. They also tell me that if you miss an appointment at St. Thomas's they schedule a picture-taking session for the next year for you. The ophthalmologist opined that I must have missed an appointment and was unnerved when I told him how I had been referred. I'm still certain it was to save money.
no subject
Date: 2012-03-30 02:21 pm (UTC)No picture with the ophthalmologist?
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Date: 2012-03-30 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-30 11:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-31 07:26 am (UTC)