March 18, 2008
- First Session: I went to the Veterans Administration Hospital of
San Francisco on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, for
multiple reasons:
- I had an appointment at one P.M.
with dermatology for a new research project. This project uses a method of
improving ones facial contours by using a product called Scuptra. This product has been used in
Europe for many years and now is being tested by the Veterans Administration Hospital to see if it measures up to standards. Instead of Botox, a saline
solution with an additive is injected in the cheek areas. This solution causes the
fat cells to regenerate and fill out the face to a more youthful look
- hopefully.
- I next had an appointment with Dr.
Chamie, my general physician, who was going to check my vital signs
and general health conditions.
- Then I wanted him to investigate
why I have been having so much trouble with my left foot. It has been swollen for over
six months. No pain but
the skin has been stretched due to liquids collecting in the area on
top of the foot.
- Finally I was to meet with Sandy,
the woman that manages another research project I am on. Every four months I go in and
have from four to eight vials of blood taken. I have a questionnaire to fill
out and sign and the get $20 for doing the research. I have been on this research project for over five years
now!
Well at
one P.M. I checked in and the head nurse, Cindy, in the general
practitioner division of the Veterans Administration Hospital told me I
had to fill out some forms before going to Dermatology. This consisted of
about 40 pages! By the time I
was finished it was 1:30. I
saw my doctor and told him I was going to be late and he said he was there
until after three P.M. So
off I went to Dermatology and the lead surgery nurse told me to go back
and get my face measured. Cindy
said they didn’t do it. Dermatology
said they did! Finally a
woman said yes, they did the measurements there. So after that, back to Dermatology
and there the head nurse said I was to go to the office to be interviewed. The doctor was very
handsome, about 38. He
explained how the procedure worked and if I was in the program, would have
to massage my face 5 – 5 – 5 (massage the face for five minutes, five
time a day for five days).
I had a headache after being screwed around for almost one and a
half hours. I went in at one
P.M. and now it was 2:30. Suddenly the doctor told me to get onto the surgery chair and
I thought, “What the hell is he talking about!” Then I saw about 20 hypodermic
needles on a tray. Next
to it was the lead surgery nurse and a woman doctor who had just come in. I said what was happening
and they said the procedure was just about to start! What! So he said just relax and it won’t hurt much. Well I was a mess, he did about 16
injections in my right cheek and it hurt like hell. Then he said to the other doctor, as long as we are doing
this research, I should put about four shots in his temple area (Something
they normally don’t do). By
then I was having a hot flash and felt slightly sick to my stomach. I went to turn my head and the
woman doctor said, just like in a Western Movie, except for the word gun,
she used the word needle! She
said:
“Don’t move, I have a needle in my
hand (and I’m not afraid to use it)!”
So she did the left side of my face
and I was not happy. Then they said I was a great patient and would look
fantastic. Yeah, right
I said. Then the
surgery nurse put a towel over my face and proceeded to massage my cheeks
and temples for about five minutes.
I am supposed to go back in six weeks but not sure about the pain. Time will tell.
Then back to my doctor and he wanted
to look at my photos from Nicaragua and said I had fantastic photos and
the panoramic were really great and my blood test results were great. I finally said he needed to check
out my foot. I told him
Cindy, the nurse, had suggested an ultra-sound on my foot. Next thing he gave me a form and
said to go to the imaging room for an X-Ray of my foot. So off to the Imaging Division and
there the operator put me on the table and proceeded to explain how they
now have a plate that is reusable.
Somehow the photons are generated on the plate and then the plate
is put on a machine that uses a laser to read and digitally produce a
picture of the area. After
a successful image is taken, the plate is de-magnetized and the plate is
ready to be used again!
So next I went back to my doctor and
Sandy was there for the other research project I am on. They took about six vials of blood
to send to the University of San Francisco Medical Center for research
into aging. They also do a
questionnaire about one’s habits over the last four month, how much sex,
now much drinking, how many illegal drugs taken and psychologically, how
one feels about ones self and life in general. As we were finishing
Dr. Chanie came in and told me he had set up an ultra-sound for 10:30 A.M.
in the Imaging Division on Wednesday.
I wasn’t happy but decided to get the tests over with.
So on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, I
went to the Veterans
Administration Hospital for my 10:30 appointment. I thought it would be about 30
minutes maximum. Well I
had to take off my clothes and lie on a table and it took the ultra-sound
operator an hour and a half to do the test.
They started at the groin on each leg and worked down past the
knee. Finally they did the left foot that was swollen. The person doing the
testing said a doctor would do the final review and let my doctor know
what if anything, was going on.
She said as long as there aren’t any blood clots; one is safe. If not, some type of action needs
to be taken. Hopefully
since my foot is better since I am wearing a stocking to force the blood
back up the leg, that will be enough to fix the problem. Time will tell.
And that was my exciting two days at
the Veterans Administration Hospital in San Francisco!
