CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Gastrointestinal (GI) Clinic Meeting Schedule for Tests Today Cancel

0803 -
0803 -    ..
0804 - Summary/Objective
0805 -
080501 - Follow up ref SDS 22 0000. ref SDS 21 0000.
080502 -
080503 -
080504 -
080506 -  ..
0806 -
0807 -
0808 - Progress
0809 -
080901 - Meeting today was ordered on referral by primary care physician during
080902 - an earlier meeting on 050816. ref SDS 18 0G7M
080904 -  ..
080905 - This referral complements prior testing....
080906 -
080907 -            Ultrasound report............... 050906, ref SDS 21 BM6R
080908 -            Barium test report.............. 050830, ref SDS 20 UR3M
080910 -  ..
080911 - When we arrived, the attendant said that the meeting today with Doctor
080912 - Lee was cancelled, because the doctor had to attend an emergency
080913 - professional conference.
080915 -  ..
080916 - The attendant called a telephone number and asked why the customer
080917 - wasn't notified that the meeting was cancelled?  She then advised that
080918 - somebody made a mistake.
080920 -  ..
080921 - Millie asked when the meeting can be scheduled to perform the
080922 - digestion examination?
080924 -  ..
080925 - The attendant checked her computer, and said the next opening is in
080926 - sometime in late March, and asked if we have a preference for day of
080927 - the week?
080929 -  ..
080930 - Millie noted that delaying examination and problem diagnosis until
080931 - March, 5 months away, will likely move treatment into the December
080932 - time frame, a 12 month delay.
080934 -  ..
080935 - The attendant indicated this response conflicts with VA commitment to
080936 - effective care.  She asked for the customer VA membership card.  She
080937 - took the VA card into another room, and returned in about 10 minutes.
080938 - The attendant indicated she feels now that the VA can expedite
080939 - scheduling the test cancelled for tdoay, possibly within a few weeks,
080940 - rather than months.  She said the VA will submit notice of the date
080941 - for the meeting.
080942 -
080943 -     [On 051202 meeting at VA for digestion problem evaluation.
080944 -     ref SDS 23 0001
080946 -      ..
080947 -     [On 060209 VA commitment to expedite patient care demonstrated
080948 -     again. ref SDS 24 NE6K
080949 -
080950 -
080951 -
080953 -  ..
0810 -
0811 -
0812 - Research
0813 -
081301 - Endoscopy review on the Internet found a site sponsored by NIH that
081302 - says at...
081303 -
081304 -            http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/
081306 -     ..
081307 -    Upper Endoscopy
081309 -     ..
081310 -    The digestive system
081312 -     ..
081313 -    Upper endoscopy enables the physician to look inside the esophagus,
081314 -    stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine).  The
081315 -    procedure might be used to discover the reason for swallowing
081316 -    difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion,
081317 -    abdominal pain, or chest pain.  Upper endoscopy is also called EGD,
081318 -    which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy
081319 -    (eh-SAH-fuh-goh-GAS-troh-doo-AH-duh-NAH-skuh-pee).
081321 -     ..
081322 -    For the procedure you will swallow a thin, flexible, lighted tube
081323 -    called an endoscope (EN-doh-skope).  Right before the procedure the
081324 -    physician will spray your throat with a numbing agent that may help
081325 -    prevent gagging.  You may also receive pain medicine and a sedative
081326 -    to help you relax during the exam.  The endoscope transmits an
081327 -    image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, so the
081328 -    physician can carefully examine the lining of these organs.  The
081329 -    scope also blows air into the stomach; this expands the folds of
081330 -    tissue and makes it easier for the physician to examine the
081331 -    stomach.
081333 -     ..
081334 -    The physician can see abnormalities, like inflammation or bleeding,
081335 -    through the endoscope that don't show up well on x rays.  The
081336 -    physician can also insert instruments into the scope to treat
081337 -    bleeding abnormalities or remove samples of tissue (biopsy) for
081338 -    further tests.
081340 -     ..
081341 -    Possible complications of upper endoscopy include bleeding and
081342 -    puncture of the stomach lining.  However, such complications are
081343 -    rare.  Most people will probably have nothing more than a mild sore
081344 -    throat after the procedure.
081346 -     ..
081347 -    The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes.  Because you will be sedated,
081348 -    you will need to rest at the endoscopy facility for 1 to 2 hours
081349 -    until the medication wears off.
081351 -     ..
081352 -    Preparation
081354 -     ..
081355 -    Your stomach and duodenum must be empty for the procedure to be
081356 -    thorough and safe, so you will not be able to eat or drink anything
081357 -    for at least 6 hours beforehand.  Also, you must arrange for
081358 -    someone to take you home-you will not be allowed to drive because
081359 -    of the sedatives.  Your physician may give you other special
081360 -    instructions.
081361 -
081362 -
081364 -     ..
081365 -    American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
081366 -
081367 -            http://www.gastro.org/
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0814 -