I retired from United States Navy after 20 years. During my active duty years, I felt I was really taken cared of by the Medical Teams @ NMCSD. Soon after retirement, I was treated like a second class citizen in all aspects of what I used to take for granted for, MWR reservations, golf, tennis. What really made me angry was that when I turned 65 year old, NMCSD kick me out as my Primary Care. I then had to get my Medicare card and ended in Tricare for life. Medicare pays 80% and Tricare pays for the 20%. Basically, full coverage. Which is not bad.
When I retired, I've asked my internal medicine attending physical for PSA Test, since the age is prone to Prostate Cancer. Unfortunately, I was told, numerous times, that the test did not mean a thing. Quite on the contrary, after being kicked out of NMCSD care, the blood test ordered by my new PCP, showed the PSA result of 13+%. What a surprise! He expressed his concern, obviously 180 degrees out from NMCSD point of view, to get a biopsy. Immediately, got a senior Urologist at UCSD, who got me tested and confirmed the results to be consistent. The UCSD Urologist wanted to educate the medical team at NMCSD. Maybe he should have. Talk about professionals, I am lucky to have made the correct choice to go to UCSD along with the recommendation of my daughter who is at Johns Hopkins Medical School. The normal "poke from behind" was performed without feeling an enlargement nor possible tumor. I thought I was out of the woods. UCSD recommends a biopsy, breaking my heart, but I made the immediate decision to go ahead and do it, just to make sure.
(I will write about the biopsy experience in another blog.)
AHA! Results came out to be ST1c, meaning still confined with the sheathing of the prostate.
I am really bitter about how the military hospital has treated me regarding this issue. I am sure that there are others who have the same experience. This is unfortunate. I've always had confidence in the validity of the actions of the military. Now with the VA scandals, it confirms my fears that there are bad policies that need changed to save the lives of veterans. I am quite glad they kicked me out of NMCSD (other military members get their medical care from NAVCARE), because it allowed me to get myself checked by someone competent and more caring.
Like any other entity, there are bad apples and good apples in the basket. My spouse so far has had good experience. She's now in Medicare too and Tricare for life. Thank God! We're setting up to have our PCP at UCSD.
More Blogs to follow.
