Hello my name is Gorki Gallardo. I am a retired military Veteran that served in the Persian Gulf and Iraqi freedom campaigns. I Enrolled in the VA in Fayetteville N.C after my obligations in active duty. This letter is not intended to discredit the VA by any mean, it is solemnly a tool to rise mistreatment of the Veteran health care. I am assigned to Alpha Clinic under Dr. Campbell, on my first visit with Dr. Campbell she treated me as if she did not want me to be there, I researched around on how could I change doctors, and found out I had to see the patient Representative, I did not want to make a big deal so I just sucked it up as I usually do, after a few more visits with Dr. Campbell I told her that I did not want to see her anymore, after that conversation she changed her attitude with me but I knew it was fake, (she did not want me to complaint) I set a appointment up with her on January 5 2011 were she arrange a sleep study test for me for the 22 April 2011, I also told her that the Salsalate medicine she was prescribing made me worst and did not help me in any way, when my medication came in the mail it was salsa late, I called her the nurse answer and they would correct it, but they did not.
I called and they schedule me a appointment for the 9th of may 2011, so I told my self I talk to her then about them sending me Salsalate and other meds, On the 7 and 8th of may they called me to remind me of my appointment for the 9th, On the 9th I showed up for my appointment and was planning to discus the medication then, but when I walked in the nurse told me that Dr Campbell was not going to be in the clinic that day, I explain the situation to the nurse and told them about my meds and also they had put the wrong doctors name on the filling of the meds so I could not get my refill, ( In the past they did not send me my medication , I ended up having a Heart attack and ended up in the emergency room, and 5 days in ICU). I went to pick up my medication and guess what they gave me more Salsalate, I called back the nurse and he told me the only pain medicine he could give me was Vicodin, I told him that it works some times but not consistently, Percocet is what works for me all the time, they gave me Vicodin (again) I already been in pain hoping that this doctors visit would straighten out the medication problem. Dr. Campbell’s office could have notified me and reschedule me for a different day, instead they let me come in and be seen by a nurse and scheduled me for 22 Aug 2011, not three months later, instead of sooner upon her return. Why did I have to go all this time in pain? It was the provider‘s fault I had to reschedule in the first place. I was told this was her next available and they could only refill my meds. At this time I again told the nurse who took my vitals that the pain medication she gave me in February was not working.
I have a rupture disc, L-5 on my spine which is extremely painful, left shoulder pain and I cannot operate with out my proper pain meds, so for the past 8 moths I’ve been taking Vicodin, a medicine that no longer works for me.
So then it came time for my appointment on the 22 of Aug 20011, which is the first time I seen her in 8 months, I brought the two pill bottle (Salsalate) and told her that those pills do not work please stop sending me those pills, I told her that I had to switch from Vicodin to tramadol, she asked me what was I taken for the pain now and I told her Vicodin but it was not helping. I have not been given Oxycodone since November of 2010. Dr. Campbell asked me to sign a paper about drugs and what can they do , I signed the paper she then started to do a physical test on me and I told her she was hurting me, she replied , (I can arrange a shot for your back) after the test she sent to lab for urine test (drug test) and blood work, I had to go home after my appointment due to the pain. She knew at this time she was not giving me medication that I said did not work but gave it to me anyway. I had to send my son to pick up my medications because of the pain, when my son returned ,she had given me Vicodin again, I called the doctor’s office and spoke with the nurse. I explained the problem and the nurse called me back 4 hours later and told me that the urine test came back positive for Vicodin, (that’s what I’ve been taking all along…) and that’s why they could not issue me Oxycodone, why must I keep being in pain? Dr. Campbell discontinue my sleeping pills, I need them because of dreams and without it I cannot get a good night rest that adds stress and other complications may manifest. The prescription she wrote me is not good, the pharmacy after a week of trying to each Dr. Campbell told me they could not honor the prescription, I called Dr. Campbell nurse and explained to him what was happening and that have Dr. Campbell call the pharmacy , he told me they get back with me. (they never did).
Last time I went to the Emergency room the doctor was so rude we had to leave, I do not want to go back to the emergency room, I really hate going to the VA clinic for medical care. I am tired of veterans being treated like a burden. We have served our country freely and should receive good medical care.
My number is 910 964-2764. Email, ggallardo_2001@yahoo.com) I been trying to reach the VA rep for the last 3 days and I left my number on the 25 Aug twice.
I will forward this letter to anyone and every one that will take appropriate action.
We are not garbage!!!!!
Reassign me with another Doctor please.
I have spoke with the hospital and they have not changed doctor, I guess I have to go and pay for one my self and I should not have to do that I am a veteran.
Why can they just treat us with dignity and respect.
