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Vein Center in Tyler Texas

February 8th, 2012

I recently had two procedures done on my leg to remove varicose veins. The first procedure was the Endovenous Laser Ablation which heated the inside of the vein causing it to close. The second procedure was the Ambulatory Microphlebectomy which some veins were removed through small incisions.

The Vascular Specialists of East Texas is located on Idel Street near Trinity Mother Francis Hospital. When I had my first visit, I was a little nervous. I watched some you tube videos of these procedures and it made me a little scared.  Dr. Robbins made me feel a little more comfortable about the procedures and let me know that I would be walking around right after the procedures. An ultrasound was performed on my leg and a few weeks later I came back for the procedures. I am a nursing mother and felt unsure about taking some medications. The Dr and staff were considerate and allowed me to not take a pill that I was uncomfortable taking.

During the procedures a few things went wrong. The facility did not have non latex gloves and I am allergic to latex. I told them before they started that I’m allergic to latex but Dr Robbins and his staff used the latex gloves anyway. He did ask me what kind of reaction I have and I said usually a rash and very itchy. Another thing that went wrong was during the Microphlebectomy a small vein was either left partly out of the incision or it somehow came out. I didn’t know this until I removed the bandage a few days later and that vein was stuck on the bandage.

The Dr must also work at the hospital and was relaying info to someone who was on the phone with the ER during my procedures. But while he was talking he didn’t take his eyes off what he was doing during my procedure and he was very focused. I watched during a part of the Endovenous Laser Ablation and then decided to look at the ceiling. Yes, I was awake during both procedures. I would rather be awake so I liked that part. Dr Robbins numbed parts of my leg around the veins. It didn’t hurt. I only felt a tugging sensation during the Microphlebectomy. The laser procedure went great and I am happy with the result from it.

The recovery was harder than I thought it’d be, mostly because it was so itchy the next day. I took some Benadryl and that helped. I probably should have brought my own gloves or refused to let them use latex gloves. Taking off the bandage was painful because a small vein was attached to it and I had to pull it off. The vein mostly went back in the incision and just left a tiny pink bubble which turned to a scab. There was a sore tight cramp in my thigh which was expected but it wasn’t too bad and eventually faded away.

When I had my first follow up visit, they said I didn’t have to pay for that visit. It went well and the blood flow in my leg looked great. I had one more follow up visit and the ultrasound showed that the blood flow is good. It was a success.

The procedures are pretty pricey and I received a few bills in the mail even though I paid in full at the check out desk. My husband was upset because it seemed like they were charging us way more than they told me in person. Apparently the bills were accidentally sent to us and we don’t owe any more. Phew! They did try to charge me for the visit that they told me was free and I told Mary at the checkout desk that I thought the Dr wasn’t going to charge me because of the vein that was left hanging out. She put a note on my papers and I received a call later and was told that the Dr didn’t mess up on my leg and he was just being nice and not charging for that visit. I’m thinking Ok, whatever, as long as I’m not charged anymore.

I left them a box of non latex gloves in case someone else is allergic to latex. I really am shocked that they didn’t have any.

I think over all the Vascular Specialists of East Texas in Tyler were good and I’d go back there again if I needed too.

 

Tyler, TX Hospitals

February 8th, 2010

Tyler Texas HospitalsIf you are looking for a hospital in Tyler, TX, you have come to the right place. For a city of just around 100,000 people, Tyler has excellent medical resources. Not only is the specialty Spine & Joint hospital one of the best in the nation, but the 3 major general hospitals in the city are very competitive, and offer a wide variety of services. But even if you live one of Tyler’s many outlying towns, you are still in good shape.Tyler’s major hospitals are incredibly well connected with general and specialty clinics all over East Texas.

Here is a brief rundown of the three major Tyler Hospitals:

UT Health Science Center at Tyler

UT Health Center is located North of Tyler on Highway 271 has more than 20 outpatient clinics scattered around Tyler and the surrounding towns, and a 109-bed academic hospital, and an Emergency Care Center. This hospital employs more than 90 full-time registered nurses. UT Health Center’s primary focus is researching, educating about, and caring for pulmonary and heart disease, but they include a broad range of specialty clinics from their Center for Asthma, Allergy, & Lung Disease (and how many East Texans DON’T struggle with allergies?) to their Podiatry Clinic. [ad#large-blog-block]

Trinity Mother Francis Hospital

Mother Frances Hospital merged with Trinity Clinics in 1995. The result was Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. In the outlying East Texas communities like Minneola, Jacksonville, Athens and Quitman, Trinity Clinics offer a wide array of health services, and because they are linked with the hospital, there are virtually endless treatment options.

Trinity Mother Frances Hospital is the most celebrated hospital in the entire East Texas region. It is a faith based and non-profit hospital which has served east Texas for ore than seventy years. Located on S. Beckham Street, TMFH is a 370 bed facility that offers general medical and surgical care for adults and children, obstetric care, and includes an around the clock emergency department. The hospital employs more than five hundred full-time registered nurses.

Trinity Mother Frances is especially well known for treating heart related illnesses. The Trinity Mother Frances Heart Institute has performed more than half a million cardiac procedures, including thirteen thousand open-heart surgeries. The heart institute has received a 5 star rating for its cardiac services.

East Texas Medical Center

East Texas Medical Center in Tyler is also located on South Beckham on the East side of Tyler, right across from Trinity Mother Frances. ETMC Tyler and is one of 15 systems throughout East Texas.

ETMC is a non-profit, 422 bed hospital, employing more than six hundred full-time registered nurses. Services provided include general medical and surgical procedures, both adult and pediatric, obstetric care, and psychiatric care.
Like Trinity Mother Frances, East Texas Medical Center bills itself as a Healcare system, offering clinics all around the region, including Gilmer, Van Zandt, Rusk and Athens. These clinics offer a variety of services. In all, ETMC employs more than six thousand workers in its fifteen hospitals. ETMC aims to make health care more local for East Texans. That means they don’t focus the bulk of their resources on their central Tyler hospital, but on these smaller hospitals and clinics.

Tyler is also home to a specialty hospital

The Texas Spine & Joint Hospital

Texas Spine & Joint Hospital is a for-profit, 20 bed hospital that employs more than sixty full-time registered nurses. Their physicians specialize in all varieties of spinal care and surgery. They have received a Five Star rating for Joint Replacement surgery and for Spine Surgery from the HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Studies. More impressively, the Texas Spine & Joint Hospital is ranked # 1 in all of Texas for Spine Surgery, and in the top 5 percent nationally for spine surgery.

Texas Cuisine At A Tyler Landmark

January 8th, 2010

When visiting a new city, one of my favorite things to do is try local restaurants that serve dishes native to the area. And as someone who has lived and traveled outside my home state, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to seek out a lot of hole in the wall places where locals congregate. This has often led me to think about our own Texan specialties. What are they, and where would I send an out of towner to sample them?

When most people think of Texas cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is of course barbeque. One of our best, locally owned barbeque sources in Tyler Texas is Stanley’s. Located at 525 South Beckham, Stanley’s is about sixty years old, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Tyler. They serve outstanding Texas fare that has gained statewide recognition. The signature dish is a sandwich called “The Brother-in-law,” it’s packed with chopped beef, hot links and cheese. They also serve the usual forms of sliced or chopped beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken and ribs. The brisket is cooked for at least sixteen hours. Stanley’s also has an outdoor deck where they occasionally feature live music. They also offer catering services.

So the next time you have out of town guests who want to experience genuine Texas flavor and culture, consider this family owned and operated Tyler landmark instead of the usual chains. The food is outstanding and the atmosphere authentic. Located across from Trinity Mother Francis Hospital. Also see http://www.stanleyspitbbq.com