ptsd VA doc challenges treatment by personal doc

[ArtyUSMC]

First post to this site.

have been 100% Schedular since 2004. Took about 6 years to prevail. Have ptsd rated 100% w/smc-k. Had Prostate removed w/ cancer , have all the usual residuals 60%

have Tinnitus 10% , have PH which allows me to be in CAT - 1 for treatment.

my outside primary doc has followed me for last 15 years. Treating me for near death brain seizure for 3 years.

he prescribes the generic for Welbutrin since the siezure. he precribes ativan as an aid for keeping me calm ( so BP doesn't spike and create more Seizures ).

been seeing VA clinic for about 6 years. Never had a problem taking my private Docs scripts to VA for filing.

clinic I attend once a year for annual checkup is undergoing radical staff changes.

used to have a PA do my annual and monitor my prescriptions for those 6 years.

The VA clinic transferred my PA and inserted a MD to follow my health care.

my new VA doc refuses to fill meds I been taking fot these last 6 yrs.

VA doc wanted progress notes from my personal doc which were sent to clinic but is not sufficient proof i guess.

my VA doc is demanding I go to main hosp to see mental health people

i am plenty po'd because VA doc (who has done one annual hands on physical w me, and had face time w me for 25 min) seems to be challenging the sucessful treatment of my symptoms for 15 years by my doc.

Do n't know what to do.i really don't want to go to a MH clinic and dredge up crap that has been swirling around my head for last 50 years.

i'm 70 now and do not want to jump hoops just because a new VA doc wants to CYA by making me go down this MH rabbitt hole again.

would appeciate any comments

semper fi

. 

 

[Berta]

To clarify:

"Have ptsd rated 100% w/smc-k. Had Prostate removed w/ cancer , have all the usual residuals 60%

have Tinnitus 10% , have PH which allows me to be in CAT - 1 for treatment."

I assume  the 60% prostate cancer residuals are due to AO exposure in Vietnam?

With 100% PTSD plus the additional 60% Prostate residuals, didn't the VA ever consider you for the SMC "S" award......??????????????????????????????

"The VA clinic transferred my PA and inserted a MD to follow my health care.

my new VA doc refuses to fill meds I been taking for these last 6 yrs.

VA doc wanted progress notes from my personal doc which were sent to clinic but is not sufficient proof i guess.

my VA doc is demanding I go to main hosp to see mental health people"

Can you tell us what meds the VA doc is questioning? Is it the Wellbutrin?

Or is the doctor really questioning that you might not have had any MH treatment at all for your PTSD for some time?

Is your private doctor a  psychiatrist? If so does he treat you for PTSD?

This might be a Safety Issue if the lack of proper meds could cause you to have seizures.

We had a vet here who 2 VAs would not give him his prescribed seizure meds. I told him to go to the VA Inspector Generals web site and file a complaint.

I had no idea if they would consider it as a safety issue but they did.

In less then 24 hours the veteran had his meds!

What does the private doctor attribute your potential for serious brain seizures to?

If we know what meds, maybe we can help more.

I firmly believe that anyone who is rating and comped for PTSD should make sure they stay in treatment for it ,perferably with the VA, or with a private shrink, or at least spend quality  time at a vet center.

If they dont get treatment continuously, the VA will think they are somehow completely cured,or have gotten better enough to have VA lower their compensation rating..

 

 

 

[ArtyUSMC]

5 hours ago, Berta said:

To clarify:

"Have ptsd rated 100% w/smc-k. Had Prostate removed w/ cancer , have all the usual residuals 60%

have Tinnitus 10% , severe hearing loss, have PH which allows me to be in CAT - 1 for treatment."

I assume  the 60% prostate cancer residuals are due to AO exposure in Vietnam?

Yes

With 100% PTSD plus the additional 60% Prostate residuals, didn't the VA ever consider you for the SMC "S" award......??????????????????????????????

Believe I have SMC-S also, just forget what it is for

"The VA clinic transferred my PA and inserted a MD to follow my health care.

my new VA doc refuses to fill meds I been taking for these last 6 yrs.

VA doc wanted progress notes from my personal doc which were sent to clinic but is not sufficient proof i guess.

my VA doc is demanding I go to main hosp to see mental health people"

Can you tell us what meds the VA doc is questioning? Is it the Wellbutrin?

Welbutrin ? dose  and Lorzapam 0.5mg

Or is the doctor really questioning that you might not have had any MH treatment at all for your PTSD for some time?

Probably. That MH scrutiny just frightens the begeezus out of me. Afraid of literally going into a secured space with no way of voluntarily leaving,

Is your private doctor a  psychiatrist? If so does he treat you for PTSD?

Primary Doc is an internist, also followed by neurologist, and cardiac specialists.

This might be a Safety Issue if the lack of proper meds could cause you to have seizures.

THAT IS EXACTLY THE ISSUE

Seizures were caused by years of Hypertension (even though treated). I had a condition called P.R.E.S. which affects the lower brain stem. Had to be medivaced to specialty hosp for diagnosis and treatment. That's when Neurologist started following me and issued WELBUTRIN .  Lorazapan (as needed) has been on my approved med list for years. Had Catholic Last Rites 2 x's while hospitalized. it was that life trheatening.

We had a vet here who 2 VAs would not give him his prescribed seizure meds. I told him to go to the VA Inspector Generals web site and file a complaint.

I had no idea if they would consider it as a safety issue but they did.

In less then 24 hours the veteran had his meds!

What does the private doctor attribute your potential for serious brain seizures to?

See above on P.R.E.S.

If we know what meds, maybe we can help more.

I firmly believe that anyone who is rating and comped for PTSD should make sure they stay in treatment for it ,perferably with the VA, or with a private shrink, or at least spend quality  time at a vet center.

If they don't get treatment continuously, the VA will think they are somehow completely cured,or have gotten better enough to have VA lower their compensation rating..

Bottom line is that I will pay privately for Welbutrin and Lorazapam (as needed) rather than relive my combat experience to a MH professional who has never experienced the terror I experienced as a combat Marine in Vietnam. I do not want to go thru that again. So it very well may be easier just to keep out the VA line of fire.

There is a lot of political and administrative turmoil at my main VA hdqs. I think the new VA DOC is doing a CYA and I'm not going to get in their way.

Thank you for your insight and support. 

 

 

 

 

[Berta]

You mentioned cardiac specialists.....Do you have Ischemic Heart Disease? If so that is service connectable for incountry Vietnam vets due to the 2010 Nehmer Court Order.

Lots of info on that here in the AO forum