ArNG11

The VA doc increased the dosage from 100mg to 300mg along with the Methocarbonol. I space it out as best as I can. It does a number on me. Feels like you just coming off the nitrous from a dental visit. I can't say that it's a tremondous help but it does take the edge off a little. Timing it right with work and college is a bit hard. The pain meds from my CTS surgery along with those above are a strong punch.

It's all a game. Duty to assist, eh duty to delay, eh duty to deny. It's definitely hard to deny the numbers. How many claims actually are service connected correctly? How many claims are actually rated correctly according to the regulations? How many times are claims rated according to medical evidence? How many times is the claim and adjudiation process actually follow the law? How many times are veteran's rights just trampled on? How many vets have to go hungry, or homeless, or die before something gets done. It's hard to say. Personally, I know what I have dealt with so far and it's a war. You win some battles and you loose some battles, however, just like we were taught in the service, you fight. You FIGHT, you fight until you can't fight anymore and when you're bruised and bloody and want to give up, you hold your head up and bring your hands up again. It's WAR. Never quit, never give up and never leave a fallen man behind.!!!

congrats guy. just remember to take care of yourself.

Congrats and good luck

You are probably right, however, don't give up. If you have private insurance, or even if you get care from the VA, go to the doc, get the care by whatever means is necessary, get it documented, and take it day by day. It's gonna be a fight to get them to admit anything to the extent that it's military related but press on, besides getting treatment and the care you need, you'll be getting the evidence you need to defend your claim.

Has anyone here been on Methocarbamol at 500mg strength? along with 300mg of Gabapentin 3xs a day?

Yeah the burn pits where about 1000m away. I didn't really pay that much attention as mission requirements dictated the pace and focus. I am getting a bit concerned about it. Luckily I am still employed and have health care other than what the VA is providing me and have been taking care of issues as they arise but I can't help not be realistic and be concerned about what health problems will surface. I have been on the downslope for a few years now and it is not getting better. Im up to 12 pills a day now with different medications of all sorts and I have to say I'm a little more than troubled. But not much that I can do other than treat what I can, make the best of what I have, and press on.

Congrats'. Always nice to read someone having a win. Best wishes and better health.

Hang in there guy. Things are not always gonna be on the down side. For what it is worth, one day at a time.

Interesting evet note from the nurse. She wrote that I shouldn't worry about the hypo inflation of the left lung and that its a result of me being overweight. She instructed me to loose 50 lbs and if I was concerned to get another chest X-ray at that time. That kind of upset me a bit, considering my back injury has caused a significant curve to that side and the resultant trauma has caused some problems with my deep breathing. In any case, the best thing to do for me and anyone else that receives results from these exams is to visit with your primary care provider, whether private or VA, and discuss the results.

So while I have mentioned that it's scary with regards to Gulf War issues, I received some interesting results from my Gulf War Registry examination. My Hemoglobin AIC was out of range 5.9 on high side. My lungs showed hypo inflation with resultant bronchovascular crowding. No confluent air space opacification, pneumothorax, or pleural effusion. Scoliotic curvature of the thoracic spine. Degenerative changes of the distal thoracic and upper lumbar spine. Left sided aortic arch. Im still waiting on the full results because the labs have not come back yet. I am curious as how this will help my claims. More importantly I am getting this information to my private doc and to my VA PCP.

How hard is it to get a VA physician to order and EMG or X-rays with dye? I have mentioned it twice now to my provider and she acts like she has never heard of the procedure. I even mentioned that the VAMC in OK has a spine care center but she stated she wasn't aware of such a program. I have told her that I have pain radiating down my legs, more left but still bi-laterally and she acted like she was confused. I have even given her my last two MRi's from this year and she acts baffled. It's a little unnerving. I can't seem to find the certain way I need to stand or walk in order for the shooting pain to be under control and for the numbness to go away. I'm starting to get a little inpatient and aggravated and a little worried as it seems my symptoms are getting harder to manage and keep in check. Ice, stretches and stim unit to the rescue.

That's scary as hell. I have been having issues with weakness in the legs along with the numbness and pain. They put me on Gabapentin at 300mg. It's been over a month and I still haven't received any of the pain meds, although, I did receive the Omeprazole and levothyroxine. Hang in there guys. Mind over matter. One day at a time. : ) : l

I have to say the Gulf war issues a fairly scary to say the least. I know I was healthy before my tour, and since then I have had issue after issue manifest itself. It is going to be a hard battle to get the VA to acknowledge but as I have found out and from advice here, when these symptoms manifest themselves go to the doctor, whether private or VA, start the paper trail. Get the registry exam done, and make sure you obtain any and every record, private or what not, that has documented these symptoms. As I am starting to find out, this one specific clusters of symptoms and illnesses, is going to be a daisy to connect, however, use the regs and your medical evidence, against them. They will deny and try to come up with some excuse that it is not service related, but you are just going to have to politely, ram the regs in their face. I am not going to sugar coat this, it is definitely a fight, and it will be a long one.