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Andyman73
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Posts posted by Andyman73
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I am hoping that there is enough evidence in my own SMR covering stress related ailments. As I had/have chronic gastro-intestinal and sinus issues, documented in my SMR, and sleepleness also. And alcohol abuse as well. I am currently DX by private dr with SA, use CPAP also.
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Thanks,
At what point should I mention thoughts of suicide? And when should I mention about stuff while on AD?
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I don't know much about this particular issue, however, you are not wasting your time. You came to the right place, Hadit.com, someone here can and will help you and your husband.
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Tomorrow afternoon I am going for my initial MH eval. Feels like the day I shipped out to boot camp, scared out of my mind!
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That is just plain wrong! I feel your pain and anger, too.
I was at the Podiatrist on Monday, and he is scheduling me for an electrodiagnostic "fun time". I say that my L foot seems to get lazy or fatigued half-way through the day. And more so if I'm doing a lot of walking or standing. The top of my foot gets numb, like when your arm falls asleep, cuz you laid on it the wrong way, and then you touch it with your other hand and it feels like someone else's arm. Once the numbness shows up, that's usually when my foot doesn't come up all the way while walking. And sometimes it causes me to trip over my own toes. And worse yet, when that happens, trying to catch myself makes my knees and back and everything else hurt. I hope the electrodiagnostic test shows something, cuz I know I haven't been imagining this for years and years.
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Hang in there, Marine wife, it's always darkest before dawn. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Semper Fi.
Andy
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Cut they will blame it on the Vet instead of their own ineptitude!
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I recently filed for sciatica(radiculapathy) in each lower extremity, to include feet. I am sending copies of my MRI report from this past March, and copies of any and all record entries where I mentioned any kind of pain, numbness, tingling, or burning/wet feelings. And a copy of my original VA rating/decision letter where the VA itself mentions sciatica type symptoms. So...."the waiting is the hardest part"
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I also requested mine on the 18th of May. Ebennies shows under review...as of this morning.
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spearhead91,
I have heard it called "Vitamin M". I was given that in 800mg size pills, while still in boot camp. And I have been taking it ever since, but only in regular size(500mg).
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I recently went for an appointment that I had to take the day off of work, for. Guess what??? The appointment was canceled two months prior!!! I wasn't notified and have lived at the same address for 16 years! Fortunately for me, I did need to talk to some other folks while I was there, and the appt. wasn't anything special.
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bionice,
Keep in mind that, just like a used car that may look good on the outside, it doesn't mean that it runs well, too. So...maybe you look good, but don't feel as well as you look. I usually give non-commital answers, like "Thanks", that way no one asks any questions I really don't want to answer. Or if they ask how I am, usually I say something like, "living and breathing, one day at a time". Or something similar. Again, a non-commital answer that doesn't really invite more questions regarding how I am.
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In my case, the MRI got me bumped from 10 to 40% for my back. And it will also then prove my DDD and sciatica(radiculapathy) as well.
Wish you 100% success!
Andy
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Hi, I had just discovered your website, this week, and I am soaking up a lot of the great info on this website. I just started my informal claim, last March, and I am still in the process of obtaining documents and IMOs.
I was a 13B, in 2/28FA, in Germany, and just now starting my claims. When I got out in 1986, I ETS'd, to Germany, and there was no briefing as to VA Benefits or claims, not to mention a service exit exam. I am married to a german fraulein and have had german medical (free) servies since I left the army. Thanks to this site, I had have my ears checked, from a local Otolaryngologist (Ear doctor). They have a test, here in Germany, that can establish Tinnitus. He has linked this, with a minor hearing loss to my MOS 13B with "most likely caused". If I hadn´t stumbled on your site, I would not have thought about this at all. I have some other problems, that I am still working on.
Please keep up the good work!
p.s. even though I am a registered member, I couldn´t download the pdf book from jonmacintosh....
Welcome! My paternal Grandmother was a German Fraulein, from Bremen!
13B...is that Field Arty? My dad was Fire Direction Control of 8inch self propelled howitzers for the second 12 of his 24 years. I think he was 13 something. Oh wait, I see you mentioned the 2/28FA! LOL missed that one! I know he was with the 17th Brigade, but not sure what or who else. We were at Augsburg from late '85 to mid '89. Dad used to say he lost his hearing from Iron Butterfly at full volume in his '70 'Cuda. Don't know but I'm sure a mixture of 13 months of Vietnam combat, heavy diesel engines, tank guns and 12 yrs of 8 inch arty may have had something to do with his hearing and tinnitus.
Glad you found Hadit.
Semper Fi.
Andy
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Hello and good morning!
I don't "love" my CPAP, but I sure do appreciate it!!! I have been using mine since Feb '14. My wife "loves" it, tho, since I no longer snore like a "Harley" anymore. I had a sleep study done by my private insurance, and discovered that my pulse ox was dropping into the low 70s! I had my first "apnea" within 2 minutes of falling asleep during the sleep study. I had over 100 in the first 2 hours of the study. Apparently SA prevents REM sleep, too. Which medical science has shown to be most important to a good night's sleep. I am DX'd at 11 for my psi(?) on my device. I have the pillow soft nose piece. I wake up many times a night because it comes loose, but I can't have it tight cuz it pushes into my face and somehow closes my nasal passages??? So I like it a little loose. I don't fall asleep standing up anymore, but don't feel like "wow I slept great" either.
As a side note, a coworker's father died of SA, last fall, while at deer camp. He didn't think he needed his cpap for just a few days. They found him 2 days later, asleep in a lawnchair in front of the fireplace. Apparantly he was tired from the day, and the heat of the fire caused him to get drowsy. His head drooped down and that was all she wrote.
Anyway, what is the best way to get this SC'd? I had trouble sleeping while on AD, used to drink every night just to fall asleep. I know it's mentioned once or twice in my SMR. Any suggestions would be well received.
Oh, forgot to mentioin that the coworker's dad was only 53 when he died from SA.
My CPAP device has the water resevoir in it. Which I really like...especially with the dry winter air...or dry air from A/C.
I started using it religiously as soon as I received it. My insurance pays 100% of all costs, including replacment of consumeables(masks tubing etc). The manufacturer rep said the ins. won't pay all if I don't use it every night. The device had a removeable wireless modem that was tracking useage and transmitting to local rep. After 6 months they called and said good to go, remove and send modem in supplied prepaid shipping container. I get a robo call every 6 mos. to see if I would like to reorder consumeables, which I do, and I get a 6 month supply, which I reallly appreciate. I guess the ins. is happy that I'm using it, since it is much much cheaper than paying for treatment of SA related heart illness and such.
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Hello and good morning!
I don't "love" my CPAP, but I sure do appreciate it!!! I have been using mine since Feb '14. My wife "loves" it, tho, since I no longer snore like a "Harley" anymore. I had a sleep study done by my private insurance, and discovered that my pulse ox was dropping into the low 70s! I had my first "apnea" within 2 minutes of falling asleep during the sleep study. I had over 100 in the first 2 hours of the study. Apparently SA prevents REM sleep, too. Which medical science has shown to be most important to a good night's sleep. I am DX'd at 11 for my psi(?) on my device. I have the pillow soft nose piece. I wake up many times a night because it comes loose, but I can't have it tight cuz it pushes into my face and somehow closes my nasal passages??? So I like it a little loose. I don't fall asleep standing up anymore, but don't feel like "wow I slept great" either.
As a side note, a coworker's father died of SA, last fall, while at deer camp. He didn't think he needed his cpap for just a few days. They found him 2 days later, asleep in a lawnchair in front of the fireplace. Apparantly he was tired from the day, and the heat of the fire caused him to get drowsy. His head drooped down and that was all she wrote.
Anyway, what is the best way to get this SC'd? I had trouble sleeping while on AD, used to drink every night just to fall asleep. I know it's mentioned once or twice in my SMR. Any suggestions would be well received.
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That's so awesome to hear! Congrats and welcome to the club(Hadit.com)
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I swallow it up, like the snake eating it's own tail. My wife thinks I'm just stupid. No more and much much less. I get a bit of relief when I mow the lawn, and my elderly neighbor's lawn. But that is only a few times a week. She takes any issue or slight and makes it a huge deal. And verbally express her thoughts, whipping a dead horse into dust, and then whipping the dust into individual atoms.
I feel as if no one understands, and so, I tell no one. I feel invisible most times, except when I feel deserving of punishment. Then I feel as if that is my purpose of being, to receive punishment for any slight or wrongdoing of my short 41 years of life.
My kids are the only reason I am still alive. Not my parents, not my brothers, other family or the friends I don't have, keep me from the constant thoughts of it.
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bluevet,
I did read on here, some where, some thread, that some Vets had good success with using the complaint dropdown option on IRIS. Interestingly enough, the benefits counselor at my local VAMC couldn't explain it. A woman from Philly VARO who called me, couldn't explain it, except to say that the VA doesn't do that. BUT!!!!! my rep from the DAV said "hold on that....I do the thinnin here...I thin! That is a no no, and it should have been bilateral as standard. And the 38 CFR 4.26 says it must be so.
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Yah, she's lots of fun too!
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I haven't used IRIS since that time I mentioned a month ago.
Wouldn't surprise me if the problem is on the VA's side, and that it's not a problem, but was intentionally disabled.
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A month ago I requested via IRIA an explanation why I did not receive a bilateral factor when I clearly rate one according to 38 CFR 4.26. I requested snail mail response. The 5 day window has obviously passed, as has the 20 business day mark as well. Should I resubmit my inquiry under their complaint box?
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RA,
First off, I am so sorry to hear that you got railroaded by the VA. Welcome to Hadit, where there are no trains anywhere! You came to the right place to begin your journey to vindication. There are a good group of Vets and civilians here who can and will give you guidance. Better late than never, as I myself am finding out.
Semper Fi.
Andy
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Most I ever did at one time was 4. It was a shot in the dark. I currently have 2 in various stages of hurry up and wait. Not counting my Child of Nam Vet exposed to AO. Since that one is on it's own special journey down the long unlit hallway to nowhere land.
Semper Fi.
Andy
Questions!
in VA Disability Claims Research
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You are very welcome. I only found this site a few months ago, while on another military related site. This site is a Godsend! I pray He will bless you and reward you for your hard work and perserverance.
Semper Fi.
Andy