JON

Forget the pump-Viagra or cialis. Patient wife helps. The healing will take some time-don't give up on the ED drugs though.

My radical prostate removal was done by a private doc. I then filed a VA claim which was granted. I'm asuming you were boots on the ground Vietnam. You should get rated for the residuals after surgery ie incontinence, impotence etc. You also are entitled to smc loss of organ. I believe that's an additional $99.00 or so on top of what ever percent you get for the prostate surgery. Don't delay, find a vet rep and file a claim ASAP. Claims are slow and you'll get back pay. Check eith your county government for a vets assistant or contact VFW, American legion etc. You'll also be entitled to any medical needs as a result of surgery like pads, meds like Viagra etc. Good luck.

Harbor Freight has a pretty good electric radio controlled speedboat. Goes about 25 mph. Easy parts replacement. Cost: around $50.00. Watch for a Harbor Freight coupon that comes out once in a while for 20% off any item in the store and you're down to $40.00. I take it to the lake and get lots of comments. Little kids love it. They ask you all kinds of questions. Gets your mind off things for a while.

Cooter, Last year I was a snowbird in Bullhead City Az. The nearest VA dental was Las Vegas, some 3-4 hours away. My main VA is Spokane Wa. but I enrolled at Vegas VA since I spent my winters in Az. I went to Vegas VA dental. They saw I needed a crown and authorized fee basis in Bullhead City Az (Where I was staying). I ended up getting my last 4 bottom teethj crowned. They later authorized a root can fee basis for me. Yes, yoiu can get fee basis, but they usually make you see the dentist at Phoenix first, then he or she authorizes fee basis where you live.

A 3 month supply? What happened to monthly requests, having to have a "hard copy" sent tp pharmacy every month for a month's refill. These are the same peolpe who claim they do dental implants too. What's the story here?

Call the eligibility section of the VAMC you use and tell them you're TDIU and want to get dental care. They'll notify dental and dental will get you an apponitment for exam and xray and cleaning. Be prepared to wait some months though, unless you have an emergency. The dental is nice-I've had crowns made, and currently replacing an aging bridge. Some controversy and confusion if the Va does implants-my VA-Spokane will not.

Call your state VA or look at your SC award letter. The letter should specify exactly what percentage you get for what disability. If you're a "Nam vet with type 2 diabetes you should get an award depending on how bad the diabetes is and what you take for it. If you lost the prostate, you should also be smc for loss of creative organ. You also should be entitled to viagra for the loss.

The post below talks about baypines which states in their procedure about dental implants. Not all VAMC dental clinics state specifically "dental implant" in their services offered. See Spokane VAMC. I guess therefore, it's up to the dentisits wether you get implants or not. I agree, this is typical of VA care. Another example is I was told by a provider that I was not going to get certain tests for my service connected cancer related GI problem, because the "VA had to cut it's budget 10%". Now, maybe the test might not have been as necessary as first thought, but regardless to tell the vet that the VA is cutting costs so you won't get the test as being the only explaination given seems unacceptable, somewhat cold blooded and very inconsiderate. These type of expainations and information that dental implants or certain tests won't be given are reasons vets get "set off" and angry. Some common sense should be applied. As in dental implants-either every VA does them or none does. Perhaps a warning or information advising that implants are available from the VA, but access depends on the doctors examination and justification for the implant. Baypines says they're available but should indicate that doesn't mean you'll get them.

Looks like it only has a 3% chance of passing to law anyway.

CPO is correct about dental not being compensable. My "award letter" for my front teeth admits service connection and allows treatment at any time, but no compensation.

I*'m sure when it comes to the point where it will be cheaper to pull your remaining teeth than fix them, the VA will give you dentures and off you go!

Once again, it depends on your VA medical center if they'll do implants. Fee basis is up to the VAMC you use. In the past, the only reason I've been granted fee basis dental is because I was over 200 miles away from VA and that VA had the money for fee basis. I think you you'll find the VA dentisits are advised to say no to implants judt to save money. Perhaps if you file the proper appeal or complain to your congressman or rep that the implants are medically necessary, you may get them. What you want, a black and white answer about VA benefits will not happen. The VA doers what it wants until someone with more authority forces it to do otherwise. SO- start at the dentist at the VA. If they say no, try patient advocate. If that doesn't work, try your congressman or rep. Good luck.

John, I allready have a 4 tooth bridge there (42 years old), the post or anchor teeth have had root canals. The young VA dentist took one look and said it would almost be impossible to make a larger (longer) bridge and she wasn't sure if they could make a removable appliance (partial) to fit. She couldn't even get the bridge off to examine and and said the xray shows the post(anchor) tooth may be broken at the gum line. She said I could go to a private dentist and get bone graft and implants done at my expense, but no VA. Also she sais I'd be walking around with no front teeth until they decide what to do. Maybe they can build some kind of temporary she added. I slays me that in Az through the Las Vegas VA dental fee base I got my last 8 bottom teeth crowned, but can't get the front ones fixed properly here. Spokane dental rants and raves about dental care and keeping teeth, but he hem around at fixing time. Go figure. Thanks for the input. Jon

I can't get Spokane Wa. VA to give them to me, even though it is 4 front teeth that show and they are service connected. No implants period- "you'll have to go without fron teeth til we decide how we're going to fix them".

My Healthe Vet was up yesterday and the day before. I sent a message for doc to refil Morphine and got an answer yesterday. I live in Coeur d'Alen Idaho and use Spokane Wa VAMC. I use the va clinic in Coeur d'Alene, but have message service to my primary, Spokane dental,eye,pharmacy. I also have used Seattle and Portland VA for urology and gastro and have messanger service to them also. Though, like Red says, when they're down for maintainance, it can be for days. I also can get my test result on My Healthe vet, though they are weeks behind on posting it. Try the patient advocate then.

I get a quick response through secure messaging in the My Healthe Vet program.

I live in Idaho. When I was granted TDIU, it said nothing about being "permanent" or "no further exams" etc. I called Boise VARO(at the capitol and asked for letters for license plates, fishiing/hunting license, etc. I received several letters addressed to different agencies advising I was "permanent and total TDIU" and eligible for the goodies. I also asked for and received the letter to get the MWR card, which I took to Fairchild AFB, Spokane Wa. and received ID cards for me and the wife. Mine is permanent, hers expires every few years(I guess in case of divorce or whatever). Anyway CALLl your state VARO and if you are eligible, they'll send you the letters without hassle. Remember to ask for everything, fishing/hunting, tax exemption, plates, etc.

The VA has oxycontin, but just about never precribes it for obvious reasons, though it was recomended to me by a VA doc in Seattle, but my pc in Spokane didn't want to use it. It is suppose to be longer lasting than oxycodone. So it's back on morphine for pain and codeine for diarrhea. (GI bleed, short bowell syndrome, numerouse colon rescetions, chronic pain).

The colonoscopy exam will only check your colon and lower gi tract. If your doc suspects other things, they can do an endoscopy (exam of upper gi stomach etc to beginning of small intestine). To check the small intestine, they can do a capsule endoscopy where you swallow a small capsule that has a camera in it and they hook you up to a monitor belt for about 8 hours. The camera takes continual pictures of your small intestine while it travels through and about 24 hours or so, you expel the capsule. Good luck.

At least take the AO exam. It will get you in the system in case something shows up later.

I've had 2 colon resections, radical prostatectomy, GI bleed, neurgenic bladder etc. I'f you're at 100% leave it be and get on with the rest of your life. Go fishing, travel visit the grand kids, take the little lady someplace nice.

Does anyone have expierence with this drug? It's main purpose is for withdrawal of narcotics and pain meds, however is fairly new for pain management. The VA sent me to a fee based pain management clinic that prescribed me this drug. The VA then was reluctant to fill the prescriptiont due to it being used "off label" for my pain management. Also it supposedly will block any other narcotics and/or pain meds while you're on it disabling "break through" pain management. I believe it may be a mistake for me to use this med, but am willing to try anything for the pain. Any input or advice appreciated.

The VA may assume responsibility, but how long does it take them to pay? I have heard of cases where the vet went to public ER for sc treatment and it took so long for VA to pay that hospital sent the bill to collection messing up the vets credit history. The vet continued to be billed. I heard it was suppose to be illegal to bill a vet for sc treatment. Don't know if that's correct or not.

TDIU grants dental. If you are permanent and total you also get PX priviledge, on base priviledge, some states give you free or reduced disabled veteran plates, reduced or no property taxes etc.

I live in Idaho and have a urological service connected disablity and was sent to Portland Oregon VAMC to a urologist for exam. It was her first TDIU exam and she did a bang up job-even considered my future quality of life issues.