Toposurveyor

cowgirl, My PCP is a female nurse practitioner. At our VAMC, all the teams are headed by a MD, but the staff are NPs and PAs. When I was first referrd to the VAMC for Urology consult, in Portland, Ore., my appointment was with a PA. The next was a MD. My next is with the head of the Uro dept. All three are males. Ed

Almost 3 weeks since I started using ALA. I have not noticed much change in the foot pain. I will continue until this bottle runs out. I am using 600 mg per day, taking 200 with each meal. I am not sure what the final results will be, BUT, if there is no significant amount of relief of pain, I'll likely stop using the ALA. Ed

To all, Regarding ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) as used for pain due to pn, I searched here but did not find any discussion on the topic. I have read on another veteran site that a couple people feel it relieves thier pain. I went to a local pharmacy and asked about it. The drugist printed out thier info and it seems that there have been a few very small studies and shows to be useful in some pain management. The only drawback is it was determined that ALA ould cause low blood sugars. I don't think that currently my foot pain is so severe as to require gabepentin (?) or other strong drugs. Thought that I would try this herbal suplement. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated. Ed

To all, I should havew stated that I had to pay the first time registration fee for Oregon to get my permanent disabled plates. The minimum disability in Oregon is 10%. There are other specialty plates available. I also have a "veteran" plate on our car. It cost more than standard plate, but part of the money goes to the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles. Ed

To all, To my knowledge, in the state of Oregon, your are only allowed one set of disabled vet plates. Most vets put these on the vehicle that is the most expensive to license. Ed

To all, I read a short news item about this today. I have also read other news reports regarding disability compensation and possibly dropping it when a vet reaches 65. My gut feeling is that this will end up pitting one class of disabled vet against another. That hurts us all. I hope that I am wrong! Ed

Conecuh, My original rate was 10% DMII controlled by diet, then raised to 20% when meds were added to control. Then, after C&P exam, each lower extremity was rated seperatly at 30% due to PN. As was told to me in the past, keep on top of your DMII. It is in your best interest. Good luck with the C&P. Ed

Conecuh, I am sc DMII and after annual exam last October, filed for PN. My PCP wrote that sensory foot exam was abnormal, and previous C&P exam mentioned mild PN in great toe of both feet. Had a C&P 2/07 . Results were sc for PN rt lower extremity @ 30% and same for lower extremity, all based on the C&P exam. Besides lack of feeling during the exam, I also was not able to feel the tuning fork vibrate when put against my ankle bone. The rating decision refers to the early diabetic neuropathy bilateral feet that was included with the basic evaluation of DMII but that these conditions had progressed to seperate diability that was compensable. Ed

SSGMike.Ivy, Welcome to this site. Any information for veterans is appreciated. I signed up for myhealthevet at the VFW National Conv. a couple yrs ago (SLC), but have not yet looked into the available services it provides. Yes, this is a VETERAN TO VETERAN site and any one can use or not use any info provided here. Welcome, and I thank you for your service to our country. Ed

To all, It is a shame that there is so much trouble with the mail prescription program in some areas. I have all of my meds delivered by mail, 5 of them, and have had no problems. I call when I have 10 days supply left and that is all it takes. If there is any problem, I call the pharmacy and things are straightened out for me. I assist an local elderly vet with his meds. We do not use the phone refill system for him. Recently, either he or I failed to mail the refill request for his blood sugar test strips. I called the pharmacy and was advised that the Rx was filled that very day, even though the refill request was not sent! That is pretty good service if you ask me. I wish the best for all of you and hope that things get better with your mail Rx's. Ed

augoldminer, There is an office in our VAMC at Walla Walla, Wa.that handles release of information. I make it a point to visit this office before or after each of my appointments, ask for a copy of my progress notes and any lab information for that days appointment. They print out the authorization form, I sign it, and the info is mailed to me within the 10 day requirement. The one exception to this resulted in a telephone call from the ROI office advising me that it would be more than the 10 days for the info to be confirmed and was this acceptable to me. I agreed and had the info in about the 3rd week after my appointment. I have had no problems getting info regarding my appointments. Ed

Jon, A few years back, I had a C&P and the PA recommended that my BP medicine should be increased and advised me to talk to my VA PCP before leaving the clinic. I was considered a walk-in to see her, but I only had to wait a couple hours. She agreed about the increase and changed my Rx. Ed

Berta, I reccommended that he contact the county VSO right away and discuss the rating. I will check with him in a couple of days. Just want to give him time to work on it . Pete53, Why, are not there ads all the time to help the poor veteran!!! I will help this vet to the best of my ability and when I can't, those on this site might expect a question or two from me for help. To all, I live in a rural area and I will help any veteran that asks ( and maybe if he/she doe not ask, I'll ask him/her). Remember our troops and our veterans and our deceased, POW and MIA's this Memorial Day. Ed

This is about a Korea veteran in our small town. He was waiting for me to show up at our local Post office, knowing that I pick up my mail fdaily around 10 am. Last Teusday, the 8th, I was later than usual and got there about 11:15 am. As I walked past him to my box, he asked me not to run off without looking at his mail with him. He showed me a letter from the Portland VARO. It was a decision to award him for hearing loss and tinnitus at 20% sc. To be honest, I didn't even know that he was a veteran! His story is a long one, but in a nutshell, he had visited the recently widdoed friend. They talked about many things includung his hearing loss. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a hearing aid and suggessted that he try it. Of course it did not fit but it did help him a bit. She told him where her husband had got it and he made appt. to visit the audiologist. She chided him for using the aide, of course, but continued her interview. At the point he told her he was in Korea and what he did there, she said that it was likely that he could make a claim and get his $2000 aides from the VA. Seems she used to be the audiologist at the local VAMC. She sent him to the county VSO, he wrote it up. Shortly after that, an exam appt. was made and he is now sc'd. He was overcome with excitement, nervous, and delighted. He said this was not due to the compensation, but the fact that he will get the aids he so desperatly needs. And I am haapy that I could help him with the letter and assist him in the next steps to get those hearing aids. I also am pleased to have a new veteran friend. Ed

John, When I first started Metformin, it was one tab, 500mg, per day with my largest meal. Recently, it was increased to a second tab at bedtime. We are trying to see if it will help my reduce my higher blood sugar readings in the A.M. My A1C was 6.2 the first of April. I do not notice any side effects of this medicine along with the others that I take daily. Ed

To all, At our outpatient clinic there is a Release of Information office. I make it a point to go there and request that a copy of all progress notes and lab reports to that particular appointment be sent to me. I sign a form and that is it. I generally receive the information within a week. However, since the ROI office agrees to send requested info within 10 days, and because some of the information for my last appointment was not yet verified, I received a call from the ROI office advising me of that and was told the info would be sent as soon as the additional items were verified. I had all of it in hand about 5 days later. One other thing that I have done is signed a release that allows my wife to discuss my medical condition should I be unable to o so. Ed

The results: I received the progress notes from my treadmill stress test yesterday, 5/14. Some of the notes are: "Baseline blood pressure is 138/78. There is nonspecific ST changes noted." "Using Bruce protocol the patient exercised for 8 minutes and 23 seconds. He reached a maximum heart rate of 150 bpm, which was 94% of his maximum predicted heart rate and the test was discontinued because he had exceeded his his target heart rate." "...maximum workload was 10.4 METS." "Peak blood pressure was 191/136, thus there was diastolic hypertension associated with exercise." "There was no significant ST segment change with exercise." "He did have less than significant changes in lead 3 but none in the corresponding leads. He has a few PACs noted and rare PVCs." Assesment: "#2. Normal heart rate and diastolic hypertensive blood pressure response to exercise. #3. Occasional PACs and PVCs associated with exercise. No other significant abnormalities associated with this exercise test." I signed the "standard consent form" which did note that this test is considered accurate for detecting 75% of possible heart problems. So, I guess that I passed the stress test! But the "flutters" go on. Thanks to Pete53, Dennis, frosty69 for your comments and insights. Ed

Pete53, No need to apologize about ranting. It is unfortunate, no, outrageuos that your Rx's get screwed up like that. I help an elderly vet with his appointments, meds, etc., and the few times there was a problem with his Rx's, I just called the VAMC pharmacy and they saw to it that the meds were delivered. This has happened 2 or 3 times now. I suppose it might be the rural area we live in, but everything has worked out to the benefit of the veteran so far. We use the Walla Walla, Washington VAMC. I would file the complaint. Good luck Pete, and I hope things work out better for you. Ed

huskerfanfl, I filed claim for Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet due to DMII on Dec. 21, 2006 through a County VSO. I recieved notice from VARO with VCAA enclosed on about Feb 7, 2007. My C&P was Feb 15. The letter of decision was recieved on March 24. It was favorable to the extent that it allowed SC for both lower extremeties at 30% each extremity. All of this is dealing with the Portland, Oregon RO. So in my case it seemed to move very fast. A friend of mine also working with the same VSO seems to have more difficulty in the decision process taking several months to heasr from VARO. Ed

Pete53, It is interesting that you should mention that. I have almost always had higher BP and heart rate in a Dr office than at home, and just assumed it was being apprehensive of the exam. When I was having an ear problem last summer, the nurse in Urgent Care at the VAMC asked if I had anxiety due to the high BP & HR. I never gave it another thought. This "flutter" just started in mid - March. You may have a point. Thanks for the comment. Ed

UPDATE to my post: The test was done this am. During the test, the Dr asked frequently "how do you feel". And in all honesty, I felt good. The PACs did show on the readout but I was unable to point out any "flutter" as the exercise increased. The results of the test were that everything appeared normal. No apparent blokages, malfunctions, chest pain, etc. I went to the ROI office and requested thast the progress notes be mailed to me. I do this with every appt I have at the VA. So, I guess I will live with this odd feeling that I call a flutter until some other diffinitive symptom shows up. One thing that he did mention was that as the exercise increased, the lower number of the BP also increased. He said this seemed unusual as usualy it would decrease with increased exercise. The test ran about 10 min. and a max speed of 3.4 mph, and 14% incline. Felt like I was doing last yrs elk hunt all over again!!! Ed

Test is resceduled for Monday 4/30. Clerk who made appointment for me took into cosideration that I drive 107 mi to VAMC, thus she made an afternoon appt. When calling VAMC this am, as requested in letter re: appt to ask about taking meds, was informed that they do the test only in the am. Now will test at 7:30 am. Fine with me. And it will be the treadmill. Ed

Pete53 & Boats - Thanks for the reply. No she did not mention what type, only said stress test. As of this am, test is now sheduled for Fri 4/27. As always, my wife will be going with me. She likes to have me as a passenger, though sometimes I think she sees me more as a "back seat driver". I'll report the results. Ed

Earlier this month, I visited my pvt Dr. and discussed several things including what I called a "flutter" in my chest. He had me wear a holtens recorder for 24 hrs. The results were negative. Today I saw my VA primary and among other things we discussed this "flutter" and the recent results with the Holtens device. She offered for me to do a stress test. I agreed. This is new to me, although I have heard of it, I have not done one before. Perhaps some of you here might give me some insight as what to expect. It will be done this Thurs. 4/26. Thanks. Ed

GW1, Congratulations on your win. It is always great to read of othersw successes here. Welcome to hadit. I am sure that others will appreciate your info and expertise. Ed