Holllie Greene

Hi, I was at my county VSO office for most of yesterday. The "hurry up and wait" routine was exhausting. But I heard a good joke and made a new friend. The joke was about two Russians who visit New York City (maybe you all have heard it---it is a bit risqué so I wont post it here) and the lady I made friends with is super nice. Anyway, I finally got in to see the VSO (totally knows his stuff), and he noticed I have not been receiving SMC-K for the past 10 years. He assured me he will look into it. So, I will just sit tight and wait. In the mean time I have cataract surgery and Phys Therapy after the surgery. I am sad to see Barry Coates has passed away. Rest in Peace, Sir. HG

Hi Chuck75 and RUREADY, Thank you for your replies, it is great food for thought. My husband reminded me earlier how my neurologist (good doctor---gone now unfortunately) would encourage exercise, certainly not Physical Training type like when I was in the Army, but appropriate exercise for MS and my back problem and asthma. You both have interesting perspectives and I appreciate your replies. Thank you again. Take good care, HG

Hi there Horizontal Mike, I totally see your point. Well of course those alphabet agencies would never ever look at documents, conversations, med appts, and PT. Yeah right and I have a bridge to sell you. LOL!!!!! Total BRAVO SIERRA. Thank you for your thoughts. Thank you for joining in this conversation. :) HG

Hi Broncovet, I agree with the late Ronald Regan...those words are terrifying. Plus, there is nothing free, not even a lunch. Yes, I earned my "free rent" in the Army, I did not ask to have the two story fall, asthma , or to acquire MS. And don't get me on a rant about the VSO's (he is back from training now but when I went to the courthouse yesterday I was told he can see me on Wednesday, such Brava Sierra. The VSO's cause me to have suspicion about them. Thank you for your response! HG

Hi justrluk, Thank you for your thoughts. I do not see why they would challenge my rating (MS, Asthma, back problem from a fall due to MS vertigo). My husband plans to resign from his job soon so he can take care of me and we cannot afford to have my VA comp messed with. I think I will cough up $50.00 per month to join the local Rehab gym. Thank you for your input. HG

Hi All, First and foremost I offer my apologies for typing in caps in previous posts. "I am from the government and I am here to help you"---a now-deceased friend told me this little nugget of a line and at the time I thought it was hilarious. Obviously, this line makes a whole lot of sense to me now. About 45 minutes ago my local VA clinic called to schedule PT, hmmmmmm, interesting. Perhaps the VNA reported to my VA doc, who knows. All things aside, I believe PT is a good idea as long as a person is able. I am scheduled for PT soon which is a good thing. Maybe I should stop my suspicions and accept their help. Any thoughts on this? Thank you. HG

Hi Broncovet, Thank you for your reply (now I will be able to sleep tonight) and thank you for the link. Very, very, very interesting. Despite my MS, asthma, and lower back issues I am a motivated, determined, and inquisitive person. Thank you again, I appreciate it very much. The Howell v Nicholson case validates my opinion that the "VA powers that be" arbitrarily pull dates out of the air (or other places) to serve their own purposes. Stay safe and warm. HG :)

Hi Vync, I saw on the news that Alabama was getting snow. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Yes, I believe they folks have good intentions. I am a "scooter vet" too---people have said (if I have chosen to tell them I have MS) "but you look so good" meaning I don't look sick. Which is so not the case. I totally understand your sports injury retort! One time (a few years ago, I was out shopping (I always have my cane for stability) and some random person asked how I hurt myself and I told her I had a skiing accident in Gstaad Switzerland!!! Those words just flew out!!! Take care and stay warm at Ft. Living Room and thank you for our kind words. :)

Hi All, Happy Snowy (for some) Friday, I hope everyone is careful if you are in the snow zone. Stay safe, I had an Occupational Therapist come to my home earlier today. She was extremely nice and had valuable information I can use to stay safer inside my home. However, if one is involved with the VNA there are restrictions; one restriction is I can't have lunch with any of my friends (I am pretty sure I heard her correctly) yet if I need to see my doctor or go to the pharmacy it is ok for me to drive myself. I have zero problems driving myself. Now I am cursing myself (or is it cussing) myself out for seeing this new doctor at the VA clinic. The new doctor is the one who initiated the VNA through Medicare and the new doctor signed off on a document stating I need assistance. True. True. True. I also have an upcoming ophthalmologist appt and I should have kept my mouth shut because the OT wrote that down. I informed the OT the cataract surgery is being handled by Veteran's Choice. I also asked the OT if it is ok to go to the courthouse because I need to see the VSO and she said yes. If anyone has any thoughts or comments I would appreciate it. Thank you. HG ...I researched the reasons which make a person "homebound per the VNA...hmmmm very strict AND you can't drive a car. There is a disconnect somewhere here...the new doc at the VA put on the form I have yet to turn in to the county VSO that I need assistance. True. My gosh it seems like either the VA doc is confused or the Medicare/VNA are confused. Medicare, not the VA is paying for these nurses, T's, and PT's. Thinking about my situation I believe I am A & A. And I.ve never seen the SMC K from 2003 like the person at the CalVet org said I would receive. why did I not pursue that SMC K way back then? I just figured it was just more Bravo Sierra and I was having a bad time with the MS. When this situation started, someone called me and said Medicare would pay for the VNA and when I asked why is the VA not paying, her reply was words to the effect that I paid into Medicare so why not use it? So here I am at this juncture. Sound about right or am I way off base? Thanks again. HG

Hi, it seems I am replying to myself (not my intent, believe me)...just wanted to let Gastone know am getting it done. I had another nurse visit this morning (from VNA) and another PT visit in about an hour. They are very nice. have made BIG TIME progress with the Veterans Choice. My experience was I had to be authorized by the Opthalmologist at the local clinic. Also, the civilian doc has to be in the choice program. I have appt. with him next week. On an unrelated topic: Attention Sopranos show fans: Jamie-Lynn Sigler who played Meadow the daughter has gone public with her MS diagnosis which she has had since she was 19 now she is 34. Hang Tough Jamie-Lynn. Have a good rest of the day you all. Holllie Thank yous to everyone who has offered me advice and motivated me. HG :)

Hi, Nope, no tidly winks. HG

Hi Broncovet, I am very grateful for the information you have given me. Thank you. Since this past summer, my husband and I have been very worried (even my new GP at the VA said she was worried after I told her what happened) about me just literally being alone at home. Going to lunch with friends sometimes but literally alone at home. Vulnerable to falls (which I have had numerous times) but one particular fall when it was a very hot day (MS and heat are no good and I am extremely heat intolerant) occurred in the garage and I hit my head (my husband was at work that Saturday for an inventory). I was weak from the heat but thankfully I did not lose consciousness. I called my hubby in a panic and he raced home then we raced to the local ER. The ER doc advised my hubby to observe me for several hours and to return if something medically odd happened. This situation was a wake up call. My hubby has a way to go before he can apply for social security. Having him at home would be ideal. Thank you again. HG

Here is my edit: I wrote "if a friend wants to go to lunch I have to take one"... Take one is a medicine called TOVIAZ (Maybe you all have seen the TV commercial where a woman is playing tennis or is it a round of golf and she is just wishing she had taken a TOVIAZ. TOVIAZ works, dare I say a bit too well. HG

Hi Gastone, Thank you for this bit of knowledge...first time I have heard about VA chapter 31 IL...no kidding. I appreciate all this great information. :) HG

Hi jefmil50, thank you for the information. The MS is truly the pits and more. However I will keep it positive. The scooter and lift would be wonderful to have...just to get out of the house for a little while, you know? I wonder if it will ever be discovered what causes this &$%*@) disease? All these injectable so called medicines to "slow down the progression" but wouldn't it make sense to know what causes it in the first flipping place? I have basically interrogated my VA neurologist about all the shots (especially the ones I was given for my one year tour in South Korea) but he said it is not that. What, if anything, do you take to help with your MS? Did you develop cataracts from prednisone? There is a good natured joke at my ophthalmologist office (civilian doc) about how I am his youngest cataract patient. It would be best for my hubby to be my caretaker (he laughs at all my dumb jokes). From a female perspective that neurogenic bladder issue is a real Witch. If a friend wants to go to lunch I have to take one, then spend the next day flooding my system with fluid to make sure my kidneys work. Hand in there. Thanks again. HG

Hi again, I will get on this ASAP. Thx again.

Hi Gastone and Broncovet, thank you for the information. I am receiving 100% Comp (P&T), I served almost 8 years in the Army. Before the county VSO went on training he said I was eligible for a scooter and a lift (he is a very nice man but IMVHO "talk is cheap"), I am waiting patiently for him to return so I can see him about this. Thank you again. Have a good weekend. Holllie

Hi, Happy Friday everyone. Today a visting nurse (from the VNA) came to my home to examine me (vitals) and talk about how my MS and asthma limits my life. She was very nice. She is also going to recommend PT and OT. Medicare will pay for this. She considered me homebound (true since MS will limit your life big time) and I asked her how does this translate into "VA speak...she said she did not know but to see my new primary again. I think I will wait till the county VSO returns from training and pay him a visit. Any thoughts on this? Any and all thoughts are appreciated. I am researching theVeterans Choice still. Thank you. Holllie G

Hi Broncovet, Your post is very interesting. I am now wondering if these (my county) county VSO's can be trusted to do right by a veteran. I have not turned in the form fro my VA doctor yet, California has had rain and people always seem to drive extra crazy in the rain. My county's VSO is very nice but now I am starting to wonder who does he REALLY work for? The county or is he an "agent" of the VA with plans to screw up requests for this or that. As people say "talk is cheap" and thus far I have talked to him twice. What is the real story? Thank you. HG

Hi, I have been researching the travel distance issue with regard to the Veterans Choice program; the information states if the veteran is more than 40 miles from a VA facility as opposed to a VA hospital. As far as I know VA medical clinics do not perform surgery. Am I not comprehending the information correctly? If someone can help, I would appreciate it. Thank you. Holllie

Hey Broncovet, your brother ain't kidding about selling his Caddy! It is expensive but better than having a resident inject anesthesia into the wrong area and have an eye ball explode. I would rather have my eye than that 925,000.00. HG

Hi Vync, Thank you for the information. Yes, that is my mantra too: "get it in writing"; always a good idea. When my dad told me what happened at the "crown jewel" I was livid...since it is basically across the road from Stanford I presume it was a resident who laughed. I agree with you that there are some good people who work at the VA but there are idiots as well. Thank you for your kind words about my dad., I appreciate it. I had read both positive and negative things about the Choice Program and I will investigate it more. I am an anomaly at the local ophthalmologist's practice as I am his youngest cataract patient. I had IV prednisone and pills from both my civilian doctor of 25 years (now she has gone concierge and too expensive for me) and VA neurologist since 1995 in an attempt to quell the exacerbations. But never again. No more Prednisone for me. Thank you again Vync for responding to my post. HG

Hi, I hope this is the correct place to post. I was taken aback a bit when I read that post from 9 years ago. 9 years. The cataract in question at that point in time was removed by a local ophthalmologist about 4 years ago and all is well, although I still need to wear reading and "typing on the internet" glasses. I used my BC/BS fed emp health ins that I kept when I disability retired. The cataract in my other eye needs to come out and have a new lens put in pronto. By the same ophthalmologist. I have read disturbing things about the VA and cataract surgery plus my dad had an unsettling experience with a VA ophthalmologist and a nurse laughing at the fact he had cataracts. I do not appreciate anyone laughing at anyone, especially my Marine Corps Veteran dad and other Veterans. WTH is wrong with these doctors? And the Camp Lejeuene (my birthplace) water issue...well since I don't want to cuss at the computer, so I'll save it. Tomorrow I am going to turn that form in to the VSO (the form where my new VA doc signed off on for A & A). I have been thinking about not turning it in and giving up but I read Larry's post about not giving up and now I am motivated. Why not turn the form in? I can't really answer that except for I don't want the runaround again. But with my MS worsening I will turn it in. I have hit my head several times since this past summer due to lack of balance. Not good. My husband is worried. Well, hang in there everyone. Friday is almost here! Holllie G

Hi BroncoVet, Thank you for reading my post. My apologies...my new VA doctor signed off on the form and when she called me yesterday to see how I was feeling she advised I turn the form in to the county VSO. He will be back next week. I am seeking a cousin, one of my friends, preferably my husband to be here with me at home in case I need help. Of great concern to all concerned is me having another fall at home. I have fallen and hit my head several times, dislocated my knee cap (put back in place by the local VA orthopedic surgeon) and have seen a civilian ortho surgeon who has given me the "works for four days only" cortisone injection. The civilian ortho is hesitant to do arthroscopic surgery because of the MS and I don't need any extra problems. Again, I thank you for the valuable information. Sincerely, Holllie