SLEDGE

You have to watch out for VA doctors that tell you something should be done very soon. They told me that I have cataracts and cloucoma, a trashed knee and a trashed ankle. The eye problems would require immediate surgery and eyedrops the rest of my life. The knee and ankle both have to be replaced, or fused, as the surgeon sees fit at the time. Well, I gave an outside eye specialist his customary fee for a second opinion. No drops or surgery, who was the idiot that gave you the first diagnosis? My private sector ortho guy looked at the joint films and then duplicated them. They don't match. But he wanted to remove the gravel from my lower ankle. My knee is loose and as long as it does not bother me too much we will leave it alone, except for occasional steriod shots. These VA student doctors are feeding each other patients to play with. If you have a bonofide medical problem that can be, and should be taken care of soon, you have to hit it lucky. Personally, I would rather be in debt the rest of my life to the private sector than allow a VA bonehead to give me the sleepy gas. Once they knock you out you have NO advocate and you are meat on a slab, just like the bodies in the anatomy class. Some people seem to get treated like regular people at the VAMC. If you get treated right, do you have a mental problem? Did you retire after 20 or more years in the military? Do you invite congressmen to your Christmasa parties? Do you live on the street? sledge

The nurse-e-poo at my clinic said that I have to call in EACH MONTH before they will refill my medications. I asked; "What's the point in having a postal or internet refill system set up if I have to call in each month?" I mean like, I have service-connected, trauma related arthritis and fibromyalgia with sporatic migraines. I believe that it must be nice to wear white and sit behind a desk. sledge

I've somehow downloaded a virus, trogan or something called winiguard. How do I get rid of it? sledge

Dallas VAMC is still trying to recruit my daughter by offering a lot more money. I guess the director of the VAMC doesn't know what 'shove it' means. sledge

I changed my PCP to Fayetteville, from Mount Vernon, MO, because I always end up there anyway. Back in 11/08 Fayetteville took over my meds. In December I received a few of the prescriptions, only the cheap stuff and, utilizing a dental appointment today, I went around to the various clinics and ask them where my meds were. Nothing had been shipped out to me this month, duh. The pharmacy has canceled 2 because of availability, never got the prescriptions for 3 others and agreed to send the rest this week, the cheap stuff. In the private sector my monthly meds are 1600 bucks. I know this because I frequently get stuck buying them myself. My wife's employer recently (last year) canceled dependent insurance, which we had to pay for anyway. Since I'm out of the medications that I'm not supposed to stop cold turkey, tomorrow I get to buy them AGAIN. I would have today but I wasn't able to drive home before the pharmacy closed for the day. You would think that the VA would be doing everything possible to keep guys like me from going off on them. sledge

The draft dodgers have not all reached retirement age yet. sledge

Fibromyalgia and/or a sleep disorder with depression can imitate all kinds of nervous system disorders. On the other hand, nervous system problems can cause anything and everything. Getting the cause and effect straightened out, along with the proper diagnosis in the first place, is seldom, if never, a function of the VA. In my opinion, the military is worse. If you suspect something just ain't right before you exit the service, go immediately to a private sector doctor and get some answers. It's going to be worth whatever it costs in the long term. sledge

Dr. Phil was absolutely correct, he should have put these issues on his program a long time ago. The system will change when it becomes politically correct to change it. I'm not holding my breath. sledge

It's very possible that the tracking system is being tracked/monitored by a third party. If they looked hard enough they would probably find a pattern of missing meds. It's kinda like tapping into the internal revenue accounting and stealing one penny from every taxpayer. I believe the main reason that they will not prescribe my painkillers is that somebody would steal every 8th or 14th bottle of pills sent to me. It's easier to prevent the problem than to fix it. sledge

I talked to a person who knows about such things. The crutches and 'proper' pain meds should have been ordered and been standing by before the patient actually needed them. That way the patient is assured of getting what any medical person would expect them to get as the normal result of the operation. Also, this kind of ---- is normal within the VA in general. sledge

I checked with my 'real' doctor today. He is taking the correct steps to find out exactly where I stand and what treatment may be required. So far he thinks I'm not in need of any treatment over an above what I'm doing now. We went over all of my medications and figured out that the local pharmacy is ripping me off for over 200 bucks a month. The doctor ordered a particular dosage that the pharmacy says I can only get by buying 2 different batches. The doctor explained how and why the medication can be administered through the purchase of 'one' batch. It amounts to cutting pills but the medication is a topical cream. Male hormone. I'm going to change pharmacies because they have pulled this crap on me before on another medication. Fool me twice and I'm the fool. I'm also in the process of changing VA primary care doctors too. My wife takes care of the books here as the result of my 'past mental history' and she is always going through the roof over what the VA refuses to supply me with. My first appointment is tomorrow. On another note, my daughter turned down a lot more money that the VA offered her if she would go to work for the VA. They inquired as to why? She related that her Dad is a disabled vet and that she could not work for an organization that treated the patients so badly. That ended the conversation. sledge

I figured out a long time ago that the VA medical staff does not have our needs as their first priority. Last night on 'ER' a doctor told an intern that you can't become a great doctor until you have killed a patient. I'm not giving any Bozo at the VA his chance to become great at my expense. I guess I'm not as patriotic as I used to be. sledge

The VA has sent me to 3 different vascular clinics in the last year. 61 percent clogged in my neck. Now they have made me an appointment for a 4th. This should be good for some laughs. NO! your third year medical students may not cut on me... The buttheads won't even give me my pain meds for me trashed joints that they tell me need to be replaced or the ptsd medications. I'm not supposed to drive more than 15 miles, according to the VA ortho prick, and the new appointment is 5 hours away on the interstate. Why me Lord? In my last incarnation I musta been a real bad dude. sledge

This reminds me of several different cause and effect illnesses. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Obstructive sleep apnea will throw so many things outa-whack that a lot of medical types will not consider apnea unless the apnea is observed first by a specialist, like my daughter. Anybody who is having multiple weird things going on should consult with a sleep specialist and have a sleep test before deciding that all hope is lost. sledge

"I've done it several times & it works, but since you think I'm such a dumb ass suit yourself." Chill dude. I can't download from any government managed site. As soon as I figure out why they throw away my doctors orders for x-rays and schedule me for clinics that don't exist, a 4-hour drive that time, maybe I'll understand why. I was sent to an empty parking lot for a C&P. I don't believe I'm paranoid or feel like they are out to get me, but I'm dang well confused. Frustrated. Short with friends. I don't sleep very well and I'm in constant pain. Good Night sledge

Been there, done that. I'm looking for the actual forms, not a VA, BS, pop-up site. sledge

Does anybody have the life insurance forms? The VA has failed to send them again and I can't get any .gov sites to allow a download. However, I'm getting lots of spam as the result of 'signing up' on the website. sledge

I've had many exams for joints, both in the private sector and at the VA. The private examiners always use the measuring device and the VA never does. One private examiner told me that it's easy to guess within a few degrees but, most R.O.M. exams will eventually become part of a disability claim, of some sort, and using the most accurate method of measurement is simply covering everybodies six. VA examiners don't bother with the measuring device because they have to cover anything. sledge

Pete, It was 11 cents a mile for over 30 years. I would like to know how often the VA employees get an increase? I believe the difference between us and them constitutes prejudice. But, we have to consider the wording in the regulations. Nothing within the VA regs is written in stone, they all say 'MAY' and are paid at the whim of congress, not according to any law. I would not mind giving up travel pay in exchange for reasonable healthcare. As it stands now, the VA will be cutting out something else in order to finance the increase in travel pay. sledge

28 cents a mile is still woefully short of the actual cost of driving to the VA. We should be getting whatever the VA gives out as expense money to the VA employees when they are asked to travel. You can bet it's more than 28 cents. sledge

Our veterans get the best care...... Veterans healthcare is second to none...... Speed up initial claims processing, not quality...... If you are not satisfied with VA healthcare you are free to get it from the private sector...... We should start carrying a vomit inducer and puke on somebodies shoes before we leave the 'best healthcare' facility for the day. OR, work up a real rancid case of BO before showing up for the appointment. Don't forget to crap in your pants too. Try peeing on the exam table. Eat some really 'good' cheese or sardines with garlic before your exam. When it's obvious that nothing is going to go your way, have some fun. sledge

Well doggies, Today my wife was talking to an insurance dude that is affiliated with the government insurance that she has due to my being 100 percent disabled. He told her that she should stop buying the expensive private sector insurance, 30 percent of her check, where she works. After all, she is covered by the government policy and I am covered by the VA. She advised him that she keeps the private sector insurance 'because' we can't afford to buy my medications at the full price. She also advised him that all of my medical needs fall outside of the 'VA Budget'. He told her to contact her congressman, this is outrageous! Which turnip truck did he fall off of? sledge

Put it this way; Everything that congress does to speed up the claims process can, and is, used to add to the mounds of paperwork and EXTEND the claims process for all. What are vets going to do when the new diagnostic requirements actually, erroneously reinforce the crap that has been going on for many decades? If after the review you still have the PD diagnosis, what can you do? sledge

Well Folks, My rep sent me a copy of his answer to the board's latest BS. It seems that the board has decided to use a new and different claim number on my long standing appeal. If we allow this action to stand the board decision will reflect the new number and the new date of claim that the new number implys, 2008. And that would effectively cancel out a couple of decades of past due, retro benefit money. And the new claim number would not jive with the number on my very large file that the VA has built up over the years playing footsie with my claims. So, now we have to waste time and postage getting my old claim numbers and date-of-claim dates reapplied. This shouldn't take more than a year. sledge

The clinic that services myself has a travel pay form at the desk where I check in. You have to ask for it. sledge