[Question On Pain Meds]

I had the same problem to a esser fegee and was switched just by asking from Hydrocodone 5-750 to 10-325. Who would have figured its up to the patient to know what they need?

That is the sad truth about today's medical care, in a lot of places, and very much so within the VA system. Having been a medic in the service for a while, I got to know a lot about the medical field, and what I see in the medical system of the VA is a lot of inadequacy, negligence and corner cutting. I have said that I believe that they VA would just as soon see us dead as alive, otherwise how is it that so many vets, in so many states, in so many VA hospitals have been exposed to so many terrible diseases through negligence, and corner cutting, been given meds that caused terrible reactions, and and allowed unqualified doctors, and nurses to kill veterans.

[Question On Pain Meds]

I am 58 years old, and a Vietnam vet with 16 years of military service. I suffered several injuries including being in a vehicle that was hit by a mortar in Vietnam. My body is a mess. I have had my back broke in three places, I have a titanium plate in my neck, a knee blew out during a repel, and on and on. I have arthritis in nearly every joint, and some days I do well to get out of bed, but by the grace of God, I do. Over the years I have been on nearly every medication for pain on the books. From the light stuff in the beginning to Percs, Morphine, Methadone, and Fentanyl patches.

The bottom line is, the one pain med that I come to depend on the most was plain on hydrocodone. It has worked, and it doesn't make me drowsy like methadone and morphine. It doesn't make me unbearable to live with and mess with my urinary track like Percs, and it doesn't make a blooming vegetable out of me like Morphine. Now I have been on hydros, or Vicodin if you prefer for nearly 8 years, and they just aren't doing the job they used to. I have been on Vicodin 10-500s, and I take (8) of them a day, and on occasion another if I am really bad off. Which puts me over the limit on Tylenol, and my liver isn't that great from all the Tylenol I have taken.

I just found out today from the pharmacist at the VA hospital where I go, that all this time my doctors could have been prescribing me Vicodin 10-325s, which would have been 1400 mgs less of Tylenol a day that I would have been putting in my system, and to say the least I am not happen about that. At the same time, no doctor has ever offered me any other med for breakthrough pain, because everything in the VA formulary other than Morphine, and that class of drugs have Tylenol in them, and I was getting my limit on (8) 10-500s a day So knowing this I never ask for any, but something has to give. As I get older, the more aches and pains I have on top of the pain I have from all of my injuries.

I talked to a real nice pharmacist at the VA hospital and explained my situation to her. She suggested that I ask to be put on the 10-325s, and for them to give me a couple more a day for breakthrough pain. That would be 10-10s a day, but the amount of Tylenol would still be less than what I am taking now, which is 4000 mgs of Tylenol taking (8) 10-500s, and would only be 3250mgs taking (10) 10-325s.

My question to all of you is, are any of you on such a pain med regiment, or do any of you have a better solution to the problem?

[Newbie On Board]

Pete,

Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you for your service, and may all of the roads you travel lead you to where you want to go.

[Newbie On Board]

Speaking Out,

Thank you for your warm welcome. I hope that I can always be worthy of your praise. It is an honor to be a part of such a fine group as all of you here at Hadit. I have and will always appreciate and respect all who have given a part of their lives in service to our great country. Moreover, it has been a great honor for me to have been able to have served with some of the finest, most honorable men and women in the world, those who were a part of the United Stated military forces.

[Newbie On Board]

Cowgirl,

Thanks for your kind words, and your honest observations. My whole life for many years was that of a soldier. Even after all of these years, and all that I have been through, I still have dreams in which I have been able to return to the military, and become a soldier, again. I believed and still believe in the service that I gave my country, and with all of the injuries, and disabilities I now have, if I had to do it over, I would do it all, again. I was fortunate to make it through, and still live to see another sunrise. Many were not. Many suffered, and have suffered much worse than I did. With all of its adversity, and with everything that I have had to face, I count myself as one of the lucky ones. Which, I must say at one time was a very hard thing to deal with. I could never have went on, and lived the life I have lived, without being able to help others. Because only by helping others, and being able to see those who where less fortunate than I was, was I able to appreciate how fortunate I was. I can't tell you how many times there have been when I wished that I could do more than I could, I can't tell you how many times I have wished that I could just give some of my luck to others. Life has been very good to me, and I only hope that what I give in return is worthy of what I have received.

[Newbie On Board]

Greeting to all of you, and thanks to all who have served, and a big "Welcome Home" to all!

I am a Vietnam Veteran, and 100% disabled due to line of duty injuries I received during and after Vietnam. I have been in this great maze since 1983, so I have seen and heard a lot. From the time I got out in 1983, after 12 years of service due to injuries that piled up, it took me 16 years to get 100%, so I know what a pain in the butt all of that is. Also since my discharge in 1983, I have had over 10 surgeries that were service connected, so I know about that. I am have been an advocate for veteran's rights and privileges since my discharge, and have been active in trying to improve the care that all veterans receive. I have also been a service officer, and chaplain in services organizations, so if I can be of assistance in anyway, feel free to ask.

Their are things that concern me about the VA, and the care and compensation that veterans do receive. I have seen some very troubling things being revealed in veteran care, and active duty care as well. We as veterans must be ever vigilant in our pursuit of the rights and privileges that we have earned, and been promised. If not, we will see these rights and benefits tossed to the side, as some have already been over the years. The VA systems is far from being a great system, and it is presently just limping along, and no where near perfect. The hospital system has both good, and bad hospitals and clinics, and then there are some that are just disgraceful and totally lacking in care and compassion to the veteran, and for that matter their families as well. C&Ps are a hit and miss system. If you get a good examiner's then its good, but if you get one that is on a power trip, and more interested in other things than the care of veterans, then it will be a bad C&P. The same thing goes for raters, and adjudicators. Some do a good job, and some don't. Unfortunately, when they don't, the veterans suffers, at no expense to the rater, or adjudicator, or the ones before them that didn't do a good job.

Its good to see that the young veteran's are getting the attention they are today, but we must insure that all of the veterans that came before them and are still part of the system, also get the care and treatments that they need and deserve, as well. We that have been in the systems for years, and decades know that what they are putting on television and in the newspapers is nothing new. What they are revealing now, has been an ongoing problem for years. We as brothers and sisters, who have fought,experienced things that no one should ever have to experience, and pledged our lives to the defense of our country, must always remain united in the pursuit of the rights and privileges we have been promised, and deserve for the services we performed, not only for the benefit of ourselves, but for our brothers, and sisters as well.

Please don't hesitate to ask if I can help in any way, and again welcome home to all.