chicopee

Hi everyone, I just bought a Sentry Safe for my closet - yes, it's bolted to the floor. I have a teenager living at home and with friends coming & going, they managed to help themselves a few months ago. I had a false drawer in a cabinet that I used for a few years and they were smart enough to find my meds. The clinic would NOT help me with any sort of a refill, so I had to back off to half doses for more than 2-weeks. I talked to the head of the pharmacy and he said, get a safe. So, I did. Bought it on Amazon for less than $80 - Sentry Safe with key and digital key pad. I have NEVER discussed my meds with either one of my kids, but I would recommend that anyone getting these controlled prescriptions from the VA get a safe and use it regularly (I open mine for each and every dose). I never, ever wanted to admit that my child could do such a thing - but, she did and she has. I'm also pulling random UAs - OK, maybe I am controlling but my kid is still on the honor roll (for the past 4 years) and she's headed for college. The reaction from my daughter while I was getting the safe bolted down in my closet was priceless. It's hard enough as it is that the VA waits until the last possible moment to send out my meds via Fedex. IF you have anyone living with you and you have these meds - get a safe!!! I even suspected a home health nurse that the VA sent out a few years ago of sticky fingers. The economy sucks and there are many people doing things that they normally wouldn't do, such as sell meds. Be safe and think this thru. I'm sorry I didn't do this before now. Best wishes -Chicopee

It all depends on the VAMC. They have Dilaudid here for cancer pain only. Do a google search for the current VA formulary - it's an excel file - then, if you all find what you're wanting take it to your primary care physician. I'm soooooo determined to get to the bottom of why they've given me Oxycodone for 8 years now; I've been able to get tolerance dose increases every time I ask. OK, this is getting eerie for me. I have RA and HCV from a bad blood transfusion that I received during surgery in the Army. I cannot take NSAIDS, allergic to codeine/morphine, and have a 2-gram/day tylenol limit. I'm seeing that IMHO they are prescribing narcotics to save money for numerous surgeries that could improve my QOL. I need a new hip and a knee replacement. I'm currently on 60 mgs of Oxy/day (started on 30 mgs 6 years ago) - the civilian docs out here have a FIT - some won't treat me even though I have a Medicare Advantage insurance policy. I had one consultation with an ortho surgeon to see if I could afford a new hip in civilian land - he was screaming at me that I was a drug addict!!! I don't abuse my meds - never have. It's cheaper for the VA to keep me on meds - oh yeah, I'm single and I'm expected to drive on these (I don't - I refuse to take a dose within 4 hours of leaving the house). My PCP always asks me when I drive over there why don't I take my pain meds - well, duh - I'm a single parent of a not quite ready for prime time driving teenager. I'm 50 and 100% T/P. I'm going to post a new thread on a hard lesson I learned - I've needed to get a hotel safe for my meds installed in my closet. I'M CONVINCED THAT THE VA IS PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS TO SAVE MONEY! Just my 2 cents.... Best wishes to all -Chicopee

Bull - it depends on your PCP. Caveat: you would probably need to be at least 70% svc connected in order for this to work. All you need to do is go to your VA doc to see him/her about the same condition you were seen for out here in the real world. Then....produce the prescription that your civilian doc gave you at the END of the appointment - ask, "do you think that this would be a good med to treat [your condition]??". Secret here is to make sure you let your PCP know that you're double checking (getting a 2nd opinion). Make sure that they think you value their opinion. There are exceptions to the VA formulary - they CAN and do order non-formulary meds. Ya' can't get it immediately, but if u come up with a script that there's no suitable formulary substitute (and it's a safe med) you should be able to get somewhere with it in the VA system. Do your research before u go to the VA and print out the RX sheet from a site like medscape dot com. If u suck up and make it appear that your PCP came up with the idea, your chances of getting this accomplished are maximized. A couple of times, my PCP came up with even a better choice for a better drug than the civilian doc wrote for, not on the VA formulary. Ya' gotta nurture your relationship with your VA PCP. If your PCP is not a good fit, ask for a transfer. As long as you have a good reason for wanting a transfer after the first one, you can get it no matter what the local VA policy is. Also, make it personal - make sure your VA PCP knows about you and your family - pull out pics of your kids, grandkids, etc. Talk about your hobbies, interests, and your life - they're human. I've been with mine for the past 4-years - she ain't perfect, but she'll read/listen to anything I bring in to her and she's made some huge mistakes (I either agree to disagree or let her think it was a good choice, but come up with something better a couple of days after your appointment). Don't complain and don't accuse - just do your homework and present things. Get a fax machine and use it. They love faxes - write a note to your PCP accompanied with whatever you found on the Internet or a copy of a magazine article, etc. Faxes are read at the end of the day and they are more receptive to those than playing phone tag with you. A fax gives them a chance to deal with you and your problem when they have time to give you their attention - then, your PCP nurse will call you back. Get educated about whatever you're trying to discuss. They aren't able to fax you back, but believe me they prefer dealing with you via a fax rather than a phone call. Keep it short, to the point, and always mention thanks for taking their time to help you. My PCP's patient load has doubled in the past 2 years - but, I assure you they all can recognize me by first name. AND....get to know your PCP nurse - they have increasingly more freedoms that you could ever imagine. Heck, I've even seen my PCP's receptionist put in blood work for me and she isn't even trained in any sort of medical specialty. Don't create an adversarial situation EVER & don't jump the chain of command - I even send Christmas cards and thank you notes. Make sure they can always put a name with a face. Chicopee116 100% Svc Connected Vietnam Era, SP5

Howdy Pete! Haven't been around in awhile but I read about your dental experience - ouch! So sorry to hear. I missed my chance of getting medigap at the beginning - one time shot and that was when I was married and using hubbies insurance plan. I have to use a Medicare Advantage Plan - not Medigap. I'm 52. It is running $165 plus part D now. They take it out of my SSDI check every month. As for the VA, no luck with Patient Reps since this is a multi-VISN problem - they can't help. Even wrote my congressman - then she was voted out of office on the 4th. That's how I found out about the HR bill. Will need to re-do my request to the new electee. I was told by a VA svc rep that was the only person on earth that could make a difference. I'm just looking for others with the VISN boundary problem and of course, I always love to hear from you. Keep in touch and God bless.... Chicopee

Hi everyone, I'm 100% perm/total, housebound, with PTSD and HCV (bad blood transfusion in the Army) - and, I have a couple of nasty autoimmune conditions that keep flaring up. I actually live closer to my current clinic in the wrong VISN and use a VAMC that's closer too. Unfortunately, I cannot receive travel reimbursement and I cannot receive any ancillary services prescribed by my current PCP in the wrong VISN. I believe I live in a Bermuda triangle. Now....here's an option: drive 170 miles to my correct VISN to see a PCP and receive all the benefits for which I'm entitled: home health, travel pay, telemedicine, etc. My current PCP is 85 miles from the house. I've received my SSDI and Medicare - the Medicare Advantage plan is now unaffordable to even use and they've taken my local acute care doc off as a preferred provider. My local doc is only used for strep throats, etc.....but, I'm finding that I can't find a civilian preferred provider for just acute care - other than the one I have now. The civilian docs that are preferred providers want me to NOT ever use the VA if they take on my care. Even the cost of going to the Urgent Care clinic here has gone from $50 to $100 on my Advantage plan. I'm a single parent and can't afford any extras. I've also had to discontinue counseling using my Advantage insurance - I was told I would need to drive 170 miles round trip to see a VA counselor once a week because I can't get telemedicine. I can't drive very well - not comfortably. NO vet transportation within 40 miles of my home. I made the 170 mile trip last Friday and I had to take my kid out of school to help me go to the VA. When we got home Friday evening after the road trip, I couldn't get into the house by myself. No family or friends here can help....all work or they're incapacitated. My mother has Altzeimers. Is there anyone else here that's living nearer to their clinic in the wrong VISN???? I wrote my senator and all I received was a reminder that I can get care anywhere I choose - pretty pompous! BTW, my PTSD and my liver are both svc connected. There are 2 closer clinics - both of them are about 30 miles from my house. They've denied me care due to chronic health conditions and they're ran by Nurse Practitioners. I've gone to one (suited up and showed up) and they turned me away! I'm watching the Rural Health Initiative Bill H.R.1527 - congress signed it, the Senate hasn't done anything with it. It was supposed to start here in Feb 2009. It's for svc connected vets living more than 60 miles from their PCP. Best wishes to all, Chicopee

Hi John, I'm having that issue right now - I'm crippled up with rheumatoid arthritis, single parent, and 100% svc connected. I have to drive 82 miles to see my PCP, the closer clinics won't see me - well they will, but one test I need regularly has to be done in KCMO 135 miles away. At least the PCP I see (in the wrong VAMC) will order the test so I can have it done locally. I'm in SE KS and the closest VA hospital is Fayetteville, AR - 98 miles to see a specialist!! I also have issues with going to KCMO alone - it ain't in the best part of town for a female, alone in Raytown. At the VA hospitals back east, I've seen the drug reps (multiple times) pull into VA handicapped parking places - one gal even had a disability placard and walked in just fine. I went to report it to security - they sent me to the PR, I got no where. And....we in this county have to drive 35 miles in order to get van transport to the hospital in KC or Wichita. The VFW here is not a bunch of youngins and can't qualify with the stiffer driver health regulations to get a transport van - the DAV doesn't exist here. So sad to see our local unit vets come home to nothing! BTW, we aren't even in the approved trial area to qualify for the new HERO, Humana Vet care. Keep your chin up RS in SE Kansas 1975-81, SP5, Army

I took Chantix for more than 2 months - cut back on my smoking - BUT triggered my PTSD in a huge way. Just found out that the VA here has put it on their formulary - I think it's dangerous to prescribe. There just weren't enough clinical trials before the FDA approval. I've tried to quit several times, but I think there's a huge correlation between PTSD and smoking. I'm also in AA recovery - have been since Apr 27, 1987. I hate smoking and have huge guilt and shame issues along with it. I'd like to hear from other vets in the same situation. I have absolutely no health problems from smoking (since 1975 when I joined the Army). PCP did a spiral CT a couple of months ago and those results were "amazing" according to her. One thing that I'm phobic about is being in a situation where I can't get outside or to a smoking area. Not that I want to smoke at that moment, but the situation triggers my PTSD (invasive/intrusive thoughts) and panic attacks. God help me if I ever need to be in the hospital. Nicotine replacement therapy doesn't alleviate this and Chantix makes this phobia 10xs worse. All I've heard is I've been diagnosed with PTSD and nicotine dependence. Heck, I wouldn't be smoking now if it had not been encouraged in basic training & AIT - "if ya' got 'em, smoke em'". Plus, I remember in Germany that a carton was $1.75 - what part did the Army play in all of this???? EVERYTHING. Chicopee