ptsd Prostate Cancer

[cuchi]

I have been receiving 100 % temporary compensation since last July. My father past away this July and I sought the V.A."s help by seeing a psychiatrist. I have not slept well since May when He went into the hospital. I like the psychiatrist because she actually listens to me. I have only seen her for one hour but I am taking 100mg of Zoloft. My father's death put me in a PTSD when I him dead in his bed. He was getting better and we were getting ready to being him home. He had a blot clot in his left arm and they were not suppose to take blood from that arm but I believe they did. They called me at 6:30 in the morning saying we took blood at 6 and we came back in and he was dead. This has been driving me crazy and I feel I am losing control over my mind. The psychiatrist said I will probably dropped down to 20 % soon since my psa in indeterminable. But that is only because I am on hormonal therapy and it has taken a year to get the psa. There is no cure for my agressive cancer , why would they want to reduce it so low since I need to use the V.A. for my health care but afraid at 20% I would not get much.

Cuchi

[George Patton]

I have been receiving 100 % temporary compensation since last July. My father past away this July and I sought the V.A."s help by seeing a psychiatrist. I have not slept well since May when He went into the hospital. I like the psychiatrist because she actually listens to me. I have only seen her for one hour but I am taking 100mg of Zoloft. My father's death put me in a PTSD when I him dead in his bed. He was getting better and we were getting ready to being him home. He had a blot clot in his left arm and they were not suppose to take blood from that arm but I believe they did. They called me at 6:30 in the morning saying we took blood at 6 and we came back in and he was dead. This has been driving me crazy and I feel I am losing control over my mind. The psychiatrist said I will probably dropped down to 20 % soon since my psa in indeterminable. But that is only because I am on hormonal therapy and it has taken a year to get the psa. There is no cure for my agressive cancer , why would they want to reduce it so low since I need to use the V.A. for my health care but afraid at 20% I would not get much.

Cuchi

I am sorry to learn of your father's passing. When my dad past away while I was in the military, it really had a significant impact on me and that will always be the case. It is good that you have a physician that is understanding and attempts to alleviate your stress and pain. As you indicated, if your cancer will continue for the forseeable future then the VA should not reduce your total evaluation. However, that must be indicated in your medical records by a medical examiner able to make such determinations. I am not sure if you are taking radiation, chemo, or other antineoplastic medication; If you are the VA should not propose to reduce your total evaluation. Now, if you visit the VAMC for a RFE and the physician note that the cancer is in remission, your total evaluation will be reduced and any residuals you have will be evaluated.

I have seen a person's cancer, at the time of the GU exam, in remission. However, during the due process period (proposal to reduce), the evaluator discovered that he had started treatment for cancer of the prostate and he was not reduced.

[WhoopAssSmitty]

Berta,

Thank you for your response. Do you know if I will recieve a temporary 100% disability since I was treated last November & December and just filed for the claim last week?

Retireclose(Gary)

Retireclose,

Best thing to do is as suggested, send in a formal request for the temporary 100% for the treatment of the Prostate cancer.

You would also probably do alot better seeking the assistance of a good Veterans Service officer.

From an org like the Disabled American Vets, AMVETS; PVA; the list goes on and on, you can google Veterans service orgs and there's like 40 or more, that are recognized by VA to assist you.

In many states, you also have a county VSO, who has an office someplace in your courthouse, post office, etc...call and ask.

They all work for you and for free. You don't even have to join their org....so seek the help....it'll save you from makíng a bunch of costly mistakes. Until you learn more about the system and the in's and outs.

Hope this helps.

Whoop

[cuchi]

Hi all,

Just a few more questions, if you don't mind.

As far as my prostate cancer There is no cure for my cancer since it was found outside the gland and very aggressive. Since I am on hormonal therapy after failed surgery and radiation my psa is indeterminable. But my cancer will never be in remission. The hormonal treatment gets your testosterone down to castrate level and that is what the cancer feeds off of. But the cancer eventully learns to feed off of something else and then when it comes back it comes back full force and then it's hospice time. The Va knows this but does not want to admit it and thinking you are too stupid and go along with them. My last shot went up to October and Now I just tale avodart and fosamax for my bones. But my last psa in the beginning of this month went up after staying the same since July. I go to a private oncologist in Virginia because he has had success with using hormonal therapy but the VA or regular private doctors don't go along with his method but he has extended men's lives for many years including his own since he has survived 12 years with the same dire prognosis as me.

But anyway my questions have to deal with other problems I have. I have permanent nerve damage ulnar neuropathty in my left arm. I have asthma. I have disc problems with my back. I have anxiety panic attacks and ADHD plus depression. I have a rotator cup damage in my left shoulder. I have hearing loss and did a hearing test with the VA and they said to wear ear protection when I work because I have lost my upper hearing.

How many of these problems can I get treatment for through the VA. Do they do MRI's or CT scans or nerve testing? I think I should get as much done as possible while I still have the 100%.

What about social security can I file for that even though I am still working? Turning 62 I would like to retire but afraid I will need private health insurance. I just hope the new administration can get health insurance for everyone. I pay $ 400.00 per month for family coverage though my employer right now. With prostate cancer I probably would not be able to get insurance if I did not continue working.

I have this problem where I go on and on and can't stop writing. But when it comes to completing a task can't do it. My bills are usually past due because I can't consentrate long enough to pay them all. I can do it for about 10 minutes and then I get upset and throw them all in a box. I have some that I pay online banking so that has helped.

I am still having problems with my sibling after my father's death. I now have the deed to his house and had to get the utilities changes over and get insurance on it. My brother who is the executor had everything turned off so I had to rush and get it in my name so things would not freeze. I can't bring myself to clean out his things. I just have not come to terms with his death. The grief counselor with the VA just gave me a pamplet and said I would be OK. Christmas has been very hard for me and just glad it's over.

I won't bother you with any more and sorry for complaining so much. I go from being extremely mad to extremely depressed.

Just having a bad day,

Cuchi

[Berta]

Hi all,

Just a few more questions, if you don't mind.

As far as my prostate cancer There is no cure for my cancer since it was found outside the gland and very aggressive. Since I am on hormonal therapy after failed surgery and radiation my psa is indeterminable. But my cancer will never be in remission. The hormonal treatment gets your testosterone down to castrate level and that is what the cancer feeds off of. But the cancer eventully learns to feed off of something else and then when it comes back it comes back full force and then it's hospice time. The Va knows this but does not want to admit it and thinking you are too stupid and go along with them. My last shot went up to October and Now I just tale avodart and fosamax for my bones. But my last psa in the beginning of this month went up after staying the same since July. I go to a private oncologist in Virginia because he has had success with using hormonal therapy but the VA or regular private doctors don't go along with his method but he has extended men's lives for many years including his own since he has survived 12 years with the same dire prognosis as me.

But anyway my questions have to deal with other problems I have. I have permanent nerve damage ulnar neuropathty in my left arm. I have asthma. I have disc problems with my back. I have anxiety panic attacks and ADHD plus depression. I have a rotator cup damage in my left shoulder. I have hearing loss and did a hearing test with the VA and they said to wear ear protection when I work because I have lost my upper hearing.

How many of these problems can I get treatment for through the VA. Do they do MRI's or CT scans or nerve testing? I think I should get as much done as possible while I still have the 100%.

What about social security can I file for that even though I am still working? Turning 62 I would like to retire but afraid I will need private health insurance. I just hope the new administration can get health insurance for everyone. I pay $ 400.00 per month for family coverage though my employer right now. With prostate cancer I probably would not be able to get insurance if I did not continue working.

I have this problem where I go on and on and can't stop writing. But when it comes to completing a task can't do it. My bills are usually past due because I can't consentrate long enough to pay them all. I can do it for about 10 minutes and then I get upset and throw them all in a box. I have some that I pay online banking so that has helped.

I am still having problems with my sibling after my father's death. I now have the deed to his house and had to get the utilities changes over and get insurance on it. My brother who is the executor had everything turned off so I had to rush and get it in my name so things would not freeze. I can't bring myself to clean out his things. I just have not come to terms with his death. The grief counselor with the VA just gave me a pamplet and said I would be OK. Christmas has been very hard for me and just glad it's over.

I won't bother you with any more and sorry for complaining so much. I go from being extremely mad to extremely depressed.

Just having a bad day,

Cuchi

Cuchi-would your doctor -the private oncologist- be willing to prepare an IMO for you to let VA know how serious your cancer is? If there are continuous residuals expected ,then perhaps the 20% is way too low- but I dont know-

prostate cancewr often has a good outcome that has few residuals- yet everyones disability of this form of cancer is not the same.

The private doc might even do this for free or for a small fee.

As to the other problems you mentioned-

anything there that could possibly have a nexus to your service in some way should be formally claimed.

You will need to access your SMRs and discharge certificate.

If your MOS put you into acoustical trauma- this is something VA needs to know for the hearing loss claim-and they sure didnt provide hearing protective gear during Vietnam War.

When I see CuChi I always assume you were a tunnel rat.Do you have some provable stressors from your service and have you ever formally been diagnosed with PTSD?

I see you do have anxiety and depression diagnoses-did the VA ever say this was due to your service?

SSA can only be applied for when you are not employed. Just like TDIU.

If your doctor feels you should not be working, and you do retire, you could apply for SSA and TDIU.

You are dealing with a lot as it is but you should definitely file a claim if you feel you can prove that any disability you have had its origin or cause in your military service.

[cuchi]

Thanks Berta,

My prostate cancer started with a very low psa 1.8 at the highest so this means my cancer is very aggressive and does not produce much psa. The cancer had spread outside the gland when I had surgery. It ended up in the illac chain of lymph nodes and that is why my psa kept rising after surgery and radiation. The hormonal treatment has my psa at <.01 but for how long no one knows. I stopped the hormonal treatment in October of 08 and my december psa was .01 so it has started to rise. With my aggressive cancer , gleason score 4/5 = 9 , there is a good chance I will not respond well to hormonal treatment for very long. My original doctors did not give me any chance for survival but with this new specialist I do have some hope. The VA has all my records including from my new doctor but they just look at numbers and make the assumption that I am in remission. Just as in breast cancer when it spreads to other parts it's not curable.

I go back to my specialist in Virginia on January 9th so I will make sure he repeats to the VA my problems and situation and will be under treatment forever. That is always been a problem with the VA getting my medical records to the correct place and in a timely manner. Even using the DAV and using my congresswomen my records were hand carried over and had a time stamp on when they were received. But the VA keep telling me they have never received these records and six months later they appear. I wonder if everyone has these problems or am I doing something wrong.

Thanks Cuchi,

PS was not a tunnel rat until we went into Cambodia and had to go into the tunnels but the gooks had all ready gone and we got alot of rice and honda generators.