ptsd Should I Claim This? Ptsd? Treated By Psychiatrist

[MDB1968NM]

Hi Everybody,

Well, I should be getting a copy of my SMRs this week and I have few questions but will start with this one.  In 2006, I had major orthopedic surgery that created a ton of pain.  I was on all sorts of pain killers and anti nausea medicines and was "found" the next day in "respiratory arrest" and "ashen colored" in my recovery room (I was not on monitoring).  The eventual outcome was a morphine overdose (still have not received all the information from Wilford Hall Med Center) and I spent several days in the ICU.  I had some "cardiac ischemia" and after 3 months of testing I was given a clean bill of health.   It was all very scary and up until Dec 2008, I never spoke of the "incident".  I went to see the psychiatrist at the base for some chronic pain problems (looking for relaxation and coping skills) and walked out of there crying my eyes out.  Yup....I had a problem.  We conducted "Exposure Therapy" for months and I finally was able to relive the "incidents" and discuss them without crying my eyes out.

A VSO rep stated ( I have not chosen one yet ) that I should most definitely claim this as PTSD.  I was not in combat at the time and the rep stated that does not matter.....it was a traumatic incident "dying" in the hospital.  I feel pretty OK about the whole situation but at times I still get a bit anxious about it when discussed.

My psychiatrist and I think that I am good to go now...much better than before, but I am trying to understand if this should be mentioned on my claim.  I don't want to frivolously place things on a govt document.  Like I stated earlier I feel pretty OK about the whole incident and can talk about it without breaking down so essentially I feel that I am OK!

I appreciate all your thoughts on the matter and want to do the right thing.

Thank you.....

:P

[john999]

Do you have documentation of being shot at? That would be a PTSD stressor. Yes, it is the long term affects of narcotics on your emotional state that will depress you. The king of morphine you get will turn the normal human colon into concrete. I don't take it any more even though it would be better than oxycodone.

[MDB1968NM]

Yes 100% via awards and combat time in my flight history.  But I definitely do not consider this as a stressor for PTSD in my case as I don't have any issues with that....REALLY.  The PTSD was brought up from the VSO in regards to the "death" in the hospital....it really has nothing to do with the combat time I have....HONESTLY, with regards to any of my flying duties I simply will not be claiming for any sort of PTSD at all, it simply is not affecting my life whatsoever.  I do appreciate the insight though...it may help some other folks in a similar situation.  I know what you mean by colon concrete....LOL....not fun at all!  I will be happy the narcotics are over and done with hopefully for good....I am not sure what I would do if I have to take them for the rest of my life!  NO THANKS!