Mental Health Questions

[betrayed]

Had my non VA PCM do a referal to a non VA mental health doctor. Had a appointment on thursday with a my Therapist, what a moron! When I see the psychiatrist on tuesday I am gonna ask for another therapist. This guy has no idea about medical issues, he asked me how to spell vicodin, said he thought it had 2 k's in it. Then he told me he was concerned that I was addicted to my pain meds, because the VA always lets my NARC rx's expire I always have to go with out pain meds every fourth month. I told him I got sick, cramps, nausea and the craps one time when I ran out. F$%&ing idiot. NARCS tend to constipate allot of people, they dont me, just slow me down a little, but no constipation. So when you dont have them after taking everyday for 4 months your bowels tend to speed up.

I told him I was not addicted but dependent on the medicine. He said it was the same thing! FU%^ING IDIOT!

So my question is what are the different kinds of people who work in mental health?

Social Workers

Physcologists

Physchiatrist

I dont feel like wasting time with a idiot that doesnt know sh1t from shinola

[Guest allanopie]

I would choose the Psychiatrist if I was feeling bad enough. So far, I've learned its best to stay away from VA contact. It has been much of my stress in the past.

I've seen many consulars that were nice folks & they meant well, some were in worse shape then I was.

At a VAMC that specializes in care for those with neurological issues, "many" yrs passed, with receiving comments like, "we're sorry, but your condition isn't serious enough to see an actual MD". I would get that when I asked for a mental health, Neurologist, or General Practitioner MD. They made sure I would only see students or fill ends from the county or state offices looking for some extra cash listening to us vets whine. Occasionally you'll meet the ones that can't stand the fact that Vets get anything as benefits. It makes a trip so frustrating, it ain't worth it to me.

I tried seeing a county Psych. They didn't except Medicare as payment, so they wanted,"cash. Thats when I found out County Mental Heath care receives no state or federal funding for US Veterans, so they offer no services, except, paid in advance'.

I don't know about you. But trying to justify the cost to the wife, based on the example of health care professionals she has observed, it ain't going to happen with less than 12k a yr to budget.

My meds stopped working a while back, so I've getting some increased problems lately. I know I need to go in and talk to someone myself, but put little faith in anything being achieved other being there for the one getting paid for it.

My best advice is, don't expect much to happen.

Allan

[Berta]

I say- get a known psychiatrist over any other type of therapist-

Stay away from the herbalists , hynotherapists and other PTSD "EFT" quacks on the net- go to WWW.healthgrades.com and for a few bucks they will give you some info on the doctor-if they are listed there-

or call your state AMA and ask them where you can check out this doctor's credentials.

I found info on numerous VA and private doctors on the net to help claims.

This is funny- a doctor I know works at VA in this state-but I got a health grade run down on him to double check.Been years since we talked.

I sent him a letter about something very serious- in February.

His VA sec told me via email he was on vacation but would be back on March 6th and would reply to me ASAP.

Got letter from the VAMC yesterday.They said he suddenly Retired and apparently they cant reach him.

Yeah Right-

Try to get the best medical help you can get-away from the VA system.

[otey2171]

my first pschiatrist became the cheif of staff, the second one retired, third one moved to another vamc and the forth one retired. all in about 5 years.

[Hoppy]

I would never see a therapist that I did not know several things about. Are they PHD's certified in clinical. The VA has had MA's in research do all the testing and make the diagnosis and then they were signed by a PHD. It was a total waste of time. The MA did not have a clue and wrote of events in the report that we never even discussed. Later I objected to having a diagnosis signed by a PHD who never even talked to me. When I told the Head of the psychology dept at the VA in Long Beach that most universities will not allow someone with less than a MS into a clinical internship, the head of the clinic was aware that I knew my stuff and immediately made the PHD start seeing me. After that things went much better.

Also, find out where they went to school. I am of the opinion that a veteran is in much better hands with somebody from the UC system in California. I have a bias. I went to UCLA and studied psychology there. However, The VA in West Los Angeles, which is huge, works in association with UCLA. Many of our instructors were staff at the VA. Some of our classes were at the hospital. I know the people in the UC system. If your therapist is from a small school they could have developed all kinds of weird biases.

My thoughts,

[betrayed]

I went last week and saw a social worker who pissed me off. Yesterday I saw the doctor, I like him allot, older than me, pony tail. Nice guy. Told him what the therapist said, doctor is getting me anothertherapist. I like this guy better than anyone I have seen in a long time..........I agree with Berta, get away from the VA system!