ptsd Confused And Upset... Ptsd Storm On The Horizon

[hedgey]

I mentioned here before (I think) that I've been having trouble with IBS symptoms for some time. Finally got to see a new PCP (a real doctor!!) about it two weeks ago. (only 5 months after asking for help with the problem, but that's a whole 'nother rant). She said she wanted an endoscopy & a colonoscopy done. I told her that going 150+ miles round trip to the VERY busy VAMC was not something I could handle; it was hard enough to come into the small-town local clinic.

She understood and said she would request a local doc do the tests.

Yesterday I got a letter from the VAMC telling me to call for a new appointment at the Gastroenterology clinic... at the VAMC. I called my little VA clinic and asked what's this mean? The NP I talked to checked with my PCP doc & my notes. Yep, Doc requested I be seen locally. The NP called the VAMC for me to ask what the deal was.... She called me back to tell me that the VAMC told her that since they can provide the service, I have to go there.

I'm so freaked out about this, I can't even begin to express it. The last time I went to the VAMC, I had a major panic attack, and the provider I was seeing had to ask the on-call psychiatrist to come in to talk to me. Thank God my husband was with me, or I'm afraid they would have admitted me.

Now I'm supposed to go down there an let them do extremely invasive tests??? The thought of going to someone locally doesn't thrill me, but at least I know I'll be able to get back to my bunker quickly.....I don't know what to do.

I'm so angry. And scared. And sick to my stomach. "We understand PTSD!" "We care about our PTSD Vets!!"

[carlie]

Carlie

My information was mailed to me through a newsletter for Vets in the Gulf War registry. There are additional articles I found thru a google search.

http://www.federalre...vice-functional

This is one of the articles. The info I got may be wrong, but as I recall there were three presumtive conditions for service in the gulf.

I believe there is something more updated than what I'm posting right now - but this shows 9 presumptive's

for Gulf War. I do not see specifically IBS on here.

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1974

VA Publishes Final Regulation on “Presumptive” Illnesses for Gulf War and Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

September 28, 2010

The final regulation establishes new presumptions of service connection for nine specific infectious diseases associated with military service in Southwest Asia beginning on or after the start of the first Gulf War on Aug. 2, 1990, through the conflict in Iraq and on or after Sept. 19, 2001, in Afghanistan.

The final regulation reflects a determination of a positive association between service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan and nine diseases and includes information about the long-term health effects potentially associated with these diseases:

Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella Burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.

With the final rule, a Veteran will only have to show service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan and that he or she had one of the nine diseases within a certain time after service and has a current disability as a result of that disease, subject to certain time limits for seven of the diseases. Most of these diseases would be diagnosed within one year of return from service, through some conditions may manifest at a later time.

For non-presumptive conditions, a Veteran is required to provide medical evidence to establish an actual connection between military service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan and a specific disease.