Seeking Advise And Direction

[SemperFiSgt]

Greetings to all....

I had always been a very outgoing type of guy and until maybe 4 years now. Life has slowly taken a resurface into war again. My military career has found it's way back to me and is really affecting me in various ways. I'm having issues at home sometimes with my family and friends, flashbacks, hearing noises and almost all of the attacks I endured in Al Asad, Iraq from Feb to Late Oct 2004. It's like I re-live the mortar attacks constantly and really coping with losing a dear friend and Marine whom I had gotten very close with during his time attached to my unit.

Nothing I tried to help me get back to normal was successful. I tried going out to clubs, to increased drinking, and picked up smoking cigars heavily. No matter what it was I still slowly began to get hit with it more and more. I started to work more to see if I could help ease a little by staying busy. Sleeping was now not a word in my vocabulary. The most I could get in a day was 4 hours maybe but that was still hard to maintain mostly.

To this day now for at least the last past 4 months gradually, the flashbacks, hallucinations, lack of focus while at work sometimes, anxiety attacks, always on the alert as if something bad is going to happen at the next second, jumpy, up most hate going to the stores and dislike of crowds and people. I wake up in cold sweats like i have been swimming, severe migraines at least 4 a week, and very bad anger periods are just a few things I have to deal with. I only leave my apartment now just to go to work, appointments, and have to be with my wife who is my only friend now to get groceries or shop now. She evens gets tired of me at times but, kind of understands more of what is going on since I recently open up about some of my military career and things I face at a doctors appointment when I stated, "I wish I could just go away and no one would know."

I was then a patient that the VA wanted to class as depressed. They sent me to this program called STAR and set me an appointment with a mental health doctor. The mental health doctor told me that he wanted me to been seen at the trauma center and from there some progress could be made. I felt like I was being jerked around because, my initial doctor gave me some medicine to help me sleep and to cover the migraines but, as I took them I told him they weren't working. He told me that he would up the mg dosage and he did. I take them but, to this day, it affects me at work because I have to drive 30 mins just to get to work fast due to oversleeping. I went to the point of no return when I found myself contemplating about the suicide thoughts again. That was when my wife made me go to the trauma center Tuesday. I went there and they stated in fact that they don't work with claims but, diagnosed me with PTSD. I was signed up for PTSD 101 classes and given information for people to call when I needed to talk.

Did anyone else go through this process and at what point did you start a claim for PTSD. I'm a Public Safety Supervisor and kind of afraid that either one day I will be fired or lose my job due to this behavior. I have already had a few complaints against me that I was overly aggressive and used vulgar language inappropriately.

Thanks for reading and hopefully I didn't type too much.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

SemperFiSgt

[Berta]

I think you should start the process by filing a formal claim for PTSD.

But it will take a VA psychiatrist/ psychologist to make the diagnosis.

The new 2010 PTSD criteria is here:

And we have had much discussion on the PTSD forum on the regs.

As an OIF OEF veteran the VA might certainly concede your stressors, as well as diagnose you with PTSD by a VA MH provider.

I am not sure if the trauma clinic has Psychologists or Psychiatrists?

Or if you were diagnosed by a social worker or RN.

PTSD , due to war trauma, has a way of catching up with the veteran. You experience symptoms that are part and parcel of PTSD.

What is the 30% for? Has that disability gotten worse since they awarded the 30%?

Thank you for your service!

Dod uyou have a vet rep on the 30% decision as your POA?

[Berta]

I was concerned about a few things you mentioned and googled the STAR program

"That was when my wife made me go to the trauma center Tuesday. I went there and they stated in fact that they don't work with claims but, diagnosed me with PTSD. I was signed up for PTSD 101 classes and given information for people to call when I needed to talk."

Servicemember Transitional Advanced Rehabilitation Program (STAR)

http://www.richmond.va.gov/Servicemember_Transitional_Amputation_Rehabilitation.asp

I went over the program info above and am sure it is good for many many veterans but I didnt see much focus on what they actually do for PTSD vets.

Did they suggest going to any vet center for PTSD counselling or contacting the VA itself to file a claim?

"I was then a patient that the VA wanted to class as depressed."

Without ruling in or out PTSD?

"signed up for PTSD 101 classes and given information for people to call when I needed to talk."

You are a combat vet....you dont need PTSD classes, you need PTSD help from a real VA shrink.

I guess you might mean the National suicide hot line number?

Cripes, the more I think about this program ,knowing you are a combat veteran, I think the best thing you can do is file for PTSD, they will give you a PTSD C & P to confirm the diagnosis and then give you some resources that make sense....like getting to a vet center and also having some 'one to one' with a VA shrink.

I was a vet center volunteer years ago with the Combat PTSD Rap group. From time to time the spouses came too as PTSD can be difficult for every family member to deal with.

At the center I was at, any vet could also file a PTSD claim or any type of claim, with a vet rep.

My husband (USMC Vietnam) was diagnosed with PTSD the same day he tried to get a VA business loan.1983

Unfortunately the loan officer (who had turned him down as he didnt even have a job) was of Asian descent and my husband tried to choke him.(he had a major Vietnam flashback)

Long story next, he sat in a room with some guy (who also was a shrink as well as the VAMC Director but didnt tell him that,) as he waited for the police to arrest him) He never got arrested, but he thought he was sitting with another Vietnam vet and mentioned a horrific incident he had flashed back to when he saw the loan officer.The other vet finally told him who he was and that no one knew the details of that horrific incident unless they had been there. The director had been there too. As an incountry psychiatrist he had been called to treat some of the Marines who were having obvious difficulties with the job they had just done. He was immediately diagnosed with PTSD and helped to file a claim,the director conceded the stressor, and told to go to the closest Vet Center because my husband didnt know what PTSD was.

He thought he was the only crazy veteran in the USA..Of course He wasnt crazy at all.

I wondered when I read this, is this another way (STAR) that the VA is trying to get out of paying SC compensation for PTSD?????

But I am sure many vets benefit from the program.

You deserve better however,from the VA, in my opinion.

Edited December 27, 2014 by Berta

[SemperFiSgt]

Berta,

Thanks for the responses and the wonderful job you and others do here on hadit.com. This site is very helpful and full of information and great people that will help you if needed from what I have seen.

I will be looking into the MH provider. I have done a great job tackling this whole PTSD I think but, some days are just tough. I hope I can answer the parts I may left out or wasn't clear on a little clear this time my mind has been all over the place today but overall ok.

What is the 30% for? Has that disability gotten worse since they awarded the 30%?

My 30% is from when I ended my service from the Marines in 2004. It was service connected for my knees, tinea corporis and back spasms. I was denied for my migraines. They have gotten worst in my eyes especially my knees, you can walk beside me and hear them pop while I walk loudly. I'm not sure of what you were asking here, "Dod uyou have a vet rep on the 30% decision as your POA?" If you were asking if i had a rep for that claim, no. That came from my Separation Exam before end of service.

I was told by the Mental Health doctor at the VA that the STAR program was to out rule any concerns of depression and that I needed to confirm that there was no dug or alcohol addictions to interfere his diagnosis and it was recommended by the trauma center. They quickly saw me and told me what I knew wasn't the issue. I don't hardly have time to really have drinks and when I do it can't be no more than 2 drinks maybe 2 a month. My cigars did increase but they were concern about drinks and illegal substances I was told.

My wife constantly tells me that the dreams and irregular sleep patterns and etc was taking a toll and I was forced to go to the trauma center on the Tuesday I mentioned. Immediately there was a question from someone that was coming in and they asked if there would be someone to deal with claims there. I will have to check my documents to see what title was the person that stated that it was in fact PTSD. There classes from what I was told is suppose to help me understand the condition and ways of copping from my understanding but again, i would have to check. I was given papers but to be honest my wife was at work and I went alone. I had a rough night at work and already was edgy that day as well. I try not to lash out any attacks on people and do a fair job at managing it. Although, i have had a few mishaps at work that resulted in counseling. No advice was given from them for anything concerning a claim.

"I was then a patient that the VA wanted to class as depressed."Without ruling in or out PTSD?

This came from my health care provider the first time I started to open up and mention my true state with anyone besides my wife. No one knew at this point because, I hate being around a lot of people and my VA center is a hub for Atlanta Veterans. The site and thought of my fellow military brethren from war and previous wars that have served in pain and suffering. Its like we get no sort of real assistance. Like the world wants us to just go away. Sorry...

You are a combat vet....you dont need PTSD classes, you need PTSD help from a real VA shrink.
Should I look for a VA psychiatrist/ psychologist on my own or request through my VA Medical Center? I find them not so helpful at times but I want to get better before worst so really humbling myself as much as possible. I'm trying to do my part before it gets out of reach or manageable.

THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH BERTA....

I went home and found information and notes posted on MyHealthVet. Can I PM it to you? It's a lot of stuff.

Edited December 29, 2014 by SemperFiSgt