ptsd Why Diagnosed With Symptoms But Not Ptsd

[KYVet]

Hello all! I am a new member to the group and can not say enough about how valuable this forum is and has been. I am a OIF veteran (2003) and have recently started having some of what I think might be early precursors to PTSD. A little pretext to my situation: I have served 12 years in the military. I have two stressors miltary related. As a result, I have, in the distant past, experienced smell flashbacks and nightmares. At one point, had what I believe to be a severe panic attack bringing me to my knees with shortness of breath, racing heart, etc after military service. When it was done I felt like I had been in a fight with a bear. I recently lost my 22 yo daughter in June of 2014 to cancer. My most recent issues have been avoiding crowds, feeling like I have to have a plan to defend myself from any one in a room, restaurant, store etc. should they decide to attack, back to the wall at all times preferably with an exit in sight. I am very sensitive to loud noises and startle easily. At times I have panic attacks and feel like I have an elephant sitting on my chest and get flush in my face, etc. I feel like I have to be in total control of my environment at all times or the panic will set in (if that makes any sense).

Without boring you all with any further details, i have just now started getting some therapy from the VA reference this. In fact my second visit with the therapist is in July. I am currently 70% sc with other physical issues. I recently downloaded what is called the VA Problem List from the MyHealtheVet and the therapist has labled it Anxiety NOS, Bereavment, and Depressive Disorder NOS. I am not sure if this is a diagnosis or just a starting point. If it is a diagnosis, anxiety and depression are symptoms of PTSD so why not a PTSD diagnosis since I have stressors that are provable. Now granted the therapist, I assume at this point, has only taken my word when it comes to my stressors and I have only begun the documentation phase of my PTSD claim. I am just wondering if this is something I have to let play out or if I need to get on top of this to steer it in the direction of my PTSD claim. Thanks for any help.

And thank you all for your service! If not us, then who!

[bionoce]

^ Exactly. Well said

[tdubya82]

[deleted]

Edited July 21, 2016 by tdubya82

[Pete53]

KYVet:

Welcome to Hadit. If you get a current diagnosis from VA for PTSD I am pretty sure you can find a stressor for 12 years of service. Your problem I think is how long have you been separated and did you have symptoms between your service and now.

I am sorry for your loss but I would think that would be a cause for depression and not PTSD. In fact it is sommon for people who have PTSD to start off looking for help with depression cause they usually come together.

Good luck. Are you able to work?

[TALON II FE]

tdubya82,

When I had my PTSD DBQ back in April, they were using the new forms and they did ask about panic attacks, so I think it is still a consideration. I experience panic attacks over and over again almost daily, especially when I try and sleep, of all time. I can feel the spikes in my cardio, so it is definitely effecting overall health which means they should be considering it. These "adrenaline bursts" are very hard on your body long term. I wish I could find a way to prevent them, but I get them every time I start to dream, as well as from daily living do to random triggers. I wake up multiple times every night from them and have to stay awake for at least 20 minutes or I will go right back into it this circular pattern. I guess something in me is trying to avoid the nightmares and is "boosting" my system to get out of them. Sleep deprivation is not very fun!

[knap-sack]

The stressor and nexus to connect is what you need today.

Do you have a stressor that qualified for PTSD?

[KYVet]

Thanks for all of the info and advice. I have at least two military stressors. Now whether the VA counts them as such is yet to be seen. I was in the Phillipines in 1991 during Mt. Pinatubo. An event categorized by the USGS as a collossal event. I wont get into the specifics but i would think it qualifies as a direct exposure to threatend death. In 1990, I did search and rescue as a result of a 7.7 earthquake, assisting in pulling hundreds of dead bodies out of a collapsed building. I also served in OIF. I was never in a direct firefight but as an MP participating in convoy and EPW security we were often recipients of sniper fire, mortar attacks as well as a silk worm missile that nearly hit Camp Bucca when it was first being developed early on. I am working about 30 hrs a week. I get the whole down play personal stressors. I did mention it in my initial screening when asked if there had been any recent events that may have contributed. The nurse practitioner advised that often times this is a cummulative disorder and that any type of stressing event can over fill the cup so to speak.

As far as rewards go, I am currently getting my DD214 straight where they never awarded me the Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism medal. My understanding about combat related PTSD is that you have to have been involved in active combat. I translate that to be like the 3rd ID and others who pushed through to Bahgdad. Our mission was to follow them to bahgdad and transport the prisoners back to Bucca. So we encountered residual resistance but never an occasion to identify where it was coming from to fight back.

As for the volcano and earthquake events, I can obtain buddy statements for those. I have at least one supervisor who can possibly write one and one or more veteran brothers that were there as well. I really appreciate all of the responses

Edited June 22, 2015 by KYVet