Marijuana recommended and now a cover up Need Help!

[MentalHealth]

It all started about 18 months ago. I started having severe mental conditions to include suicidal thoughts. I eventually took myself to the ER in Biloxi and they admitted me. Mind you I had told my healthcare professionals about my issues 20 times before and they never admitted me. In fact what set the whole thing off was that I got fed up and paid for a private psychiatrist. The private psychiatrist said she would'nt even consider talking to me in the condition I was in and said she could get me a bed in town to get stabilized.

Fast forward to August 5 2015. I re injured my back at work which I am service connected for and I went in to see my PCM and he looked at me and said "how bout some tramadole and PT". I told him no PT and he suggested an MRI to see what's going on. It took 6weeks to get the MRI approximately and this is where it starts to get interesting. The tramadole hurt my stomach so I resorted to living with it until I met with my VA mental health counselor one day. I explained that I was having mental health problems again and felt I needed some help. She said " have you ever tried marijuana"? I replied "even if I have I don't want that in my medical records". Then she said "well hypothetically if you wanted to get some could you"? I replied back to her "well I'm sure I could". Then she said "well it may help you". I left there pondering the idea and thought I wonder if it would fix my problems. 

A week or two went by and I was extremely anxious and having a rough time and finally decided to smoke some. It was Extremely helpful. It helped with pain anxiety and helped me sleep. Things were good on the marijuana for a couple months or two as I awaited the MRI results to come back. At this point I didn't need it everyday, just for breakthrough issues. Then the MRI result came back and I had four crushed disc which I had two from the military and now it was way worse. I immediately set up an appointment with my VSO and awaited a call. I went in to file for an increase and asked her if she had heard from other vets about there healthcare professionals recommending marijuana. She was as shocked as I was and assured me she hadn't heard that, however she had heard about alternative methods of pain reduction being more available. The nurse called me and told me to come in for labs so that I could see the DOC, she said "the will be a drug screen," I simply replied "ok". I had an appointment the next week with my VA mental health counselor. 

I put the labs off until I saw my mental health counselor, enduring the pain at work the best I could and using marijuana at night to ease it. When I showed up to see her I asked her what I should do about the drug test and she said "well use someone else's piss and just make sure it's warm". I looked at her in an appalling way and said "are you serious". She then went on to tell me that people do it all the time and that she used to work in the judicial side and that criminals were really really good at it. So I left there pondering again what to do. Please understand that I also have a severe mental health condition that sometimes doesn't allow me to make good decisions as it is already.

I'm ready for lab day and I picked up some product called quick fix from someone I knew and took it in to the lab, and sure enough it worked. i went in to see my PCM the next day and he asked me if I want Oxy and I replied "not really". He then said there wasn't a whole lot else he could do and to wait and see what the surgeon says. I then conceded. Mind you I have one friend in jail right now because of Oxy and another one who has a very serious problem with them. I asked him for enough to get me to the surgeon and let's see what he has to say. The surgeon said you need to go to pain managent, I asked him "for pills or for shots"? He replied "shots. I was happy about this because I don't want to be on pills long term.

i took the pain medicine during the day and not at night because I didn't need it and it kept me awake. It allowed me to get to work. This is huge because I'm about out of leave and about to be on LWOP, which is crushing me. I'm low on money and have three kids and about to be out of work. Then I called in for a refill and the nurse said she would call me back and never did. The next day was Veterans Day and still no call back, then I called in on Thursday and said "what's up" the nurse told me since I waited until 1300 to call in I wouldn't get a refill today. I lost it, and drove over ther after she told me I needed to call my congressman or talk to the patient advocate. I went over there and talked to my mental health professional (the marijuana lady) and miracously a 7 day prescription showed up at the pharmacy for me. 

Im about out of meds again so I call in and don't get a call back until day's later. When the nurse called me back I asked who it was and she stated her name. I realized it was the same nurse that hadn't  called me back over Veterans Day. I was in bed at the time hurting like hell and I told her to "go f herself" (bad decision). Days went by and I ran out of meds right around thanksgiving and had to suffer with some withdraws while my family spent the day worrying about me. I don't live next to family mind you. so I only see my mother and father once maybe twice a year. 

Moday rolls around and I am hurting like crazy and I had checked myhealthyvet to see what they had wrote up. I can't work so I finally just decided to go in there and tell the nurse everything that i just typed up. She acted surprised that my MHC would tell me that and noted that she's a professional and should know better. She insisted she would smooth things over and that i did the right thing. I went and talked to the nurse and she told me to go give a urinalysis and when it gets back they will help me. So I went home with nothing that day.

Tuesday I woke up and was in severe pain, however I had to go to work. I made it in and hadn't slept in four nights. My wife said it had been more like 14 nights to a friend of mine. After lunch I couldn't take it anymore and went back over to the VA. I told the nurse that at my lunch I had went to a place down by the water to set and try to relax and instead of relaxing I started having suicidal thoughts about wanting to put a gun in my mouth and blow my head off. I then went back in to work and was in so much pain I couldn't get in and out of the truck. I then told my partner to drop me off at my car and I drove straight over to the VA. Then she called in the psychiatrist who asked me why I wanted to go inpatient. He explained that they don't like opiates either and they wouldn't help me. I then said well can I use my private insurance and go to the ER? He replied to me, "if you go to any other provider and they prescribe you meds, we will cut off ALL YOUR MEDS"! Then he told the nurse to go ask the PCM if he would even prescribe a pain killer since I tested positive for cannabis. Mind you that I had never SIGNED A PAIN CONTRACT.

The nurse came back in the room and told me that he wouldn't prescribe me a pain medication other then this because of the cannabis. She handed me a script and it was for a ibeprofun alternative, I started crying my eyes out and she asked what it was that I wanted her to do. I had remembered that years ago I tried Lyrica and she looked it up and got the doctor to give me that. It's at the current dosage not effective enough. It took a 9 pain to a 6 which is not getting me back to work. 

Today I looked on myhealthy vet and noticed that the nurse had put all the stuff about the cannabis usage in my records, but put that I was referred to it by a TRUSTED INDIVIDUAL. I am absolutely pissed because now my records look like my wife or friend told me to use it, and not that MSM Susan Mkinish at the VA hospital at Eglin AFB FL said it.

I am looking for a solution and a name of who to call or email to get help. I have to get my pain under control or I'm not going to keep on living. My wife called the nurse yesterday and they never called her back. My best friend came to my house yesterday and took all my firearms and drove me to a doctors appointment that I had under the choice program. The people around me are trying to help me but they can't do it. A friend of mine offered to give me some of his meds but I refused and told him that I would die before I do that. This is the VA's problem and they need to step up and help me and my family. 

Please help me if you can.







 

[broncovet]

First things First: 

1.  Call the suicide hotline if you feel suicidal.  Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net, or text 838255 today.

2.  Back pain is not permanent, and is fixable. Surgery, medication, physical therapy, are some of the treatments, but you dont always find the right treatment right away.   Suicide may fix your pain but the rest of your family will continue suffering.   It would be like the police using nuclear weapons to catch citizens who are J walking.   It makes no sense to put your family/friends in pain so you can get out of it.   I once met a person who did a failed suicide attempt.  He drank RAID, and he coughed it into his lungs.  Not a good idea.  Other methods are not foolproof either.  A friend of mine, who is also a chessplayer, told me he tries to make the move that leaves him the most options.  Suicide never leaves the most options. 

2.  Take charge of your medical care.  If a drug you take is ineffective, or causes side effects, go back to the doc and tell him so.  If that doc wont fix it go to another who will.    There is no requirement you go to a particular VAMC, a particular Doc or that you are required to take Tramadol or any other drug you do not feel helps you.     If you are not treated satisfactorily, go to a different one. 

 

Edited December 3, 2015 by broncovet

[broncovet]

Next, you can get your medical records corrected if they are inaccurate, Irrelevant, or Incomplete:

1.579 Amendment of records.

(a) Any individual may request amendment of any Department of Veterans Affairs record pertaining to him or her. Not later than 10 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the date or receipt of such request, the Department of Veterans Affairs will acknowledge in writing such receipt. The Department of Veterans Affairs will complete the review to amend or correct a record as soon as reasonably possible, normally within 30 days from the receipt of the request (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) unless unusual circumstances preclude completing action within that time. The Department of Veterans Affairs will promptly either:

(1) Correct any part thereof which the individual believes is not accurate, relevant, timely or complete; or

(2) Inform the individual of the Department of Veterans Affairs refusal to amend the record in accordance with his or her request, the reason for the refusal, the procedures by which the individual may request a review of that refusal by the Secretary or designee, and the name and address of such official.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2))

(b) The administration or staff office having jurisdiction over the records involved will establish procedures for reviewing a request from an individual concerning the amendment of any record or information pertaining to the individual, for making a determination on the request, for an appeal within the Department of Veterans Affairs of an initial adverse Department of Veterans Affairs determination, and for whatever additional means may be necessary for each individual to be able to exercise fully, his or her right under 5 U.S.C. 552a.

(1) Headquarters officials designated as responsible for the amendment of records or information located in Central Office and under their jurisdiction include, but are not limited to: Secretary; Deputy Secretary, as well as other appropriate individuals responsible for the conduct of business within the various Department of Veterans Affairs administrations and staff offices. These officials will determine and advise the requester of the identifying information required to relate the request to the appropriate record, evaluate and grant or deny requests to amend, review initial adverse determinations upon request, and assist requesters desiring to amend or appeal initial adverse determinations or learn further of the provisions for judicial review.

(2) The following field officials are designated as responsible for the amendment of records or information located in facilities under their jurisdiction, as appropriate: The Director of each Center, Domiciliary, Medical Center, Outpatient Clinic, Regional Office, Supply Depot, and Regional Counsels. These officials will function in the same manner at field facilities as that specified in the preceding subparagraph for headquarters officials in Central Office.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a(f)(4))

(c) Any individual who disagrees with the Department of Veterans Affairs refusal to amend his or her record may request a review of such refusal. The Department of Veterans Affairs will complete such review not later than 30 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) from the date on which the individual request such review and make a final determination unless, for good cause shown, the Secretary extends such 30-day period. If, after review, the Secretary or designee also refuses to amend the record in accordance with the request the individual will be advised of the right to file with the Department of Veterans Affairs a concise statement setting forth the reasons for his or her disagreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs refusal and also advise of the provisions for judicial review of the reviewing official's determination. (5 U.S.C. 552a(g)(1)(A))

(d) In any disclosure, containing information about which the individual has filed a statement of disagreement, occurring after the filing of the statement under paragraph (c) of this section, the Department of Veterans Affairs will clearly note any part of the record which is disputed and provide copies of the statement (and, if the Department of Veterans Affairs deems it appropriate, copies of a concise statement of the Department of Veterans Affairs reasons for not making the amendments requested) to persons or other agencies to whom the disputed record has been disclosed. (5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(4)) (38 U.S.C. 501)

[47 FR 16324, Apr. 16, 1982]

end of regulation quote.

 

If you told the nurse not to write that in your records, then its irrelevant. 

[MentalHealth]

Just got back from my new choice psychologist and I think It was interesting to say the least. He wants me to admit myself. I probably need to but can't get over going there over Christmas (three kids). I'm going to try and make it until then. I can manage the pain with cannabis until then.

[TALON II FE]

I retired in September of last year off of AD.  This July, I was transitioning thru Colorado and decided to try some marijuana.  I am in chronic pain, back issues as well, as well as nerve damage, blah, blah, blah.  I am also 70% for PTSD.  I talked with the owner in the store, explained my issues, and they gave me recommendations on strains to try.  I found that what helped my pain the best hurt my PTSD and vice versa. BUT, I found that there were hybrids that seem to help both!  I received more relief from my symptoms from a plant then handfuls of meds.  Pretty unbelievable, but true for me. 

Now, where this gets interesting and relates directly to you:  In August, I was sent to Pain Management by my AD PCM (remember, I am retired, not AD, still on TriCare).  At pain management, they gave me absolutely nothing for pain, they discussed acupuncture, etc., and discussed other alternatives, but it was mostly an intake appointment with a URINE Screening.  Whenever I have tried to schedule a follow up, I just get the run around.  They must be busy, right?  Late October, early November, I decided to check RelayHealth (AD version of MYHealthyVet) and what did I find?  A Urinalysis sample flagging me multiple times all over my records as a drug abuser.  I am disgusted!  I served 20+ on AD, I was an aviator and a special operator, I was NEVER flagged for a dirty piss test in my career and now I am a drug abuser, ROFL! They have consistently refused to treat my pain, I was asking for 30 Percocet a YEAR for breakthrough and was denied, repeatedly!  Not only that, but when you ask, they label you already and will not prescribe, but, if you don't ask, they will not help.

  Meanwhile, one of my troops got a boob job a few years ago (paid by TriCare to 'help her self-esteem' supposedly) and they flooded her with oxy until she ODed, WTF?  I finally found something that works in marijuana (though it is illegal still here in Texas, and I don't even know any way to get any here), and it does not carry as many side effects as their meds, yet now they are limiting my access to other services based off their labeling me as a miscreant for trying it.  They paint you into a corner, I would have to go illegal routes to get any relief now besides naproxen, Lyrica and alcohol.  UNBELIEVABLE! I am dropping my Tricare Prime and switching to Tricare Standard now I have a VA rating;  I'll pay the fees and see who I want to see without dealing with any Doctors with any affiliation to the USDOD or the USGOV going forward. I want someone who treats patients rather than a Doc that is mired in regulations and red tape or hiding from malpractice suits.  I really think we are meant to suffer in silence...

Edited December 4, 2015 by TALON II FE