quote:

Originally posted by JosephABelleIsle:
In reality I'm still stuck on the part someone pointed out that they already have all our records and whether we saw any kind of miserable explosive ****. Their main debate seems to me to prove it's your Mom and Dad's fault-NEXT!

I'm with you Joe....The heck with those VA employee or VA subcontrator performance issues....Kinda like as Vets may say "One for All" or "No One Left Behind" and not what I think they believe "All for Me" (meaning all for them)....
It's just a system to evaluate a veterans state of stress or should be a VA system to account how the stressors we developed during our military experiences cruedly and permanently affected a veteran, including their inability to gain a promotion, to enjoy the fruits of life that those without this disability enjoy and what about providing the Veteran and their family (if they still have one) with just compensation! ! !...After all a combat Veteran put their life on the line....I am for all Veterans who have had a terrible time attempting an adjustment to "normalize" their life or "fall in line with others". I am one of those who are still trying...

God Bless our Troops
Steve
75th Rangers

Ha Brothers & Sisters,
Windy here I realy don't know how to act after reading all this with an open mind, or what there is left of one. I for one am a person that gets,
confuesed rather easely. And i'm sorry Joe that you
wouldn't think it would be proper of me, to bring up
my C&P exam again. It dosent seem like I'm the only one in here who has a hard time letting some things go. I have pounded this keyboard many hours trying
to find Bro's I served with from my troop. And I don't even know what good a "buddy letter" would do,
If they wont even read my Stressor letter. And there
is a lot in that letter other than Just getting my
aircraft shot out from under me, and being so freaked out I was taken off flight status. And put on some kind of drug that made me feel like a zomby, walking around like I was a foot an a half in the ground. For what it's worth, and I guess you can see not much, it covered my life from childhood to present date. Every day that goes by it seems that it just gets harder to keep myself focesed on just what i've got to do to keep keeping on. Im the only one left now, no family. If it wernt for my cats, I would probbly loose what little there is left of my mind. I'm sorry if i've affended anyone.
Windy

quote:

Originally posted by windywayne:
Ha Brothers & Sisters,
I'm sorry if i've affended anyone.
Windy

Windywayne,

It is really difficult to find those that served with us. Time is flying past me like a Level 3 hurricane and living in Florida we know hurricanes. I believe having faith in yourself can begin something you and all of us need.. In addition, it will help you if you just think then believe the things as though you are not alone with your experiences and you are not the only one who has experienced them....

There are several things a C&P exam should provide the VA. I for one, could not help but relive my VN experiences during and after my C&Ps....And I don't know how anyone can however, some Vets go through C&Ps without problems. If I go through a C&P then I will have continuous nighmares lasting for hundreds of sleepless nights which is hard to believe but true... They just will not go away.... Something I smell, observe, read, picture in my mind or relate to triggers me to relive my nightmares again and again....

So Wendell you are not alone and you can provide this site with every written word you desire using every second of your experience. I will be on this site to help you because I am still a Veteran for Vets no matter what...

In closing I do not believe you have offended anyone so just keep that in mind because your experiences from Vietnam are something no one but a Vietnam Vet can say "I know what you mean".....

Wendell, I know what you mean.

Steve
75th Rangers

quote:

I'm sorry if i've affended anyone.

Windywayne,
I have no claim advice to offer because I've been out of the claims process for many years and things have changed.
Also, I once thought all VA's were the same all over, but obviously they are not.
I fought the VA for ten years. If I knew then what I know now, it would not have taken so long,...maybe.

I have been reading and I can't find anything you said that was offensive to anyone.

Welcome Home Brother, you are certainly not alone.

Flash

Wayne Say it like you feel, but you can talk C&P's all you want!!! I may be wrong but I think the C&P eval Dr is a civ hire just for that to determine how badly you've been damaged and your life messed up- in my case they proved combat a year prior but waited for me to finish the paperwork to give me the claim. I have to remind myself they proved combat when I read some of the things and remember the looks on the guys faces. Because I really wasn't there. Joe belle-Isle just watched a long movie with a long ending. I get long anxiety like attacks where memories won't leave.

quote:

Originally posted by windywayne:
Ha Brothers & Sisters,
Windy here I realy don't know how to act after reading all this with an open mind, or what there is left of one. I for one am a person that gets,
confuesed rather easely. And i'm sorry Joe that you
wouldn't think it would be proper of me, to bring up
my C&P exam again. It dosent seem like I'm the only one in here who has a hard time letting some things go. I have pounded this keyboard many hours trying
to find Bro's I served with from my troop. And I don't even know what good a "buddy letter" would do,
If they wont even read my Stressor letter. And there
is a lot in that letter other than Just getting my
aircraft shot out from under me, and being so freaked out I was taken off flight status. And put on some kind of drug that made me feel like a zomby, walking around like I was a foot an a half in the ground. For what it's worth, and I guess you can see not much, it covered my life from childhood to present date. Every day that goes by it seems that it just gets harder to keep myself focesed on just what i've got to do to keep keeping on. Im the only one left now, no family. If it wernt for my cats, I would probbly loose what little there is left of my mind. I'm sorry if i've affended anyone.
Windy

From my ancient experience, I never thought the C+P exam was nothing more than a formality and a discouraging obstacle in the claims system. Sure , claims are denied or approved by a C+P exam, but IMO there's more to the final decision than the C+P Dr's opinion..

People in extreme physical pain that take opiates for relief can wean off the opiate as the pain subsides and not suffer withdrawal symtoms,.. according to medical reasearch.

It's also my opinion from experience that the VA doesn't know much about medicating severe anxiety from PTSD. Xanax didn't make me crazy or physically sick and I've been using it for 18 years. Buspar took my mind, made me stupid, and increased my anxiety and I didn't even know it. I had to keep telling myself that it isn't right to go around with no clothes on or I would have thought nothing of going anywhere in the nude. It really had me whacked. Dehydration, stomach cramps and constant diarhea made me quit or I might still be stupid enough to keep taking it. I couldn't write and I still have difficulty articulating.
I am feeling better every week. The buspar made the xanax withdrawal worse.

Check with your primary care physician first and then proceed from there.

Good grief I think that's one of the other things he wanted to try me on. But I met a younger-much younger civ. guy that got hurt and is weaning himself off the med I'm working on. A small amount each month reduction seems to work. I will be so happy to feel. Some things you just have to do.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash69:
From my ancient experience, I never thought the C+P exam was nothing more than a formality and a discouraging obstacle in the claims system. Sure , claims are denied or approved by a C+P exam, but IMO there's more to the final decision than the C+P Dr's opinion..

People in extreme physical pain that take opiates for relief can wean off the opiate as the pain subsides and not suffer withdrawal symtoms,.. according to medical reasearch.

It's also my opinion from experience that the VA doesn't know much about medicating severe anxiety from PTSD. Xanax didn't make me crazy or physically sick and I've been using it for 18 years. Buspar took my mind, made me stupid, and increased my anxiety and I didn't even know it. I had to keep telling myself that it isn't right to go around with no clothes on or I would have thought nothing of going anywhere in the nude. It really had me whacked. Dehydration, stomach cramps and constant diarhea made me quit or I might still be stupid enough to keep taking it. I couldn't write and I still have difficulty articulating.
I am feeling better every week. The buspar made the xanax withdrawal worse.

quote:

Originally posted by OldAFcop:
Check with your primary care physician first and then proceed from there.

I may do that after I see my Dr, in 2 weeks,.... if necessary.

During the med change that started in June, I was in constant communication with my therapist and Dr. and when they went on vacation i was assigned another Dr to call. He OK'd my desire to go back to the benzo and quit the new med based on what I told him. Things have been better since.

It is my opinion that my PTSD caregivers were doing their best to help , according to 'VA policy'. I was told by VA that people have different reactions to this med.
PTSD is more than just anxiety and the Rand corporation has stated that there is no cure by meds for PTSD in general.

They did not purposely do this to make me suffer and if I wasn't so determined to make this work, I wouldn't have waited until things got worse to complain.
The worse your PTSD is, the more difficult it is to treat.
I did cut my xanax intake in half and I was commended by my therapist for doing this without going inpatient, as many Vets can't.
I self-medicated for 20 years before I sought treatment and have gone through withdrawal before. I didn't know if I was suffering from withdrawal or the effects of the new med. It's easy to blame the VA for this because caregivers go by VA policy on meds.... And things have changed because of the new GI Bill, and the rash of suicides.

I've really been out of it and I don't understand "New GI Bill, and rash of suicides," as to what they have changed since I don't think I got care prior- I've heard mention of "When the VA changed it's rules on medications-" though. My Dad grew up helping my Grandfather in Grandfathers Pharmacy and was filling prescriptions when he was ten. He said Dr's regularly wrote prescriptions for a podwered green plant that came shipped in a mason like jar. They measured the powder and put it in a envelope with instructions for the patient on how to make tea out of it. That was around 1919 when dad was ten.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash69:

quote:

Originally posted by OldAFcop:
Check with your primary care physician first and then proceed from there.

I may do that after I see my Dr, in 2 weeks,.... if necessary.

During the med change that started in June, I was in constant communication with my therapist and Dr. and when they went on vacation i was assigned another Dr to call. He OK'd my desire to go back to the benzo and quit the new med based on what I told him. Things have been better since.

It is my opinion that my PTSD caregivers were doing their best to help , according to 'VA policy'. I was told by VA that people have different reactions to this med.
PTSD is more than just anxiety and the Rand corporation has stated that there is no cure by meds for PTSD in general.

They did not purposely do this to make me suffer and if I wasn't so determined to make this work, I wouldn't have waited until things got worse to complain.
The worse your PTSD is, the more difficult it is to treat.
I did cut my xanax intake in half and I was commended by my therapist for doing this without going inpatient, as many Vets can't.
I self-medicated for 20 years before I sought treatment and have gone through withdrawal before. I didn't know if I was suffering from withdrawal or the effects of the new med. It's easy to blame the VA for this because caregivers go by VA policy on meds.... And things have changed because of the new GI Bill, and the rash of suicides.

The new GI bill is focused on the young vets and there is a shortage of available PTSD caregivers, resulting in fewer appointments available for Nam vets.
The rash of suicides has caused the VA to focus on 'potential' suicide patients and take preventative measures. I am 100 PTSD and a conversation with a sattelite clinic asst. nurse last Spring resulted in a misunderstanding that I was suicidal at that time. The DR had to make a med change based on what was said and,.. that my meds weren't working anymore. Nothing else mattered.

I thought the meds weren't working either ,but my situation was that family members were harrasing and abusing me resulting in a great deal of stress to me. Avoiding family stress has been the reoson for me feeling better, not more of one med and/or less of another med. I see my Dr in 2 weeks and will know more then of what is going on with my situation. That powdered green plant and other unconventional meds and methods may be best for us and I know many Nam Vets that agree.
The VA is looking at other treatments like yoga and meditation, because the current meds don't work. The xanax always worked for me and the prescribed amount was reduced years ago with prozac which is helpful. So the prescibed amounts of xanax to me over 18 years has been 'reduced' periodically to a point of a minimal dosage. Now that minimal dose is half of what it was last june. It's almost nothing now, reletively, and my prozac is minimal also. I can quit this amount if I didn't have an anxiety problem. I had difficulty going cold turkey on the buspar and I believe ALL anxiety drugs are addictive if you have severe anxiety.
I don't suffer withdrawal as much as I do INCREASED anxiety when I stop the drug. The anxiety is worse than withdrawal....

Ha all,
Windy here Nah I'm to wiped out to say anything other than,Be blessed and we will get back to this tomorow,,,Windy

I hear ya on increased anxiety when quitting anxiety meds. Strangely enough the grandson who helped put me through the most family stress after his Mom got killed when he was 4 and he finaly turned 17- Grew up fast on a lot of things, espescially the drugs they tried to force him to take and he watched HIS clinic buddies at state programs turn them to sicker people- he understands. Where last year he was a source of stress this yearhe's the only person around me I can talk to about it. And he won't become a junkie. I have to try and take the testosterone again for health reasons. we're starting at once every four weeks and i have my anxiety meds natural and otherwise to help if I start to get angry with him again. I don't know any other way to put it but most of my right and a bunch of my left one have semmingly disintegrated or disappeared. 2 docs have said I need the testosterone for bone and muscle not just sex. One of my young apprentices got into oxycotten and xanax and who knows what and he's gone. He had some kind of pill that came like solid tabs in a strip where you break of as many as you want- is that buspar? At te time he showed me those it was obvious that his Dr. was giving him all he wanted and to figure out his own dose. I showed the grandson-more like a son- the syringe they use for intra-MUSCULAR shots. He runs away from needles. By the way the new GI Bill is focusing on the new fellows at my age of 60 maybe that last C&P will be the last one I'll get if they are starting more to concentrate on the worst cases. I still hardly ever see a vet from the latest conflicts in our clinic.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash69:
The new GI bill is focused on the young vets and there is a shortage of available PTSD caregivers, resulting in fewer appointments available for Nam vets.
The rash of suicides has caused the VA to focus on 'potential' suicide patients and take preventative measures. I am 100 PTSD and a conversation with a sattelite clinic asst. nurse last Spring resulted in a misunderstanding that I was suicidal at that time. The DR had to make a med change based on what was said and,.. that my meds weren't working anymore. Nothing else mattered.

I thought the meds weren't working either ,but my situation was that family members were harrasing and abusing me resulting in a great deal of stress to me. Avoiding family stress has been the reoson for me feeling better, not more of one med and/or less of another med. I see my Dr in 2 weeks and will know more then of what is going on with my situation. That powdered green plant and other unconventional meds and methods may be best for us and I know many Nam Vets that agree.
The VA is looking at other treatments like yoga and meditation, because the current meds don't work. The xanax always worked for me and the prescribed amount was reduced years ago with prozac which is helpful. So the prescibed amounts of xanax to me over 18 years has been 'reduced' periodically to a point of a minimal dosage. Now that minimal dose is half of what it was last june. It's almost nothing now, reletively, and my prozac is minimal also. I can quit this amount if I didn't have an anxiety problem. I had difficulty going cold turkey on the buspar and I believe ALL anxiety drugs are addictive if you have severe anxiety.
I don't suffer withdrawal as much as I do INCREASED anxiety when I stop the drug. The anxiety is worse than withdrawal....

When my anxiety is treated by meds , I get more depressed. But anxiety seems to get worse as I age. I avoid all stressors, but that doesn't make for much of a life. I heven't seen thr pills, but young nephews have told me the strongest xanax pill has lines like a ladder and therefore they are called "ladders".
The stress I get from family (siblings) is too intense to write about. My father,a pacific theater WWII vet, was my best friend and when he died 3 years ago, it became open season on me. It's difficult to avoid them because I help care for my 88 yr old mother in assisted living.
I started the testosterone for sex because it was low and I can't take viagra, as I am a heart patient on nitrates. i have spinal stenosis, full arthritis and degenerative jouint disease. I also have bone loss in my pelvis. When this flares up, I can't walk.
I was injecting 10 mg(max dose)
alprostidil(spelling) into the shaft of my ***** for ED. That didn't work and a trustworthy urologist told me PTSD causes ED.
I was in the process of getting my plumbing working again when the woman left me.(For other reasons). I feel uncomfortable stating how my life is lest I become labeled suicidal...and then turned into a chemically lobotomized vegetable.

Ha Guy's,
Windy back at ya; you know I think I FUBARD my C&P
myself.One problem I have is when my ansiety level
is other than what one would consider normal, I shake inside real badly. So I took a Flexeral, before the C&P which was delayed about an hour itself.
It is a prescribed med of mine, and when I take it. It also has a calming effect, other than being just a muscle relaxer. Being combined with the
two narcodics i'm on, it made me somwhat lethargic.
And I shook like a paint mixer anyway. I ansered
all his questions, without showing much emotion at
all no matter what the question was.Though he never
asked me to give him an explaination, or to
elaberate on anything he asked me. Nor did he say is there anything you would like to add. The whole
thing only took about 20-30 minits, and it was a done deal. So I guess, if it comes back denied it's my foult. I don't know, It's been driving me
nuts. Thinking to myself you've screwed this up too.
Windy
"Memories never Die & Brothers are Forever"
C Troop 7th / 1st Air Cav. Vinh Long 69-70
Sp-4 Wendell W. Love, Door Gunner
BlackHawk Squadron, Slicks

You shouldn't worry about this.
If you have a legitimate claim, the only way you can personally screw it up is if you don't show up for your C+P.

quote:

you know I think I FUBARD my C&P
myself.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash69,

quote:

Originally posted by Flash69:
You shouldn't worry about this.
If you have a legitimate claim, the only way you can personally screw it up is if you don't show up for your C+P.

quote:

you know I think I FUBARD my C&P
myself.

It is pretty hard to screw up a C & P if you have a good case. And the only bad case is the one you do not file, or the one that has no basis in fact or law.

I'l bet waiting on ging to and the C&P have a lot to do with not being able to get out of a rut. You probably looked just like you should.

Thanks for stopping in! All are welcome here!

In the last four months I've rigged everything I could figure from old towers and monitors that only work a little while, and through away the 1st $200 on an old freind who's got OLD and didn't realize his other freinds had burned out the computer he sold me, and the $130 I paid to get my tower fixed that's still broken and going back to the shop I know he'll want more money for----I finally got enough dough to just go get a new computer and my grandson gave me a good tower and monitor one of his freinds wanted to get out of his way when he bought something newer. And all he apparently used this for was computer games.
I was flipping channels on TV the other day and up came a old shot of a modern portable by ship operating theatre built into something like a semi-truck trailer. It's amazing when you think of how far we have "advanced" if that's what it is in 50 yrs. Because I'd bet a guy hurt bad in todays combat ambulances would have 1000% better chance. The Marines are writing and calling my Grandson here-he's 18 and never even had a good job and really like a son. I'm going to make sure he always has a place to stay and some guidance I don't want him going because he has to to have 3 hots and a flop. As proud as we can be if they go and come back alright I just don't want my boy and grandaughter-whose determined to be a Navy Officer- to get it in something they decide they can't afford and say never mind. There should never be a war without all the eligible children of congressmen and congresswomen posted on a list somewhere and all the reasons why that particular senate leader thinks the war is important enough for our kids to die but not his. I tried the "I'll be more important to the country with a college degree than without one," excuse on a Marine in 1966. When I turned 1-A and was being drafted i thought about what he said when I was enlisting. Besides, you know, "THATS********!!"