11/02/2008 22:37 - bwilliams

You dont know how this subject angers me. I am ttreated at a major VAMC and pain management isnt even an option/ How can such a major issue be different at different facillities? Some have a great program and some offer none! I think that should be the primary issue here if we are talking about care for all Vets. If my VA is the only one lacking pain care I will be majorly angry. Can you answer that for me! britt

12/02/2008 08:29 - pa_Carolina1

From the reports I'm seeing - some VA's have made improvements and are getting on the right track in this area --but they seem to be few and far between -- thus, the necessity of this bill. We need to keep this issue before our Senators for our respective states and ask about the status of it. The more voices that they hear from their own constituents, the more likely that we will be successful. Thanks so much for posting! PA_Carolina APF/PainAid Team A United Voice of Hope and Power over Pain "The views or opinions contained herein do not necessarily represent those of PainAid or of The American Pain Foundation."

16/02/2008 12:03 - bwilliams

Carolina my last VA pain eaxpeience was horrid. It started with my PC trying to cut my meds when I finished up with the PM clinic. from then on he was to RX me. I got painted into a corner and had to seek welp because of withdrawl which he used a justification to cut me off as an addic/seeker. To him a physical dependance is an addiction and he hated pain meds anyway. With the issues I have with my outside PM I have requested to have my VA PC write my pain meds from now on. The nurse who covers my dr tried to tell me that MCONTIN 100mg wasnt formulary and she would probaly change the RX(dont care if it works). I had talked to my clinics pharmacy to see if they had when I was toying with feebased. They do. I mentioned that to the nurse and she said just because they have it isnt formulay. I asked her to explain and was told she wasnt there to justify VA polict=y, I had problems with the Head nurses 2ce now before it went bad with PC. I have all my teasts. CTC Back a Neck(both). MRI knees (both). Complete Xray hips down. Ortho consult-both knees totally blown and inoperable due to cardio. Refused synvisc saying there was too much dama ge. Only spurs and fagrements. Refused follow-up as he could do nothing. Adviced continue pain meds and PT. Vasular. PAD. 65 right and62% left. Again surgery needed but no go due to heart and the ability to me to heal and do PT to recover. Also said as a smoker he was wasting his time(word for word in his consult.) I have 3 urine screeens from the PC who refered my PM. He RXed me low dose Vicodan for about 2 months 18 months PM visits-I did 8weeks oof Psyche and finished the 16 weeks Pt(taught me excerizes for me to do at home. Tried for hydro therapy and DX due to high risk factors(CHF/COPD/Pulmanary edema. For the first month I had to go to the PM comple 2-4X week for Psych/PT/office exam. Was never late for an apppt. Never had any probs with meds- Self-medicating-I knew the dangers of runnung out when on high doses of meds! Never had meds lost, solen-misplaced. 18 months asmodel patient(but lets see what he does to justify my DX! Again my word gainst a health pro(do no harm!) and my bad record with the VA dr last time. He only had my drop a urine 2X in a year and a half but he was looking hard(he said he always does-even RX from other DR-Vic's. percs things h didnt RX. Also make sure the levels were right-not too much/little. Perfedt I atlked to the nurse wed and she out til next wed so Im on hold. Heres one for your petition. I aske fee based for a referal. The VA has non on tap. Said they cant refer as it would be conflict of interest! All he could give me was name off he list of DRs they payed for fee based. One was 80 miles one way and the other was---MONE! The only Dr in the greater Dayton metro area (60mi radius!) and it is my dr. He says they have very few fee base for pain and he realized that it was because thoe of us in need cant find an MD for pain! Hows that for falling thru the cracks. How is that this issue is not being worked on!.. The head of fee base and he didnt realizewhy the fee base letters they send out dont gerenerate a drs bill! This is Unconscionable and needs to be addressed. I have no luck with red tape. I couldnt even sue the VA for when in failing to kill me(they tried mightily!) they destroyed 65% of my heart. No lawyer would touch me! I tried the malpractice rout no go. Violation if civil/and ALL PATIENT RIGHTS. Ive written 10 letters to ACLU and called 20 times with n8/zip/zero/nada! response. Lawyers who would consider it wanted fee foward!(out of what-we lost everthing waiting for my disability!I know you dont likenaming facilities so from now on Ill use DVAMC?SpringfieldCBOPC. I cant be the only one. Any vets from dayton out there. How about other VAMC's anyone else in PM limbo. Tell me Im not alone out there in the weed folks. Im way out there and my paddle is getting might thin and the creek is rising-(Whats that smell)Just ahving a liitle vent.) Pleae someone start a new thread. Tell you what Ill do it under bennies/clinics. brittt

16/02/2008 12:20 - bwilliams

BTW my congress critter was a great help in my disability case. His rep was an angel. My pain problems started after I moved over one district. I tried talking to my congressmans rep and he refused to even listen to what happened. Just submit in writting and expecta respobce! I never did it My previous Starte Rep was kown and feared by the VA. He is on the oversite committee. He is a majority whip in Va funding as well. When I was in PMthey started kicking Vts out of the nursing home. They raised the bar on qualifications and sent peolpe even to shelters with no where else to go. From a nursing home to a homeless shelter. Do you thinthey really care. My exrep had them back the same day. Thats why I tried to get with his rep. She is a big advocate for pain(good friends with the head nurse) I hoped she would at lest listen not to help me perse but to take a look-see. She got cold and refused telling me to call my own rep. I voted him in in Nov and moved in Dec. Bye-Bye! Ill never vote again britt