1'st VA PCM appointment

R

robs42

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
just had my 1'st medical appointment @ the VA in providence ri. i was VERY impressed. i met w/my PCM for almost 2 hours. she went over my med. history for like an hour and a half. she took great notes. she did my refferals for the TBI clinic and PTSD clinic. i was just so impressed, compared to the tretmentment i've been receiving @ naval clinic for my MEB.

not once in 2yrs. have the military docs. mentioned the words TBI. even though i've been having seizue-like symptoms, dizzy spells headaches and all kinds of neuro. issues.
the military psyciatrist that i stopped seeing, said that in her opinion, i didn't have PTSD. she said that my "problem" was that i was to concerned about my injury/disability and i would never get better. she then proceded to diagnose me w/aghoraphobia (fear of crowds). i don't believe i have a fear of crowds :?

also, i loved the fact that i did not have to deal w/getting "the run-around" from the whole TRICARE referral mgmt. just figured i'd share that w/you guys.
 
I've only got one word...


Wow.
 
Robs,

That is good news and I know it gives you a boost. Positive signs for the future.

fdm
 
Glad to hear your experiences are good with the VA. Out here in Utah it is terrible. I have been through two primary care docs already, and I am trying to get my deviated septum fixed (smashed in an accident in Iraq) and have to wait two-three hours past my appointment time to be seen, at which point I have to go back to work because taking a ton of time off doesn't bode well. Its good to see you are getting the care you need! My PTSD doc keeps telling me they are going to "fix me and make me better" and that "I'm 23 and there is no way I could be hurt in all these areas"
 
I get so mad when I hear about cases like yours at the VA. We've not been that thrilled with our own VA but that's another story. If anyone dismissed me like they did with you on your valid complaints, I'd go postal on them.

Have you been documenting the resistance you've been getting in your care? I'd start a log and then go on a letter-writing campaign. Someone needs to be held accountable for the attitude of indifference you've been experiencing.

As far as I am concerned they should be saying "You are 23 years old and should not HAVE to be broken in so many places". As broken as the VA is, it's ironic they'd even be an authority on that subject.
 
Problem is I work for the VA rating disability claims so I have to suck it up and deal. I have no good avenues to vocie my complaint. Even my OEF/OIF cordinator doesn't do much when I complain to him. I go to a private doctor now because I would rather pay than get treated as I do. I'm hoping I can get military retirement out of the PBDR and go with Tricare and out of the VA healthcare system. They are hesitant to do anything. I was discharged for PTSD and my doc at the VA just keeps harping on me that my life is so young to have this and they will fix it. I keep saying it won't be fixed, I just need to learn COPING skills because I jump at work when people touch me, am irritable etc. so I keep to myself. Its good in a sense I am super productive, but as far as people skills I need help learning to be around people that just don't understand me or what I've been through. I'm one of 3-4 OEF/OIF vets out of an office of 300 plus. I'm 80 percent soon to be 90 (fingers crossed as I have been waiting over a year for my claim to be finished and don't want to be tied up in appeals) I have a ton of musculoskeletal problems which they say aren't related to service at the VA hospital (I have proved otherwise through treatment records and buddy statments) though I have documentation they are. They say my back hurts from poor posture, when I hurt it in a wreck in Iraq. My wrists, my pyshical therapist pops back in (bones that were displaced) and says it more likely than not is related to my vehicle accident, but my doc refuses to write me a statement saying so. It just gets frustrating so I go to a doc I pay, tell em my story, and they write me the letter, no questions asked, its hard for VA to overturn a doctor's opinion. Plus they give me pain meds and other things I need to keep going. It is money well spent. But then there is that saying, if its free it probably isn't all that great. So I learned to expect jack sh*t from the VA hospital. The benefits side has been great to me up until I started working for the VA and have to jump through hoops to get my claim. My claim was done the DAY AFTER I exited service. That was great. So I figure waiting a year with the possibility of back pay isn't all that bad, they did their part for me when I got out. I'm glad they are helping other vets before me who need it, since I have a GREAT job rating claims when others are less fortunate. It just sucks waiting and not knowing.
 
lbdb,

i hear you w/paying for the docs.. i've been doing that for 2yrs. as much as i can, to not go to the AD Naval Clinic.
same thing w/scripts. yeah i can drive 45 mins. each way, to the base and get them for free, but the drive kills my back and i have to pay $4.00 in tolls. or i can just pay my $5.00 co-pay through my civ. coverage and the pharmacy is 1 min. from my house.

once i start getting all my referrals knocked out @ the VA, i think i'll feel alot better. i'm still going to keep my civ. PCM. out of all the docs. that i've seen over the past two years, he's the ONLY one who's taken an active interest in my case.
 
oh, i forgot to add to my last post. i got another call today for two of the neuro. referrals, for the TBI clinic. they are scheduled for 20 jan. the doc. seemed really cool when he called. he said that i'll see him and right after that my second appointment is w/another neuro. doc.. i was surprised how fast they called w/an appointment. it guess it cause i'm so used to the piss-poor TRICARE referral mgmt., that i've been dealing with. it's so bad that i still do not have one of my referrals approved, that was put in, in october.:mad:
 
The TBI clinic I went through was four hours long. It was really good. From what I understand is it is mandated by Washington if you report being exposed to a TBI than you have to go in for this appointment. Boy was it grueling, but it was decent. For the most part I was happy with the VA on that one. Good luck with it! I went through a social work, physical therapy, cognitive and neuropysche evaluation. They said my PTSD was so severe they couldn't distinguish a TBI so I didn't get far with it, but it is a great clinic for sure. Good luck and keep us posted on it! i'm just waiting to see if I can get my 10 percent from the VA for my headaches! Make sure you get yourself taken care of to!!!!
 
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