I’ve given VA mental health and primary care two years to properly take care of me and my health. They have failed repeatedly to do so, specifically when it comes to medication management.
I’ve had hypertension very well documented by VA. The worst was 179/121... they refused to give me blood pressure meds for 2 years. They simply made it my fault and said I needed to lose weight and my BP would drop.
They did the same with high cholesterol. Only this was worse because the high cholesterol was due to side effects of the psych meds (seroquel) the VA was prescribing. So not only did they cause it, they also refused to treat it.
So I went to a civilian doctor PCM. He immediately put me on blood pressure and cholesterol meds, no questions asked!
The final straw was that VA mental health has been prescribing sleep meds (lunesta) for two years. Prior to VA, I was able to get 30 count for 30 days at 3 MG. VA has repeatedly refused to prescribe this way. They only prescribe 20 pills per month and at a reduced 2 mg. So after repeated issues and lack of sleep 1/3 of the time, I went to a civilian psych who day one prescribed 3 mg lunesta and at 30 count for 30 days! Now I am able to sleep the entire month!!!
The disturbing part is that both the PCM and psych doctors both stated that this was common and no surprise they had seen many switch over from VA due to the same reason!
It’s almost as if the VA incentivized lowering or eliminating medications for Veterans!!!
I’ve had hypertension very well documented by VA. The worst was 179/121... they refused to give me blood pressure meds for 2 years. They simply made it my fault and said I needed to lose weight and my BP would drop.
They did the same with high cholesterol. Only this was worse because the high cholesterol was due to side effects of the psych meds (seroquel) the VA was prescribing. So not only did they cause it, they also refused to treat it.
So I went to a civilian doctor PCM. He immediately put me on blood pressure and cholesterol meds, no questions asked!
The final straw was that VA mental health has been prescribing sleep meds (lunesta) for two years. Prior to VA, I was able to get 30 count for 30 days at 3 MG. VA has repeatedly refused to prescribe this way. They only prescribe 20 pills per month and at a reduced 2 mg. So after repeated issues and lack of sleep 1/3 of the time, I went to a civilian psych who day one prescribed 3 mg lunesta and at 30 count for 30 days! Now I am able to sleep the entire month!!!
The disturbing part is that both the PCM and psych doctors both stated that this was common and no surprise they had seen many switch over from VA due to the same reason!
It’s almost as if the VA incentivized lowering or eliminating medications for Veterans!!!