Hey There...new Here

[willis williams]

Dawn you may have to go of on them not to the point that you get put in the VA nut house. I think it should be no differant then a prosthetic limb if your quality of life can be improved you should be aloud to have it. There should be some kind of patient advocat at the hospital that you can voice your oppinion to. If that doesn't work try talking to a news paper sound weird and I know you don't want it but sympathy goes a long way and I have seen it work where outside pressure can help. If there is some kind of state medical where you are at apply and start going to civilian Dr.s to back up your cause. It boils down to money because they really don't care if you are 39 or 70 a full knee replacement is spendy. The other thing is most medical Dr.s are not looking at the big picture they don't see the ptsd or tbi so they don't realise that fixing your leg is part of your mental health. I wish I or someone else could be there to nock the shit out of them if they deam it not nessecary to give you back some more quality of life because if you do then they will never want to cooperate. I have a friend that missed one appointment with the neurologist at the va and now she refuses to see him so if a person wants treatment they have to play thier game. The patient advocate is supposed to do the fighting for you at least that is what they are paid for. Good Luck

 

[femaleveteran]

I am finally habing my final surgery on my leg and the VA doc I saw said it was one of the worst case he had seen in a whle. Said he was surprised I did not lose my leg in the first place. I am looking at a long time in the hospital for recovery again but at least when I come out everything should be good to go. To all other veterans I strongly recommend if you are not recieving the care you should get from your VA hospital then contact a sympathetic congressman or senator and they will help you....They especially want to help Iraq and Afghan vets these days. So anyway I will go in for surgery on April 4th and I will be ther for a month, maybe more but I hope not. I plan on going full speed ahead in physical therapy. So I just wanted to let my friend here know. I am very happy with the outcome and I have none other than my Senator and congrssman from West Virginia to thank for it.
Cheers to all of you and thanks for the prayers. Things are definitely looking up.

I am happy to say that I did not have to go off too much on anyone. I think after their was a congressional inquiryy done as to why someone who was decorated and obviously served their country they were a little skittish of having me contact yet a few more government officials. Anyway, I am happy.

I think I may go balls to the wall tomorrow and play wjat little socccer I can to just go ahead and blow the rest of the worthless leg out. I am getting a new one anyway (well a new knee and a strengthening of the cadaver bone for the weak part of my tibia. Might as ell go out with a bang you know.

Thanks for all the encouragement. I really appreciate it everybody. You all are awesome and if there is anything I can do to facilitate you all getting the help you need please let me know.

 

[Freddy Tavarez]

Interesting, good luck on your leg....also former Drill feel shame being diagnosed with PTSD. In fact I hate VA and the therapists that observe and look at a book and try to pinpoint or give you a sheet to read. Hell I have a short memory loss problem. Am I the only one that goes to a PCT session and walks out more angry than when they went in? I really had it with the VA and for some reason believe they're a bunch of idiots.imo
I;m not going to bore you guys/gals but finally revealed to her something I been holding since 2004. At first she thought I slept with another woman since I distance myself from her and the kids, and after I told her I cried like a baby, then the headaches came and then deep depression. Another reason I dislike the VA they consider neropathy something in the head. If I can take care of the neropathy lower and upper on top of TBI from a blast perhaps PTSD wont kick in. Its a reminder every day of my f life. TALK TO ME SOMEONE IS THIS REALLY IN MY HEAD? sometimes i wish my whole left side was blown off perhaps no pain. sometimes i feel regret for leaving Iraq. Regarding Neorology bunch of college kids pumping pills that have side effects one of them pre-gabitin that messes with your head on top of PTSD: go figure. I finally quit going NO HELP, NO RELIEF..I tell them ya'll conducted EMG's MRI's X-rays, if I'm mistaken the results do not lie especially an EMG???? The pain is in my head..

 

[femaleveteran]

I am sorry for what you are going through...I know I feel tremendous guilt for not being in Iraq at this time. I just hope you can find some relief eventually and I hope your wife now knows what is really going on. All my best to you and I hope you stick with the healing process.
Cheers,
dawn

 

[willis williams]

Dawn congrats you deserve a brake I hope that you get what you wanted to at least walk unaided when you get out the hospital. You are beating the odds of getting taken care of by the VA that is an awsome victory in its self. You don't get out of letting us know how you are doing when your in the hospital.
Freddy you got a whole bunch on your plate and I feel for you cause the VA pumps pills down my throat and here in washington in spokane everybody I know with PTSD leaves the hospital diagnosed Bi-Polar with anxioty and depression. It seem like 9 out of 10 combat vets from all kinds of eras are Bi-Polar it is just funny that the symtems overlap so they poor more meds down your throat. Hopefully it gets figured out for you. TEX

 

[femaleveteran]

I will let you knpow. I will be staying at my Vietnam friend's home with his wife while I get well enough to walk on my own and take care of everything I need to take care of. So, I have at least a couple of supportive people, and I should do fine. I am a fast healer anyway and I am not one to slack on PT so maybe I will even be jogging by summers end. I told my Orto Doc I was going to be out there playing soccer in no time......he just looked at me and said "ummmmm...hate to tell you but just cuz your getting a new knee joint and new bone in your tibia.....does not mean you will ever play soccer again."

......well, maybe he just won't get invited to any soccer maatches.

he did say I could possibly ski again, and that is pretty daggone awesome because I am an avid skier. In WV where I live I am only maybe an hour and half away from some of the greatest skiing in the country. So next winter should be awesome.

 

[willis williams]

Great I know people that skii on one leg when they have two just cause of a grenade. So if you are hitting it on two you kick ass. You need to make this recovery and spread it around. A bit of hope that you could give to so many is un real. Hell I got two kinda good legs with the help of some titanium and a couple surgeries and you are inspiring me to get up of my lazy ass and get back in shape even if it is walking that hurts but maybe it won't if it gets some conditioning. When they screwed my foot back on they told me I shouldn't have any probs. I call bullshit the cold kills me. The spagetti they pulled out of my knee joint same thing you are all better wrong. When my foot was broke off accept skin my fibia was also snapped into I don't have a good left leg anymore. So if you can keep that positive attitude and do it I ain't got much excuse do I. Your post has got me stoked it has been a while since I've heard good things like this for any vet. Thanks for letting us know. Keep us posted and I think I am going to have to start now on getting in shape and getting out and doing some of the stuff I quit yrs. ago I ain't got no more excuses. Your awsome!

 

[nomedic1]

Good luck Femalevet, Tex is right you are an inspiration, I hope you achieve want you want to you deserve it.