New Experiences

[Razorback]

It has been awhile since I've been on here. Like maybe a year or more. Been trying to make it through graduate school. I've done alright, but it is getting time for graduation in December.

Over the summer I finally got VA to work for me instead of not at all. Since I'm currently an unemployed student, I'm getting some free care while they process claim which will probably take a few years yet. Awesome.

First visit to Gen Prac Physician of course set off the warning bells. Hmmm...your high risk. Gotta make an appointment with Mental Health. Of course, the VA hadn't changed and the appointment didn't get made for several months. Like Doc told me this first week in May and finally have an appointment for not this week but next to see Psychiatrist. Told 'em that was all I needed as my civilian counselor can't prescribe and was wanting me to get something to help me sleep and/or deal with my anxiety so we can move forward in therapy.

So, the new stuff. Exhaustion. Never felt exhausted like this. Well, except that one time in Basic, lol. Almost falling asleep standing up. That was this summer. Course I was trying to manage pretty heavy school load and about sleep time anxiety would kick up a notch. It isn't so bad now, but I'm still not sleeping much. Another feature of summer was short term memory loss. It has become worse. I get confused on what day it is and other stuff. If an appointment isn't in my phone, I don't remember. It is sucking pretty bad for classes. Homework is suffering. Internship is suffering. Prof has us working in groups on a project and I mixed up meeting days. I hate feeling responsible for any of it. Had having them depending on me. It is a good project though. We're doing a Needs Assessment on Homeless Female Veterans. Did I mention I'm getting a Masters in Social Work? The course work has been interesting and the profs are actually really decent. Best I've met or dealt with, anyways.

I worry. It seems like I'm getting close to the end goal and the anxiety and ptsd symptoms are trying to shift into overdrive. I'm hoping the VA Psych is a good one, cause I haven't had the greatest experiences with the VA. So what's the ones with the prescription pad normally like? Are they usually pretty decent?

Thanks!

 

[Zipperhead]

I wonder why that is? We tend to work through the shit, and just as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel the crash starts. Don't give in. It's almost over.

 

[Razorback]

Thanks Zip!

 

[Jimmy1]

Seems like a whole heap of people are returning to the site. Awesome. It's good to have you back Razor.

 

[Spock]

Razor, Did you suffer any head injuries or get hit on the head at all? You might get a referral for TBI diagnosis. Any headaches? Probably fine but just to be safe, dizziness might be a symptom for something else or not. I had no clue until a major seizure took me out for 3 months. They treated me for seizures but 3 yrs later I was diagnosed for TBI. Stay safe, stay strong...

 

[Jimmy1]

Razor, Did you suffer any head injuries or get hit on the head at all? You might get a referral for TBI diagnosis. Any headaches? Probably fine but just to be safe, dizziness might be a symptom for something else or not. I had no clue until a major seizure took me out for 3 months. They treated me for seizures but 3 yrs later I was diagnosed for TBI. Stay safe, stay strong...

Hey Spock, Razor well, she is just a hard arse. I am glad she is back, we need more women around here, don't we Jen.

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

My therapist / councilor (whatever) was a coach. She took me through Cognitive Process Therapy by assigning me tasks that forced me to change my perspective in many ways. However, I did the work, and the load was huge, one of the toughest undertakings of my life.

She told me when I began that of all the Vets. she sees half don't complete the process. Of the half that finish, only half of them really benefit. I came away believing that the time has to be right, and willingness to participate has to be total, or it won't work.

Here's where I'm going with this Razor. The best therapist is only going to show you the road. You have to go down it. It's a journey you need to take, but the pumps are huge, and pot holes very deep.

Get yourself down that road my Sister cause the view at the end is fantastic.

SD

 

[Sarg]

Welcome back, Razor, missed ya. It's always stressful when one is broadening their horizons. Go with the flow and try not to bog down in the particulars. No expectations = no disappointments. Gotta get the masters, there's a lot of us out here suffering and you been there, done that. You'll do good, we're all pulling for ya.

Sarg

 

[Razorback]

Thanks, y'all! I met with the psychiatrist today. She was pretty good. Explanatory, smart, and didn't try to bullshit you. I picked up a prescription for Mirtazapine. I hear it is VA's new hot med for PTSD. Even though she knows I see a civilian provider she said lets put in a referral for a VA therapist. Dang Doc is a sharp one. Said even if I don't want to now, it'll take them several months to schedule/get an appointment so if I change my mind I already have the appointment. She gave me a sheet for an appointment in 6 weeks to revisit with her about the meds. Course, this is where VA fails. Earliest appointment I could get was Dec 24th. Yeah, like that won't get canceled. Next dates were Jan 7th and Jan 30th. So much for a 6 week follow up. Of course, I followed up on why my consult with the endocrinologist hasn't been set up. Oh, they are booked out to July 2014. So not much chance of resolving anything. Plus rumor has it primary Doc is leaving. Wow. The Psyche Doc was good, but the VA system...well, it still doesn't really work.

As for head trauma, nah. Nothing but the half-dozen times I jumped up to throw on vests during mortar attacks and nearly knocked myself out on the bunk above me.

Thanks for the support y'all.