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Chronic pain and new medication policies at the Veterans Adminstration health care

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    Chronic pain and new medication policies at the Veterans Adminstration health care

    Last week I saw our VAMC (Veterans Administration Medical Care hospital) "pain" specialist. Instead of getting someone well versed in pain management, I got someone who is anti pain meds/opiods! He gave me all these "stats" about how I will die sooner if I continue with the opiods, how I will have a stroke, have oxygen issues, or overdose and how anti seizure meds are better for pain.

    I've had chronic pain for over 40 years. I've been on opiods for about 20. I've had no issues with oxygen (98% or above). No issues with losing meds or misusing them. They don't control all my pain and I have less pain control then I had before they lowered me from Fentanyl150 mcg/mL to Fentanyl 75 mcg/mL. I was also getting Oxycontin for break through pain. I also use a tens unit, acupuncture (which isn't supposed to work if you're on opiods) and a minimum of 2 hours each day of yoga, stretches, pt, and meditation. He wants to switch me to Valproic Acid. I've tried anti-seizure meds before and had a psychotic break while on gabapentin (Neurontin). I never had any luck with pain control while using anti seizure meds.

    Already there are numerous articles about problems with these changes:
    Is this happening to anyone else? Any suggestions?
    Last edited by Moderator #7; 09-25-2017, 04:34 PM. Reason: Although links aren't allowed until the 11th post, I am letting these stand because of their helpfulness.

    #2
    Disabledquillest - I am in the same boat and wish I had known that you too had to deal with the VA. The VA stinks when it comes to Pain Management -- I ENLISTED to get my butt shoot at and this is how I get treated - BS. Anyway, if you ever care to discuss the VA, and how you are treated, PM me and we can talk - Also - if you use My Healthy vet, be aware that they change things and delete things, print out records as soon as they are posted as they may "disappear.
    Many Blessings to you,
    THANK YOU for your service
    Skypilot Steve

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      #3
      That's why I get hard copies the day after my visit. I download all info into 3 different flash drives as well as the hard copy. Sorry for your loss.

      I don't have internet now or a computer (but my wonderful husband used his bonus to order me a new computer. I'd love to talk with you. I'm trying to get all vets with pain issues together to fight this.

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        #4
        The VA is B.S. I suffer from PTSD - as in I wake up in the middle of the the night - Bolt upright Screaming - and yet after a twenty years they gave me a choice taper off the benzo.s or the Opioid's, This B.S. PM me and we can talk - I will share my Cell# with you only. There is TRUTH out there - in my local CBOC I get treated like S---, When I go to Tucson, I get get treated with respect. rely please, there is strength in number,s
        Blessings
        Alex44
        Skypilot

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          #5
          Don't even get me started on the VA - The Local CBOC is for S---. The one in Tucson is better but as far as Pain Management - I live in fear.
          Blessings
          Skypilot Steve (AKA Alex44)

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by alex44 View Post
            The VA is B.S. I suffer from PTSD - as in I wake up in the middle of the the night - Bolt upright Screaming - and yet after a twenty years they gave me a choice taper off the benzo.s or the Opioid's, This B.S. PM me and we can talk - I will share my Cell# with you only. There is TRUTH out there - in my local CBOC I get treated like S---, When I go to Tucson, I get get treated with respect. rely please, there is strength in number,s
            Blessings
            Alex44
            Skypilot
            One of my friends is suffering from PTSD... So iI really know how it affects a person. I really want to help her and I have already created a thread here. I hope someone will help me.

            Rachel.

            Comment


              #7
              I got a diagnosis of Diabetes, by e- mail no less - Granted my RNP did try to call me but I have a government phone (Lifeline) that works about as well as the government does. So, I get to see her in 3 MONTHS - she said class's were available - NOPE. My Mom was diabetic, so I am not surprised since it is a hereditary disease, She passed from D. Ketosis, I have adjusted my diet as she recommended, I am going to the VA and plan to FIRE her, a diagnosis like that and see me in three months, what B.S. I guess I am fortunate in the fact that I know a great deal about it and have cut all sugar out of my diet, well not all, but that's my problem. I am going to arrange to go to Tucson, the small clinic that I have in Town is B.S. too. All the stuff you read about the VA are TRUE. Sorry about the rant but I know my body well that I know when I am having a swing in blood suger and I always have candy in my pocket since it is usually low blood suger.


              Blessings
              Alex 44 Skypilot

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                #8
                Hi Alex! I finally found a pain doc who is helping me. I called or made appointments with 7 others and was turned down because "too much going on" with me. My surgeon who did my artificial disc told me about a new guy and got me the number. I expected the usual B.S., "you need to get off opiates (my whole 6 mgs of dilaudid) and take Suboxone". Well he turned out to actually go over my 20 year history with me and agreed that opiates are all that's left for me and that injectable IM would help me the best but they would never let me use it. He upped my pain meds some and I finally feel better. Good to see you post, give the bastards hell.
                If no pain, no gain is true, where is everything I should have gained?
                DDD, Fibro, CFS, pain for 20 years. ADR c 5/6 Feb. 2018 doing well.
                Back to pain management, fibromyalgia getting worse.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Lil e - Thank You - Yes , I am going to give them you know what. A diagnosis of that I am Diabetic is no joke, and to simply say - will repeat labs in three months - No instruction to manage my diet (although since my mom was diabetic, I have a pretty good handle on what to do, VA be Dammed( hope that does not violate TOS - I am going to use my Medicaid, They have Not provided a meter for me to monitor my blood sugar, NADA. I plan on firing this RNP and asking for a real Doctor in Tucson. Good to see you are still around - I have been here a long time and never seen it this quiet so Thank You Lil E - lets see if we can get people back this is a good forum that is needed so... I am also glad you found a pain Doc that will work with you. I could go back to Florida and my Old Doc would pick me up in a second, I am going to write to him to see if he has any contacts here.

                  Take care
                  Blessings
                  Alex44 Skypilot

                  Alex44 - Skypilot

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                    #10
                    I found out I had type 2 diabetes from my last p.m. doctor. He had ordered some blood tests for me and called me on a Saturday and told me to go to ER because my blood sugar was 500. I started meds for it and now I'm good but it's not really type2, it's what their calling type 3 from pancreatic insufficiency and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Weird stuff. I'm glad to see you here, I'll try to come more often but I'm getting a reconstruction of my bottom thumb joint due to arthritis on Oct. 12 so typing will be slow. There are a billion groups on facebook but a lot of people aren't happy with them so maybe we'll get more here. Take care.
                    If no pain, no gain is true, where is everything I should have gained?
                    DDD, Fibro, CFS, pain for 20 years. ADR c 5/6 Feb. 2018 doing well.
                    Back to pain management, fibromyalgia getting worse.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Lil-e God bless you - I am going thru it and when I called the VA - Boy where they QUICK to schedule appointments for me - all in ONE week. I am going to talk to the director and get a REAL doctor - NPR's may be good for simple stuff but when you have as many conditions as I do, I want a real doc and will not hesitate to get on social media (you tube) to state my case. Good luck, God Bless, and hang in there, don't let the B------- get you down - Complain!! Diabetes is not a joke, My mom was diabetic so no surprises there but come back in three months? what a joke, I know when my blood sugar is low, I have almost passed out - god forbid this should happen when I am driving, I keep a bottle of Orange Juice Handy, I am blessed to know as much as I do, I have adjusted my diet, by guessing since I have NO way to check my blood sugar, I go with what I know but the VA is sucking wind and I am FINALLY going to be a pain in the butt.
                      Blessings
                      Alex44
                      AKA Skypilot Steve

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                        #12
                        Good to hear from you Lil E - I have been absent due to depression the holidays, and my general health. It's nice to hear from you, I hope your surgery went well, when your hand stops working correctly, It's no fun - I lost the use of my Little finger (right Hand) due to someone's Negligence and I Could Sue the place but it is one of two places to go here ( a very small Cliquey town at that and I will not Drink and drive and there are NO taxis,,Lyft, Uber, you name it, we aint got it. Nothing much is being done about the diabetes, I will be getting a second opinion SOON as I do not even have a glucose meter and no meds yet (good old VA) Hope this finds you and your family as well and safe as ya'll can be.
                        Blessings
                        Happy Holidays
                        Alex44 AKA steve Skypilot)

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                          #13
                          I discovered I had type 2 diabetes from my last p.m. specialist. He had requested some blood tests for me and called me on a Saturday and instructed me to go to ER in light of the fact that my glucose was 500. I began prescriptions for it and now I'm great however (Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...) it's not by any stretch of the imagination type2, it's what their calling type 3 from pancreatic deficiency and sphincter of Oddi brokenness.

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