Not to down all of the VA staff, I know there are many who diligently serve our veteran population, I've been put through the ringer a number of times.. I've pleaded to the IG of the VA for my problems, and I know I'm not the only one. So here's my vent..

I was seen first by the VA in Omaha, Nebraska. First incident didn't happen there, but at the University of Nebraska during my first pregnancy. Dr. Olesh the OBGYN was to perform my monthly checkup, as I stated to him I have PTSD and it is necessary to have a female in the room and the door stay open. he asked if a student can be in the room I said no. So he leaves and comes back in a few minutes later with a male student, no female, closes the door, and tries to examine me, except whatever he was doing was putting me in excruciating pain and I had a panic attack as I screamed out don't touch me repeatedly, he didn't stop, and finally defense mode kicked in and I literally kicked him the face, pretty sure he needed dental work. But after he was kicked he stormed out of the room and 2 female nurses rushed in to quiet the commotion. I told them he had not had any females in the room and he had hurt me badly during the exam. i was told to go talk to him in his office afterwords. I went up to his door, sat in his office, I didn't know what to think as he jumped down my throat telling me how ungrateful of a mother I was and blah blah blah, I walked out of his office just bawling the front desk looked at me, the staff looked at me, as I walked up to my husband and told him what had happened, he immediately requested to speak to Dr. Olesh, but the good doctor was not available, they said, then my husband demanded to speak to his superior, and all in all this led to "We will contact you shortly." The next visit I had at the VA with their OBGYN, She attempted to jump down my throat for unnecessary behavior, not being a good mother, and violent and threatening outbursts from my husband. I told her exactly what had happened and she did mot believe a word I said. I told her there was no security called on my husband, we were not escorted out, what is the deal? I was all in tears once again, my husband this time was in the room with me, I told him I'm going to her supervisor's office and I'm not leaving until I see this person. The supervisor did see me and as I told her everything that had happened with both doctors, she took me off their patient lists and gave me the option of being seen by the midwives at the University hospital. I was pleased but so upset as to why, in my condition, and knowing I have severe PTSD, why they would not offer this care in the beginning. The midwives were outstanding, I spoke to the head midwife about what happened with Dr. Olesh and why nothing was ever done, and she told me he was no longer practicing at that hospital. This is number one of many, to include kidney stones the Columbus, OH. VA had a 3 month waiting list to see the urologist, I had to have emergency surgery by civilian doctors, having reoccurring C-Diff infections thanks to the Columbus VA, Being told I was a bad mother by the head of psychiatry I don't remember her name, but only for bringing my 2 month old son with me to my appointment, I was very uncomfortable talking to her. I found out a few years later there are a number of vets who committed suicide due to this woman's neglect, and they just put her in another office with another title.. I was seen at the brand spanking new Columbus VA by Doctor Amy Sanders, my new primary care doctor, she was awesome, and had found low vitamin D, as well as diagnosis of fibromyalgia and a positive ANA. I was so relieved to have a name for what it is I was going through I thought I was dying, It took 6 months, seeing her every 3 to 4 weeks at a time, telling her my symptoms, "I feel like I have the flu for 6 months" and "I can sleep for 3 days straight and still be tired" she really listened and tried the regular VA meds for fibro which all had bad side effects, then she gave me hydrocodone 5mg twice a day, and it helped so much. I had made an appointment with the VA Rheumatologist. Dr. Sanders, by the way Had resigned I'm sure in part for treating me and diagnosing me for I received a letter from her after my run in with the Huntsville VA Dr. Parrish who tried to put me back on all the meds I had already tried at the Columbus VA. And she sent her nurse out to tell me that the VA does not treat fibromyalgia with pain meds. I said they did in Ohio. But I think I sunk her ship so to speak because she was doing the right thing following the pain management guidelines for non-curable illness such as cancer. Fibromyalgia is a non-curable illness, it's all in the guidelines, which is conveniently available on the VA.gov website.

OK so back to the Rheumatologist visit at the Columbus, OH. VA. I am inserting my blog from April of 2010.

"Just an update from this week...

I had an appointment with the VA rheumatologist on Tuesday. This woman asked me a ton of questions and asked when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I told her that's why I was there, to get a proper diagnosis. She had me take off my socks and shoes, sat me on the exam table, and bended my knees and squeezed my fingers. She did not test my pressure points for pain. I asked what kind of treatments are offered for this and she told me to take Tylenol for my pain and to be active. I think I just wasted my day here at the Columbus VA, and it's my opinion that this woman received her degree from a cracker jack box.

Wednesday was a total 180. I went to an appointment with a civilian rheumatologist. I asked him to give me a rundown of fibromyalgia. He explained to me that it was like a battery that was rundown, and if it was still being used and not charged properly, then it can effect the body in different ways. He examined me and did the pressure point test, stating that I should not be hurting after he touched me in various areas. I told him it hurts to get a back rub or a foot rub and he says that is dead on with fibro. He asked me a few questions and was very open to my thoughts and feelings. He prescribed me Lyrica and wants to see me in 3 months. I felt so special because I was treated like a human.

So, the fun part, I take my script over to the VA to get filled. Since I am 100% Permanent and Total I figure my Primary Doctor could have it filled without any problems. Guess I was wrong. They wouldn't fill it, she said it was too expensive for the VA to have on their formula. So, with haste, and gusto, I took my merry self to see how much I have to shell out for this script. A whopping $155... Holy Toledo!! It's been 3 days now since and I feel like a million bucks! I can't believe how well it works. Now I can add to my workouts and do what I couldn't before, which is a blessing right now.

I'm deciding on how to approach the VA to pay for this script now that I have something that works and have them pay for the 14 trips I took to the ER since they told me no about seeing a specialist. (The old VA doctor I had) Should I get a hold of my congressman about this? More to come I'm sure..."

So just out of curiosity, why would a specialist of all people tell a person with a chronic, non inflammatory illness to take Tylenol for the pain?? it's suppose to be bad for your liver and kidneys and bad on your stomach too. take it in great amounts for long enough and it will have devastating effects on your organs, even death. i'm not willing to take this nonsense which the questions keep popping into my head as I see more and more mistreatment and neglect.

My experience at the Dallas, TX. VA also from a blog in April 2010.

" I cannot wait to see my civilian rheumatologist on Wednesday (Thank You Medicare.) This fibromyalgia is kicking my butt. The VA, oh the VA I've got some stories about them but will save those for another time. I have been to the Emergency Room 15 times since August of last year and I asked the VA to send me to a specialist. They keep telling me no. This pain is so overwhelming and the vitamin M... wth are they having re-re moments in the land of VA protocol? Does it really take suicide on the front steps of a VA hospital for things to change? (Yes this happened on Friday at the Dayton VA when an Iraq war vet went to the VA for treatment and they denied him, so he took his life on their front stoop.)

Last week I was at the Dallas VA to see if moving there would be of benefit. I took a friend with me. I asked for a tour of their facilities and had some questions about their specialty clinics. The man I spoke to denied me access saying he was protecting patient privacy. Wow that got me hot, so I asked for the phone number to the womens veteran coordinator. He again denied me saying that was privileged information for patients only. He also asked me how did I get PTSD. How rude this guy was for even asking. I told him it was none of his business and he refused to answer any more of my questions. I so wanted to reach across the desk and show this man how difficult of a time I had just walking into the building without having a panic attack. By the time the sparks started flying I had to regain my composure and contemplate whether or not it was worth having security kick me out of the building before I had the chance to enroll. I decided no and walked around until I found the patient advocate's office. I was greeted with a hardy hello and a handshake. This man was more helpful in answering some of my questions, but did not know where the rheumotology clinic was. I finally got fed up and walked about asking the vets themselves who I needed to speak to and where the different clinics were. I even got an escort from a friendly vet who was waiting on his script to be filled.

As we were leaving my friend told me she could't believe what she just saw. I told her the best defense I have learned to deal with them is to take a voice recorder to my appointments, always ask for a female doctor, a board certified doctor for that matter, and don't be afraid to seek out civilian care. I also told her one of my shrinks has let it slip that the psychology department was told by the brass to not diagnose PTSD in patients. She asked why are our own military veterans being treated so poorly after all they have done for our country. I really had no answer to give, I just told her we take care of each other.

This week I have been getting the shakes it's hard to keep my camera in action. I've been dropping everything from my groceries to my car keys. I'm ready for some answers, and I also want to propose legislation to create a "Take a Civi to the VA Day" so they can see with their own eyes what government run healthcare is really like."

I had stayed down at the Biloxi, Mississippi VA, and went to their ER after the April 27th tornadoes had wiped out half of Alabama, I was in dire pain from fibromyalgia so I decided to go to the ER there, then stay in a hotel for a few days on the Emerald Coast, until the power and warm water were available again at my apartment. Do not tell these people you are depressed!! they will immediately lock you up!! I told them I was there for Fibromyalgia and they said since it was a Friday night, I won't be able to be seen until Monday. I said ok I guess I can sleep in my car somewhere until then. They were pushing the questions.. do you feel like harming yourself or anyone else?? they kept asking the same question in different ways. I told them I am depressed is all but that's not why I was there. they had taken me back to see the ER doctor, I was in the mental room with the camera and toilet with no lid. How weird I thought why do they have me in here?? the doctor came and evaluated me and then attempted to give me a Loratab for the pain, which I refused because I have a script for Loratab. I pulled out the bottles of medicine from my purse. the male nurse jumped up and said you can't have those in here! I will have to take them and document them and have them in the pharmacy safe. So, all in all they locked me up in their psych ward for the weekend, I saw the Dr. on Monday morning and even he didn't understand why I was there. So I was released, and I walked over to the pharmacy and asked for my medicine they took from me in the ER, they said there was no meds in the safe with my name. I just couldn't believe what they were telling me!! I have had enough of this place and walked all over that place until I found the director's office and barged right in and told him they have my meds somewhere.. He called the pharmacy and they still have none of my meds there. I told him it was in the male nurse at the ER, and I told him to check his security camera for the room I was in.. Then, two minutes later.. Poof! My medicine magically reappears! that's all it took. I will never go there again for any reason, I have never been treated so poorly and disrespected.

So Now I reside in Alabama, near Huntsville. I have had problem after problem with the doctor I was seeing, Dr. Parrish, with the pain management program, which I have never done anything wrong for them to not treat me, she referred me to see the Rheumatoligist at the Birmingham VA to get treatment. I then got a letter a couple weeks later from the rheumatologist in Birmingham stating that fibromyalgia was treated by the veteran's primary care doctor, not the rheumatologist. Again , another disappointment , more waiting, and no answers. I took this matter to the IG and I now have a new VA Doctor who is willing to do a pain management contract, and has also been very concerning with my care. He also has a female nurse in the exam room every time he has to listen to my breathing and such.

Why does it take so much stress and effort to get any type of medical care from the VA??

And... breath...