I have been going to the VA for 30 something years. I think Oscar the grouch is likely the soft version of how I feel and act when I am at the VA...but here is the thing, they made me this way, by treating me like crap, making me fight for every bit of medical care I need, completing destroying my trust, and by making more mistakes then I can even keep track of. I have had VA employees lie and forge records, and Doctors treat me like I should kiss their asses for the free medical care I am provided. Almost anyone who has been dependent upon VA system as long as I have been, will tell you that at times they have felt like a guinea pig for some new idea or the they are so medicated on psychotropic meds that they dont give a shit anymore. Yes folks, if your not careful, the VA will perform a chemical lobotomy on you and shut you up. I am sure that if I was a corpsmen with a little bit of medical knowledge and did not have Linda by my side, advocating for me at times, I would be sitting somewhere in a dark room drooling out of the side of my mouth over medicated on meds I did not need.. I have had to fight for every bit of medical care I have ever gotten from the VA, and then the care I have gotten has often bin sub par at best. (There have been exceptions, and those exception have often been shining examples of what medicine should be, but it is not the norm, and when it occurs it totally unexpected.). This week I had a medical procedure performed that was recommended 2 years ago. In fact, Lindas dermatologist even saw the lump and told me I needed to have it removed. Last year, I convinced, (at least I thought I did,) a VA dermatologist to remove the lump, on the basis that it could hide something underneath. My first appointment for this surgery was 3 months ago, but the VA notified me of the appointment the day of the appointment two hours after I was supposed to be there, and there was 300 miles away. Two days ago I had the lump cut out, and yes it was hiding something, which we think and hope was benign. Nevertheless the first doctor who told me it had to be removed told me 2 years ago, at the VA, and then he was overrode by another GP. and I did not get a consult for another year. If the second growth turns out to be a liposarcoma, two years of waiting will be very costly for me, and the VA. It took me months to get permission to see a chiropractor for my my neck this year. I am service connected 60% for a spinal injury,) First I had to fight with every clerk, nurse, doctor and a clinic manager along the way. Everyone of them told me chiropractic care was not authorized by the VA. I had to work my up the chain of command, in fact go around it, find someone who knew I was eligible for chiropractic care, and then get that person to convince those under him to get it done. When I finally get the approval, it is for treatment of my lower back... If the VA wants to deal with the patient Grinch problem, the VA needs to own it, they created us, and they can tame us...treat us as Human beings. Fire those who are just collecting a check. Give us more options for our medical. Dont make us drive 300 miles for care we could get locally at a cost savings. A welfare mom, on Obama care gets better medical care than I do, and does not have to fight for it. Honor the promise that was made to me, and my brothers, when we signed a blank check, up to the sum of our lives. The promise to me was clear and stated, If you are injured in any manner, your medical needs will be provided for life. There was nothing in there that stated I would have to fight everyday for sub par care, be treated as if I was receiving welfare, and should lick the boots of the providers. Will abcnews.go/US/wireStory/va-training-guide-likens-vets-oscar-grouch-25146298
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:35:12 +0000
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