8 Things Only VA Patients Would Understand November 19 2014 17 Comments

Waiting to be called into the exam room. “Mr. Garrison”. I stand up. “Is Mr Garrison in the bathroom?” I take a deep breath and exhale. “Mr. Garrison is at home. Ms. KATHERINE Garrison is right here. Not all GIs are Joe’s”. She at least had the grace to look surprised. How many men do you honestly know named Katherine?

As a patient and an employee this all very true. Thanks for the laugh fellow sister in arms.

OMG I laughed my arse off. I have avoided the VA at all costs, even though I’m entitled to go there. Anyway, it just reminds me of this last veteran’s day. I was at church, and they were handing out veteran’s pins. I went up to the nice Marine Corps Sergeant and asked for my pin, and he says, “Excuse me, ma’am, but this is not for spouses, it’s for veterans.” I said, “Um yeah, OK, hand me my pin please.” He kept saying, “but, but, but…” My husband whispered something to him, and he handed me a pin…

Thank-you for creating these shirts… I hate having to carry around my DD-Form 214.

Before my disability claim was approved in Nov 2014 (though many were denied) and my rating is 60% I had follow-up appointments every six months (for two years) like clock work. I have been trying to get my bi-annual appt, that was supposed to be in Dec, set up since Jan 2nd, that has yet to happen. I have been suffering from ever increasing vertigo and have made many complaints about the same since it started. At first, I assumed it was due to my medications, however I quit taking ALL of them for 2 months and the vertigo continued to get worse. I have fallen several times due to this over the last several months, once breaking my foot when it rolled one way and I fell the other, and last week feel flat on my face almost breaking my nose on hard packed dirt (no soft landing snow in Texas). I now have an appointment to try to get to the bottom of the vertigo problem; AT THE END OF APRIL 2015. I even had to quit my part-time job because of the problem. But also rarely leave my apartment unless my husband or friend is available to drive me wherever I may want to go. I served 1978 – 1981 and am 56 years old and really am not ready to give up my independence.

Hahahaha it’s all so true!!! It’s all happened to me at one time or another especially the last one.

I have also gotten are you waiting for you’re " grandfather, husband, boyfriend, are you so and so ’ s ride?"

The latest is the one that really threw me over the edge, but I somehow kept my cool. I was waiting for my appointment, which was any minute, I’m reading a book on my phone and this old man sits next to me. His response to my chuckling is; "since you’re obviously not doing anything special why don’t you go upstairs and get me a newspaper from the store. " I told him the I am next for my appointment any minute. He scoffed at me, crammed 2 dollars in my hand and said “get me that paper” He is so lucky I value the elderly, and so lucky I am able to control my rage to a degree.
In order to not kick the old man’s ass I kindly told the women at the desk what happened and to please tell my doctor I will be back.
I got him his paper with no thanks.
My doctor came out after he had already left.
I told him what happened. He was so pissed he told me to point him out, but the old guy had already left.

Anyways sorry to rant that last one. It really pissed me off.

So many people cannot fathom women being veterans, let alone combat vets.

So true. Anyone remember hurry up and wait? I often feel as if they keep my mental health on full blast. They say I’m important but their actions prove I’m a peon. I used to have pride for being a combat veteran but more than ever I feel disgust and shame.

I love my Flint clinic in Mich, associated with the Ann Arbor VA and U OF M Hosp. I don’t know if it is because I worked 18 yrs at AA or know the system, lol! Good luck everyone!!!

complaints? Well, first off, if you go to an ER, usually means yes, it really is an emergency, especially if you know what an emergency is? But why is there a male in the room? He isn’t suppose to be in one if you have MST? Oh, wait, I get it, so the “doctor” can tell you your wasting her time in her ( very quiet no veterans waiting to be seen?) ER! Did the VA hand the ER over to a doctor to own? A shot given, ( and well known by the patient) but the patient is older, smarter and can be more cunning, asked for an x-ray. Ain’t nothing wrong with you, by the tech and the doctor, wait, why was this tech in the room? Ah, but the patient can read an x-ray, oh yes, there was something very wrong, and has gotten progressively worse. Wish I had “faith” in the Village Idiot Directors office, but gee, when you go on “faux Pas Views?” Um yeah and that’s why another reporter had his email blow up? I think when you point out illegal entries in a real world and diagnosis that the patient never stated, never had, and gee, did she change the otoscope cap? Ever since my ears have been leaking now to the point, this could be really bad, like you know MRSA Bad? Why is it when you say no thank you, they send it to you anyways? That is not to be done. Again, “where is the brains?” MOTRIN should not be taken for women over a certain age, it can cause a heart attack, but do they keep up with medical journals and well published articles? Let’s say she is crazy, yeah that ought to work. Hmm, wrong move. Don’t call me I shall have an attorney call you!

Still getting used to waiting. Sometimes I’m good. Sometimes I feel where is the love. We have supported the USA.

You forgot the waiting on referral clinics to get back to you. My personal hell. Had to wait a year for a change of primary to a female MD. If it wasn’t for the people in mental health…

I DO NOT REALLY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY TREATMENT AT THE VA, EXCEPT I AM NOT MR. KEEFE-MIYAJI, LOL, I HAVE BOOBS, BIG ONES, AT THAT, LOL.

Not too much to complain about. The major complaint I do have is that I was hit with a bill of over $300 in copays. I was not informed that because of that little raise I received from SSA would put me into a different income bracket. Right now I have a 10% rating and I am working very hard on two claims that I have pending that I was denied for that happened to me while in the military. If I can get to 50% then I won’t have any copays.

Love it! So many fond memories of driving 120 miles to see an intern – on my 5th or 6th visit for the same issue! After screaming and yelling and writing letters to Senators and Reps, I was admitted for a 5 day diagnostic workup, and guess what – yep, an Intern! Or leaving the pharmacy with 14 or more items. At one point in the mid-90’s I had 36 active prescriptions. Of course I didn’t take them all – I’d be dead!

Thanks Vet! Appreciated :)

Someone answers the phone when you call? LUCKY! I get a recording telling me how important I am to them (LOL) and leave a message. In a few days, I get a card with an appointment that I can never make, so I have to call back and reschedule. And the cycle starts all over.

And the waiting room comment is spot on! I feel like a 3-eyed freak. I’m an art student now, in a jewelry class. I’m making pins (brooches) with a woman silhouette to wear to the VA. Maybe that will give some of those men “a clue”. I’ll be selling them soon, I hope.

I shared your blog on my FB page.

To me and the Salisbury VA Medical Ctr.North Carolina
I have no complaints.The room I was in was old and out dated,but the staff treated me very well.
As for appointments so far decent.I send a request usimg My Va.Health Vet,and I always get a responce from my GP;s staff.
Just my opinion satisfied and grateful that I have the VA for my medical.
No travel expenses,that is my only complaint.
Jim

Love #4 — just had a temporal artery biopsy under local anesthesia…

And stop calling me “Mrs.”!! I’m the veteran!