There
are times I am amazed by what happens at the VA. It is not surprising the
suicide rate among veterans when you consider the mental health treatment and
poor customer service and people skills of some VA staff members.
My
husband is now on his 3rd doctor for Mental Health and Medication
Management. The first doctor got sick and has now stopped seeing patients all
together. The second doctor has now transferred to the Domiciliary Care Unit.
Our third and current doctor seems to actually listen, for now.
There
is such inconsistency within the Mental Health Department with one notable
exception, medications. There is a constant desire to change medications. My
husband spent an entire week sleeping 20-22 hours with one medication he was
placed on. That is not acceptable to our family.
I have
tried to have my husband go in for ‘therapy’ and was told that group therapy
was our only option. Unfortunately my husband will not sit in a room with a
bunch of other PTSD veterans sharing their war stories, he has enough of his
own baggage, he doesn't want to add to them.
As for
our Poly-trauma care…there is no care at all. The first ‘exam’ my husband was
asked to walk a straight line, squeeze her fingers, and touch his nose. That
was the whole exam. The second exam, that I had to really push for, was almost
as much of a waste of time as the first exam, but we were there for 90 minutes.
In that
90 minutes time frame we were told there were no residual effects of TBI. The
headaches my husband has suffered for the last 8-9 years following his head
injury in country during deployment, are due to sleep apnea. The cognitive
issues that I have noticed in my husband since his return from deployment have
nothing to do with a potential TBI, medication can cause these issues
regardless of the fact that the issues began before the medications started.
I am
completely bothered by the fact that there is no serious treatment plan for veterans
returning from deployments with invisible wounds. We have had to fight, and
fight hard, for some of the treatment we are finally getting. The lack of
consistency across the country is amazing.
Now for
some positive points. Our VA has a child
care facility on site for veterans to use while attending appointments. With so
many young veterans this is VITAL for all VAMCs.
Our VA
also has great Caregiver Support Coordinators who really want to help. They
have helped us get the bathroom safety equipment that is necessary for my
husband. The Caregiver Program is another program that is not the same across
the country.
My
husband is rated 100% T&P for PTSD. I cannot leave him alone, it is not
safe. The Caregiver Program has allowed me to take care of my husband, keep him
safe, and take him to appointments, without the worry of what I might come home
to. This is a positive program for the VA.
To learn more about the State of Heroes and Families
project, please visit our main site or visit any of the following direct
project links -
Why This Started:
www.familyofavet.com/state_of_veterans_families-why.html
The Statistics:
www.familyofavet.com/state_of_veterans_families-statistics.html
Our Stories:
www.familyofavet.com/state_of_veterans_families-stories.html
What We Hope For: www.familyofavet.com/state_of_veterans_families-hopes.html
FAQ About the Project:
www.familyofavet.com/state_of_veterans_families-faq.html
I am a wife of a Vet. 25 years now. I know many wives have understood this way of life much longer then I.
ReplyDeleteBut for me, today, now, I am petrified. I have no place to go for the wife of the Vet care. I cannot stay on top of his reality each day. This changes always and it is my fault. I did not remember what he said, or I cannot keep up or I am the one with all the problems. I cannot handle this. I am so confused. Who can I call for me. He does not go to any councilling. He got his claim that's all he needed and now he can take care of himself and blame it on me, wife number 3.
He tells tales, retells others tales. If I dare say anything I am the unsupportive lying wife of this Vet. He does not protect me. It is like he needs somebody to point his finger at as to why he has the troubles he has. Yeah I need help but not the kind he keeps telling me. Oh God how can I help myself. I sit and watch my life disintergrate before me while he is controlling the whole thing. Who can stop this?
He appears fine. I am the bad one. The problem one. Poor him. I have heard to many women on the online Chat sites say so or over heard a phone conversation. Poor you, you must call me! Please don't commit suicide. And the stories he tells of me! Not true. But he won't say this to my face, just to other pitiers. I love him but he is eating me alive and enjoying it.
His next task lately has been removing my name from all our accounts. My name used to be on all accounts and now just him. He even says it yelling, "I own them all and I will do what I want, shut them off, track them, what ever I damn well want.
But he loves me, poor pitiful loser with all her mental and past and future problems he soo loves me.
Where is some help for us, me.