Medical Concerns

[HBARleatherneck]

no experience with your health problems. I do have much, much experience with the VA. I hope that you can stick with it and follow through with your claim.. The VA can make people wait long enough to drive people crazy. (you cant use that as a stressor statement for PTSD)
I just was finally approved to 100% after 6 years of claim rejections. I got out of the Corps after 2 honorable discharges, with some health problems. I got out at the end of my EAS. not a medical. i never saw the Medical people while i was in. I was gradually sicker and sicker but never considered going to the Va. untill 1 day I got hurt working on a tractor, and needed treatment. They started regular appointments, but it took years, and statements from guys in Iraq, etc. to finally get where I am. I honestly thought I would never be approved. Stick with it. And I pray someone has the wisdom to not only diagnose you correctly, but to also recommend a course of treatment that will cure you.

[Irving]

I've had Shingles before, but it wasn't bad at all.

[275RLTW]

I have had similar issues with the VA regarding spinal/head injuries. After many months of frustration going through the VA's red tape, my wife and I decided to see doctors without the VA authorization. I recieved the care that was needed to get me where I could continue fighting the C&P claim with VA. They, as expected, denied everything despite all of the tests and confirmations by VA and non-VA doctors. It took almost 3 years, but was finally covered and I was able to submit all of the costs associated with my treatment to the VA.
My advise: go to the best person out there that can help you. You may incur some charges untill VA gets off of their butt but money does you no good without health. Keep a log of all expendatures for this untill your claim gets approved so that you can request reimbursement. Remember, VA will fight you for every penny so be prepared. I can give you the name of good contacts at the Denver VA who actually care & will do what they can to help or point you to the right person. Just pm me. Also get the DAV involved. They have a lot of pull with the VA and can advise you on legal matters regarding your claims. On top of that, do not be afraid to call the patient advocate and let him know that you are not receiving the care you deserve. If the patience advocate does not solve the problem, call the Instector General. VA executives do not like calls from the top saying that are not doing their job and formal inquiries will be made into their facility. In short, be an ass right back at them, it's you life, your helthcare, you deserve to be treated.

[Fentonite]

PM Sent.

[Skywalker]

Thanks for the info guys much appreciated. Got to PM's and responded. I was really worried about the steriod injections from the VA and also have a civilian neruo doc that is wanting to guide needle as it reads by TRICARE approval form... [FONT='Times New Roman','serif']destroy nerve, face muscle, destroy nerve, neck muscle and guide nerve destroying needle. So, between the two of them the VA steriod injections seems better option as I don't want anything destroyed! The fight with the VA after they themselves diagnosed V. Zoster Sine Herpete is another story and may take some heavy backing to get put into the rating as i know that I have permanant damage because I have had deep left side head pain since Feb 2008 and no one did shid until found about 5 of 6 months ago with blood work. Thanks again my gun lovin friends! [/FONT]

[Colorado Osprey]

I had Shingles on my facial nerve running from my ear to above my lip.
It was mis-diagnosed 3 times and I was sent to a pain specialist who wanted to put me on opiates.

My body cannot take opiates and makes me deathly ill... so I lived with the intense facial pain for 3 weeks (read no sleep) before seeing my general practioner for a referral. The lack of sleep will almost make you insane.

My GP says, I know your problem and can cure it quick. In fact you can probably diagnose yourself. I'm like, ahh. don't think so.
He says you had chicken pocks before, right? I didn't even know.

Anyway gives me a perscription for Herpes and felt better about 3-4 hours later.

I'm sure you can get someone to write you a script for medication. If they won't and you are convinced you have Herpes Zoster (Shingles) consider a trip to Mexico for a perscription.
I had been given a script for the middle one that cured me.

BTW, 9 years and it hasn't returned.

Here are the 3 most common:

Famciclovir
Famciclovir (one brand name is Famvir) is an antiviral used to treat herpes zoster (shingles) and genital herpes. Famciclovir is used to treat herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenpox in the past). It is also used to treat repeat outbreaks of herpes virus cold sores or fever blisters in people with a normal immune system. Famciclovir is used to treat repeat outbreaks and to prevent further outbreaks of genital herpes (a herpes virus infection that causes sores to form around the genitals and rectum from time to time) in people with a normal immune system. Famciclovir is also used to treat returning herpes simplex infections of the skin and mucous membranes (mouth, anus) in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Famciclovir is in a class of medications called antivirals. It works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body. Famciclovir does not cure herpes infections and may not stop the spread of herpes virus to other people. However, it may decrease the symptoms of pain, burning, tingling, tenderness, and itching; help sores to heal; and prevent new sores from forming.

Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir (one brand name is Valtrex) is an antiviral used in patients with normal immune systems to treat herpes zoster infections (shingles) or to treat or suppress genital herpes. This medicine may be used in combination with safe sex practices in patients with genital herpes to help reduce the risk of spreading the condition to others. This medicine may also be used for cold sores (herpes simplex) or other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Acyclovir
Acyclovir (one brand name is Zovirax) is used to treat herpes infections of the skin, lip, and genitals; herpes zoster (shingles); and chickenpox. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching and promotes healing.

[SA Friday]

Talk to an attorney, keep every scrap of paper, every document, every communication. You probably have enough for a medical malpractice suit.

[Skywalker]

Gald your was over quick. Think about this... the 1st onset of what was diagnosed as hemi migranes was in Feb 2008. I have not stopped having left side deep inside head pain ever since and I do mean 24/7/365. So, with that long of a period and I've read that it can last for years and will when internal like mine will cause nerve damage and in the obvious place... where I hurt... left side head pain! I was only told about 5 or 6 months ago I had V. Zoster Sine Herpete and gave FAMVIR which is what you listed below! After 10 days of that I was better for about 3 or 4 days and it returend. By this time is when I insisted becase the VA Comp and Pen Team that I tuned this in as a claim as it happend while still active duty and on my 21st year, the VA doc from India wants me to show her my Zoster. I get pissed and demand then how is it rulled in or out? Blood work and I'm like and you guys sitting around and that is all it will take! I take the blood work and they send me a registered certified letter to CYA telling me the grave importance of getting to the Denver VA Hospital or the COS Clinic or civilian of my choice. So, I'm retired since 3 Nov 08 and got a civilian doc by now and he will not touch this... because he ignored this for a year and was bening and popping my neck and giving my neck hot packs. He freaks out when I show him the Zoster results and knows he has done wrong and goes to calling the VA to raise heck and tells me there is no test for ZOSTER and this is bogus! Scared! I finally get a follow-up back with the VA to see how the FAMVIR went and my young and very smart doc that diagnosed me who is actually from the Denver University Neruo Clinic is not there, new team and want to ignor what she said and go in a different direction. Why, I had already been to the Denver University Neruo office twice in 14 months and they ignored me as well and in fact one girl put her hand in my face and said I don't care about the lesion on your brain! Long story, the young lady that diagnosed me is not coming back as I ask for her so she could continue her great service and follow-up treatment and she told me there is a 50/50 chance to fix this since it went so long! She is not coming back as you can bet the Denver University is now figuring this all out... he was here twice, we did nothing and now 1 or our very own nailed it and confirmed it twice and the VA which is still standin's from the Denver University has sent four different teams as I go back each time and each want to stray away from the Zoster knowing what has happened. My main concern here is mutiple issues, treatment and maybe the injections will work, VA Claim for sure as it happened while active duty and 3rd, doctors trying to cover up and still ignoring their severe oversight that caused me to live now for 25 months with deep left side head pain and this covers my family doc and the two docs at Denver University that did nothing and was very unprofessional because they were instructed by the USAF Neruo doc to synch my diagnosis and focus on MS since that was already ruled out. This was directed by Randolph AFB Medical board and the young Capt at the USAFA followed orders and made sure as the 1st girl at my Denver University appointment ended up being his personal friend as she told me so and smelled of alchol and I wrote the hospital in an online survey they sent and told them the entire story! Big cover up and I'm still hurting and effecting my VA claim as well. This was my worst problem in 21 years of service! What a mess.

I had Shingles on my facial nerve running from my ear to above my lip.
It was mis-diagnosed 3 times and I was sent to a pain specialist who wanted to put me on opiates.

My body cannot take opiates and makes me deathly ill... so I lived with the intense facial pain for 3 weeks (read no sleep) before seeing my general practioner for a referral. The lack of sleep will almost make you insane.

My GP says, I know your problem and can cure it quick. In fact you can probably diagnose yourself. I'm like, ahh. don't think so.
He says you had chicken pocks before, right? I didn't even know.

Anyway gives me a perscription for Herpes and felt better about 3-4 hours later.

I'm sure you can get someone to write you a script for medication. If they won't and you are convinced you have Herpes Zoster (Shingles) consider a trip to Mexico for a perscription.
I had been given a script for the middle one that cured me.

BTW, 9 years and it hasn't returned.

Here are the 3 most common:

Famciclovir
Famciclovir (one brand name is Famvir) is an antiviral used to treat herpes zoster (shingles) and genital herpes. Famciclovir is used to treat herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenpox in the past). It is also used to treat repeat outbreaks of herpes virus cold sores or fever blisters in people with a normal immune system. Famciclovir is used to treat repeat outbreaks and to prevent further outbreaks of genital herpes (a herpes virus infection that causes sores to form around the genitals and rectum from time to time) in people with a normal immune system. Famciclovir is also used to treat returning herpes simplex infections of the skin and mucous membranes (mouth, anus) in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Famciclovir is in a class of medications called antivirals. It works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body. Famciclovir does not cure herpes infections and may not stop the spread of herpes virus to other people. However, it may decrease the symptoms of pain, burning, tingling, tenderness, and itching; help sores to heal; and prevent new sores from forming.

Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir (one brand name is Valtrex) is an antiviral used in patients with normal immune systems to treat herpes zoster infections (shingles) or to treat or suppress genital herpes. This medicine may be used in combination with safe sex practices in patients with genital herpes to help reduce the risk of spreading the condition to others. This medicine may also be used for cold sores (herpes simplex) or other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Acyclovir
Acyclovir (one brand name is Zovirax) is used to treat herpes infections of the skin, lip, and genitals; herpes zoster (shingles); and chickenpox. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching and promotes healing.