Anyone on here A Veteran

[england636]

Is there anyone on here that is a veteran and had to deal with the VA for Opiate Addiction? Do you have any suggestions or what you may have done to get help?

[england636]

since I see your id as navyss I'm assuming your ex navy. Me to I was a TM1 that seems like a life time ago. I would gladly accept any info you can give me. My biggest problem is this is an one income home and I'm not the one working my spouse is and she doesn't drive, we live in a very rural area and we're pretty much alone. She looses her job we loose the house. We've tried to find help there but to no avail. I did on my own drive the 75 miles to the Memphis VA and went to there recovery clinic looking for help. I was told they had and out-patient treatment plan and hoped they would help. I was in full WDs by then but doing my best to hold it together, how I drove those miles I have no idea but I did it. They accessed me at what they call intake and after spending a while talking to me and asking questions she went off to have thier team access me. I sat there and prayed something I don't much do. Once she came back she said the only way they could help me was to admit me into their inpatient program and that had to be like now. I told her I couldn't and explained my home situation and wasnt their anything they could do? And she said no since you'll not admit yourself you'll have to go back to you pcp. I freaked started crying. I told her he said he cant handle detox not qualified for it and felt completely uncomfortable treating me. She said thats all we can do. Now you can tell him he can reput u on your loratabs and ween u off and I asked her can you speak with him so we can get a plan here? She said no. So I ended up just running out of the office crying. Ended up in er they prescribed me 9 loratabs to get me thru until I could see my dr. The drive home was a somber one for me. I emailed my pcp and told him what I was told and he next day aired me 45 of my meds I emailed him a few more times asking questions...you know now what, why is impatient the only way, I got a curt email back from him telling me all my emails were alot of trouble for him to log on to the VA system and was taking up to much of his time so when i do email him it needs to be about important matters. For anything else make an appt. Making a appt with him is difficult can take weeks or months. Thats where I am at sorry such a long one. I'm 5 days in to WDs now some days are not to bad others my shame low self worth really push me down, but I try to take it minute by minute. but again yes any advise or info will help. I was proud of myself early a friend called said I got 8 perc's want em? I was actually strong enough and said no. But what I fear is how long and if I'll be able to be strong.

[NAVYss]

I think I have your answer. I myself am a vet and the via sent me to an inpatient facility that the military has a contract with in Wilmington, NC. 28 day program and you are in a military group with other vets inside the facility, most active but some retired. One of the counselors is a Mast. Gun. srgt, well I think, an E-9 in the marines, she's awesome. I needed the inpatient BC of detox but it helped a lot. Still having problems but no where near as bad as before. I then joined the outpatient program and decided to live here for the year BC the city itself has an AA/NA center that is gigantic, also plus I needed a new start where I didn't know anyone or was reminded of anything, a new start. The facility is called The Treatment Center of Wilmington, a CRC company I believe. Also the medical director is a recovering addict himself, he is the only person in the world that my stubborn self will listen too BC he has been there and done that, not just read it during a half semester in Med school. Let me know if you need more info. Semper Fortis

[england636]

Yes thats true about VA Drs. Some will hand out just about anything others won't. Some are caring, some seem to care less. I miss my LA PCP she was great. I am going to have to find a way to change my PCP I maybe able to do that. I think I may even know how. As for different insurance right now no.
I hope your husband isn't buying off street it can become very expensive believe me I know I did it a few times. My cousins Husband has such a bad problem their bills go without being paid so he can buy. Thats what opened my eyes to what I was becoming.....like them thats why I went to my Dr. Maybe should of somehow did it differently because of how it came out. But maybe this is best for me I will no longer get that big bottle of Pain pills every month. Its gonna be tough with no dr helps thats what concerns me.

[Jbean77]

My husband is a vetern who I fear is addicted but mostly through his own doing. While I don't know exactly who you could contact other than your doctor (which I read in your other post hasn't gone well), I totally feel for you as far as the trouble you have dealing with the VA system. My husband's doctors push him around specialist to specialist to PCP saying they don't write Rx, or they don't run such and such tests. It is like an endless fight to just get answers. He finally just went to a civilian doctor to have his upcoming surgery done because he couldn't handle the VA anymore.

Can you talk to another doctor or request a different doctor within the system at your location OR do you have the means (for example I have insurance through my work for the family which is how my husband is going outside for his treatment)? I know that his first pcp was VERY liberal with meds and his new one is not. (now I fear he's supplementing on the street)..... but my point to you is that each doctor seems to be very different in their treatment methods.