Questions About VA Health Care Or Life In Amerika

Questions About VA Health Care

What I am wondering, have you used the VA Health care since being out of the military? If yes, where you asked if you were a Vietnam Vet and if you remember your war experiences and if you have ever dreamed about them?

Seeing as it has been 35-40 years since Vietnam, for myself there sure are some things that are a bit foggy to me, as I just don’t remember much from that far back. Some I do and some I don’t. As far as ever having dreamed about such things, yes, there have been times I have dreamed about some things, but there is a wide array of subject matter I dream about from time to time, and none of it is life shattering to me.

My concern, the VA considers recalling war experience, remembering and ever having dreamed as an adverse health concern they seem to want to cure, and so they want to assign the person to mental health care and give them drugs. Just don’t seem reasonable to me.

What? Will they give pills so you can’t remember anything? Resistance is futile. We will assimilate you.

I am not trying to make light of legitimate health concerns, but I am thinking it is wrong to create a health concern pushing a veteran into something when there is no legitimate problem.

It seems to me there are concerns other than a veterans thoughts and dreams that should be a priority for those claiming to serve the veterans. But it seems, from what I have been able to pick up, anyone that served in Vietnam is a candidate for their cure, and their pills.

Also, there is screening asking if a person smokes, and if so how long and how much, or have you ever smoked and how much and how long. If it is a problem to the VA they push the patient to the mental health doctors for the cure and pill dispensing.

Same with alcohol use. I am not a smoker or drinker, yet I see some problem with invasive thought police pushing their cures. Questions are asked about if a person drinks. If yes, how much and how often. If no, then have you ever. How often and how long, and if it is a problem to the VA then the patient is pushed to the mental health doctors for the cure and pill dispensing.

Actually, there is a trend developing that such things are becoming usual, outside the VA system. Some states require a mental health screen of pregnant women, and if the wrong answers are given counseling and pills are required to be taken by the patient. That could be a bit perplexing, were one to visit a doctor because they sprained their ankle, and ended up being told they must take counseling for mental health and must take the pills, because the screeners didn’t like the answers. Certain school children in some states are also being subjected to such things.

Some of the questions, have you ever felt you don’t get enough done on some days, have you ever felt you don’t get all the sleep you want, and such things that are subjective and not at all objective. If the answers are yes to such questions, then you might be assigned to go to the mental health doctors and told to take their pills.

I’m sure the drug companies enjoy such things, and I’m sure the politicians being encouraged by perks and such from the corporate companies dispensing the drugs are happy they have been used to pass such laws and programs, and the ones “providing such health treatment” should find it is great they have become so important and are able to get money from the government for such “treatment” but to my simple mind, it seems very out of line.

All this to see if you have heard of such a things regarding VA health care. If such things were being directed at the veterans, and I have heard they are, it seems a very terrible way to handle veterans.

Semper Fi

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One reply: "It's not just VA. Wes Vernon wrote an article titled "Reveal Everything Just To Keep A Driver's License". It's dated 14 July 01 and was at:

www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/7/13/174657.shtml

The theme is national. Your friend from Ohio is on to something.

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I think this is just the tip of the Iceberg. Wonder what the purpose is? Hmmmm

What do you have to add to this?

 

Just more "I hate America" propaganda.

Oh, OK.

Bob, why the misspelling of America?

I've really never heard of these things you are talking about. Boy howdy, I hope you aen't going to be upset about my spelluing.

If there are any non-Baptist veterans, that are actually intersted in this topic, please, just email me at bobkrajcik@yahoo.com

 

Say, these are some interesting replies. Very interesting. Statute of limitations? Oh?

WallyGator, thanks for the reply. I suppose you have never been asked the questions pregnant women were reportedly asked. Do you suppose that means the questions were never asked of the pregnant woman? Plus, you say you don't ever remember this area over-emphasized. Does that mean the questions were emphasized just enough, and is the just enough a subjective determination? or is that a typing error and you meant ever and not over? Gotta watch out for typing errors.

Has this post and the questions hit a nerve with some people? That is not my intention.

 

Charles, Thank you for the helpful post.

 

Say, do I still have to be hating America and spreading propaganda lies?

As Chesty Puller would say, "Say old man. . ." There is a few things I have to say yet, with this post.

If we should make subjective rules for our determinations, allow me to make one. I think that for a person to love America, they must be a Marine Corps combat veteran, a Life Member of the VFW, Marine Corps League, and Marine Corps Association. Do you qualify?

Semper Fi

 

Just to make sure it is understood, I really don't think my subjective determinations for loving America are completly valid, but, they are pretty far up the line.

God bless America!

Hug a veteran!

 

Jim, thanks for the comments. If I understand Charles meadows post, it seems some places more be stressing these more, because of how they ranked on a national average. Somebody is pushing this, and if one persona or another has not heard of such a thing, well, that doesn't mean others have not.

As far as health care, generally, I think the care is top notch, and when problems are found indicating there is a problem with the health care, as far asd I have seen, they are addressed, and determionatiopns are made. My care through the VA has been, in my estimation, for some major concerns, and I think they were handled very well. With that said, I think there are some things they could do for veterans that are of more importance than trying to meet a national average. As I said, I am not trying to make light of legitimate health concerns, but I am thinking it is wrong to create a health concern pushing a veteran into something when there is no legitimate problem. It seems to me there are concerns other than a veterans thoughts and dreams that should be a priority for those serving the veterans.

 

Pardon my typing errors, I must have hit a speed bump.

 

Dear Diane, I agree with what you are saying. I am very grateful for the VA. It is true, there are many veterans that are having terrible problems, and the VA is a place that provides care.

Just yesterday, I heard from a friend that was asking some questions about a ministry (not VA) for mentally ill, and homeless. As I read what was said, I must say, I cried, thanking God there were those providing care, without being judgmental. My advice, regarding his concerns, If you would have a part in this ministry, do good, be kind, expecting nothing from them in return. Provide a safe haven for the poor troubled souls that seek a refuge there. Thank God they have a place they are welcomed. Let them see your love in action by being kind to them as they are. Don't insist they change, but instead love them as they are (Rom 5:6,8; Luke 6:35; Eph 4:32; John 3:16).

In many respects, the VA is doing a very admirable job. There are very worthy concerns the VA could be working on, and there are those very much in need. Some of these things are legitimate health concerns, such as smoking and drinking, and let me be clear, I know PTSD is a serious problem. What I am concerned about, is if they are trying to get veterans in a program simply to fill a quota. Often, the homeless and those with mental health concerns will not be seeking health care, not at the VA, and not anyplace else. Sadly, they will not always be found seeking health care at the VA. Very often, those with such problems very much avoid being around any that are judgmental. When they are troubled as they are, very often all they find is judgmental people, that really don't want to help them when they are the way they are, but instead insist they get better. That just isn't how it works. So, what I think, Instead of trying to fill a quota by pushing people into a program to make it look like problems are being handled, I say instead go and reach out where those with problems are. Maybe I'm wrong about some of this, but this is how I see it.

 

Here is something that should be helpful towards understanding all this. This is an answer I received from a friend by email.

From a dear preacher of the faith and a pastor, in North Carolina, and a US Marine Staff Sergeant, served Semper Fidelis during peace time:

Bob, Yup its in their initial questions now when the nurse weighs you, takes your BP etc. They specifically ask if you have PTS or flashbacks, I assume if you answer yes then they'll refer to Psyche. The alcohol question though is a little more relevant to health problems such as diabetes, blood pressure kidney and liver functions, they asked me several times if I drank and I always tell them no because I don’t, but I think this issue is much more relevant. Anyhow hope you had a good day in the Lord and your physical afflictions were lighter.

 

Another clear and thoughtful prospective I received by email. I think this man is right in what he is saying. This does not take away from any good that is done, but it does make clear, there is also evil at work. Again, let me be clear, this does not take away from any good that is done. Thank God for the very clear and thoughtful words. I agree with them. Amen! Amen!

From a dear preacher, a brother in the true faith, a citizen of a country other than America, that served nine years in his own countries military. Regarding the questions, he said:

I am a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy - 9 years of peace time service.

I do get a pension but nothing out of the ordinary that I can detect. Of course it is a long time since I went through the process of getting the disability pension - now I just collect the money and get the hearing aids and batteries as needed. I just got new ones a couple of months ago and collect fresh batteries every 6 months or so. But of course this is Canada.

But, I would say the beast(our governments) is subtly getting control of peoples brains so it can manipulate them anyway they want them to think without any kick back on their part. School is doing the same thing in a different way - brainwashing young children so they cannot think for themselves but only in the direction pointed by the government through the media - like a bunch of robots programmed to suit the governments wishes.

I think the problem is that - especially Americans - that they just can't believe there is anything wrong with America. And of course this is exactly what the government wants. The USA for the last 200 years has been portrayed as THE place to live - free politics, freedom of religion etc. And they want to keep that image until they have so much control of the minds of the people that when and if the population ever finds out how they are being deceived that the country will continue on in the vein, it will be too late, nothing can be done about it. In fact, I don't think the population will ever realize the change from what it was to what
it will be like. This is not just true of the USA, but the whole world. If a persons mind was not already so brainwashed they could see the difference - but as I said, they have been programmed to think the way the government wants them to, thinking they live in a democracy just like we used to - but far from it in practice.

 

". . .had his cataracts removed by a doctor from Emory and his specialists are all from Emory but seen at the VA."

Good morning.

I have had similar experience, regarding the VA bringing in a contract doctor from the private sector. A few years ago, I was treated at the VA for a problem that private sector doctors, during four years of regular care, had never properly treated, or diagnosed. The private sector doctors saw me very regularly for about four years, and the best they were able to tell me was that I was not able to function well. They determined I was unable to work, but honestly, I knew as much without being told.

Finally, I connected with the VA and the very first week after seeing the VA, a clear diagnosis and treatment was prescribed. Surgery was scheduled immediately after the diagnosis, after a thorough physical workup was performed. For that physical workup, special image studies were performed in a world famous private sector hospital, that did those studies for the VA under contract. Most image studies were performed right in the VA Hospital. After the rather radical surgery, I remained in the hospital for about one month. When I was released from the VA Hospital, about twice a month for one year, I saw a specialist, a Neurologist, that was not directly employed by the VA, but worked for them under contract. That Neurologist went so far as to give me their home phone number, should I ever have concerns. Don’t let any think I don’t appreciate the VA health care.

After that one year, the VA was able to tell me they were sorry, they tried their best but were not able to correct the damage. After one year, I knew that myself, without being told. I never faulted the VA. They told me I should have been diagnosed and treated soon after my injury, and that they really couldn’t undo damage caused by the long time without proper treatment. Recall, I was seen regularly for the four previous years, always under medical care, not by the VA, but instead by private sector doctors, not at all part of the VA.

I know how the VA handled my case, I thank God for them, and don’t fault them at all. They were aggressive in treatment, and kept me in the loop so I was able to give informed consent for the treatment. My questions regarding the VA are not the result of disregard for the VA, no, not at all. Be sure, I am of the opinion that a free exchange is a means of checks and balances.