Quote:
Originally Posted by bebop
wow you have really done your homework! I wish more wives were as proactive as you hon. alot has changed since I dealt with the VA. I am not familiar with the charleston wva VA. do they have a specific ptsd program? a few years ago they cut many of the ptsd programs and it stinks they did that. I would try to contact vet centers and organizations like DAV, VFW, and American Legion, or anything related to vets and petition or advocate for ptsd programs be restarted. new wars new vets. it is really needed right now.  |
Thank you so much for your kind words. The problem is they "claim" they have PTSD programs and on paper I suppose they do so that proper funding is given? Not sure how that works though in the VA system. They have a residential treatment program in another city, but every vet I have spoken to including my husband will not go to it voluntairly due to the deaths of a few men that went there on their return home. They can not afford to take the time off work and possibly loose their civilian jobs and how are they suppose to pay bills and support the family while they are gone for 6-8 weeks?
The residential program will not take anyone that is on vertain medications, that may have changed but not sure to date. They will not take anyone that has any issues with criminal such as domestic violence charges etc...so to be honest it makes it a difficult chioce. Many of these guys are finding it hard to get appointments on a regualr basis at during hours that do not conflict with jobs. It is hard to explain to your boss you have to be at a counseling session once a week during work time due to a mental illness. Many are afraid they will loose thier jobs.
I was also told by my husbands own social worker/therapist that the VA clinic its self here can not fit people in for more then two counseling sessions a month and getting that takes an act of congress it appears.
They love to refer you to the PTSD support group and to the Clarksburg residential program if you are unhappy with your treatment it appears. Why is it if they are so overwhelmed they can not outsourse for mental health care in the city? There are plenty of good doctors and therapists that would work with the vets I am sure but you have to pay for outside care out of pocket in order to get it.
Remember these guys that died it appears all have had something in common: Same clinics, doctors, therapists and or hospital care, same or very similar medications, sleep apnea and lack of intervention. My suspicion is that things like asthma, breathing issues, weight gain and the sleep apnea is a culprit in many of these deaths. Cluster deaths are not normal, that is a red flag in itself. My husbands own experience could have left him being another local story in the news? I will just keep documenting things and this new physical might uncover something of importance...