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Take care of Veterans I believe that it is the best interest of veterans, whom have served the military in any capacity to be afforded not Just medication, but also some form of counseling. Being a veteran myself I have experienced: over medicating by the government, not receiving any form of counseling, and when I was given an appointment it was six months from the day that it was scheduled. When I was Honorably Discharged from the military I was not afforded any form of mental counseling, nor was I directed to any facility to do so.
The VA actually has a our question questioner called the Post Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PADRE for short). This is to assess the returning soldiers mental health as well if they have PUTS. This assessment is not scheduled to be given to the soldier for four to six months after they return. I have spoken to many veterans and they have also had the same issue. I was not sent any information to my home about receiving any type of medical care, let alone any form of mental health care. Eventually I was sent the medical records that I had acquired during my military service.
To my dismay half of he records in my medical Jacket were missing. I called the Federal Government and was directed to call the Department of Veterans Affairs. I called the VA and was made an appoint to come in and receive a physical. Mind you this appointment was six months from the day that it was scheduled. “Patients, providers, and health care delivery systems face negative consequences from prolonged gaps in care. Patients are at increased risk for negative health outcomes, costly acute care episodes, and mortality. “(VA Health system and Mental Health Treatment Retention, Peg. 045) For example, gaps may reduce medication adherence, e. G. Anti-depressant, antispasmodic, or any other form of medication given for mental illness. I have at times ran out of medications for depression and PUTS, called the doctor and was told that I needed to see him in person before I was given any medication refills. I had no other choice but to agree. I was given the appointment, two months from the day that bit was scheduled. I had to go two months without any medication for my mental ailments. Two to six months later the day of my appointment arrives. The doctor asks you how the medication is working for you.
Are you serious, I haven’t been on my medication for two months; don’t you see it there on the computer? All too often this happens to veterans, some whom have serious mental and health issues. To add to that, some of the medications that are prescribed take up to a month to build up in your system before you begin to see any affect. It seems as if the doctors aren’t listening to a word you say. They prescribe you the medication you were previously on and add another for good measure. They do not ensure that the medications that you are taking will not have adverse side effects to one another.
I am currently taking seven different types of medication. When one medication doesn’t work for me they either up the dosage on the same medication or give me another type of medication, or both. Some of these medications are very potent and have many side effects, additional veterans that I have spoken to at the VA have had to be rushed to the emergency room do to the adverse reactions that their medications have had when taken together. A CBS news investigation reports,” VA doctors in Columbus, Ohio prescribed a man nine different kinds of medications, including a narcotic called Protect.
One morning, his wife Heather found him dead in his bed. His death was ruled accidental due to overcorrection from the combined effects of five of his medications. ” The VA needs to pay heed to what they are doing to us, the veterans. Another thing the VA is notorious for is not giving you a mental health care appointment in a timely manner or at all for that matter. When you recognize yourself that you may be having health issues and would like to schedule an appointment there are several steps that must be taken, by you and your healthcare provider (VA).
The first step in the process: asking an appointment with your primary care physician, second, get a referral from your primary care physician to see a case worker, third, talk to your case worker about your mental health issues, fourth, getting an appointment with a mental health care doctor, fifth, attending your mental health care appointment, after you have taken all of these steps 2-7 months may have gone by. In the OBESE article,” VA Health System and Mental Health Treatment Retention” it states,” Throughout the entire of process of trying to attain mental health care the patient (you) maybe deteriorating mentally more and more each day.
It is stated in the OBESE article “Access to VA Services for Returning Veterans with PUTS” “This is unacceptable”. We as veterans have voluntarily served our country proudly, because of this service we at times come back with one or many mental illnesses. We deserve proper mental health care that is administered in a timely and safe manner. The Government needs to take notice. The people that help fight its battles and spread democracy need proper medical attention. We need to not be over medicated, not be put to the side when we need mental health care, and we need to have the care as soon as possible.