US GOV BULLSHIT

Jim, in addition to taking JayBear up on her generous offer and contacting your local, state and federal representatives, please send emails to your local television and print outlets. Also, if you have not already, contact Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America -- http://iava.org. They are excellent advocates and have resources to help.

There is a newish program, a part of the VA medical system designed for this problem. It is called The VA Choice Act and their US phone number is 866-606-8198. They can issue a card to allow care outside of the system.

Thank You everyone for your support. Sent JayBear a PM, and thank you Lady "O" for the link, artesialulu for the number. IMO the VA is much like a chain restaurant...some are good, some are a disgrace!

Once again thank you for your help!

Jim W

Jim, please let us know what you find out about what is going on at the VA there and what results you get. Many of our members are, or are related to, vets. They could benefit from what you learn. You can help other vets who are in Jeremy's situation. Best of luck.

Yes please keep up up to date...

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Jim, please let us know what you find out about what is going on at the VA there and what results you get. Many of our members are, or are related to, vets. They could benefit from what you learn. You can help other vets who are in Jeremy's situation. Best of luck.

Will do Lady "O".........will do!

JayBear wrote:Jim, my son is a psychologist with the VA in Tucson. Yes, he is overworked and the system needs help. But I would be glad to put your son in contact with my son, who is a very well trained brilliant and compassionate guy and has extensive experience with vets with PTSD, and I know my son would be happy to help within or without the VA, that is how I raised him. And he may have knowledge of how to "beat the system" so to speak. So just let me know and I will email/call him and give him your phone/email. Not sure this forum has PM's but we can figure this out. I am in west Ajijic, so at worst we could meet somewhere and exchange info. Your son needs help ASAP and I understand this.

Thank You JayBear! I talked to Your son Alan this afternoon. Great Guy! Jeremy will contact him when he returns this weekend.

Jim W wrote:

JayBear wrote:Jim, my son is a psychologist with the VA in Tucson. Yes, he is overworked and the system needs help. But I would be glad to put your son in contact with my son, who is a very well trained brilliant and compassionate guy and has extensive experience with vets with PTSD, and I know my son would be happy to help within or without the VA, that is how I raised him. And he may have knowledge of how to "beat the system" so to speak. So just let me know and I will email/call him and give him your phone/email. Not sure this forum has PM's but we can figure this out. I am in west Ajijic, so at worst we could meet somewhere and exchange info. Your son needs help ASAP and I understand this.

Thank You JayBear!   I talked to Your son Alan this afternoon.   Great Guy!   Jeremy will contact him when he returns this weekend.

Jeremy finally got into the VA in Tucson. VA is still a mess! He drove over an hour each way, and was advised the VA now books shrink sessions for 20 minutes, down from 1 hour. They were quick to prescribe more drugs!

Sorry to hear that! I will pass that info on to my son. Was this a home visit or at the VA hospital? PM me if you want.

JayBear wrote:Sorry to hear that! I will pass that info on to my son. Was this a home visit or at the VA hospital? PM me if you want.

VA Hospital, Jaybear.

Hi Jim, I have a couple of websites you might find useful....U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov and Texas Veterans Commission www.tvc.state.tx.us I have no personal experience with the Veterans Assoc. but my Dad used them here in Dallas before he passed.

penylofr wrote:Hi Jim, I have a couple of websites you might find useful....U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov and Texas Veterans Commission www.tvc.state.tx.us   I have no personal experience with the Veterans Assoc. but my Dad used them here in Dallas before he passed.

Thank You penylofr......will check it out.

Jim W

Jim, you have had great success with alternative med treatments. I would think the same would hold true for your son without going the no doubt toxic Big Pharma route. It appears Ur providing the best medicine - LOVE. Keep him close and the best of luck.

I just read this article:
In Unit Stalked by
Suicide, Veterans Try
to Save One Another

Members of a Marine battalion that served in a restive region in Afghanistan
have been devastated by the deaths of comrades and frustrated by the V.A.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/us/marine-battalion-veterans-scarred-by-suicides-turn-to-one-another-for-help.html?hp=&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

Thank You for the info....rs6000. Hopefully this response won't be blocked by gawd!

Jim, I am sorry the Tucson VA did not work for your son. My son Alan, with the Tucson VA, only does home visits now, and of course, he could kiss his job and pension goodby if he saw vets outside the system. IMO private care is the way to go at this point. The good news is that Tucson is a great place, not like Phoenix. I spent some months there when my late husband was in hospice care there, and I found it to be a very soothing place. There is something about driving up over the hills in the setting sun which is very restorative. I spent Christmas Eve at the Indian church west of Tucson on the reservation, all candlelit for Mass, such a magic place. So, this is just to say that I think Tucson could be healing--it has been for me. Do PM me if I can help in any way. I think I will be up there before or during Christmas for a couple of weeks. Could get together with your son and my son--maybe being friends would help in a small way. We can all use a few more friends.

Thank You Jaybear , will PM

Look forward to seeing your son in Tucson!

JayBear wrote:Look forward to seeing your son in Tucson!

Thank You.......looking forward to meeting you!
!