This rocks! Or, if you have my physical limitations, jitterbugs.

29 06 2009

Just got word, literally two minutes after writing the previous post, that my Community Base Health has been approved! Thank God. Longer time in, which does interfere with making future plans, but I can be treated here at home by some of the best medical professionals in the world. If there’s a way to make things better for me, I’m sure they will find it. I have renewed hope that things may get better. Mrs. Hickman, my case manager, and Mr. Serna, the warriors in transition ombudsman, deserve special thanks. Without their efforts, this would not have happened. I’d be stuck with a non-functioning spinal implant, and shoved off onto the VA’s already overburdened shoulders. Again, thank God.



Extended

29 06 2009

My convalescent leave’s been extended to the MINIMUM the pain management specialist prescribed. Meaning I’ll be home until at least the 21 JUL. So that’s good. I’ll take small victories when and where I can get/find them. Perhaps things are looking up? I may [eyes clinched tight with everything crossed] even get Community Based Health. That’d be great! Cuz this neurosurgeon at St. John’s seems to think there’s more to be done. I may get some of my ‘old self’ back yet.



Starting Over

27 06 2009

New info. My convalescence is indefinite - in a good way. I’m having medical appointments here, in Michigan, and there’s talk of Community Based Health - which allows continued care in one’s community until such a time that one is ready for final medical/physical evaluation boards. If I were Nana Rope, my Nana-in-law, I’d probably say some-it like, “Smashing!”

I’m with my family. I’ve been able to rest. I’ve been able to hang with good friends - our revelry limited by my condition (of course), but some fun is better than none-at-all. I’ve grown out my goatee, and have shaved my head in a Liddell-style mohawk (at least until I’m off of leave and on WTB Community Based Health, wink wink). I’m playing all the new games on all our new platforms. Aside from a few turds in my punchbowl, those in addition to the regular floaters, things are good.

Now the bad news. According to the neurosurgeon with whom I had an appointment yesterday, I should never have had a spinal cord stimulator implant. “Other options,” of which I was not aware there were ‘other options,’ are available, and ’should,’ according to this doc, been exhausted. “I wouldn’t put a stimulator in a 34 year old man.” More, apparently, can be attempted, and should have been before the ‘last resort’ was considered, let alone implemented/implanted.

The doc said he would not replace the malfunctioning device. Period. Full stop. I have an appointment with him in three weeks, during which time he’ll review the medical evidence and make a decision. A decision that may mean starting my treatment from the beginning. I’m not happy about this. But if there’s a chance, even a remote chance, that I may get some of my life back, I’m willing to try.



VA Medical System in Shambles

27 06 2009

“With Veterans Affairs hospitals giving botched radiation treatments to nearly 100 vets and exposing 10,000 to HIV and hepatitis viruses, veterans advocates and lawmakers say the VA health system is in dire need of proper oversight and funding.”

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/24/va-medical-shambles-veterans-groups-say/

No shit.



Sense of Entitlement

26 06 2009

Sort of a joke. Sort of hit this link and buy something so I can get free shit.

It’s hard to find good fitting, good quality t-shirts with naughty or witty expressions on them when you’re fat. I’m fat because I broke my back for this country. The least you can do is hit this link - which will give me $3 each time towards the purchase of a shirt.

Thanks,

Fatty

http://www.tshirthell.com/store/link.php?id=SmltaXNvbjE=



All I Owe the World is My Art

24 06 2009

My art is eating donuts, smoking Djarum cigs, insulting people in ways they likely don’t understand, and shitting. Yes, I said shitting. I’m a soldier and part black. For those who get the reference, awesome. For those who don’t, too bad.

All the Army owes me, and yes ‘entitlement-mentality’ mud-throwers, the Army does owe me, is back pay, date-of-rank correction, proper medical care, and the respect my education, experience, and sacrifices to this Country merit. They’re getting slightly better at their art, or at least appear to be. Time, as always, will tell. And so, as always, will I.



Sinew of the Soul

24 06 2009

Even I was surprised. Maybe ‘even’ isn’t necessary, but it’s a popular turn of phrase. Like ‘wassuppp????!!!’ I wrote an angry email to my case manager, my squad leader, and the wounded warrior ombudsman.

Content examples:

Why would I have surgery in Louisville and convalesce in Detroit when moving me after said surgery can cause lead migration?

Why would Ireland providers tell me 2 weeks is all the convalescent leave I’m permitted by ‘Regulation,’ they were giving me 3 as a ‘favor to me,’ when the specialist performing the procedure recommended a minimum of 6-8, and when ‘Regulation’ imposes no such limit?

Why can’t three separate Warrior Transition Unit providers accomplish a drug refill?

Why have we - the case manager, a physical therapist, a physiatrist, and three WTU providers (two of whom told me they had written referrals) spoken of and all agreed to obtain and try a device that may positively impact foot drop gait (since September of last year) and I still don’t have the device?

I got some response. Not sure they’re what I need or want. Time will tell. Though if past experience is any indicator….



Addendumb to the Previous: That’s Not Very Nice

19 06 2009

I know. But as Eminem so eloquently said, “I am whatever you say I am, cuz if I wasn’t, then why would you say I am?”



To test a modest man’s modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism (the one and only rewrite)

19 06 2009

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? A couple things to write about. I’ll do my best to be brief. “Pete Buckley boxer-brief.”

First up, J.R., a/k/a ‘babyjesushorse.’ He’s cut off from anything involving this site and the non-profit springing from it once my life is in something resembling order. I find his exclusion pitiful, but wholly necessary. As a VA claims/comp subject expert, he is truly second-to-none. (Though “second-to-none” ought not be confused with irreplaceably unequal - several equals are eager to fill his place, nor does recognizing his gifts imply or merit receiving kingly latitude.)

For those interested in back-story, J.R. and I, and occasionally supporting characters, were doing our impressions of the Cold War. (Not the best analogy, as J.R. was doing all the fighting, but the best a dumb Army guy can do on-the-fly.) I’d do something, he’d get mad and blow up at me. I’d not do something, he’d get mad and blow up at me. At no point did I really understand what was happening or why. Perhaps the fault belongs to me? I’ve been slightly preoccupied with family and self since March 2007.

Every now and again J.R. would punctuate insults directed at me, alerting me to and ascribing to me insults directed at him and a blue-blood snobbishness, with gibes at my wife. “For one as intelligent and creative as you, Sarah, I can’t believe you’re politically/economically Conservative” and other pearls of great price so horribly lacking in structure and meaning that rewriting one is sufficient for illustration. Those, with patience limited by circumstance, took me one toke over the line. A matter about which I feel ambivalent. I regret behaving in such a fashion. It’s beneath me. On the other hand I was provoked to fight in one of the most dire times of my life.

His wife, who had obviously harbored unspoken contempt for me for some time, blinded (metaphorically speaking by what I assume is a combination of whatever the wifely word for ‘uxorious’ is and an agnostic luciferphobia for yours truly) anted her wagon-wheel wooden nickle. Several public Facebook insults from her, after insinuating herself into a discussion that did not involve her, and I had had enough.

I told Ms. Thing, via Facebook Mail to ’suck my balls.’ That she took her husband’s side in any matter between the two of us, regardless of whether she knew or understood the context. In email response I got “It’s ‘wife and me’ fuckface,” which I assumed meant J.R. was using his wife’s account to further sever our relationship. I got angry and threatened to beat the shit out of J.R. the next time I saw him if he were to take that posture with me, face-to-face.

In fact, the ‘fuckface’ reference was J.R.’s wife’s attempt to ‘correct’ my English with a less correct form. (How quaint? Instruction from a woman whose drawled communicative-effectiveness makes my bulldog read like Shakespeare.) J.R. and his wife suggested I was threatening her with physical violence, and said they’d bring my violent,’sociopath’-ic tendencies to the attention of my CoC. Why should truth matter when there’s an ‘argument’ to win, a point to make, or an incident to leverage? I gave them my squad leader’s telephone number and wished them well. And then wished them both good riddance. On balance, I guess this means I’m immodest. Better immodest than whatever they are.

On the lighter side, I had the spinal nerve implant. On the darker side, it only works well when standing, but not while sitting or laying down. Meaning I have higher tolerance for standing, meaning a higher pain payment, but can’t use the device when I’d really need it - after activity. This is getting far too long. Like my fuse and my former friend/colleague’s posts. At least my fuse is easy to follow. (Guess I’m petty too.)