After a massive heart attack at 53 resulting in a triple bypass, one year later to the day all grafts were already blocked. My private doctors couldn't understand why and refered my case to Barns Jewish in St. Louis. They determined that due to my Agent Orange, and other toxic chemical exsposure, that my lipids stayed highly elevated. Another bypass wouldn't work. Stents were too dangerous to even try. They put me on very high doses of a Statin cholesterol med, plus Plavix, a 24 hour nitroglycerin, a triglyceride pill and heart rehab therapy. The VA refused to pay for my operation though it was a matter of life or death that I was rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital. That stuck me with a $65,000 bill. Then, because I didn't have stents they refused to even cover my meds. They said if I brought in a statement from my private cardiologist that they'd do so. Took them six months to even give me an apointment. Then the doctor refused to even read the report. He called in their cardiologist who took one look at me and told me I didn't have a heart problem and didn't need the meds. Not only that but I should stop taking the ones I'd been paying for out of pocket cold turkey. My private cardiologist said I'd have been dead in a week! When asked their cardiologist admited she had never even looked at my records or the report I'd brought in! Then, when I needed to see a pulmonary doctor, they gave me a breathing test. The guy giving it stopped short telling me I definately had serious problems and he saw no need to make me suffer. Next they did xrays. Back down the hall to my doctor and he imediately told me that the breathing test went well and the xrays showed my lungs were healthy. I knew better because a long series of private specialists said my lungs were in such bad shape, and so badly scarred that a bout of pneumonia could easily kill me! During my heart operation both of my lungs were in such bad shape that both collapsed and my left one has again since. That is how the VA treats veterans! I go for check ups but other than that I told them in plain English what they could kiss! I suffer severe nerve muscle and joint pain, the vertabrae in my back are seriously deteritated the full length. The nerve channels calcified and pinching the nerves. Vertabrae in my neck are so calcified they are fused. But like with Squib, no pain meds for me. Might be habit forming. They say simple exercise will heal me. I have to rely on private doctors to stay alive and even function. The VA systom is shameful and that's putting it very mildly!
