Busy day for me at the VA tommorow, finally here

well....I had the same experience with the active duty military pharmacy on post here at Fort Drum....they were very hesitant to give me Oxycodone or Oxycontin....I suspect because a lot of soldiers becams addicted to pain killers and it became well known the military doctors were handing it out too freely....The first time I tried...they told me they didn't stock it.....the 2nd time I tried after I found out they DID stock it they told me they needed the ORIGINAL script...not the monthly...I told them Narcotics are given on a no refill new script every month basis and they now give it to me free of charge.

I got sick of it at first and was getting it at the local drug store for 22 Dollars....17 of the Oxycontin and 5 for the Oxccodone IRs....because it wasn't worth the haggle.....but last month I heard they were relaxing the standard so I was able to get both refilled for free with no issues with the normal script.

The military also wont let you receive a script by email or fax....must be handcarried to the Base pharmacy by the patient....but soon the State of NY will be all digitized and they will have to comply.....So Im thinking the VA may be strict on their issues of narcotics as well....don't know.

Mal,

Just had to answer when I saw your post. Thanks, my good friend. Very happy to hear of your wife's kidney improvement. I nervously await advanced blood work and an ultra sound this Friday, to find out, hopefully, what has gotten my VA doctor so concerned about my kidneys.

I got a call this morning from the nurse, said the doctor wanted to move up the ultra sound from the end of next week, to this Friday, and for me to combine the lab work scheduled for the morning, till Friday, that way I can get both things done on the same trip to the VA clinic. Thought that was thoughtful of them to think it through like that.

Worried? No. Concerned, yes. She did indicate that whatever is going on, they do not believe its an infection issue, so does make me wonder what else could we be talking about. This is only about the kidneys, he still has concerns about my liver, but that seems to be on the back burner until they work through the kidney issue.

I do know, that since having the bladder bypass surgery, was told by my urologist, that my kidneys would be suspect for future issues, because they are having to work extra hard without a working bladder in place. So we will see.

I see the VA, hopefully with all the results of all the scans and tests, the following Monday. By then, I hope they can clearly see what is going on with all these newer issues. Meanwhile, I simply can not gain weight, despite all varieties of attempting to eat, and different combinations of foods.

Hope things continue to do well for you, Mal, and for your dear wife. Glad she has you to look after her.

David

David, Like others, I have been following your incredible ordeal, but I find myself wondering if your long-term Fentanyl use might not be either the source, or at least a contributing factor in some of your ailments. Tonight, I found this on a British website discussing long-term Fentanyl use:

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:
are debilitated
are elderly
are generally unwell with weight loss, wasting of muscle and loss of appetite
have kidney problems
have liver problems
have raised intracranial pressure or a brain tumour

I deleted some other factors which didn't seem to apply, but given the five or six listed here, if I were you I would discuss this at your next visit and see what the specialists think. I know you need serious pain relief, but if the opioid is compounding existing problems, maybe there's some other approach that would work better. Just sayin'