Category Archives: Guest authors

CBS news report (12/1/15): most veterans denied HCV meds

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Laura

We have all read news stories about the difficulty veterans with active chronic HCV infection are having getting treated with Sovaldi at the VA. Some articles express a more reality-based report on the service-connected HCV outbreak among Vietnam veterans.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood info, Congressional HCV info, Congressional Influence, Guest authors, HCV Risks (documented), transfusions and hepatitis, VA Health Care, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

In 2008 a Mayo doc answers: ‘Whatever happened to ‘jet injectors?’

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Laura

Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (LINK) answered this question with the wimpy “possible” word yet then explains plausibility without using the word. Dear Mayo Clinic,  I remember we used to get vaccines and other shots using an air gun, and lots of … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, Jetgun Claims evidence, Medical News, Nexus Information | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chantix, Nov. 19th, DoD and VA links

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Laura

Just a few quick military tobacco cessation links before Nov. 19th, the Great American Smoke-Out.   DoD: Quit Tobacco. (LINK) This site has a bunch of tools and information including links to Tricare programs and a savings calculator. Varenicline (Chantix–Pfizer link) … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Medical News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

VA’s 2015 flu-shot code for Walgreens and FDA approved jet injectors for flu shots

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Laura

First the mundane: Last fall, my spouse agreed to test the Walgreens/VA free flu shot partnership.  The pharmacist asked for his private insurance card and VA ID.  He was given the shot, but his Medicare Advantage plan, as first payer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Jetgun Claims evidence, Jetgun Manual, Medical News, research, VA Medical Mysteries Explained, vA news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

VVA images: October is Agent Orange Awareness Month

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Laura

This is a quick follow-up to Nod’s post with the terrible news about the Agent Orange Act of 1991 and the back-stabbing members of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees.  From Stripes: “Two weeks ago, the House and Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, AO, General Messages, Guest authors, vA news | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

VA emails not true for Vermonters: “When you’re in, you’re in”

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Laura

The return to our home in Vermont, from MN, hasn’t been too easy or too hard–we are managing and making progress.  However, attempting to transfer care from the Minneapolis VA to White River Junction/Burlington Clinic continues to be a miserable … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Jetgun Claims evidence, Medical News, VA Health Care, Veterans Choice card | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Investigations: Death of a Vietnam veteran with HCV

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Laura

Veterans are organizing around HCV and the VA’s treatment of the late Rodger Holmes in Colorado.  Rodger had a hard life after his service in Vietnam and he deserved better from the VA. For an overview read reporter Nancy Lofhum’s story … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, HCV Health, vA news | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Veteran in hospice: HCV stage 4 liver failure

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Laura

We know HCV-infected veterans are suffering all over the country.  One, Mike Blackburn, was not tested for HCV until last year.  His story is told in an official military e-newsletter (Redstone Arsenal, AL).  Blackburn, 62, has hepatitis C virus with stage 4 … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, HCV Health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Dry mouth? VA Formulary has artificial saliva

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Laura

My old Marine has been spending a small fortune on Biotene products to deal with dry mouth, a condition that probably began during HCV treatment (PDF download –12 page report) and worsened due to two medications he takes and needs.  He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, HCV Health, Uncategorized, vA news | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

About those urine samples

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Laura

It’s hard for my old Marine not to get offended when every year his VA doc tests him for illicit drug use.  (His private docs NEVER test him for them.) The screening panel is extensive:   Amphetamines; Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Cannabinoids; … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, Gulf War Issues, Medical News, VA Medical Mysteries Explained, vA news, VA statistics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments