when it comes to the va i have seen many ppl get the run around , how many times i've heard if you think somethings wrong see your doctor but the va doesnt want to find anything wrong that would mean they would actually have to treat you . i'm new to this site but desprite for help my dad and i have done alot of research but where to go with this info. i've started a regiman of elaberry juice and it helps some but i'm not back to my normal self and i'm so use to being independant that its driving me crazy and i'm not supose to get upset cause it triggers shingles so its an endless cycle some times i feel like i have no hope i already know there's no cure its just managing it but how do you manage something no one wants to help you with?

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It kinda sounds like what I go through. I have an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. They did a blood test called an ANA on me. Maybe you could ask your doc to do one. I'm just a lay person but autoimmune diseases can take six yrs to diagnose cause the doc is not thinking about it and the symtoms mimic other things. Just a thought. Take Care.

i am under going alot of blood work the problem is dealing with the va i have had the shingles rash pop up many times in the exact same spot the problem is the va , i started pushing the issue about my treatment and now my doctors keep canceling my apptments so not only am i fighting this virus trying evry day to cope with it but i also have to fight the va and the funny part it was the army who gave me the vaccines with the viruses that are now taking over . funny thing is had it been treated , the shingles in the first place it would have been just 1 time ordeal but because it wasnt i developed a neurolocical problem and thats where its making it difficult i have had this untreated for 3 yrs and now i cant get the help i need to control it and its causing severe depression to the point of not wanting to get out of bed or even take anything to help myself because its become so exhausting . ive the the research i've talked to my dr and the va liason and because i cant work i cant afford to go to another dr and i'm in a loop and if this continues with out being maintained its going to take over and kill me ....ha and every one wonders why i'm depressed .....i'm so angry but i can get myself upset cause stress trigges this and the cycle begins all over ..........i've written the show but no response

yes i did they have made a few mentions of shingles but nothing about the complications like Postherpetic neuralgia which is what makes getting shingles so dangerous sad thing is had i been treated the first timeand the dr at ft jackson it would be over but due to lack of medical assistance and trips to the er in pain and all we thought was my original injury 3 yrs of the virus going untreated and Postherpetic neuralgia and one i'm still learning about its what causes the swelling the Postherpetic neuralgia is the dangerous part cause it starts the nerve problems but slowly startes effecting muscle tissue and if your out break or rash is internally it will effect vital orgins and why its so agrivating to get the run aound from dr who dont care and dont want to connect the dots and when you finally do they dont wanna face their own mistakes and because of our finacial situation we cant afford getting a second opinion getting upset or angry only compicates the issue because the virus attacks the nerveous system so if i get upset i hurt more and the virus parralizes me i have seizures from the pain its like charlie horses in my face arms legs and yes i hurt inside i strated to write this blog to cope but its my only way to get my voice out i have days when i'm scared and some days i wonder if its worth fighting i cant afford medical care and the va doesnt care last night my left arm went cold then i felt nothing and it wasnt cold in our house i had to get the heating pad out and my husband was rubbing my arm trying to bring back feeling my right arm did the same last month no tingling no numbness just nothing i feel so lost unheard and in soo much pain feeling useless and just waiting for something to happen

when you push your apptments get canceled or there is nothing availible and my husband has noticed the anti depressants they have me on to keep me mellow ( they are making it about my moods ) is making me even worse emotionally i cant fight much more been feeling hopless and lost and tired sat in the kitchen crying my eyes out kids wanting to go to sleep but never waking up and i was remembering about the chinese water torture and how it drives ppl crazy and thats exactly what this is doing to me friday i was crying on the phone with my dad this isnt me this illness have taken my life my spirit and it breaking me a little more and mor each day , its funny i didnt feel so lost and depressed even when my son died , i mean i was heart broken and it hurt but i morned him and moved on went on with my life 2 yrs later i had another child my last one but these days i cant find anything to pull me out of this i hurt all the time and its wearing on me didnt even take the eldaberry juice which helps the swelling and other stuff just stopped caring but if i stop caring who will fight for me who will be here for my kids and i breath in and push i seriously think this medication could be making me suicidal but i cant get the va to listen to me and to tired to search any more so i write and i write and i chat and try to enjoy what i can

Holy cow! I feel terrible reading this.  I hate the fact that you aren't getting anywhere with the VA. but the bottom line is you want to feel better.  I see you have tried some natural products (elaberry juice).  I don't know about all of your problems but I think you may get some relief if you try the mangosteen fruit.  I hope you check out the information a make a decision.  helendunn.mymangosteen.com  I would recommend that you see your doc, but doesn't seem like that is working for you right now.

thank you so much i'm going to look into that , i got a call today from an army buddy of mine a freind of mine who bunked by me died her husband saw her nose bleeding and went to help her to find she was dead , ruby had so many surgeries for spider bites over and over i'm getting letters together because we thought my rash origanaly where spider bites ..... i cant believe ruby's gone she's my age out of no where when we where in we got the run around and we didnt always see doctors for stuff we where seen by techs not even nurses we always excepted the pain from our original injuries but anything else was just ignored . i cant believe shes gone

OMG!!  You certainly have had your share of bad times.  My heart really goes out to you.  I only hope that your life will soon turn around and you can get on with your life.  It seems like you have lost so much time.  If you have any questions once you get on that website.  You will see my name in the upper right hand corner, you can email me from there.  I pray for your recovery.