VA

  2026/01/16

Category: Personal
Other Categories: Linux , Windows, All

I am a United States Navy veteran. I am also currently unemployed and two weeks ago I got up from a chair with extreme pain in the inside joint of my right knee. It was very painful to try and walk. I was freaking out a little because I have no insurance since mid last November of 2025 when I lost my job at the time. But I had registered with the Veteran Administration Health services back when I was unemployed previously and backpacked the length of the Appalachian Trail. I talked about this in How I Restored My Faith. I registered then in case something major happened to me on the trail or someplace else without insurance. I did also have a term medical policy I did use when I dislocated my right shoulder on the trail. But I found the VA phone number and called them.

The trauma nurse told me I likely had a blood clot in my right leg. She verified everything with me and advised I go to a nearby emergency room. If possible have someone drive me. She also gave me a phone number to give to them if they wanted it. I drove to the emergency room and they verified that I had a blood clot in my right leg. They gave me a blood thinner and sent me home. They had given me two of the pills before I left. I did not get home till after six in the evening so I did not call the VA number.

Around two in the morning I woke up with pain in the lower right area of my right lung and very little in my leg now. The clot had moved from my leg to my lung. Since it had moved I knew this was life threatening now possibly going to my heart or my brain. For the first time my life I dialed 911. An ambulance picked me up and took me to the same emergency room. My week of adventure had started.

They verified it was in my right lung and put me on an intravenous blood thinner and wanted to transfer me to the hospital. Another ambulance took to me there and I went into the Intensive Care Unit or ICU. Eventually the pain in my lung subsided so they wanted to do an ultrasound of my heart where they found clot material in my heart auricle. A surgeon talked to me about a procedure that had started doing where they basically filter your blood of clot material and put it back in. Of course I let him do it. He went into and back out of my right abdominal area above my right hip. I was awake the entire time. He said that he got a lot of material out. I was placed on twelve hours of bed rest. I got very little sleep and ended up with very little since I woke up the day before. I had told everyone I was a veteran and they were handling everything for me. They had told me I would be discharged after two hours sitting in a chair. I could hear the doctor talking to someone about me although they said they did not. But the discharge was delayed an hour till I called a nurse. I did not have a VA card or anything and they never wanted the phone number the VA gave me. I think they were debating what to do but they could have been more upfront with me about it rather that let me sit there.

They finally assisted me with getting dressed and discharged me an hour later than they said they would. I understand their misgivings of taking my word that I was a veteran and the fact that the VA was helping me. I offered a phone number but they said they do not contact the VA. They used a wheelchair to take me the entrance and I took an Uber home.

I called the VA number the next day and it amazing how cooperative they have been.

Two days later I coughed up a little blood and the VA trauma nurse told me to go to the emergency room again. It was precautionary and I called the VA number again after getting back home.

I have a hereditary disease called venous deficiency in my legs and I wear compression stockings. It took four days of enduring pain in my right leg till finally I could walk again. Really limping but walking. Now ten days later my leg is back to normal.

I joined the Navy mid senior year in High School for a six year enlistment. I talked about that a little in My Paternal Grandfather.

It does amaze me how well the VA will help us veterans. Now I was in a life threatening situation so my assistance was probably a priority for them. I know concerning mental issues the VA can be a little harder to deal with as civilian medical areas are in general too. It is the first time I tried using the VA.