Life Of Michelle K

[Michelle_K]

I have no military medical records to support any disabilities. Other than my hearing test for the draft, the only hearing test on file would be this past couple of years when I finally got my hearing aids. I have the copy of the bill for hearing test done about 1984, non military. The pre military hearing test kept being interrupted with a voice over the speaker telling someone to release the button.
In 1984 I went to a chiropractor. The bills have been scanned into my computer. Two of the bills had written on them the diagnosis. One was scoliosis of the back. I had been informed I had arthritis in my back and I had a short leg. Both had shown up on an x-ray. The other was for neck problems. The multiple degenerative changes of the spine showed up on the recent medicare ct lung scans. There is nothing in my military medical records even connected with back problems. I lived with the pain without seeking any medical treatment. You could say, I learned to ignore the pain and continue working.
Michelle

[Lori Dee ✅]

You don't need your military records. They will pull them and review what they need. Your receipts won't count as evidence, except that they give them the who, what, where, and when the test was done, so they can request those records on your behalf.

Both the VA and Social Security conduct follow-up exams every few years for the initial phase of a new disability claim. That is to determine if the disability is changing or permanent. It isn't about spying on anyone. Once a disability has existed for 5 years or so, it is considered permanent, and there are no further exams.

If you call the County Administration Office or look them up online, they can give you the VSO office's phone number. Make an appointment and go see them. The VSO will look at what you have and make copies to submit, or will note the information of which records to request. They can advise you further about what else they might need. If you have your DD-214 (Discharge papers), bring them with you.

It never hurts to ask. And you could start receiving compensation and back pay. You have nothing to lose by trying, and everything to gain.
 

[Michelle_K]

My bad choice of words. There is nothing in my medical records to support any disabilities. The only two items in my medical records are my appendectomy and the infection in my jaw. Those are the only reasons I went on sick call. The chiropractor closed his office decades ago, it is unknown where he went, no records available.

I already receive social security retirement payments. I don't see how I would be able to get any disability through them, since I worked a full time job prior to retirement.
 
Thinking about ways to save some money. Kind of wondering if using the senior discount at one store is worth the drive, compared to some other store with lower prices. Example: I could walk the mile to Dollar General Store and get some canned goods. They don't have the fresh vegetables. I could drive 10 miles to Walmart to get my apples, or I could drive 15 miles in the other direction to Family Fare and get the apples with the senior discount.

There are also the reward cards. I went into Walgreens. Looking at the tags, buy one get one free. but only with the rewards membership. That seems like a deal for my vitamins, but only if they didn't double the price for the sale. another variation is reduced price for gasoline for x amount of dollars spent.
Michelle

[MaryT]

I'm obviously not an expert but I thought that the medical help to which US veterans are entitled is not limited to illnesses, injuries or disabilities caused by or even occurring during their military service.  For instance, before Trump's re-election, treatment for gender dysphoria was not limited, as I understand it, to veterans diagnosed with dysphoria during their active service.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I thought that the medical help to which US veterans are entitled is not limited to illnesses, injuries or disabilities caused by or even occurring during their military service.

That is correct. When I separated, the rule was that only service-connected care was covered. That changed to cover all necessary care. However, Trump caused them to ban treatment for Gender Dysphoria (mental health and hormones). GA Surgery was never covered, but we were promised that it would be. They lied.

[Michelle_K]

Watching some video with earlier transitions, maybe getting some insights about what happened. First is the idea that gender confusion occurs from putting feminine clothes on a male child. I guess that could also be expanded into putting on makeup, and the type of toys played with. I would have to say the first time I wore makeup,(just lipstick) was when my mother put lipstick on me when I was a child.
Another would be the abuse, something like SA by a male therefor I am a female. That idea does not account for my feeling female before the abuse even happened.
It might be that my dad, trying to show his knowledge of sex, informed me of this stuff he learned from some magazine, including how it is a fetish for men to wear dresses.

At the time (1980s?) when, I forget if it is a psychiatrist of psychologist, told me I was not trans, it was already in my psychological records about the dresses and the molestation.

One other problem I had was my mother would show her disapproval of my actions by slapping my face, but would not state the reason. Mostly instead of discussing things, I would get a slap across the face. If my mother gave me a bag of clothes that someone sent over, and there happened to be feminine clothes in it, I didn't dare wear the feminine shirt or jeans for fear I would get my face slapped for wearing them. Ringworm is a fungal infection that my mother had in her scalp when she was younger. If someone says she isn't acting properly, she will blame it on the ringworm.
Michelle

[Michelle_K]

Trying to live healthy, I wondered about the rashes on my arms when I still lived on the farm. They finally went away, and the rashes returned after moving into this house. There were a lot of people living on the farm and keeping food stored became a problem. It was a bigger problem due to the fact I could not tolerate eating most of the foods they bought, and they had no problem eating the special food I bought.
 One of the first things was to buy the peanut butter without soy oil. I knew about my reactions to the soy and assumed without soy it would be safe. I never connected the rashes with the peanut butter. The only thing I knew about a peanut allergy was that it was deadly. To increase my HDL it was suggested that I eat nuts for the good oil. I bought a jar of peanuts. I would measure out one serving per day on my scale, maybe about eight peanuts. My choice was raw peanuts, and the amount was low. I was wondering why I was itching all over my body. When the jar was empty, after a few days the itching got less. Not really sure it was the peanuts because I ran out of walnuts about the same time. Still at the time the I did not connect the itching to an allergy. I had some peanut butter cookies, then I begin to connect things when the itching in my back returned. What was left of the peanut butter cookies ended up in the garbage.

With my new realization I can look back. That night when I almost went to the emergency room with trouble breathing, I might have eaten a store bought peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or two. The anti-histamine tablets helped that night.
It now makes me wonder if all those times as a child I started choking on the peanut butter cookies indicated an allergy that got dismissed as something else. The parents idea that the child couldn't possibly be allergic to something they were not allergic to.
Michelle

[Michelle_K]

I know, I made an error. But I think the error was when I thought the labored breathing was due to the pickle juice. I'm now getting a different brand of pickles that doesn't have the bad chemical, and I'm not going to test to see if I react to that chemical. As far as I know, it could have been a reaction to both the chemical and the peanut butter.

I found out today that all sewing machines are left handed. That's why the needle is on the left side. Since I'm left-handed, it feels natural to guide the material into the needle with my left hand.

I spent hours writing a few paragraphs to the VA secure messaging. I think I mentioned my dad considered my pains being fake, but his pain was real. And the idea that I could not watch tv while there was work to be done, so I cleaned barn alone while he watched tv.

I took a small break to think of the proper term that was given. It was called role playing. The example given was forgotten, similar to playing a role of a world class bicyclist, while peddling my exercise bike. I guess for me that would mean having a pair of denim shorts and a special shirt just for riding the exercise bike.
I did some role playing once before, while working on a truck. Then it was mainly working with a cigar in my mouth. Now, I want something different, like a pink jumpsuit, with a name tag and something like Chevrolet for the other patch. If I think hard enough I might come up something better. Maybe just some work shirts, with extra pockets sewn on. If I remember right, I once had a shirt with a pocket on the sleeve for my tire tester.
The idea is the proper work clothes that fit properly would reduce my anxiety while working on my truck or motorcycle.
Then there is the make-believe or playing dress-up. I don't think I did either as a child.
Michelle

[Michelle_K]

Finally, I'm waiting to see if I get a referral from the VA to test if I have a peanut allergy. Maybe I already did the elimination test. I guess I could report a peanut allergy, and it  would get into my records.

Lets see, I was prescribed Crestor in November. I had a bit of a problem starting Crestor the day after hernia surgery. I couldn't tell if my problems were from the surgery, my hip dislocating, or from the Crestor. I guess it has only been 3 months, but I have not been contacted for any tests to tell if the Crestor is working. Maybe wait till April when it is time for my yearly Medicare tests. I can do the tests as a walk in on demand, but then I pay for the tests without any reimbursement. I don't know if I can walk into the VA and request the tests, or if I have to go through with an appointment with my provider.

See if I can get my sleep schedule straightened out. The idea is 5 miles on the exercise bike before breakfast, and another 5 miles after breakfast. Then 5 miles again after lunch, and sometime later a walk to the post office. Finally 5 miles after dinner. And my schedule is all messed up if I have to drive anywhere.

The way the estrogen appointments got messed up, I didn't know if I could trust the VA setting up my surgeries. So the surgeries were through Medicare, and I had to pay a copay.
Now I find out I can go through the VA for eye and dental exams.
Michelle

[Michelle_K]

When it comes to the exercise bike, I learned long ago that the peddling motion is all I need. Just slow peddling with a slight pedal restriction. I haven't heard from my doctor is I still have the lifting restriction is off yet. I think it is 20 pounds, about the weight of my barbell without the weight disks.

When I do the walk-in labs, I get the results, but they don't seem to get put into my records. So when I did my testosterone test last fall, the doctor has no idea what my testosterone level is. There is nothing on the check list for estrogen levels, so I have never gotten that done. I tempted to send the scanned image of the testosterone results through messaging to my VA provider. (My VA provider is a nurse practitioner.) Maybe even send the image of the bladder stone the size of a baseball. Do some editing to put my name and date of the surgery into the image. I'm thinking the composition of the stone and size could be put into the image, and saved in my photo gallery.

I'm even wondering if I could get my yearly Medicare ct lung scan done at the VA, just so that it gets into my VA records.

I had thought of something and had to check. It might be having to look for it, but the photo of me standing at 1 year old, wearing a dress, does show the curve in the legs, and the right foot turned outward.
Michelle

[Lori Dee ✅]

I'm even wondering if I could get my yearly Medicare ct lung scan done at the VA, just so that it gets into my VA records.

Yes, the VA will do these. They get scheduled through your primary.

I would send them the scan of the lab results. That gets entered into the Vista Images section of our records, which we can't see. Do not alter the images in any way. The scan of the bladder stone will not be helpful, but if you have the pathology report, it will provide the description, size, composition, etc., along with the pathology lab's contact information. They will enter that into your records as well.

Usually, they will just make a note in your records that images were scanned into Vista so your provider knows where to look for them.

[Michelle_K]

I get the results of the walk-in tests in an envelope about an hour after drawing blood. The testosterone tests take longer, and are mailed to me. I can then scan the sheet into my computer as an image file.
In the MyChart, I can select print, then select print to PDF. I then end up with a PDF in a folder in my computer.
I don't know exactly when my testosterone dropped from 379 to 262, but I had gotten my 262 test about the time my cholesterol went up. I can't say the two are related, just seems strange.

I'm planning on a 350 mile trip to Breezy Point MN, where my land is. Just so many thoughts going through my head. One is that I will drive past the resort where we had our senior skip day, when the resort reported to the school that there was nudity at their pool. I can't be certain that I was thought to be a girl swimming topless, as no reason was given to ban me from the pool. I'm considering stopping there and using the women's restroom.
 Thoughts continue on the swimming idea and I think of the transgender woman who got put on the men's team. She decided that she was going to wear the outfit of the men, and go topless, even though she had been told to wear a woman's suit.
Michelle

[Lori Dee ✅]

I saw a meme that said that there were transgender women protesting topless (in Sweden, I think).

They can't arrest them without admitting that they are women.

[ChrissyRyan]

Michelle,


Happy Valentine's Day!


Chrissy

[Michelle_K]

I think it was some kind of cartoon, taking off work for a haircut. He explained that he had a right to get a haircut on company time because it grew on company time.
I think it is the idea of having to get approval from the company for vacation, the same would apply for medical leave. Now that I'm retired, I don't need approval from any employer for any surgery. The hernia surgery should have been done over a decade ago. If I had done it at that time, I would have needed recovery time with no income. I went through the loss of income a few decades ago the first time I broke my left wrist. Unable to work as long as I had the cast on my wrist. Not that the doctor said I couldn't work, the company would not allow me to work. I guess it was the type of work that needed the use of both hands.

Growing up, it was the opinion that work was more important than my health, shown by his reaction to my pains as being fake or all in my mind. I don't know why but my sister once explained to me that I get an allowance, I just don't see my allowance. The food I eat, the clothes I wear is part of my allowance. In other words, I only worked for room and board, and no other pay.
It would carry over into the military, where the idea followed, the pain doesn't matter, as long as I can still do my job. The appendix had me doubled over in pain, unable to work.

Sorry, I lost track of where I was going with this Idea. Too much brain fog. I actually looked up what was meant by brain fog. How fast is too fast? Like I stood up too fast, my blood pressure dropped and I just collapsed, not really, all that happened was I went blind for a few seconds. Confusion of words, or am I confused? To me the term black out is when a person becomes unconscious, my vision just goes black, I'm not going to faint.

Maybe some tv show, I'm the doctor, you don't tell me what you have. I keep thinking about the man who went into the doctor's office saying he had shingles, it ends with the doctor examining him and saying he doesn't have shingles. The man says he has a truck load of shingles.

It was long ago that I saw a discussion about firing a transgender person. It went like you were hired as a man. Going through transition, you are no longer the man you were when you were hired.

Michelle

[MaryT]

I like the shingles sketch.  It also reminded me of when I was off school with shingles when I was about twelve.  It was a small rural school and my brother went to a different school because he was older.  However, it happened that his teacher was married to my teacher, so my mother told him to tell his teacher to tell my teacher that I had shingles.  My teacher got a message that I had the jingles.

[Michelle_K]

After my bladder surgery, I stayed overnight. That was so I could drive myself, and I had the medical observation. Sometime during the night, my blood pressure was checked and it was down to 90/--. I was told I should drink more water. I don't know what they expected after I spent something like 10 hours before surgery without food or water. Later some nurse messaged me with a suggestion of drinking 3 liters of water per day to avoid getting another stone.
It was my decision to add electrolyte to my water, as plain water would just go through me, and not help my blood pressure any. The electrolyte in the water would increase the blood volume and blood pressure. It was normal for my blood pressure to be just under 120, but that was before I felt pressured to reduce my salt intake, and stop eating the salty snacks. On the other hand I was still taking the mineral supplements. I'm now learning that my being light-headed upon standing can be helped adding the minerals to my water. Likely, it was one of my best choices to stop with the regular table salt and use the salt grinder with the pink salt. I've even started using my popcorn salt in my flavored water. I do believe the test showing sodium in the normal range was during the time I was eating a lot of salty snacks, and at the time I was using a sea salt grinder.

I was looking at my air popper, and remembering I now have teeth again, and can eat popcorn. The first jar was in a regular canning jar, without any date. There was just enough for about 3 evenings watching DVDs.  The second jar was unopened, but it still popped very well, even though it was 5 years past expiration.

The DVDs seem to be more enjoyable, but I still use the captioning. The sound is clearer with the hearing aids. The Tomb Raider movies look a lot different, and that might be due to this time I'm not trying to see through cataracts.
Michelle

[Michelle_K]

I sent the information about the peanut butter, and peanuts in general, to my VA provider. I also sent the reports from the tests about my testosterone levels. I have been sharing the descriptions of the results from other tests. I printed out the ECG and CT reports, and scanned them into my computer, getting them ready to send as images. I do have an appointment at the VA for March 5th. By then, they should have the images.
I think maybe the first specialist should be a cardiologist, just to make sure what the ECG shows is not that serious.

The weather here has been terrible, I finally got to the store, having shoveled the way to my car yesterday. Hard to believe that the sidewalk that I had walked on Tuesday, was again buried by the snow plow on Wednesday. Like someone once said, they just don't seem to learn. remove all the trees and then there is no natural wind break, and then there are blizzard conditions. But this area used to be prairie land.
Michelle