michellesmith

I realized that I was going off the assumption you were tricare prime in the military, but if you are tricare standard I would highly recommend seeing a Dysautonomia doctor. The best part of tricare standard is if you do not like a doctor it is so easy to see somebody else. A luxury that is not as available to us being tricare prime. If you are tricare prime, you have two options if you want to see a specialist 1. The route I explained in the last e-mail if you want to see a Dysautonomia specialist through a referral 2. Or you can change to tricare standard with a small price. I did both routes because I did not want to wait until I had the option to go tricare standard. I wanted the help with medications and answers right away and not from someone who is just shooting from the hip. I wanted someone that knows what they are talking about. I honestly thought I could do all the research and find out all I needed to know about this illness on my own, because I'm also very independent, but when I did see a specialist I realized what all I was missing and how much more they could help me out with IV's whenever I needed them, calling the ER to explain to them what I needed, giving me very helpful advise about pregnancy, etc. Anwyay I hope some of it might be useful. Good luck

wow. I know it must be hard for you with your husband deployed. I was active duty military and found that I could get a referral to a Dysautonomia specialist when I had this illness in the military since there are no Dysautonomia specialist in the military. There are doctors that were familiar with the illness, but you need someone with more knowledge than that. You really need to see a specialist instead of wasting your time with doctors that think they know what you are talking about, but unfortunately most of them do not and this can be a more harmful experience than a good one. It is a battle to get this specialist and can be very political, so if and when you see your doctor go in prepared. Find out the closest specialist to you and call them ahead of time to make sure they take tricare prime, or whatever insurance you have. Give them all the information at your appointment and be very clear as to what you want. I had to take this battle to the top (the medical commander - at our base anyone who has a problem with their medical care can make an appointment with him or her) because I was not being heard and you need to do that as well or your husband does, because your health is never something that should be compromised and the reason they will tell you no or push you aside is because it is more work on their part. Doctors in the military are sadly undermanned because of the war so I can understand why they do not want to put in the work, but you have to take care of yourself first, because you can't afford not too. I wish you luck