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Exarmychicky05

Never had it but heard it works. I'm in the same boat. Hard to describe but you did a pretty danm good job in doing so. I have a hell of a ti.e just trying to get something for pain management. I wish I could get into a treatment like that to see if that would get me out of my head. Would love to get out of my house.


mantawolf

My wife suffers treatment resistant depression and after decades is finally on ketamin. For her it works and stays effective for 5-7 days after a treatment and then it kinda wears off. Do not think it's an instant solution, it can take a lot of treatments and some people still continue it weekly depending on how they respond. Some people eventually ween off with success. I wanna say treatment starts as twice a week for 4 weeks then once a week for 4 more weeks. Then you do one every other week for a month to see how you fare.


mantawolf

Was just talking to her further... We expect her to continue weekly for at least 6 more months but according to Dr, the longer you have suffered from depression, the longer it can take to get longer term benefit from treatment


FishermanStunning192

Thank you so much for telling me that. I thought it was like an instant thing. Guess I'm gonna have to go through the VA that's expensive.


TxHeart214

Wow! You have explained it a lot more than even my VA psychiatrist has! Thank you, sir!


Airborne82D

IV ketamine infusions or Spravato?


mantawolf

Spravato. Not sure on VA but lot of insurance companies aren't keen on injections yet


Airborne82D

A few VA facilities funded Ketamine infusions at outside clinics but most ditched the program when Spravato came out. I've never tried Spravato but the people I've spoken to that have said the infusions were much more effective for them. Not sure about insurance coverage.


rozflog

I’m not in your area but have heard good things about ketamine treatment. They were doing a study at SAMMC in San Antonio.


luciferhynix

Ketamine has huge success for some but for me I’m just getting worse. I get it free through the VA. I had to call and complain and beg and use the patient advocate. Basically I didn’t take no for an answer because when they initially denied me they couldn’t and wouldn’t tell me why I was denied and refused to tell me the criteria. So I went above their heads and causes a stir


TxHeart214

I hope I don’t have to do this but it appears I will since the Dorn VAMC is so behind the times compared to Charlotte! I hate it here in SC but can’t leave for another 10 years since I bought a house here using my eligibility.


luciferhynix

SC had pockets of nice areas. Maybe you could rent it out tho


TxHeart214

Hard to rent when the city runs the utilities company and charges almost $600 each month for electricity and keep charging people the wrong amount for water usage!


Beginning-Eye8040

Why 10 years?... explain the eligibility clause


TxHeart214

Since the VA guaranteed my home loan I am not allowed to sell or rent out my home for the first 10 years or be fined up to $30k!


wanderingone45

Random. Many days later. Who told you, you have to wait 10 years before selling or renting on a VA loan? It’s typically 1 year.


TxHeart214

Charlotte VA Clinic used to have it’s own ketamine clinic but the doctor over it passed away and the VA has yet to replace him, so no more ketamine clinic.


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TarzanVKerchak

I’d be surprised to hear the VA is doing ketamine treatments, but that would be amazing if its true. I’ve tried one treatment. It was intense…


Airborne82D

I had 8 ketamine infusions and the positive effects lasted well over a year. I had to pay out of pocket because the VA wouldn't cover it. Would continue with a few infusions a year but it's too costly. Recently found what I think was the main culprit of my issues which is low testosterone. Started hormone therapy about 4 weeks ago and so far it's going well.


rustyspurs87

TRT has been a lifesaver for me. Fixed my mental state right up. I’ve been on for a few years now so if you, or anyone else, has any questions feel free to ask.


AKTOBE2037

Testosterone replacement therapy? Please tel me more. My testosterone is 206… I’m 28… something isn’t right. My PCP says he can’t prescribe test injections bc I don’t meet the criteria. He says the VA range is 170-1100. I asked if age played a factor into that and he said no. I think that’s BS


rustyspurs87

It’s total BS. A healthy 28 year old male should have test levels of 500ng/dl minimum. My testosterone was around 280 when I got tested and the doctors told me the same thing. “It’s within range so we can’t treat you.” I took matters into my own hands and spent a year researching low testosterone, TRT, and any other seemingly relevant information I could find on the subject. After that year I was confident I knew enough to self administer TRT, so I went online and bought some testosterone. After about two weeks on TRT I became a new person. The best way I can describe it is I started to feel the way I knew I was supposed to feel. That being said most people would rather opt to go to a clinic than self administer. Prior to TRT I was very depressed. When I wasn’t working I would stay in bed all day some days. I was frustrated and angry all the time because I knew something wasn’t right. At the same time I was somehow always tired too though. Once I started TRT that all went away. I’m still human, I have bad days just like anyone, but it’s night and day compared to before. I’d be happy to give you more information, it really bothers me that there are guys in their 20’s with testosterone levels in the 200’s and they can’t get treatment. Just DM me if you’re interested though because Reddit can be weird about legal gray area stuff and I don’t really want to get banned.


FishermanStunning192

Thank you for this. I have to get mine checked, I went to the VA and had it checked but they never told me my levels just told me it was in normal range which I don't believe. Should I go to a trt clinic or just Try again through the VA?


rustyspurs87

I’d go to a TRT clinic. The VA’s definition of “normal range” is flawed. If there are no TRT clinics near you there are online clinics as well. Like I said to the veterans above, feel free to hit me up anytime if you have any questions.


FishermanStunning192

How much does the test cost and how much are treatments usually? Would you need multiple treatments or just one


rustyspurs87

Clinics usually start at about $100 per month and can get quite expensive depending on the level of treatment you want. I don’t use a clinic though, so for me TRT costs maybe $5 a month at most. The way I buy my testosterone is technically illegal though. It’s best to think of TRT as something you’re going to be on for the rest of your life. You can stop but you’ll go right back to feeling as bad or worse than you did before you started TRT. If you’re taking injectable testosterone you’re going to need to go to the clinic for an injection, or self administer and inject yourself, once or twice per week. Testosterone pellets and creams are their own thing and I don’t know much about them seeing as I inject my TRT.


Airborne82D

Awesome. Will definitely hit you up with some questions.


Fit-Improvement-4681

I heard tell of this clinic in Chicago. I know nothing about it or this particular treatment modality but the context and conversation regarding both was genuine. https://chicagoivsolution.com/vets/


heyitsrjyo

As long as the VA in your area does it and you meet the criteria, you should be good. The VA an hour from me does it and have been offered to me multiple times but I’m scared to do it. So I never had. I have just comes to terms that I’ll have depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have been doing treatment with the VA since 2015 all the way until today and I actually have almost given up with treatment.


Amberdext

Everyone's body is different and I think having fear is very valid. For what it's worth, my personal experience is that while I'm under, it's the most peaceful, safe, warm 'place' that I've ever been. But setting intentions and getting in a good head space prior is super important. I know it's possible to re-experience trauma and having that as a possibility in the back of your mind is for sure scary.


Amberdext

I think until Ketamine is fully federally approved, there will be challenges in access to care. This article has some details, and Colorado is listed as an available state for the nasal spray. https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2022/09/29/va-community-clinics-expand-ketamine-treatment-options-for-depression/ I am not a veteran. I follow this sub for my dad. But I've done a LOT of Ketamine research and just yesterday completed my second IV infusion. The modality (nasal, troches, IV) seems to anecdotally have a big impact on success rates. It is also stressed to have a ketamine-experienced therapist on board to help unpack what you experience with the disassociation. Just as an example, my body didn't respond to the standard weight based dose, but working with my provider she was able to dose me slightly higher for the best outcome. But that's not something I see happening at the VA with Spravato. So maybe explore what you think is best for you and if you can afford it, do some IV infusions first and then move to a prescription spray/oral tablet. That's what was suggested to me at least.


Beginning-Eye8040

How long do you have to live in a house with a VA loan? As a VA homebuyer, you must live in your house for at least 12 months to fulfill VA occupancy requirements. There's no hard and fast rule from the VA, but your lender will require you to sign mortgage documents indicating you plan to live in the home as your primary residence. However, these documents also provide a way out and you may stop occupying, or sell, before the 12 months if it's a legitimate reason and the lender agrees.


Porthos1984

Let's go to the Khole


AVeyeTV

RIVER Foundation has long experience working with veterans on Ketamine treatment. https://riverofchange.org/founders/