Husband PGW vet and thinks he may have PTSD

[nuttygirl70]

hello! i'm just trying to gain more insight on PTSD if anyone here has any experiences to share. my husband is a PGW vet and is beginning to think maybe he has PTSD. he spoke to another vet recently about the nightmares he still experiences and was told he needs to go back to the va and look into it...that like himself my husband also probably has PTSD. what usually triggers these nightmares are any loud noises like a thunderstorm, or even if he's under normal stress. about a month ago our son fell asleep downstairs while watching "saving private ryan". my husband and i were asleep upstairs. well, unbeknownst to our son the volume was up rather loud, i guess so he could here the dialogue. so obviously when the machine guns and tanks start firing and men are yelling the movie became very loud. my husband lurches out of bed and starts freaking out. it scared the hell out of me! it took me a minute to realize, after being awakened from a dead sleep, what the problem was. every once in a while he'll wake up in a similar manner, but this nightmare was by far the worst one he's had. he was in the 1st ID while serving and so experienced much of the war firsthand. he also witnessed the killing of a fellow soldier in his Bn whom he knew as an acquaintance. he will forever remember the sight of the soldiers body bag being driven around on top of the tank until the battle was over. i really feel bad for him. i can't even begin to imagine what a horrific experience it must have been for him and every other service member, past and present, who have fought for their country. you will always have my respect. i love you guys!

melissa

[barklady]

See my post: living with fiance's PTSD. All I can say is get diagnosed yesterday and treated immediately. Although my fiance is getting treatment, it's 20 years overdue and is going to take some time. I don't remember the last time I had a full night's sleep. I'm going out of town for work next week and can't wait to sleep by myself - no one with nightmares to wake up and comfort. I love the man dearly and really feel for him. The PTSD is saturating him. He's unable to focus on home, himself, us, work because he has these constant mind intrusions, it's like everything triggers a million memories all at once

[BGW]

nuttygirl70
I can sympathise with you and yours--Being a Viet-Nam vet--I am very familar with PTSD. I have been told by doctors that I will never be cured--but I am on medication that does make it bearable , most of the time--Have your husband to go to the VA and see a doctor and get him to refer your husband to a physchatrist and get him on medication.Also have your husband stick with his VA appointments-- I would also see if there is a Vet center in the area and have him go there--for their outreach program.I go to the physchatrist once every 6 months---and to the Vet Center every week or two---it seems to help--I`m not saying thatthe problem will go away and never return---but it seems to help lessen the frequency of the symptoms.The Vet Centers are run by the VA and will not cost you.
BGW