Medical Support

506th Medical Support Aid Station: This Medical Support Guestbook is set up to be a place where anyone can post items relating to their service-connected medical issues: A place where you can write about the medical care that you received during your tour of duty; your thoughts; your impressions. A place where Currahee medics and physicians can write about their medical experiences during their tours A forum where someone with medical or administrative experience can guide medical and service-connected questions to places where answers can be found. This Aid Station is monitored by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968). After a 10-month tour of duty in Vietnam, "Doc" Lovy returned to private practice, obtaining a specialty in Adult Psychiatry. He currently holds Medical Licenses in 6 states and Certifications from the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry; the American Academy of Pain Management; and the American Board of Forensic Medicine. (Photo at left: Lovy at Eagles Roost in Vietnam) Lovy is the author of various publications, including the book, Combat Surgeon in Vietnam, a personal account of his tour of duty as a battalion surgeon. During the past 30 years, he has held many psychiatric and veterans-related medical positions and is currently a Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurobehavioral Sciences, AT Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine; and an Associate Examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. (Photo at right: Lovy preparing for the Currahee Veterans Jump, June 2000) Medical Advice Disclaimer: we are not offering medical advice or medical opinions, on general or specific conditions, or otherwise at this web site. What is stated here is not to, and does not, take the place of medical examinations and medical opinions. We encourage and direct you to consult with your physician for your specific medical condition. View and/or Sign the Medical Support Guestbook

NOTE from "Doc" Lovy: With the interest in Lariam, the antimalarial medication that is implicated in the Fort Bragg situation where 4 wives of servicemen were killed, I contacted the manufacturer. Lariam was approved for use by the FDA in 1990, and the product was researched through the military as well as other sources, so it was probably available in 1988 or 1989. Therefore, any trooper that had to take antimalarial pills prior to those dates was not taking this particular medication. Any trooper who was involved in operations that involved travel to countries where malaria was prevalent could have taken the medication. One of the precautions regarding the medication does state that it should not be used in those having a known mental illness since the medication may cause an increase in mental symptoms.

Medical Support Articles: VA Insurance: Traumatic Injury Protection Rare Blood Infection Detected in Several Servicemembers Injured during War: article from the European edition, November 20, 2004, Stars & Stripes Official US Government Site for People with Medicare: useful site for making comparisons when Medicare, SSI, etc. may not be enough to cover medical expenses Agent Orange Articles: Agent Orange/Environment Agents Service: become familiar with Agent Orange and the Health of Our Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Herbicide Exposure/Veterans Benefit Services: Agent Orange and Vietnam Veterans Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Articles: VA Anticipates PTSD: July 4, 2004 article by Andrea Domaskin, Associated Press Writer Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): from MedicineNet Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Center: from MedicineNet Welcome Home!: from PTSD Support Services Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): from At Health, Inc. Falciparum Malaria and PTSD: by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968) David Baldwin's Trauma Information Pages: web site by a licensed clinical psychologist in Oregon that focuses on trauma, especially PTSD National Center for PTSD: Dartmouth site sponsored by the US Department of Veterans Affairs with a link to a PTSD database called PILOTS PTSD References: by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968) Acute Traumatic Stress: excerpt from an article by Kenneth Harbert, PhD, BCETS, CTS, PA-C PTSD High in NYC after September 11: from Reuters Health

Other Articles: NOTE: Dr. Lovy submitted the following article as a resource for individuals to access as part of the venue for open dialogue. He does not endorse any statement or concept in this article since it may contain value judgements and/or unvalidated claims. His comments follow the link. Suicide Wall -- Additional comments by Dr. Lovy: these are germinal figures. There are lots of value judgements involved, and I do not find this as true research. There is a spin that is hard to overcome. Not wishing to embarrass someone, over or understating to prove a point, attributing almost every accident, etc. etc. to the war if it happened to a Vietnam veteran, etc. It is a quantum leap of judgement to state that a suicide without a note, a drunken driving incident, etc. etc. in a Veteran is the result of the Veteran's involvement in the war. Interview of a retired doctor does not constitute research, merely anecdotal opinion. Sometimes our own prejudices get in the way of the gathering of facts, as well as the interpretation of the data. I would want to see age-matched data; data involving the use of drugs, alcohol and death in the general population; and then those who were in Vietnam vs those who were in Korea, Desert Storm, WWII, etc. etc. Unvalidated claims may only muddy the waters even more. The Vietnam veteran has enough to overcome without the addition of myth to his/her life.