Army veteran trying to get help for PTSD
Jerry Hamilton was deployed in the army four times in nine years.
“I was in numerous explosions, we got mortared, we were targeted on a daily basis, in numerous explosions,” Jerry Hamilton said.
He’s been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, but his family thinks it could be something more.
“What the hell is wrong with my husband? What’s going on? What is this? This is not just PTSD!,” Cissie Hamilton said.
What started as a small facial tick has led to seizures, Tourette syndrome, body shocks and dementia symptoms.
Eventually he and his wife qualified for the VA’s highest level of caregiver assistance.
So his wife quit her job to stay with him.
The drugs the VA prescribed alleviated his symptoms somewhat, but not enough, as you can see from a video the family posted to Facebook.
“He would isolate, never had anything to do with the family. He slept a majority of the time,” she said. “He wasn’t the same, i didn’t understand, but it wasn’t the same.”
They did research and found studies showing medical marijuana can ease the symptoms.
So in June, they moved from Tennessee to Colorado Springs.
They say they told a VA doctor ahead of time.
But after re-evalution for caregiver assistance, they were told Hamilton didn’t qualify.
The VA won’t discuss individual patient treatments because of confidentiality.
But after moving thousands of miles hoping for relief, the Hamiltons feel they’re worse off now.
While they’re still working with the VA, the Hamiltons are afraid they’re out of options.
They admit they have met with some medical marijuana groups.
Jerry Hamilton’s symptoms greatly diminished after trying some marijuana infused medication.
