OK, so I live about 15 minutes from the closest VA Hospital, and here are some tips for those of you who are within driving distance:
1. I get HORRIBLE migraines sometimes, and the only fix is a needle, unfortunately. Rather than going to the local ER and paying a bill later, I ride my happy ass down to the VA.
(LIFE HACK): Go after 7pm if able, because the emergency department will be almost dead empty. Old folks like to go to bed early, and tend to visit the ER early, if they're not doing so via an act of god on their arteries.
2. Go talk to your appointed doctor or team regularly.
(LIFE HACK): Keeping your records as up-to-date as possible will negate any fuss should you need to see a specialist, have an unforseen surgery, etc.
I'll post more as I think about them. Just figured I'd share these two for now. The first one has been a life saver multiple times... I'd rather go in, be seen, and be on my way home in the matter of an hour than sit for 3 to 5 hours.
~Shiv1141