Gulf War illnesses

[1sgboom]

I need to find out if any of you fellow Gulf War vets that are disabled, are any of your family members having health problems? Particularly, your younger children. My 9 year old daughter has been having extreme pain in her legs, back pain, stomach pain, and head aches. If any of you know of anyone else with the same problems, please let me know. Thanks 1sgboom

"SAPPERS BREECH HELL."

[catman]

Top...I have a 5 year old daughter and thank God she has not had any problems as of yet. I will include your daughter and family in my prayers though.

Trav

[tdeane]

3 children here too Top...9, 4 and 1 year(s) old. No problems.

[1sgboom]

Thanks guys. We've had several tests done to no avail. Next stop is U.C.Davis Med center. Being 70% disabled, I hope it's nothing she got from me.

"SAPPERS BREECH HELL"

[catman]

Top...what unit were you with in the Desert?

Trav

[1sgboom]

I was in a Calif National Guard unit. The 270th M.P.Co. We were attached to the 89th M.P. Bde out of Ft. Hood. In fact, both of those respective units are now over there. After the war, I became a Medic, then a Combat Engineer. I did 4 yrs regular 1972-76 with the 504th M.P. Bn, and the Berlin Bde M.P.s. I retired last year after 27 yrs. On the civilian side, I'm a C.H.P. Officer with 29 yrs.

[Hawk]

Top, my seven year old son has had severe leg, occasional joint pain. The leg pain has woke him up at night many times from a deep sleep. But the doctors can find no cause, their answer, growing pains, somehow I don't think growing pains is what he has since both my fifteen year old and thirteen year old have never experianced this.

[1sgboom]

Hey Hawk, thanks for the info. We were also told by doctors that "it's growing pains." Well, I don't buy it. The first week of my daughter's life was spent in intensive care. She had 103 degree temp, and went into convulsions. They diid all kinds of tests, and could only say it was, "a virus of unknown origin." whatever that's supposed to mean. We had bone scans done a week ago, which they said is normal, This sort of thing should not be happening to a 9 year old. Her sister, (12yrs old) has no problems, and we ar baffled about it. We will be taking her to U.C. Davis Med center formore tests. I will let you know if we find anything.



"SAPPERS BREECH HELL"

[catman]

Top...having been with a Ft Hood unit I assume you were attached to the Cav and if so you should have received notice, a few years back, that you were exposed to that pit they blew up with all the chemical/biological munitions in it. Have you ever gone through the testing for Desert Storm Syndrome? If not you should and get your name put on the register.

Trav

[BLUEHAWK]

Top -
Not sure if it will be of any help to you at all, but I can tell you for sure this much... my dad (Army enlisted 1944-46) was sent to Los Alamos and then as a guinea pig to White Sands during that first explosion of the Manhattan Project. I was born in '46, and have had an ailment all my life which nobody else in our family has ever had, which is incurable. He died (age 62) from lifelong glandular and cancerous problems related to his exposures, which the government and Army steadfastly denied, and which hundreds of other vets his age and duty stations experienced.

So, it DOES happen, in spades... see some other postings here by Mortardude and Hardcore...

Best of everything to you and your family.

[1sgboom]

I've been poked,& proded for the last 8yrs. I'm listed by the V.A. as 60% disabled. I've got it all: fatigue, memory loss, gastrointestinal problems, joint, & muscle pain, and large lumps under the skin, by the 100s. I just want to find out what my daughter has, and fix it.


"SAPPERS BREECH HELL"

[Hawk]

Top, Is your daughter have any trouble with schoolwork, such as spelling, reading? My son has trouble with both these areas, we have tried every type of tutoring you can think of, but still little progress for him. My older two (pre gulf war) have little trouble with their schoolwork. But everything seems to come very hard for him and just when you think he has it, he gets it all mixed up again. I am begining to think I might not be the only one who has memory problems.

[catman]

Top & Hawk...I will keep you both and your families in my prayers. i have a few friends from my former unit that are having problems also. Funny how that effected some and not all. I think I am only one of two guys from my unit with PTSD, same funny syndrome there. Take care guys!

Trav

[1sgboom]

My daughter is excelling in school, all A's etc...so no problem there. She is however taking antidepressants.....not good for a kid of 9. Catman, could you have some of your friends get on board here, and describe some of the problems they are experiencing. The more info I can gather on sick kids of Gulf vets, the better. That way I can submit it all to the AGWVA. Thanks guys.

"SAPPERS BREECH HELL"

[catman]

Top...I will send the word to those I know. May be able to get them to private message you but I do not think they will talk on open forum.

Trav

[1sgboom]

OK my friend, thanks I really appreciate it

"SAPPERS BREECH HELL"

[Hawk]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PO3-08
February 5, 2003 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FDA APPROVES PYRIDOSTIGMINE BROMIDE AS PRETREATMENT AGAINST NERVE GAS
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of pyridostigmine bromide to increase survival after exposure to Soman "nerve gas" poisoning. The product is approved for combat use by United States military personnel.

Pyridostigmine bromide is the first drug approved under a recently issued FDA rule (frequently referred to as the "animal efficacy rule") that allows use of animal data for evidence of the drug's effectiveness for certain conditions when the drug cannot be ethically or feasibly tested in humans.

The "animal efficacy rule," which became effective on June 30, 2002, is an important component of FDA's efforts to make medical countermeasures available to treat or prevent the effects of biological and chemical agents.

FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., said, "Today's action will help protect American troops and others from nerve agent attacks."

The "animal efficacy rule" enabled FDA to approve pyridostigmine bromide to increase survival from Soman poisoning despite the impossibility of ethically conducting human studies on the effectiveness of the drug.

The nerve agent Soman causes loss of muscle control and death from respiratory failure. Evidence of the effectiveness of pyridostigmine bromide as a pretreatment for exposure to Soman was obtained primarily from studies in monkeys and guinea pigs. This evidence shows that administration of the drug before exposure to Soman, together with atropine and pralidoxime given after exposure, increases survival. FDA believes that, based on the animal evidence of effectiveness, pyridostigmine bromide is likely to benefit humans exposed to Soman.

The agency's safety assessment is based on long-term use of pyridostigmine bromide, first approved by FDA in 1955, to treat a neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis. The Department of the Army has submitted data from multiple controlled trials and uncontrolled clinical experience demonstrating pyridostigmine bromide is well-tolerated at the doses intended for military use. The dose used for myasthenia gravis is higher than the dose used for pretreatment to protect against Soman.

To use this potentially lifesaving drug correctly, military personnel must carefully follow instructions and use the drug only under specific circumstances. For example, if U.S. troops faced the threat of exposure to Soman, they would be given instructions to take pyridostigmine bromide every 8 hours prior to the anticipated exposure. Soldiers will be warned that the drug is not effective and should not be taken at the time of, or after exposure to Soman.

The troops are to use the drug in conjunction with other protective measures, including chemical protective masks and battle dress garments. Furthermore, effectiveness depends on the rapid use of the antidotes atropine and pralidoxime and discontinuation of pyridostigmine bromide at the first indication of nerve gas exposure. The Department of Defense plans to provide all military personnel with extensive training, prior to deployment, on the proper use of pyridostigmine bromide, as well as other methods used in the prevention and treatment of nerve agent poisoning.

A leaflet that explains the drug's use, benefits, and side effects will be provided to military personnel when the drug is distributed. The leaflet advises that pyridostigmine bromide should not be used by persons who have a history of bowel or bladder obstruction, or sensitivity to certain medicines used during surgery (like physostigmine). Side effects that may occur include stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, frequent urination, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, worsening of peptic ulcer, blurred vision, and watery eyes.

The approved dose of pyridostigmine bromide for Soman pretreatment is one 30-mg. tablet every 8 hours. The leaflet states that pyridostigmine should be started at least several hours before exposure to Soman and emphasizes that it must be discontinued upon exposure to nerve gas, at which point the antidotes atropine and pralidoxime are given.

During the Gulf War, FDA had allowed distribution of pyridostigmine bromide under its Investigational New Drug provisions because pretreatment with this drug had the potential to help save lives if nerve agents were used.

Today's action provides FDA approval for the product.

found at this link:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/Pyridostigmine_Bromide/default.htm


"The "animal efficacy rule" enabled FDA to approve pyridostigmine bromide to increase survival from Soman poisoning despite the impossibility of ethically conducting human studies on the effectiveness of the drug."
I guess the above means it is unethical, to test this drug on humans, would that implie that we were test subjects, and as such had forfeited our human rights, simply because we were in the military, we were not intitled to ethical treatment.


pb drug label (good information list all the side effects)
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2003/020414lbl.pdf

[Arrow]

<DIV align=center>Division of Epidemiology



<HR align=center>

</DIV>
Research on Gulf War-Associated Neurologic Illness
By the Division of Epidemiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Robert W. Haley, M.D., Director
<BR WP="BR2">

Dr. Robert Haley and colleagues at UT Southwestern have been conducting epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory research on the "Gulf War syndrome" and related neurologic illnesses in Gulf War veterans since March 1994. The work has been supported by a continuing grant from the Perot Foundation and by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. The objectives of the research are to define new or unique clinical syndromes among Gulf War veterans, determine their causes, identify areas of damage or dysfunction in the brain and nervous system responsible for the symptoms, develop a cost-effective battery of clinical tests that can diagnose the illness, search for underlying genetic traits that might predispose to the illness, and perform clinical trials of promising treatments.

The initial studies identified three primary syndromes in a Naval reserve construction battalion (seabees) that appear to be unique, demonstrated that the syndromes are associated with subtle dysfunction of the brainstem and lower parts of the brain, and found epidemiologic associations between the syndromes and risk factors of exposure to combinations of chemicals in the Gulf War.

Genetic studies have identified a genetic trait (PON1 enzymes) that may explain why some soldiers sustained brain damage from exposure to neurotoxic chemicals while others working alongside them remained well. Most recently, research using magnetic resonance spectroscopy has demonstrated a loss of functioning brain cells in deep brain structures of ill Gulf War veterans. Additional commentaries by Dr. Haley have challenged the government's stress theory of Gulf War syndrome and findings of no difference in mortality, hospitalization and birth defects between Gulf War-deployed and nondeployed military populations. Additional research and publications are in process.<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">

Click on the following topics for summaries of the published research.

1. A list of the papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/page1.htm) <BR WP="BR2">

2. Findings showing that there is a Gulf War syndrome, it is due to organic neurologic dysfunction, and it is associated with exposure to combinations of chemicals in the Gulf War. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/page2.htm)

3. Dr. Haley's refutation of the stress theory of Gulf War illness. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/news/nostress.htm) <BR WP="BR1">

4. Dr. Haley's refutation of government research showing no increase in mortality, hospitalization, or birth defects in Gulf War veterans compared with the nondeployed military population (http://irweb.swmed.edu/newspub/newsdetl.asp?story_id=61)

5. Findings on the genetic predisposition to Gulf War Syndrome. (http://irweb.swmed.edu/newspub/newsdetl.asp?story_id=144)



6. Findings linking dizziness in Gulf War Veterans to subtle brain injury. (http://irweb.swmed.edu/newspub/newsdetl.asp?story_id=229)



7. Findings on brain cell loss by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. (http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/abstract/215/3/807)



8. Findings on abnormal brain dopamine levels. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/dopamine.htm)

9. Stress does not cause pyridostigmine to enter the brain. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/sintonpress.htm)

The site listed belowis the original site for this material:

http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/ (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/)

Peace,

Arrow&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

[Margaret Diann]

Thank you for sharing about your children;

Here is a comment from a clinical and molecular teratology abstract (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/104524280/ABSTRACT) about birth defects of GW I vets: "We observed a higher prevalence of tricuspid valve insufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, and renal agenesis or hypoplasia among infants conceived postwar to GWV men, and a higher prevalence of hypospadias among infants conceived postwar to female GWVs."

As you know, on this topic in general, I always wonder about the fact that 2-butoxyethanol is a teratogen (http://www.valdezlink.com/teratogens.htm)

If it is 2nd hand solvent exposure or an effect of these chemicals (http://www.valdezlink.com/same.htm) - which troops were exposed to during the gulf (& also before and after the gulf) ... you will want to stay clear of chemicals - even medications as much as possible.

Consider these helps (http://www.valdezlink.com/changes.htm)

Why I suspect 2-butoxyethanol &/or diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (http://www.valdezlink.com/why2B.htm)

Test the blood for THESE things that these chemicals do (http://www.valdezlink.com/acute-hematology-overview.htm)

If you are dealing with central nervous system damage, they say there isn't much that can be done for it. If anyone knows otherwise, please share. But, those odd symptoms that are 'all over the board' even the headaches: reflects the endocrine disruption (http://www.valdezlink.com/complete.htm#endocrine) that pesticides (including these chemicals) do.

Margaret

valdezlink.com/banner.htm (http://www.valdezlink.com/banner.htm)

[Margaret Diann]

This thread has important implications (http://www.valdezlink.com/pf/sorryabout.htm) I've saved some of it, all

16 months later, check for these things (http://valdezlink.com/pages/howtotell.htm)

My goal: get the right tests - Stop the unnecessary poking and prodding!

[Margaret Diann]

The chemical that you were also exposed to, but most everyone ignores, is 2-butoxyethanol.

It causes the immune system to become autoimmune (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/autoimmune.htm) Check over the various things here that are considered autoimmune & you may gain some insights

With the children, since this chemical is a teratogen, I believe singular health ailments can show up without the underlying autoimmune hemolytic anemia that would be a biomarker for it in someone with direct exposure.

I believe that although the central nervous system damage is part of what happens to those exposed, it is not the sole cause of all the rest of the ailments; it is only part of the picture.

I believe we saw the same harm in WWII and in the Vietnam vet (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/vietnam.htm) (see how similar your ailments are to theirs)

I believe glyconutrients are a painless help and some of the best hope for help (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/glyconutrientHope.htm) for you and your children ... even for babies

[Shortdawg]

Been sick for quite some time but the VA only acknowleges PTSD, Chronic fatigue and Migraines.

They ignore the fact that my cartillage is desintegrated throughout my body and my breathing is getting wosre everyday.

At present I am rated at PTSD with Migraines and chronic fatigue.

I am 70% disabled with unemployability.

The government is in denial of chemicals and DU exposureeven though our chem alarms went off a few times.

I am still fighting for 100% to take care of my family.

My doc has givin me 5 years to live and I am only 33 years old.

Charge on wariors, some of us will win.

HOOAH!

[Margaret Diann]

So sorry to hear these things. I got acquainted by phone and e-mail with Chad Pagel of Indiana. He is your same age and in recent months - it is silent on his end. You can tell by the medications they are giving him that they are not trying to help (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/finding.htm) the liver and bone marrow failure they have diagnosed him with ... and yes, joint pain, etc.

The govt does acknowledge the chemical exposures I've been sharing about: in the solvents and pesticides the gulf war troops were exposed to, both 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (http://www.valdezlink.com/same.htm) (I've asked DoD why it was on the list - but still no answer)

Now, flu-like symptoms with horrible diarrhea and eyes burning and hurting can signal an acute exposure. Do you remember anything like that? If so, what were you doing then? Chad told me that when his MP group secured the airport the whole group of them had their bowels loose & they 'lost it' Were lined up against the hall and given some tablet to stop it.

Do you have high or low blood sugar? I don't know whether 'diabetes' shows up at some point with this chemical exposure, but I am seeing a lot of it. I also suspect it for type 2 diabetes as a birth defect (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/diabetesDiabetes.htm) (much like brain tumors would be) for those whose parents were strongly exposed: that would mean the entire 'baby boomer' population - people my age who had a parent during WWII who was strongly exposed to it. (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/howmanywwiivets.htm) No wonder Walter Reid Army Medical Center & Deployment Health reps say that the gulf war vet was no more harmed than the general population. We have a pandemic, unrecognized health crisis on our hands. That's what I think.

Look toward the bottom of this page I'm gathering info for.... 'diabetesDiabetes' and see what helps there may be for you with 'glyconutrients' A couple of doctors are either doing trials with it ... or willing to do so. Check the links under the doctors, also Dr Lea Steele of the VA has taken an interest in what other doctors shared about these also.

I would give the glyconutrients to my children, too, even babies. If the immune system starts communicating better cell to cell (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/discoveries.htm#sweet) and the autoimmune function stops, I believe there is hope that the body can heal itself.

[Margaret Diann]

My brother served in the Persian Gulf. He came back with all the symtems of Gulf War Syndrome. He has had 3 children. The middle child, his only boy, has had a constant struggle to stay healthy his whole life. ( colds, flu, ear infections etc.) He couldn't sit up. Can't walk, complains of pain in legs and foot, weighs only 23lbs., has severely crossed eyes and doesn't say a word. He can hear, he just doesn't talk. He was recently diagnosed with a Syrinx...?? ( a cyst in the spinal cord caused by brain fluid leaking).
My question is has anyone else out there encountered this same disease??
There seems to be no other explanation.
Any information would be extremely helpful.
Thank you,
Melissa <mjensen732@aol.com>

Right not I think that you could compare what happened to the Vietnam vet and the Korean vet (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/vietnam.htm) and the WWII vet and today's vet and find the same type of harm to children ... I think it is the same chemical exposure that is doing it, too.

Comments to a vet with rashes and blood in urine (http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/rashesbloodinurine.htm)

Concern for fumes - Airline Industry (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/planefumes.htm)

Maybe Mike's health concerns are birth defects from a parent poisoned by EGBE in WWII? (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/mikeshares.htm)

[Margaret Diann]

There seems to be hope for help with good nutrition and glyconutrient food supplements (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/finallylistened_.htm#sugars). This is based on the nutritional research of Roger J. Williams.

2-butoxyethanol should be suspect for causing CFIDS (http://www.valdezlink.com/cfid_share.htm) ... and a lot more ... even the best 'match' for gulf war syndrome ... Vietnam (http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/vietnam.htm) and Korean and WWII vets' harm, too ....

It's no wonder there's confusion. The chemical I've learned about in recent years spreads out into so many different things, that something else gets the blame for what it does ... & the harm goes on and on and on. It is a common chemical exposure for military & civilians alike. My theories are different than mainstream; however those with CFIDS and their doctors would have the proof, if they find the fatigue of EGBE (2-butoxyethanol is the modern name)

I suspect other birth defects besides diabetes are possible: called congenital thyroid ailment, or liver or kidney or various tumors ... pancreatic concerns ... AND diabetes at some point in time if a parent had too much exposure. Congenital heart defects ...

For those with THE FATIGUE (direct exposure) Look for blood in urine ... or later abnormal peripheral blood test; and look at red blood cells. Are they small sized?

My thoughts on gulf war syndrome (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/helpfor-GWI-CFIDS/):

One of the chemical exposures for the 90-91 Gulf War vets was a commonly used chemical from the 1930s to the present. It IS on the list of solvents and pesticides the gulf war troops were exposed to. 2-butoxyethanol and its compound version, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, are solvents, but also in some odd way ... pesticides. That would explain the endocrine disruption.

It explains why civilians would be equally harmed (per Walter Reed Army Medical Center the gulf war vets are no more harmed than the general population EXCEPT for ALS). So, some gulf war vets got way too much exposure to 2-butoxyethanol to get that.

Not sarin gas; not vaccinations; not depeted uranium. The USA did not do something wrong and hide it. They don't have a clue.

Many times what is called the FLU is actually this chemical's poisoning. People would have what is best described as CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) often diabetes, hormonal levels that could go high or low. The fatigue that should be suspect is autoimmune hemolytic anemia which causes the immune system to 'friendly fire' HEADACHES and Central Nervous System damage & many other autoimmune issues are 'part of the picture' CNS includes things like sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss, all the time irritability, DEPRESSION and suicidal tendencies!

Tired of being tired? Tired of hearing 'it is all in your head?' I believe you! And I do recognize this chemical's poisoning! If you share enough about what was going on when you first felt sick, I may be able to help you find the source of this chemical's poisoning.

We have multiple generations of chemcially poisoned people. Is there CFS in the family line? Maybe some health issues are 'birth defects?' Also a very strong 2nd hand exposure!

Look for these clues (http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/cfsclues.htm)

I would like to share the story penned by gulf war vet, Donny Richardson in 2000 (http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/donny.htm)

[Margaret Diann]

a teratogen chemical .... BUTLY or 2-butoxyethanol

Other thoughts in last 2 years:

Be sure to avoid BUTYL (http://www.valdezlink.com/re/butylcauses.htm), as I suspect that is the teratogen chemical that was the cause of the primary harm to gulf war vets, and vets of other war eras, and civilians, too

Too many things going on differently than the 'norm' so doctors and researchers have largely been stumped, as one variable only ... does not work

I suspect (http://www.valdezlink.com/re/thecfidsview.htm) the CFIDS, CFS, FM, ME assortment of AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES is what you are dealing with

Find the ANEMIA, it is your most serious health issue; and the prove that BUTYL or a chemical like 2-butoxyethanol (http://www.valdezlink.com/same.htm) is your chemical of harm

I think there is help with glyconutrients (http://www.valdezlink.com/re/willglyobiologyhelp.htm)