March, 2003 I began to study the similarities between the oil spill cleanups at the end of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 and that at the end of the Dessert Storm, spring, 1991.

I had heard that the vets did not trust the US Govt and that 150,000 had registered with the American Legion.

After studying these, I have been suspecting the exposure to butyl ethers as the cause of gulf war syndrome: such as 2-butoxyethanol or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether This chemical and its complex version are exposures for Gulf War troops and Alaska US Senator, Lisa Murkowski, is inquiring of the Dept of Defense why these were on the list of exposures. What are known sources?

I believe the fatigue that has generally been undiagnosed (even prior to gulf war ... such as CFS) is the same fatigue.

This chemical is a teratogen and has been found to cause birth defects in animals. Too much exposure and there is zero sperm and no children at all.

I believe the test for whether or not this chemical has harmed you can be done with a couple of add on blood tests. You could ask a doctor who has seen you to order the blood tests at the lab nearest to where you live and rule this chemical exposure in or out fairly easily. That is my theory and I would appreciate hearing back from you if you do get these tests:

Reticulocyte Count or 'Retic ratio'
What is the ratio of the mature to immature red blood cells?

 What are the size and shape of the red blood cells?

Complete Blood Counts with differentials - will be abnormal readings, also, if this chemical exposure is a concern. Some research

If you do have an abnormal reading here, redo the White Blood Count by microscope to get an accurate reading. An absolute cell count can be part of a routine blood test, and since leukemias and lymphomas can occur with this chemical, it would be a good idea to check that as well.

Kidney and liver function tests annually are a good idea as this chemical directly targets these organs, also weakens the immune system and causes central nervous system damage and endocrine disruption. (Liver may have a reading of OK and not be OK, because the loss of red blood cells, counters the regular tests for liver function as they are elevated, and counteract the actual liver test)

Many times you can go to an exact day when this exposure occurred, so do you have a memory of a time when your eyes were burning and hurting and your urine turned dark, and the very next morning a horrible fatigue, that just didn't go away? Many times, flu-like symptoms, too, but this is not the flu.

What work did you do?

Second hand exposure is pretty easy to get from this chemical family, too; don't breathe into the eyes of another, for instance. Entry through the eye membranes is the strongest exposure to this chemical (& also at the cuticle area)

I'm hoping there are some helps here Gary who was given 6 months to live has found some food supplements that extended his life (butyl ether exposure) and he is eager to share what helped him

Most importantly, strong medications usually are counterproductive, possibly even harmful, for groups who have been exposed to too much of a chemical already. Here are some consultants for your doctor

 Ask for prayer and believe God for the impossible

For today's military, it distresses me that drill sgts are more concerned about teaching accuracy in shooting, than in limiting exposures to this type of chemical (Start with 2-butoxyethanol & diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and MTBE). On a prior forum Hawk shared an article about a soldier (now back home) who came down with 'the gulf war syndrome symptoms' simply by drinking water. Yes, this is possible (DO NOT REUSE CONTAINERS that contain this chemical. DO NOT GET IN STREAMS or water supply!) So how many more are affected?

 More info on 2-butoxyethanol

 Staff Sgt James Alford is not an isolated case

Boyfriend in Iraq? broken link

Sgt, "I don't feel like myself, since coming back from Iraq a year ago"

Print-share version of this info

 

a gulf war Marine's daughter shares

shared on another forum & passed on here by MM:

I am the daughter of a Gulf War Vet and my father has been experiencing the same symptoms as you for the past 5 years. It has gotten increasingly worse to the point where he has been instructed not to drive and worst yet, his non-military affiliated physician is starting to treat him for Parkinson's. He has tremors so bad that my mother says it feels like someone is shaking their bed at night. He is 49 and uses a cane, had a difficult time staying on topic during a discussion and now is increasingly losing motor skills. He is a retired Marine and was land based is Saudi but I'm not sure where. I hope this isn't discouraging to you but you are not alone.

5-31-04 mingon

Reply:

... just wondering whether you were born before or after the gulf war service of your father?

I am very sorry to hear of this situation

Is your dad tired a lot ... or was he before the symptoms got worse?

Did his doctor ever find that he had too many immature red blood cells, or that the blood cells were ragged and beat up, when looked at under a microscope?

I ask these questions, because there is an exposure troops had that can cause all of the gulf war syndrome and resultant difficulties: 2-butoxyethanol.

It first of all damages the immune system, I believe, which attacks the red blood cells and they die off prematurely. The bone marrow can compensate for awhile for the approaching hemolytic anemia. The 'retic' ratio can find this harm. It is checking to see if bone marrow is making red blood cells at an appropriate rate.

It is also a way of ruling this chemical IN or OUT as being the cause of harm to a gulf war vet.

Sadly many vets have been given many, many additional medications for their ailments, which makes it worse for them. (Those overexposed to a chemical should avoid any extra chemicals along the way!) I've wondered if maybe the best help, when the situation gets extreme, is a transfusion of WHOLE BLOOD.

All the best. Please let me know if this might be the cause of this gulf war vet's harm?

6-1-04 'Dear Maggie'

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