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February 01, 2004:
Here's some ice 
If you like music, go here valdezlink.com/gwv/wintertime.htm (where?)Anyway, I have looked into the report on organophosphates. They think of pesticides when they mention organophosphates, I think. Anyway, I don't think this cause lines up as well with the total package of symptoms that Gulf War Vets have ... compared to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (aka 2-butoxyethanol) as you have probably noticed already: that is my focus: a chemical that troops were exposed to that causes about all of the symptoms you have ... yet has not been studied. OK to look everywhere else, too. But I'm not planning on covering the same ground if you know what I mean. Sleep? Marky-Mark: "Sleep, now there's a strange concept. I alternate a lot. Sometimes I sleep all the time because I'm so worn out, this is usually during the day, and other times I sleep very little due to nightmares, and night sweats which are even worse. It sucks, because if you tell a doc that sometimes you sleep, and sometimes you don't, they average the two, and say it's normal. I used to only have nightmares occasionally, but since this stuff in Iraq started, it's been almost nightly."posted February 01, 2004: Oh, they average the two, do they? A lot of your comments are worthy of a comment, but I suggest you go thru this list I put together (about 9 pages) and make this your personal OVERVIEW - So doctors have more input than you can give them in an office visit. valdezlink.com/gwv/symptoms.htm Cross out the things that don't apply. Circle or star those that do; add your own if you have others... & help your doctor get the BIG picture. This is hard for many as there are so many specialists out there and they want to focus on their specialty - which may or may not be as helpful to you. Now, I am copying and mailing to my US Senator, Lisa Murkowski, and
to the Kentucky and Indiana Commisioners of Health all the web pages I
note here - valdezlink.com/gwv/gws_how_to_find.htm Now, Travis, I am concerned that you are still having watering eyes and dark urine. That is an indication that you are RIGHT NOW having fresh exposures. Look back to when this seems to occur and see if you can stop new exposures to this ethylene glycol ether. The loss of interest in sex is common place - One of the expressions of the endocrine disruption. Low back pain? That is sometimes indicative of kidney problems. Per the info on this chemical, it is a good idea to have regular kidney and liver function level tests. AND Travis, posted February 01, 2004 :Well, my friend, It's the GUNK. Wouldn't you know it, it has 2-butoxyethanol in it, even though it only says 2% ... this is horrible stuff, and especially if you've already had your fill of it. http://www.gunk.com/msds/L212.PDF And the hazard warnings: defatted skin; rinse eyes for 15 minutes, don't wear contacts. Someone told me that at a high school car wash they used this stuff; the adult there commented that he got too much exposure one time and lost all the color in his eyes ... wow ... that's trouble big time. I'll give this more thought; but GUNK is not for use in your little RV. Use outdoors; wear the respirator and the goggles and the chemical retardant gloves. valdezlink.com/pages/protection.htm posted February 02, 2004:Goodness ... whatever they sprayed the decks with - affected not only those doing the work; but also those who came by later most likely, too. The Navy Seabees have a high incidence of 'Gulf War Syndrome' and I'm
hearing reports of these in other time periods as well. quote:Hmm ... on and off loading? That makes sense to me; the longshoremen of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup were exposed to the bad chemicals. Sometimes the barrels leaked; and one shared with me that every time he opened the holding containers of barrels, he would get a 'whiff' of the chemical. Since then he survived colon cancer; but the horrible fatigue. He said, "Am I tired? I just thought I was lazy!" Moms just using hobby products can be affected; there is a long list of those products included here as well WD40 doesn't seem to have this; but oil & things to be careful of all the same. Here is a sample list of products which contain 2-butoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) valdezlink.com/pages/2-butoxyethanol_inthese.htm As you can see by some having 10%, 20% even 50% concentration ... some are very, very hazardous This Gunk has 4-5% of the 2-2-butoxyethanol Check for others you might use Here is another list to check: in common things used by the public. Remember, aerosol version is most hazardous for products which contain the 2-B as it is more likely to get in your eyes. Eyes burning the way you describe, Travis, is more likely symptomatic of this type of exposure than other things you could think of. posted February 11, 2004:No, the man who helped me understand so much about the health problems from the oil spill cleanup days was Richard D. Nagel. He had documented nervous system (by the Court and the Social Security Administration) which he doesn't even mention when he tells his story last. He also told me that he didn't sleep at night. The co-worker of his shared with me that he had a broken little finger that hadn't healed in 10 months and his orthopedic specialist was truly stumped. So I saw some possible similarities & hadn't seen the discussion on forums, & was just inquiring. When the evidence comes in on the blood, it will be irrefutable, and what anyone thinks won't matter. posted February 05, 2004:
Is this or any of the synonym names listed on the pesticides/solvent list you were exposed to? pentachloro-Phenol CAS NO is 87-86-5 PENTACHLOROPHENOL - http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1473.pdf (feb, 03) PENTACLOROFENOL - http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1473sp.pdf (march, 02) (in Spanish) Seems to reference liver and kidney problems; that it likely causes reproductive harm; that it causes cancer. No comment on blood damage (red blood cells & blood forming organs), central nervous system damage, or lymph damage. Possible immune system damage, too? Skin damage would be like 'all the time acne' (Skin damage from ethylene glycol monobuyl ether may be from oil cells being killed causing 'defatted' skin in areas of too much contact). Based on this EPA website comment, there would likely be endocrine disruption, too: back up
quote: I wonder what cancers would be commonplace with this chemical besides liver cancer? With ethylene glycol monobutyl ether one would suspect prostate cancer and bone cancer, such as those who paint often have; also leukemia, lymphomas, tumor of the brain, melanoma, stomach cancer and those as well.
When you get a blood test for something next, as the doctor to find the absolute cell count valdezlink.com/pages/absolute_cell_count.htm valdezlink.com/check_blood.htm (it is a simple way to see if all is OK with the lymph system per one report) It could be that you have multiple symptoms and that if the group of Vets has similar blood problems, you will qualify regardless of the current deadlines, etc You must force yourself to see a good doctor. I'd go to a hematologist
if you have a choice. There is so much that the blood tells
you about your health. And you know what they say, the sooner you find
out what's going on, the better your chances of overcoming ... Now,
soldier, let's march to the doctor's office!
Mother Margaret reply: posted February 02, 2004quote: I was so touched by your grief. If this were something only caused by the parents, then why would your baby be healthy for two weeks? I heard of this happening with some of the workers on the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. Without medical help close at hand, it is sometimes diagnosed as 'pneumonia' You know, we have heard of such in Iraq not too many months past. Anyway, hospitals do use ethylene oxide for cleaning, I think; also it is in 409 cleaner and was in the Corexit experimented with during the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. This woman didn't get in 24 hours of work, as the housing barge she was on had some chemical smell filtering in ... her body started shutting down... Another man was found dead. He was an experienced fisherman and had an easy job of shuttling the products. His lungs had filled up with fluid. Another woman shared with me that her son was helped when his organs started shutting down, but about 5 others died because they couldn't get to help fast enough. I suspect this chemical or TOO much exposure to 2-butoxyethanol. But in the case of ethylene oxide any exposure is cancerous (a 'deminimus carcenogen') AND it causes pulmonary edema. Look at more info on this as well as 2-butoxyethanol here This should be explored for our troops today. Later, more info. I also recall a woman who worked in a non ventilated recently painted office coming down with the harm of this chemical, too; blood damage was immediate she said, & more. But for the loss of anyone, and most especially a newborn child, the
joy of your life ... there are no words to help 7-5-05 Is SIDS age related?
Second hand solvent exposure? For those who ran the German Museum?
It stands to reason that civilians in the same vicinity could be affected by the same things troops were. I have also heard that for civilians working for DoD in the States for the companies that 'decontaminate' equipment. One soldier who drove semi trucks for the military told me that all they use for that is DAWN. That they were sprayed with it as well as the equipment ... every time they thought necessary. (Maybe the ethanol used here C2H6O is not as bad as some chemical compounds... but with repetitive exposures?) valdezlink.com/gwv/chad4.htm (As with anything, it is the amount of exposure that can present a health hazard. In this soldier's case she is now having health problems that are hard to figure out, enlarged spleen, etc) How is Chad today? early 2005? I have a rash on my side, from leaning over that bathtub when cleaning a couple of summers ago. Since I've learned that the hazardous chemical I've been studying was in that cleaning compound I was using then. Every time I get too much of any chemical, like glucophage for diabetes ... it reappears ... and I stop doing whatever it was I was doing (my own built in 'watch out' barometer) Since she has several symptoms of one of the chemical exposures troops also had, would she be willing to ask the doctor for a couple of extra tests? 'Retic' ratio & look at red blood cells? More info posted February 09, 2004quote:
quote: http://www.valdezlink.com/who_amI.htm and  Why this cause of 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms goes undiscovered by the USA! And here are some 'start up' thoughts shared in another heading on this forum So with this in mind - if you will look through what I've shared & reserve comment until you've done so, I am concerned about all our citizenry. I feel that if you get an accurate diagnosis on your blood (more important than knowing the specific type of CNS damage) you will help our entire country who is falling one by one ... many from the same harm you have suffered. I looked thru the organophosphate comparison to your symptoms, and feel that ethylene glycol monobutyl ether effects would line up better ... such as this example. I understand the betrayal you feel; but on the other hand, what if it is the USA that has been betrayed by the chemical companies - for their own self gain? Poor Australia in 1995 and Karachi in 2003 whose people were exposed to a bad product: Corexit 9527 Thank you one and all - for sharing your health's story. Only as we speak up, can others really learn what happened to you. Never stop! posted February 09, 2004Since all the other things have been well studied, you are better served by my focus on the chemicals you have been exposed to ... than by my 'covering the same ground' so to speak Too bad, with proof that you were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and
diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, that the DoD doesn't quickly say what
they KNOW are the exposures
Calcium? Iron? Tiredness that won't go away - no matter how much rest I get
You have good points also; it really was a surprise to me to learn that both 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether were classified as pesticides by EPA and tested for endocrine disruption. I've asked for their findings twice now; and so far, no reply. I've had help from many 'experts' This one shares about long term effects with chemicals that don't bioaccumulate. Lysol Tub'n Tile is registered as a pesticide (Reg No: 777-51) and has diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in it at 6% concentration 409 Cleaner is NOT safe. Here is the best info I've found on it with more info on the top 3 ingredients. http://www.herc.org/library/msds/409.htm Here's how you can check out products you may use. posted February 10, 2004:More on Sleep I found this article to be very helpful.
So are airplane and automobile mechanics. I know of a mechanic who is 31 and has been doing automotive type repairs since his teens; he likes to use Break Free (CLP?) ... says it works really well. He has also recently started complaining about having NO ENERGY and he is a highly motivated, hard worker. I'm sure that if the symptoms start appearing no one will correlate it to the chemical used in degreasing metal parts, and cleaning hands, etc. I have heard of some auto mechanics having to change jobs because they can't take any more of the job exposures. Same would be true for automotive painters - OSHA looked into it a year ago for 46,000 automotive painters (prostate or bone cancers?) I keep thinking I will call and see why they looked into and what they learned. I keep hoping that some group, such as yours, will get a fully accurate diagnosis & stop the harm of this chemical. ... which most likely has been harming our nation for over half a century, currently with NO end in sight This editorial has some interesting points along the lines that many products we use in the home add to the chemical load that we, and our children, would have. As with any exposures, it is the dose that makes the difference. How strong is the chemical (poison) in the product? What 'personal protective equipment' should be worn vs was worn? How much time exposure does one have each day &/or per repetitive days? Wouldn't you agree that the hunter who uses the gun cleaning product 2-3 times a year is at less risk than the soldier in non wartime? ... and that the soldier during war time has more exposure to chemicals in gun cleaning compounds than those of non-wartime? The material safety data sheet on one bore cleaner/or CLP said for repetitive use to use chemical retardant gloves, goggles & protective clothing; not to smoke or eat during use, etc. Now if the aerosol version is used, and the soldier is putting his/her eyes close to the sprayed gun parts, sad story: this is the worst exposure! EVOS PPE Now, many times this 2-butoxyethanol is hidden & not mentioned on the product. You can pull a bottle of Simple Green off the grocery shelf today, and it will say 'non toxic' But some odd warning signs are there that sure look like '2-butoxyethanol' warning signs. Look at this MSDS and you will see that 2-butoxyethanol can be as much as 6% of the product (not safe for home use, per one product developer). Now multiply that by who knows how many products? You may think other things are more relevant to the Cause(s) of 'Gulf War Syndrome' ... but are they? Could it be that something as simple as this has harmed so many lives? posted February 13, 2004:... around munitions? Add on to Topic: How well do you sleep? February 02, 2004 Goodness ... whatever they sprayed the decks with - affected not only
those doing the work; but also those who came by later most likely, too. quote: Hmm ... on and off loading? That makes sense to me; the longshoremen of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup were exposed to the bad chemicals. Sometimes the barrels leaked; and one shared with me that every time he opened the holding containers of barrels, he would get a 'whiff' of the chemical. Since then he survived colon cancer; but the horrible fatigue. He said, "Am I tired? I just thought I was lazy!"
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