Gulf War Illness - Another Discussion Forum - 2005
Are there similarities between what happened to the Exxon Valdez Oil spill cleanup workers
and the Gulf War Syndrome' vets?
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WELCOME! Are there similarities between the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup chemicals & what happened to those workers with known exposure to the cleanup chemicals ... & what happened to the 'gulf war syndrome' vet? |
Corrected posts - January, 2004
| 12-25-03 Thank you for this information,
I'll be reading up on more of it; But did share this information with them: Are we poisoning our own? It is really hard to believe that a chemical we use in a lot of things can cause all the symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome. Please look at this information. If this IS true, 'Gulf War Syndrome' is NOT over. Also - Looking for 2 Navy reports: 1994 on JP-5 (Navy Jet Fuel) and one on the 1996 experiment carried out by the NAVY off the Coast of
Washington. gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000036.html 1-16-04 Docs need to overview the BROAD picture. Isn't it true that vets don't have some one thing and others others? That you have most all of the symptoms each of you?This is what I would expect to see valdezlink.com/scenario.htm You need to help the docs. Fill out your own exposure to chemical response list: valdezlink.com/pages/too_much_chemicals.htm and before you select your doctor inquire thru the nurse whether or not he/she is open to working with specialists in other fields? Would they allow you to get some extra testing on your blood, etc. Reviewed by a hematologist? Helps in selecting a doctor .valdezlink.com/gwv/gwh_doctor.htm 1-16-04 Boy there is a lot here!Just a couple of mini comments. Be involved in your own health care. If you feel worse after taking a medication, see if the medication is essential, and if not, skip it. Eyes? Blurry vision? Sensitive to light? Please have eyesight checked by an ophthalmologist. There is concern for holes in retina and eventually being declared 'legally blind' Same symptoms as spouse. The is such a thing as second hand solvent exposure - not contagious, but 2nd handedly exposed. Note this study valdezlink.com/solvent_studies.htm#storyJust last week we had our town chiropractor die of melanoma liver cancer. In 1992 he had survived melanoma eye cancer. My theory is that he had a lot of contact in 1989 with those of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup: cheek to cheek (breathing same breath) and skin to skin in doing his profession. If they tested enough in the blood, they could know for sure; but I don't know of anyone who has had the thorough blood info checked ... because docs don't know that they should be looking there. valdezlink.com/pages/complete_blood_check.htm1-15-04 That does sound odd. With the chemical I've studied (that VA should, since troops were exposed to it) valdezlink.com/same.htm there is often leathery (defatted) skin that dermatologists don't know what to do for it, or what caused it.Remember, most doctors are not toxicologists and they don't study chemical exposures and their effects. Hoping you have a doctor that will go the 'extra mile' or refer you on. A hematologist and an endocrinologist would be important specialists to involve, if possible. What cancers are known among 'Gulf War Syndrome' vets? some helps? valdezlink.com/pages/changes.htm posted January 15, 2004: Robert, Don't worry about loosing 50 lbs to fit into the brain scanner machine - When it is all said and done, doctors will still say Gulf War Syndrome is just post traumatic stress disorder - even if brain waves look different. There have been plenty of lists developed by VA study groups as to what the Central Nervous System damage shows. valdezlink.com/gwv/gw_51symptoms.htm For instance, this is what harmed one of our Gulf War vets more valdezlink.com/gwv/chad_shares.htm#chad This focusing on trying to help the central nervous system damage ... hurt him more. And as you can see by reading his comments, REALLY hurt him. Could be that the headaches are from endocrine disruption, in the first place, and can't be helped by such a procedure. valdezlink.com/gwv/complete.htm#endocrineThis whole problem is like a multi-faceted diamond. So you have to look at the whole picture, and even the studies only seem to focus on one thing. I still say that the etheylene glycol ethers are the main culprit. Troops have been exposed then and in ordinary life, too; CDC and VA must jointly study 2-butoxyethanol or they are missing it. Note in the Gulf War and Health, Vol 2 that came out in February, 2003 that 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether are listed as solvents the troops were exposed to: valdezlink.com/gwv/media/Gulf_War.pdf I have written the Dept of Defense over a month ago to find what they KNOW the exposures are to these. I am still waiting. Besides whatever they know, you can add to that JP-5 jet fuel and certain pesticides sprayed to secure the living and work area of troops (why rear echelon troops express more symptoms than front line soldiers) and repetitive gun cleaning is NOT safe with the cleaning compound they used. The USA doesn't even know that!The real biomarkers are what is different in your blood; can't blame that on post traumatic stress disorder. But so far, the blood as not been studied in depth. Therein would like the answers you seek; I feel certain. Use good eating habits, etc., by the way valdezlink.com/pages/changes.htm You can help yourself more that way than any other; medications, even, are not a cure-all.Overview this list - See if it makes sense: valdezlink.com/pages/ask.htmAll the best! posted January 15, 2004:Sounds like a combination of two things ... elevated blood sugar that looks like regular diabetes, may, however, be a symptom of endocrine disruption (which pesticides are known to do) valdezlink.com/gwv/complete.htm#endocrine The other would be to check kidney function; doesn't that sound like a symptom of kidney. Another thing that the eythylene glycol ethers do is to cause kidney damage (even failure) and liver damage; but blood damage first. Ask the doctors how your blood is doing valdezlink.com/pages/computer_car.htm#bloodIf you saw the doctor today; it probably isn't too late to ask for some of these extra tests with the blood sample they just took. posted January 16, 2004:Did you know that jet fuel was added to the dioxin mix during the Vietnam war? I just learned that recently valdezlink.com/pf/jetfuel-5.htm#col I suspect JP-5 of having the chemical of concern or some 'pesticide' It is labeled as a pesticide, believe it or not. Yes, abnormal blood sugar (high or low) is part of endocrine disruption which is what I believe Gulf War Syndrome vets are dealing with valdezlink.com/evos/health_changes.htm valdezlink.com/scenario.htm valdezlink.com/gwv/complete.htm#endocrineMy question, "If high blood sugar and high blood pressure are a result of a chemical exposure that causes endocrine disruption, is it treated in a different manner? Is there an non-difficult way to test for bone cancer? What are the symptoms, medically? posted January 17, 2004:I say get a second opinion! In fact, see a urologist & for the mass in testes - A biopsy! Don't delay This neurosurgeon is in WA DC, I believe. He beat prostate cancer & said he wanted to help in future using less cutting and radiating. Dr. Ben Carson would be a good man to have on your team! valdezlink.com/pages/drbencarson.htm posted January 29, 2004:Quote: "I would like to see it done here on Earth." Me too Hello all Back pain (that is sometimes indication of kidney problems isn't it?) Pain in the back of the head/neck? Could that be where the pituitary is? I've gathered some info on the headaches from your group and the EVOS group who may have both been affected by this solvent/pesticide/poison Consider this research I suggest asking your doctor for the kidney and liver function tests along with the 'retic' ratio and comments of a lab tech on the red blood cells next time you have a blood test ... or especially if you have the multiple symptoms that this chemical causes (pretty much what's become known as 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms) If all doctors would routinely check these for anyone with unexplained fatigue, this whole issue could have been accurately diagnosed 50 years ago; however, still the secondary symptoms are getting all the blame/credit. PS Gale, is it true they are connecting dioxin to diabetes? One of the Patriots shared with me that military in Viet Nam days mixed Jet Fuel 5 with dioxin so that it would stick on the leaves. I have a theory that Jet Fuels may have the same chemical of concern I have studied: ethylene glycol monobutyl ether Pesticides cause endocrine disruption. Gulf War Troops have been exposed to (2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether) These were tested by EPA for it. These are listed as solvents the Gulf War Troops 1990-1991 were exposed to
Oh, well, maybe the cat can help?
From what I've read, it doesn't sound like there is anything that can be done for Central Nervous System damage Going to whole foods and leaving out the junk foods, etc is one of the best helps, believe it or not! valdezlink.com/changes.htm I've gathered up some helps ... some just common sense; but they will help someone harmed by chemicals more than adding chemicals (even medications should be limited for these, if possible) These are offered in the way of suggestions - not everything is a 'for sure' What did you do in the Navy? The Seabees of 1990-1991 were the hardest hit by gulf war syndrome, as a group; however, other branches of the service have the same even during other time periods. I replied today to a State Health Dept and also to CDC http://www.valdezlink.com/indiana_health.htm Also, for general info, look at some posts in this forum www.valdezlink.com/gwv/1-5.htm posted January 15, 2004:Thank you for sharing. This is very helpful. What detergents were you using to clean with? JP-4 valdezlink.com/jp4.htm as well as JP-5 are registered as pesticides with EPA I think that they may have had a stong component of the chemical I've studied, 2-butoxyethanol. I note some of the hazard warnings for it in JP-4 and JP-5 Truthfully, I feel the govt has been hoodwinked by the chemical companies who don't care about human life as long as they make a profit. You wouldn't know any of the Navy in Valdez in 1989 would you? valdezlink.com/why_was_navy.htm posted February 10, 2004:quote: Because I see on the MSDS on JP-4 the term 'defatting' and the very same disclaimer that was used on Corexit 9527 that same year - and because certain jet fuels have an EPA pesticide number, I suspect 2-butoxyethanol, but I don't know for sure. Did you notice anything different? ... any symptoms of not feeling well right after that? ... or when did you? Says a Navy man in aviation ordnance "During the gulf war with the hard conditions of the desert. The Army and Marines switched over all of there vehicles to use JP-5 because of the hi paraffin compound (WAX). http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp121-c3.pdf To help fight the desert sands in the internal parts of their engines, and they did this with no real studies of the long term health effects of JP-5. (Fuel for Navy jets) Report done in 1994; retired this fuel in 1996 - and went to JP-8" (which is not listed as a pesticide) Can anyone get a copy of this report?! I would like to have it, but can't find it. Navy jet fuels JP-3, JP-4, JP-5 and JP-6 declare pesticide ingredient USEPA/OPP PC Code: 063515 |