ALS is now on the Presumptive Disability approval for Vets (9-23-08)

".... researchers exploring the question have been unable to determine the actual cause of the disease. Fortunately for veterans diagnosed with ALS, VA guidelines recently changed. The disease is now presumed to be service-connected for U.S. veterans from all eras, as long as they have had at least 90 days of continuous active service."

"VA’s new rule establishing ALS as a service-connected disease became effective last Sept. 23. That recognition provides a minimum 30-percent disability rating for veterans with ALS, which can be raised as the disease progresses. Those who were denied disability assistance before the rule change can now re-apply to get benefits. No retroactive payments are available."

"Disability benefits may include housing and vehicle modification, as well as monthly disability compensation; medical benefits may provide equipment such as power wheelchairs. Many factors determine the benefits to which each applicant is entitled, and veterans are encouraged to get help from American Legion service officers  when filing their applications."

American Legion 3-1-09 article on the mystery of ALS    legion.org/magazine/2534/unsolved-medical-mystery  reply

Autoimmune issues entirely  *   ... Autoimmune Hypothalamus? ....

Charts to track changes in BP, Blood Sugar, Body Temp

I never heard of 2-butoxyethanol until 2001 when someone in my family came to us and said that the Inipol EAP 22 he worked with on the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup named this chemical as the harmful component.  He had been diagnosed with low red blood cell anemia and had depression that taking Prozac for a year didn't touch.  He had talked of 'fuzzy' thinking and difficulty concentrating and had lymph nodes swelling up.  He didn't tell me everything, but it peaked my interest and I wanted to know about 2-butoxyethanol.

I live in Valdez and there are still workers from those days who live there, too.  I would ask them about what their headaches were like, etc, etc. There was diabetes, aching joints, bones.   I got to see the odd assortment of symptoms that they had.  Then in 2003 a new renter started talking about the gulf war vets and the questions they had about 'syndrome' and why was it that the spouses & kids born before they were deployed, upon their return, came down with 'the syndrome' too.  And that 150,000 gulf war vets no longer trusted the govt and had registered with the American Legion.  I went to the computer & found this list of ailments, to which I replied,  "I recognize these symptoms!"

End of 2003 I found 2-butoxyethanol and di-ethylene glycol monobutyl ether on the list of solvents and pesticides gulf war vets were exposed to.  Book 2

The reason I suspect ALS is autoimmune is that it is a stand out harm for the 'gulf war vets with syndrome'  I suspect the primary pesticide/solvent of harm for them was 2-butoxyethanol.  AND that all the issues this chemical would cause would be autoimmune.  If not autoimmune, do not suspect 2-butoxyethanol exposure.  If it is the ONLY issue & there are not also other autoimmune issues such as those of CFIDS, CFS, FM ... do not suspect 2-butoxyethanol.

ALS - a Standout harm for gulf war vets (Dr Lea Steele)

This chemical not dioxin should be suspect for primary harm to Vietnam Vets *

I have no medical background, however, I have looked into the research of others, and have spent an inordinate amount of time on it (4-5 hours a day every day since May, 2002) so that I recognize this chemical exposure's pattern & what various exposures may be.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to understand second hand solvent exposure such as 2-BE would cause. *

Second Hand Solvent Exposure * *  * * * *

It should be suspect for any flu symptoms, and for SIDS *  * (look for blood in urine and red blood cells that are ragged and beat up), and the most probable cause of Autism. *  For harm to our babies and our pets.  Little bodies can't take as much exposure to this chemical.  The liver would shut down first, then other organs and the resultant blood damage could be the cause of death for many, also.  Advance fatigue resulting in seizures such as Senator Ted Kennedy  & Jett Travolta have had to deal with would be examples. 

Suspect this chemical exposure for the cause of HELLP syndrome for our new moms. *

 (Ask researchers to add a question:  "Do you have short term memory loss?") 

 Suspect for BIRTH DEFECTS *  abbreviated  and multiple autoimmune issues * of all types.  Diabetes is a side effect *

Brain Tumors?  *

There is no convincing the VA or vets of Vietnam or Gulf war that this chemical is harmful, and all by itself can cause all that ails them, because by this time they have already blamed something else, and that is that.

The absolute priority for health care in our Nation is to find the ANEMIA of CFIDS, CFS, FM.  There are incorrect medical views that prevent discovery.  What the flu is>  What high white blood cell counts mean for this population, * etc.

"Black Wave - The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez"

There is a type of anemia, hemolytic anemia, that is cause from this chemical.  It is in many cleaning and degreaser products used extensively in the USA over the last 70+ years; part of the symptoms, per YAHOO definition is

These are symptoms of hemolytic anemia 
Chills 
Fatigue 
Pale color 
Shortness of breath 
Rapid heart rate 
Yellow skin color (jaundice) 
Dark urine (indicative of blood in urine - never dismiss this! Stop exposure immediately!)
Enlarged spleen

AND, then it targets the kidneys and liver and there is
Central Nervous System  damage showing up sometimes as:
Loose your temper easily? 
Short term memory loss 
Difficulty concentrating 
Personality changes to 'grumpy' - Extreme Irritability 
All-the-time Depression 
Suicidal Tendencies 

Skin damage, respiratory damage, reproductive damage and MORE

I was wanting to know whether or not Lou Gehrig's was Autoimmune ...
I was wanting to know whether or not ALS was autoimmune ... and per research gathered by lef.org, it does appear so www.valdezlink.com/pages/autoimmune.htm#is  ...
Is there an AUTOIMMUNE aspect to ALS?
Is Lou Gehrig's or ALS Autoimmune? Lou Gehrig - Famous Baseball player ... Is there an AUTOIMMUNE aspect to ALS? http://www.valdezlink.com/re/alsautoimmuneand.htm  ...
ALS ... Autoimmune?  

Lou Gehrig's - a for sure for many gulf war vets


Lou Gehrig's or ALS is one of the 'for sure' things that the gulf war vets of 90-91 came down with. OK, my question then, is ALS autoimmune? As I suspect that is the primary ailment with many ramifications ... so, is Lou Gering's autoimmune?
 
Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmunity may play a role in ALS. In this disease, the immune system becomes confused and begins attacking tissues in the body. Under normal conditions, the body's immune system produces proteins called immunoglobulins which attach to their target antigen. An antigen is a substance that produces an immune response and is usually something foreign to the body. The immunoglobulins attach to and surround the target antigen, forming an antigen-antibody complex. This complex is then ingested by phagocytes, such as macrophages, in a process called phagocytosis.
 

Researchers have proposed that ALS may have an autoimmune basis. The following are the bases for their hypotheses:

Analyses of ALS patient sera have identified circulating antibodies secreted by denervated muscle. These antibodies inhibit the stimulation of the sprouting of axons, the long arms of neurons which conduct nervous impulses to other neurons throughout the body (Onion 1998).

Researchers have found an immunoglobulin that affects the conductance of neuronal voltage-activated calcium channels which may induce an excessive release of glutamate from nerve endings (Onion 1998).

Several studies of ALS patients found the presence of antibodies that interact with motor neurons (Pestronk et al. 1988a; Pestronk et al. 1988b; Pestronk et al. 1989; Niebroj-Dobosz et al. 1999).

Immune complexes have been found in spinal cords of patients with ALS.

It has been proposed that T cells, activated microglia, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) within the spinal cord lesions may be the primary event that leads to tissue destruction in ALS.

 http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/lou_gehrig.htm

Is 2-butoxyethanol exposure a cause of ALS?
 

Diabetes - overweight - ALS - Gout - Do these have a common ...
Diabetes. The Diabetes Epidemic "We now see an alarming number of children and teens with Type II diabetes" Dr Mirkin..
 
Diabetes & General info on Several Health topics
http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/bloodtumors.htm  ? But, the CBC Looks Good! ... Researchers have proposed that ALS may have an autoimmune basis. ...
ALS - Neurology - MedHelp
Tremor is not a usual ALS symptom, and if it does appear it is usually late ... a few things www.valdezlink.com/acute.htm  If doctors studied any chemical, ...
www.medhelp.org/forums/neuro/messages/33534.html

 

ALS-2-butoxyethanol : Messages : 3-33 of 33
ALS-2-butoxyethanol: ALS ... Lou Gering's - a for sure ... 1944 ...

Suspect 2-butoxyethanol as primary cause of ALS
Skeptical that 2-butoxyethanol would cause ALS? http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/skepticalals.htm

 

night leg cramps - ALS - MedHelp
Family history of ALS. Mother, grandfather, great uncle, uncle ,two first cousins, ... http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/andcivilians.htm  ...
www.medhelp.org/posts/show/625174

 

ALS-2-butoxyethanol : Messages : 1-30 of 30
http://www.valdezlink.com/pages/lou-discussion.htm   Lou Gering's - a for sure for many gulf war vets Lou Gering's or ALS is one of the 'for sure' things that...
dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/ALS-2-butoxyethanol/messages

 

The Life Extension Foundation Forums
ALS ... www.valdezlink.com/evos/afteroil.htm . What brought this to my attention. Do these two look alike? ... www.valdezlink.com/pages/thosewithcfids.htm  ...
http://forum.lef.org/default.aspx?f=41&m=25027


 

Information ALL doctors need - The Patriot Files Forums
2-butoxyethanol IS health hazardous  * Track CFIDS symptoms & see if this chemical isn't the root cause of CJD, ALS, autoimmune issues or .. http://www.valdezlink.com/re/vets/enlargedheart.htm#to
www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?p=430037

Gulf War veterans get validation, but little else - Norwalk News ...

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/vetstodayandkids.htm  ... It is ALS, MS, autoimmune thyroid problems, cancers.....it is killing us at early age ...

There should be some effort to see how soldiers of various wars ''look alike'' And if they all find the anemia that BUTYL or 2-butoxyethanol causes ... they will not only be helping themselves, but the civilians with CFIDS, CFS, FM, ME.

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/worstpesticide.htm

The reason doctors do not figure out what this chemical causes is two fold. First there are some wrong perceptions in medical science as to what the flu is and what high white blood cell counts mean for this group (an anemia sign), and that the primary issue is one of an autoimmune immune system. (Diabetes is only a side effect of what this chemical can do) Stop that and you can become well.

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/thecfidsview.htm

#2 There are more than one thing going on at the same time (More than one variable) so researchers will always be confounded by what 2-butoxyethanol is doing. This chemical is on the list of solvents and pesticides the gulf war troops were exposed to. It is also a poison, a neurotoxin, a teratogen. All by itself it can cause all the harm that Vets with ''the syndrome'' share about. THE FATIGUE is hard to find autoimmune hemolytic anemia. LOOK at the red blood cells and don't trust ''the numbers'' to accurately portray what is going on. Suspect more advance issues like herniated discs and lungs filling up with fluid as autoimmune issues, too

People would also find some answers to why so many birth defects and cancers that are ''off the chart'' and becoming epidemic both in and out of military service.

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/vetstodayandkids.htm

 http://www.thehour.com/story/461455

The basics - to find diagnosis for fatigue      Autoimmune?

Also some of these 'clues'  along the way:  CFIDS  FATIGUE 

This web page

The NJ Hazard sheet on 2-butoxyethanol points out reproductive harm, liver cancer in animals, http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0275.pdf

and another MSDS info says acute hemolytic anemia in rats. I strongly believe this chemical exposure through the past century is cause of autoimmune issues, and cancers, yet to this day laws do not require it to be disclosed in anything. It is way too strong in home cleaning products. I suspect it is in Clean Shower but they refuse to disclose any ingredients. I suspect this chemical is the cause of 'gulf war syndrome and the primary harm to Vietnam vets.

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/health/otherautoimmune.htm

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/contact-us.html

There is a particular chemical in widespread use that everyone of every age and job can be easily exposed to. Understand 2-butoxyethanol and other glycol butyl ethers and you will have many questions answered. It is a neurotoxin, a pesticide, an organic solvent, a teratogen, a poison. It should be suspect for a host of autoimmune issues and variations of same. I suspect it for ALS, CJD, MS, etc and exposure looks like 'the flu'

It is distressing that it is often not disclosed in our home cleaning products, and by current laws ... does not have to be.

http://www.valdezhousing.com/re/health/als2.htm#and