I was not in the armed services during the gulf war, but my boyfriend at the time was. I met him through my best friend's husband who was bunking with him. They were MPs in the army out of FL. I would write to him, and send care packages. We met for the first time in 1991 the day he arrived. I remember them standing in line for these battery of shots. I have no idea what they were for. Up until this point, I was very healthy and an athlete. I would get sick about once a year, usually a sinus infection or strep throat. My ex-boyfriend, I'll call him John, and I dated for about a year after he returned. That fall in 1992, I was diagnosed with Eptein-Barr and was out for a month and I haven't been the same since. My best friend got it too, even though by that time I hadn't seen her in about four months because I was in college. She, her husband, and her son have been sick ever since. Her and I have had stomach problems since then (our gall bladders were removed) also.
I have arthritis, muscle aches and diminshed muscle strength along with a persistant sore throat (cancer has been ruled out) and swollen glands (also cancer ruled out). I am tired all the time and get easily winded when I work out. I have asthma now. I have had countless urinary trat problems, and sexual problems since 1991 (I have discussed with my gyno and a therapist and they are stumped). I also noticed an increase in moodiness and irritable behavior. I am only 30, but I feel like I am 40+.
I am wondering if all of my problems are just a coincidence (along with my friend's, her son's and her ex-husband's) and if any other family member has gone through any of this? I haven't talked to John since the break-up. He became a very angry person after about six months after he came back. Same with my girlfriend's ex-husband. But last I heard he has had numerous stomach problems and his wife had misscarried several times.

Yen99 when your boyfriend came bsck from the PGW did you touch any of his clothing or anything, because if you did there are the possiblity that you got something from it. I know when I came home my wife washed all my uniforms which were the the desert uniform from the PGW and now she's having problems. After about 4 months we counldn't make love because she said that it hurt and burned. I also had problems of blacking out and mood swings that she did'nt understand. So keep having doc's look into your problems and if you find a good he'll tell you what you got. Good luck.. Mac

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I met him THE day they arrived from the long flight (in Tampa). So maybe you are right because we were hugging them. We had no idea. Its funny because I had to work that day but I was fired and made it over to Tampa to see them come in.
I never put two and two together until this year. I was talking to some people about my health and all the tests I was under-going and I remarked that all this stuff started happening ever since I had mono in 1992. Now that I think of it, every person that I have dated, including my ex-husband, would get sick easier when they were with me.
I am wondering what kind of doctor I should go to. Right now I have a GI.

I, too, have almost exact symptoms as you. But I am a female veteran, never deployed because my vaccines completely debilitated me. I cleaned equipment coming back from the Gulf until I was discharged with a service-connected disability.

The gyno problems you are having are a result of semen, or sweat, or saliva, or body fluids of any kind shared with anybody who was over in the Gulf, anyone who took military vaccines, or anyone who cleaned dirty equipment coming back from the Gulf.

Most people don't understand that a major portion of Gulf War Illness is disease, highly communicable and infectious.

Your story is the same one I've heard over and over again since 1993 when I started staying on top of what was then called Persian Gulf Syndrome, and continuing through 1994 when I almost died from massive infections related to Gulf War Illness. My problems were gynecological, requiring surgery. But the gastro problems were just incredible.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd definitely start with a GI, because you probably have parasites known as Giardia. They rob you of nutrients and the benefits of all medications you take.

Then, I'd find a young internal medicine specialist who is willing to do exhaustive blood tests to determine if you have something else beside Epstein-Barr. I have Cytomegalovirus. My non-veteran husband has Epstein-Barr. Get your doctor to refer you to an Infectious Diseases specialist. Those lumps in your neck are advanced viral infections from your salivary glands, and they will turn into cancer if you just ignore them. The pain in your ears or estachian tubes can cause migraines or cluster headaches for days. You may have blisters in your salivary glands and ears.

You probably need several full courses of antivirals, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and some good, old-fashioned healthy diet and healthy drink therapy.

I had my uterus lining removed (laser surgery) to stop the pain and to make me infertile. I took mega-doses of Doxycyclene, Biaxin, Azithromycin, and Cipro to kill off bacterial and microbal infections. I took one course of Cytovene, and I am due for another course of antivirals (hopefully Famvir) right now.

My husband and I both took Metronidazole (generic for flagyl) to get rid of the parasites we kept getting from tap water because we are both viral.

We also have severe gut bugs and pain every winter, all winter long. We take three-night courses of a fruit cocktail: 1 cup of cranberry juice (helps flush your kidneys); juice of one fresh lemon with seeds strained out; 1 or 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

While you're digesting all of the above information, surf the internet using lycos or alta vista, choose their health topics and select Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illness.

Don't want to scare you, but I infected my husband and my dog. And we suspect I may have infected my mother-in-law. God Bless! And I hope you feel better. It's rough being an athlete and having your legs cut out from under you: I know! It happened to me.