gwv needs some ???? answered - Military Health Issues Message Board

k-mac · 08-20-2002, 08:43 PM

I served in the gulf war in 1991 at the Scud bowl and later closer to the boarder. For the last eleven years I have battled four major depressions, two children that have medical problems and massive headaches to the point of mini strokes. I am currently in the 9th month of my four depression and am truley at my wits end. I have never had problems of this nature until I returned home from Saudi. It would be great to sleep thru the night and wake up refreshed instead of dead tired amoung other things. Does any body have any helpful ideas to try. I am going back to my regular doctor this week and all he usually tells me is I am depressed. Well duh! I need some help. Thanks for any input.

LizB · 08-22-2002, 12:50 PM

K-Mac, welcome to this board! I requested a sleep study, because I was always so tired, even after sleeping a long time. My neurologist (I have MS)told me I was "Just Depressed". My family doctor went ahead and ordered a sleep study and I was suffering from sleep apnea, many gulf vets have sleep disturbances. It sure is much easier to become depressed if you aren't getting quality REM sleep. I use a CPAP device now, when I sleep , but I am considering surgery. Hope this helps, LizB

k-mac · 08-22-2002, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the reply. I hit the Doctor today with a huge list of problems I have been having. My blood pressure was up so I think he actually realizes it is not just depression/insomina and I have to go for extensive blood test tomorrow. I never thought about sleep apenea though. My dad wears a mask that forces oxygen into his lungs when he sleeps at night, I will have to look into this area more seriously. Thanks. All these years I have had no clue that some many vets feel as crappy as I do. I am not glad about it but it does help to not feel so alone. I hope you do better as well. Thanks again

cal · 08-25-2002, 09:47 PM

Assuming you are no longer in the military, Contact your local veteran's administration hospital. or VA office. The VA has established a whole department dedicated to studying and treating GWS. Have your DD214 available. Although it is a lot later than most vets who have presented GWS complaints, you should at least get an initial workup. Also have available for the VA copies of medical tests and reports that make you conclude this is GWS. Previous lab work and MRI's etc are crucial to do a thorough comparative study. Good luck.

NavyJAG · 10-02-2002, 06:40 PM

If your blood pressure is up or your heart is racing, you're never going to get adequate sleep. So, why don't you just give those docs a quiz of their own, just for a change? They can look these two up in the US Army Special Forces Medical Handbook (Institute for Military Assitance, ST 31-91B).

There's two illnesses resulting from "weaponized" biologicals that were airborne after the air war during the Gulf War. That is to say that merely by breathing you could have been contaminated.

They are Endocarditis, a systemic candidal (fungus) infection, which almost always affects previously damaged heart valves, (or not): Penicillen, ampicillen, and many more.

And, Streptococcus MG (from mycoplasma pneumoniae), causes Endocarditis: Penicillin, Vancomycin for penicillin-allergic patients.

The docs will probably tell you that you would already be dead if you had either of those diseases.

It was just a thought. I've been treated for both. Living to tell about it.