Any U.S. Navy Veterans (ship stationed)having problems? - Military Health Issues Message Board

wes0007 · 01-05-2003, 07:02 PM

I noticed on the old board for this site several people in the U.S. Navy stated having problems. I have recently started having problems and I am trying to determine if any other U.S. Navy Sailors are having similiar diffculties or symptoms currently or in the past.
A brief prospective of my symptoms history is as follows:
1990-1991 participated in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Side note was only exposed to the air over there once briefly during Desert Shield.
1993 discharged honorably U.S. Navy
1995 Swollen lymph node on the left side of my jaw. V.A. ran numerous tests all negative. Diag. as cat scratch fever (even though test showed negative results)treated with anitbotics and the symptoms subsided until recently (slight lump on that side of my neck is still visible).

2001 Nov Minor problems I had sleeping turned into major sleep disturbances.
2002 Jan (approx) started having problems with an intense pain (I belive Neurological in order) in my legs and arms.
2002-2003 I have severe to mild pain anytime I attempt to perform any physcial activites. I have had several rashes on my chest. I have been getting tingling in different parts of my body. I have had small bumps which seem like acne but do not develop in to white heads and which do not pop. Late in 2002 I have begun getting severe headaches with the same kind of pain as in the rest of my body. This pain is interior of the skull (brain). I have also experienced some short term memory loss recently with small things that I normally remeber.
Once again I am trying to get some feedback to see if any other prior or current U.S. saliors are having or have had similar problems.

mark a · 01-06-2003, 12:04 PM

Well It is good to know that I am not the only one,My symtoms started back in 91 and they started with having the flu every two months i Then would have my hands and feet that would swell up and feel num at the same time they would hurt like there were thousands of needle pick at them.I also started getting rashes with these pimple that would pop and laeve an open sore.Since 99 ihave not been able to work due to my illness.I also have chronic headaches,joint pain ,irrtable bowel syndrom,carple tunnle on both wrist,gerd,sinus problems,fainting spells with dizzyiness,Tempeture that does not regulate,extreme fitiuge doing the slitest work,sleep not being able too or sleeping all the time.I was never over in the gulf I was stationed at home.I was with the carrier USS JOHN F KENNEDY.I did rercieve shots and one in particular that would make me have high grade fever and make me blow this green stuff from my nose and have joint pain for three days and then it would go away.I recieved this shot every six months and was never told what it was for and I never asked due to the fact that they knew what they were doing.Kinda of stupid of me ,but live and learn.Well I hope that this helped some.I would post another sight for you to look up but it is not allowed here so good luck and I will try to help if you need it.
Mark A
USN

wes0007 · 01-06-2003, 12:14 PM

I am just trying to get a feel for how many Navy personnel where affected by this. The problem I hate is my symptoms seem to be getting worse, and I have been unable to get any real cooperation from the V.A. Other than the old words that all my symtoms are not connected.The only thing that seems to work for the pain that they have given me is a strong muscle relaxer, which has the unfortunate side effect of knocking me out for 10-12 hours at a time.I am trying to see if enough Navy personnel are affected to try and organize in some way to draw (news and government)attention to the problem that not all GWS suffers were in the desert.

wes0007 · 01-06-2003, 12:20 PM

One other thing in common now that u mention it. After getting out of the Navy, I also seem vulnerable to the flu for the past few years (but colds I dont seem to have any reaction to)

mark a · 01-06-2003, 12:28 PM

Wes
What I have learned from the va is that they are not out to help you or connect this illness to the service.They would rather have you die off from the face of the earth then to connect this to the service.There are way to many of us who are dealing with this illness who need help,me being one of them.I have no proof that all my illness occured due to my time in the service.I have been of all my meds except for darvecet which I use for pain. My liver is also not that good as well.So meds could make my liver even worse.This illness progresses at a slow rate and can even hit us all at one time.It has taken well over ten years for my illness to get where it is now.I have no more options left I have no job ,no medical insurance and I can not recieve medicade due to the fact that the va can take care of my illness.It is catch twenty two and it stinks.

Mark A