Gulf War Ailments

[ArcticTraveler]

Former Marine, served Desert Shield & Storm. In Dhahran 4 months, shipboard 4 months, at the Kuwait border 1 week under 1stMEF, supporting 1st & 2nd MARDIV during ground assault. VA service connected in 1998 for Migraines, IBS, & Asthma related to Gulf service. Also diagnosed with pleurisy, fibromyalgia, seronegative spondyloarthropathy, Reiter’s syndrome, CFS, and others. Malabsorption caused 90 lbs. weight loss in 17 months. Only regained 30 lbs. back in three years eating well over 5,000 calories per day. Skin problem diagnosed by VA as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, discoid lupus erythematosus, “lesions“, and photosensitivity. (They don't know do they?) Annoying problems like muscle twitching, numbness & tingling, painful swollen glands, & night sweats for over 12 years.

I received NO inoculations prior to going to the Gulf. I did drink filthy water and was subjected to thousands of flies and unsanitary conditions in Dhahran. My gas mask filters were dated 1972. Unit’s MOPP gear was missing. While on ship was exposed to oil fire smoke in the northern Gulf. Was given immuno gamma-globulin routinely and took PB Pills. Back on land, at the border during ground war, was within sight of burning oil field and breathed in the smoke for a little over a week. Was within 3 to 5 kilometers of 3 known chemical detections. (One by MAG-26, circa 24 Feb 91). These included sarin, tabun, soman, mustard, and an unknown nerve agent. (Found this out 7 years after war). On 25 Feb 91, did view confidential communiqué reporting mustard gas used against 1st MEF during ground war. (Provided this testimony to congress in mid-90’s, so it‘s no secret). Upon returning from Gulf, suffered digestive and lung problems, migraines, and other ailments. Given an inoculation here in the States that was “to keep us all from getting sick.“

After discharge, began utilizing VA in 1993, and have consistently used the VA ever since regardless of their inadequate care. Several service connections, 3 of which related to Gulf War service. Also categorized as having experienced “environmental exposure”. Diagnosis with reference to “Gulf War Syndrome” appears in my records as early as 1994 and as late as 2003, but all C&P claims for undiagnosed illness denied. Fought hard with advice from the Desert Storm Justice Foundation (now National Gulf War Resource Center) in mid-90’s for quality treatment from VA. Provided testimony for the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses and am listed in the acknowledgements in rear of report. Appeared in local newspaper articles with other sick Desert Storm Veterans twice in last 8 years. Now, one of those veterans has throat cancer (service-connected to Gulf service) at a young age. Another local veteran died at the age of 39 because he was treated for the wrong disorder by the VA for 9 years. The disorder was service-connected to Gulf service. His story made national television.

Any other Desert Storm Vets with so many diagnoses or similar experience?

Anyone who routinely uses the VA notice a change in care since new war started such as VA canx of appts for no reason w/o reschedule and change of primary care appts from 6 mos to yearly now?

[ShatteredLife2]

I got effected after only 2 months of being in the U.S. Army! Now I have a whole list of ailments and I never even got a chance to deploy and couldn't for that matter. I didn't mess up in the military, the vaccines or whatever did that for me very quickly. My battlefield was fighting for my life in the hospital where I almost died! A black pill saved me from dyeing which I now believe it was the "last line of defense pill..." The most powerful antibiotic known to exist. Our doctor took off and abandoned us! 5 guards took over the scene and blocked all outsiders out! 2 other doctors tried to help us but were blocked and pushed onto the ground! and they were told that "what was going on is none of there business!" and "You are not allowed in here!"; I tried to get up to help but I was very incapacitated, I couldn't even help myself let alone anyone else! There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on where I was at! Man, we looked really bad!!! I believe the guards were there to control the situation or something? There were 9 of us in there and all had the same set of problems. I nearly died and barely lived and made it out of there. The new doctor we got after the other one ran away... did the best he could to try to save us from dyeing. The other doctor gave up before even trying! I don't know if any of the other soldiers lived or not? They didn't get the special black (large) pill that I got. I walked out of that hospital after 7 days because I wasn't getting any better and the antibiotics didn't do anything for us at all. It was like not taking any medicine at all! I believe they got worried that I was going to die and they gave me that special pill but no one else got one? I was the only one for some reason? I am really screwed up now but for now I am alive but don't know for how long? My health is deteriorating slowly over time so I don't know what I have got? I do know one thing though, it is bad!

[crabid]

well try speaking to someone and see what they say

[ShatteredLife2]

I have tried with no results. It all comes back to my short time in the service which is less than 2 years-- this makes me automatically ineligible for help! That and the fact that my spouse makes too much money! I don't work and can't due to being disabled. My mind isn't right and is all messed up. My brain signals are being suppressed and everything is hazy. I have cognitive dysfunction and have problems doing the simplest of things. It could have been Nerve agent exposure that did this to us? Maybe terrorists? Whatever the cause it is not good. The reason I say the other 9 soldiers didn't make it out of the hospital is because they were there when I got there and were very bad off after I left. I don't even remember how I got to my hospital room from the Hospitals E.R.? I remember being in one hospital and then mysteriously in another? My cup said one hospital on it but then later said something else? I don't even know for sure how long I was in the hospital? I just don't remember for some reason? My mind is gone and I was denied SSA because I couldn't fill out all of the paperwork so I gave up! It was too much for me to handle so I was denied. Besides that, they used my own money against me to deny me from getting what I worked for, for so many years... I am not sure if I am even competent anymore but I do know I forget to eat, forget to take showers, forget everything... I don't believe I can competently take care of myself anymore and have no purpose in life. I feel 80 years old and am so slow that I can't even walk good. Old people can out walk me-- My illness is that bad! My wife always shoots ahead of me and I am always telling to slow down for me... I wouldn't be complaining but dang, this just isn't normal for a top fit soldier like I was and something adversely effected me physically and mentally! It is a serious problem and god forbid the public gets this stuff! It is sort of like rabies or something like that and it is very bad!!! For a while I thought I was going to jump someone for making me angry for really no reason at all, (This just isn't normal behavior.); I also feel like I am falling apart and hurt everywhere really bad. My body is numb from training so I don't feel much but what I do feel is very intense pains. I tried to go to a lawyer and tell them that my insides feel like they have been put into a blender but they don't believe me without the proper paperwork and proof which is next to impossible to obtain... and my requests for records have been faulty meaning I ask for one thing and something different is sent instead of what I requested... It is very frusterating...

[mcelroy21]

Hello Artic Traveler. I am also a GW vet. Served in the Air Force at Dharan SA 90-91. I did receive the anthrax shot prior to deployment and first experienced symptoms in theatre. I was told I had the flu. As far as I know, ones joints do not swell, turn red and get painful from the flu. Since the GW I have been diagnosed and undiagnosed by VA doctors mostly and told that I have some type of autoimmune disorder but all are unable to provide me with a diagnosis (no lupus, lyme disease etc.,). As far as changes in the VA--yes I have noticed a difference. Slight difference. I am followed by the rheumatology dept in VA and am seen every 6 months to 1 year for blood draw to indicate any changes that would signal a disease with a name. At every appt, I am told that I have some kind of autoimmune dysfunction going on, except for the last appt I had just a bit ago. The same doctor that last year told me I have 'something' autoimmune now states that I must have misunderstood her, that she can not see anything autoimmune going on and is no longer taking a blood sample. This is a bit confusing so I am going outside of VA to see if I can have a doctor reevaluate my symptoms. I do like to use teh VA because the doctors there are not hearing anything new and are more 'familiar' with GW symptoms than are the civilian doctors. At least this has been my experience for the last 12 years or so.