thoughts on military health issues - since July, 1989 to present

Dear Senator Lisa Murkowski:

Thank you for your response on the issue of products such as Corexit 9527 & other compounds that the military has been exposed to from July, 1989 to the present.

I have also contacted everyone else on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs with some information so they may be prepared when you speak to them;

but mostly because a Vet asked me to contact the committee.

- although his concern was your dropping back medical benefits.

Please do not help our Vets less

- If anything, HELP THEM MORE!

Please add staff to the 'processing' of the VA benefits,

and get them processed in 10 business days, instead of one year

I was a Coast Guard beach monitor in the 1989-90 seasons. After that I was Immediately sent to Saudi Arabia for a year in support of Desert Storm. For ten years I have been to doctors with sometimes debilitating symptoms, and I do in fact have a "Undiagnosable" Infertility problem (zero sperm count, testosterone replacement therapy).

I have never connected the two, But I have never had answers. I have never had an answer on any of my medical problems. I have gone to some of the best specialists and endocrinologists in Southern California, spent thousands of dollars, and I am simply "unable to father children". But none of them can say why.

The Sterility is my greatest concern. With no visible or diagnosable cause, I am 100% Sterile. All the testicular functions are intact, even the proper trace chemicals and hormones are present (except for exceptionally low testosterone). The doctors just scratch their heads when the tests show a zero sperm count. They say it's unheard of. Low counts are in the millions. I am zero. Years and years of "i dunno's" from doctors have got me frustrated.

Partial Reply: In looking thru the NJ Hazard info sheet (6 pdf pages) It states p.2

Reproductive Hazard

2-butoxyEthanol may damage the testes

(male reproductive glands).

http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/0275.pdf

August 20, 2003

BUFFALO heart

I was retired from the Air Force in 1993 for asthma and now I am having many other symptoms that are scaring the crap out of me. I have constant heart flutters and the doctors do not have any answers. They have put me on a beta blocker after my heart rate jumped up to 250 beats per minute * for 30 mins and they could not stop it. I ran 14 miles a day in the Air Force and now my body is a mess. I have gained 160 pounds because of the Prednisone and I do not know where to turn. The VA retired me after I contacted them wanting help with my weight, etc. The doctor did not even look at me when he said "good luck with that" and walked out. I got a letter in the mail 3 weeks later saying that I would receive a pension but only after my retirement money from the Air Force was payed off!! I DID NOT WANT MONEY! I want to get better and I do not know who to contact or who to talk to. If anyone has any suggestions they would be much appreciated.

States a Gulf War Vet C. Puller

I served in swa with the Marine Corps from jan91-june91. after returning to the states, I had a few very severe migraine headaches that brought me to my knees. The headaches went away and I then started to have heart palpitations with a very high heart rate. * I was placed in the hospital once for one week with the doctors being unable to explain why I was having the palpitations. I was recently given beta-blockers in a attempt to control it.

I have never been to the VA and the thought of this being related to my service in the gulf has crossed my mind. I really am uninformed about the symptoms of gws . has anyone here had similar problems and would the above symptoms be classified as as symptoms of gws? also in your opinion should I go to the va?

-C. Puller

REPLY from Mother Margaret answer

Package of Symptoms of 2-butoxyethanol poisoning

Are they like these diagnosis/symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome?

November 04, 2003

(Also for Buffalo... who wrote Aug 20)

The heart beating rapidly is a symptom of hemolytic anemia
Medications may hurt and not help; Maybe a transfusion of whole blood would be the most helpful. Your body needs more oxygen. (But this is a non medical opinion - based on study of this chemical & Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers & vets I have talked to)

have them check the ratio of mature to immature red blood cells AND have a lab tech look at the red blood cells under a microscope and comment.

Keep track of your own blood information - and ask the doctor to check some extra things, too

Helps for you to learn about 2-butoxyethanol

More Helps for your doctors

Headaches? Yes, that, too
I'm starting to think that is from having damage to the endocrine system... read on on this same web page. Again... I have gathered info, but am not giving medical advice.

Any sterility out there? Any birth defects?

Since July, 1989 2-butoxyethanol has been used too strongly in products the military has and many are today being exposed. The Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers were the first Gulf War Syndrome Victims: which includes many in the Navy at that time.

Gulf War Vet: http://www.valdezlink.com/as_son.htm

Please look at several lists here: http://www.valdezlink.com/lists.htm

and
Inventory what products the military uses that have 2-butoxyethanol & in what percentage - since July, 1989
and
http://www.valdezlink.com/in_position.htm

and
http://www.valdezlink.com/alford.htm#soldier

Some helps here: http://www.valdezlink.com/changes.htm

Margaret Hursh
PO Box 233
Valdez, AK 99686

907-835-5333
1-888-853-5333

Contact your US Senators & US Rep - Congress needs to help our military & the public today