Will there be a Study of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup Workers? 

asks a 35 year old Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup worker

Some background - What went on during the oil spill cleanup?

Sorry to hear of what you share.  The only way we can prove the harm to you is to have a group of you get an ACCURATE diagnosis for the autoimmune issues and the FATIGUE which would be common to all.
 
How did you find me?
 
I suppose I'm not that hard to find for someone who is looking as I have written a lot of web pages the past 2 years and spent so much time learning about the harmful cleanup chemical, 2-butoxyethanol, that I really do know how to recognize an acute exposure and what the 'package' of harm of it would look like.
 
Of course, there is some possibility that the oil would have been hazardous with benzene, but mostly in the early weeks & not after that.  The cleanup chemical effects would have been in mid summer, but it was so strong, & got spilled different places, and the wind blowing it in one's eyes would be an exposure, too ... So for others that walked on the beaches that were being cleaned ... or were nearby them in boats:  these could be exposed, too.
 
Do you remember any particular time when your eyes burned and hurt?  That you had dark urine and felt a horrible FATIGUE?  That could be an example of too much exposure at one time.  Do you know anyone who went for check-ups then and blood was found in urine?
 
The cleanup chemical of harm was 2-butoxyethanol or also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (& other names)    & it usually has more than one thing that it does to people before you would expect it as one's harm ... in the general population (They don't know what's harmful; but we already know what would have been the most probable chemical of harm in your case)  
 
Turning yellow is one of the 8 signs of the hemolytic anemia (fatigue) Not necessarily all of them at the same time, of course, but something to consider when they do show up.
 
I think it is the same thing as 'gulf war syndrome' (and many vets do have exposure to this chemical).  In the general population I believe it is Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. CFIDS The doctors in the definition say they do not know what the fatigue is.  It is this.  Some might just say CFS if they don't know the immune system is involved, or FM if they notice inflammation which may or may not be there as an add on symptoms
 
From this chemical it is autoimmune hemolytic anemia and the reason the doctors have not found it's harm nor suspect it since it's invention in the 1930s is because it fools the basic blood info.  The doctor does not know your red blood cells are mostly immature; believes that you are OK & doesn't look further   

Why Fatigue?  www.valdezlink.com/why_fatigue.htm

 
There should also be trace blood in urine, or there would have been, so see if you can get copies of all blood info in prior physicals and all urinalysis.  Keep your own copies.   and chart the red blood cell counts over time.  Keep track of the retic rate, too.  It would go high on an acute exposure to this chemical, mostly fall back into the regular range, and then a below normal range, but STILL the Complete Blood Counts don't look that bad, maybe red blood cells just below normal at this point in time.
 
Is there any way you can see a hematologist or an immunologist (one who knows immune system well & doesn't do allergy stuff on the side)?  The main problem, I believe, is that your immune system has become instantly autoimmune.  You are destroying You.
 
I have someone with helps for the immune system who wants to go forward with a study that also includes taking 'immune vitamins' that he will provide at no cost. It's all explained in this web page  & this is what he thinks will help 
 
I have a doctor who wants to be involved.  My doctor said that you don't have to have anyone special do the study, but you have to have enough people participate for it to tell anything.  I would like to see 3 groups:
 
1-the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers regardless of the job they did
2-The 'gulf war syndrome' vet or any military from any time period with 'the symptoms' 
 
3-Those in the public - the same

 Yes, a study is needed on several groups

 
I would like to see how a health status survey such as this would be filled out,  and then ask these extra questions of a doctor before you get started.  So basically.  See if we can get an accurate diagnosis and then see if the diagnosis does improve by taking the glyconutrients.  And of course, if the harm to you, looks the same, as the harm to the other groups ... and different from the healthy individuals in our society (?) goes without saying  *
 
I believe there is a cure out there, but whoever has it would rather earn the money on all the harm that is caused than vice versa.  (Well I guess I shouldn't say that, but at least maybe if we tackle the main problem, and stop the add on medications, we will make advances)
 
I know a number of workers, too  However, it is hard for them to deal with these issues when they are not well, and most people don't believe you have been chemically poisoned, because you look OK; but they should notice a much grouchier personality (change from normal) and you will surely notice the fatigue.
 
How do you sleep at night?  What about fatigue?  How about depression?  Short term memory loss? Headaches?
 
Why I looked into this chemical - because of someone harmed who was your very age  
 
What does your doctor say?  Is he or she interested in this topic, or seemed genuinely concerned about the questions you have?
 
I am very pleased to hear that you have 2 healthy children.  One US Coast guardsman shared that he was unable to father children, he had zero sperm.  I recently learned that there is something called spontaneous infertility in which the immune system targets the sperm.  I would suspect then that the 74 days needed for sperm to develop is interfered with ... an effect for some ... of this chemical's harm.  Also things like high or low blood sugar; high or low blood pressure ... could be part of the picture
 
I do want to do a study; but am actually looking to see if anyone else does.  In the meantime, I think I can get started.

We are seeking help  

Don't be afraid to get an accurate diagnosis - See the dr & give these extra 'helps'

 
The Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers are VITAL to medical science because their exposure is this chemical, predominately.  They don't have a gillion things to choose from.  and they will look alike medically, at least in the fatigue, and also in the BIGGER Picture that fans out:  anything to do with glands, or lymph or blood or nervous system ... (Kidneys and Liver, too) *
 
I was relooking at the list of harm to the Vietnam vet ... and dioxin has been getting too much credit.  It is this chemical for them, in my opinion, as well 
 
Margaret   e-mail

PO Box 233, Valdez, AK 99686   907-835-3135

There is a new book out on the after-effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill by Dr. Riki Ott, a marine biologist.  It also discusses some of the worker issues

Any doctor you can interest in this will be WONDERFUL!  I believe that most doctors could be seeing these patients, as it can branch into lots of different health ailments

We need doctors to consider chemical poisoning as a cause of harm to many people, and to HELP us

3-4-05

Another 'letter to a worker'  7-03  *  Blood info *  *

Comment from a Valdez grandma *

16 year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill is 3-24-05

New Book

Is that so? A quick retort

Margaret,    help

I read your e-mails and wish we could help some of these people with the OPC-3 and other products.  We have so many customers benefiting with OPC-3 and our list gets longer.  When Gary was 1st exposed to MTBE 10 years ago his doctor didn’t have any remedy except move to a safer place—ya right—where?  His doctor told him he was like “a canary in a coal mine and that 20% of the population would be like him in 10 years”.  I was told that he probably wouldn’t live more than 6 months as sick as he was.  Here we are 10 years later and look at the sick people out there.  I just thank the Lord that Gary is still here and doing much better—thanks to the OPC-3. Now we help others that want his help and the ones we can reach….It is such a chemical world we live in and even doctors don’t know what to do.  That is very scary.  We found help for Gary from and very kind concerned woman that wanted to help hoping she had the remedy—she did, after calling us 4 times we finally listened to her when Gary was on his dying breath.  We were confused and skeptical, but it took death in our future to trust her—I feel this is sad that we waited that long—she was a stranger and we weren’t used to strangers wanting to help. Why did she?  So understand when we mention the OPC-3 that people don’t jump right on the OPC-3.  But I am very confident that OPC-3 can help many people if they put the trust in it, so sometime I tend to be persistent and repeat to people about OPC-3….If this woman didn’t, Gary would have died 10 years ago…Doctors had given up and we were alone—we call her our  “Guiding Angel”.  We are “Guiding Angels” to many of our customers now and that is such a good feeling.  It tells Gary why God wanted him to live….to help others.  

Anyway thanks for your e-mails….Have a great day….

                        Bev

This is Gary's Story

The Liver is an organ that helps get rid of toxins,

Does Milk Thistle, a natural herb, help the liver?

Think that what you don't know won't hurt you?  *

Just doom 'n gloom?  *

10-8-05 repost