American Gulf War Veterans Association Gulf War Illness VAMC urgent walk

These are the symptoms that helped me 'recognize' you as possibly being affected by 2-butoxyethanol (which is all I had been studying the last 10 months) Yes, all these things and more. Chad asked me to make a check list, and I shall do one, grouped by 'category' First and foremost is the blood damage (fatigue) Which ones are Central Nervous System (can't sleep at night; fly-off-the-handle; short term memory loss; suicidal tendencies, etc) Which ones are Endocrine disruption, and then the basics: skin, liver, kidneys, sinus membranes, respiratory, reproductive harm, etc. An overview here

I started a worksheet for you ... beginning with the symptoms you first had (would apply to any chemical exposure) & then you add and subtract from that ... to help your doctor get the BIG PICTURE You can study up on what each component of exposures would do to you, and then see which would have affected you, based on what you have for symptoms.

For it to be 2-butoxyethanol you would have assorted odd symptoms, maybe with variations - but most of them. Such as these, too

Here's some basic start up info - and if you wish to reply to any of these topics, you are welcome, as well

More about me

And the best helps I have found in getting an accurate diagnosis for the blood and the bones can be harmed (paralysis can occur with extreme blood damage)

I believe this to be a world-wide problem; and I believe we can get help in stopping the harm of these chemicals by checking the blood for the right things

These are reference web pages for the post above

http://www.valdezlink.com/wondering.htm#symptoms

http://www.valdezlink.com/complete.htm#endocrine

An overview here: http://www.valdezlink.com/hb_2-B_causes.htm

Help your doctor get the BIG PICTURE http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv_symptoms.htm

For it to be 2-butoxyethanol http://www.valdezlink.com/same.htm

Assorted odd symptoms http://www.valdezlink.com/scenario.htm

and odd symptoms such as these http://www.valdezlink.com/health_changes.htm

Here's some basic start up info - Why vets should consider this, even if it wasn't listed on the 'Solvents Gulf War Vets were exposed to' http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv1-5.htm

More about me http://www.valdezlink.com/who_ami.htm

Getting an accurate diagnosis for the blood, may entail some of these tests http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv_why_fatigue.htm

The bones may be harmed with extreme red blood cell damage http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv_bones_hurt.htm

So what is the 'retic' ratio? http://www.valdezlink.com/check_blood.htm#retic

You won't be hearing much from me, not because I'm quitting (although my husband thinks I have tackled too big a project and I am wasting my time -- that nothing will change)

... but because I've [b]shared enough[/b] on another possible exposure to some of you & there's nothing more I need to say.

This is my most important discovery, however, in helping to find the accurate diagnosis for the fatigue - if it is from blood damage & these solvent exposures: http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum9/HTML/000019.html

And to everyone else, I have appreciated you and will be sad to see anyone leave, especially those who have given so much. This is a volunteer project for vets, and others who 'come along side'

genie
Member

February 23, 2004

Post prior to editing:

Recently I made a permanent move here to Houston, TX from Jackson, MS area. What a hassle it has turned out to be. I went to the VAMC last Friday, and was a little taken back by the treatment I was receiving, well at least my perception of the treatment anyway. All I wanted to do was get a renewal of a prescription that had run out, Tramadol, for my aching pain in my back, some lotion for my dried out, cracked, & bleeding hands, something for my knee & head pain.

The first thing I did was check in & waited about two hours to be seen. The wait time was not that bad, a total of 4hrs. there at the hospital, it was the way that they did it. They called about 6 vets names to wait in another room in the back there. They had 6 chairs lined up in the room, and very uncomfortable chairs I might add. Then they just called out the names to be checked in, one at a time. I started talking to some of the other vets waiting in the room with me, and it was the consensus that we felt like we were being herded in there like cattle. That was my perception, and they were in agreement with that.

Whoever it was that was checking me in asked me what I was there for. I told her what I indicated above, and she indicated that because it was some type of urgent care clinic, that I could only be seen for one thing. Then that is where knowing the laws governing veterans benefits comes in handy. I told her that I was a Priority Group 1 Veteran because I was at least 50% SC, and I first checked into the VAMC there over a month prior, and it wasn't my fault that I hadn't been assigned to a Primary Care Provider yet & that I needed continuous treatment for my ailments. I think I caught her off guard, but she basically said that I was right, that the law did specify that I be assigned to a Primary Care Provider within 30 days of my registration into the hospital. But she did say that because I didn't indicate that I wanted the assignment within 30days that they wouldn't have bothered setting that up for me. She said she would take care of it, and I got an appointment in March with a Primary Care Provider thanks to the knowledge I obtained from the Hadit.com site after I read that off of there from someone else's experience with that.

The next stage was waiting again to be called in to see a doctor. He basically had an attitude too. I told him about my knee pain that I was having. Have you ever been to a Generalist Practioner trying to do Specialist stuff? Well this was a prime example of an incident such as that. I told him that my knee buckled on the stairs in my house, and that I fell down the stairs about a week prior because of that. The Generalist doesn’t know how to do Pivot Shift testing, which would indicate the laxity in the knee. All he did was Endpoint test & Lachman test. In any case, he left me with the impression that he thought nothing was wrong with my knee & he didn't even bother acknowledging the pain aspect I was having with it. So I didn't get any meds for my knee pain.

Next on the list was my dried out hands problem. He told me to stop picking at it or it wouldn't heal. I don't know if any others out there have this problem, but when the skin dries out, it leaves a crevice like design in the skin, which the skin underneath the top layer is exposed & it hurts, well it feels more like a burning sensation, but it is still irritating. So that ticked me off, him accusing me of something I didn't even do. It wasn't like he even asked me if I picked at my skin, he just assumed, and I hate going to Generalist that think they know everything. In actuality, they're like a "Jack of all trades, but master of none." That's just blue-collar lingo, but it applies. The next was my headaches, and that is when he said that I was only there for emergency purposes. That's when I told him that if administration had set me up with an appointment with a Primary Care Provider within the 30day mandate that the law indicated I was entitled to, I wouldn't be there in the first place. I told him I needed a renewal of my prescriptions, and that was that. He was more accommodating after that, but still had the almighty attitude that some of those resident doctors have at a VAMC. Well, I got my meds, and my appointment for next month into a Primary Care Clinic. I'll just have to wait & see how this turns out.

I just basically wanted to bi*ch, which has made me feel much better. I guess taking a load off my mind, you could say. Thanks for being here.

I am working on a summary, so I'll place it here for a moment, and then take it down:

Author	VAMC urgent walk-ins
genie Member	February 23, 2004 Recently I made a permanent move here to Houston, TX from Jackson, MS area. What a hassle it has turned out to be. I went to the VAMC last Friday, and was a little taken back by the treatment I was receiving, well at least my perception of the treatment anyway. All I wanted to do was get a renewal of a prescription that had run out, Tramadol, for my aching pain in my back, some lotion for my dried out, cracked, & bleeding hands, something for my knee & head pain. The first thing I did was check in & waited about two hours to be seen. The wait time was not that bad, a total of 4hrs. there at the hospital, it was the way that they did it. They called about 6 vets names to wait in another room in the back there. They had 6 chairs lined up in the room, and very uncomfortable chairs I might add. Then they just called out the names to be checked in, one at a time. I started talking to some of the other vets waiting in the room with me, and it was the consensus that we felt like we were being herded in there like cattle. That was my perception, and they were in agreement with that. Whoever it was that was checking me in asked me what I was there for. I told her what I indicated above, and she indicated that because it was some type of urgent care clinic, that I could only be seen for one thing. Then that is where knowing the laws governing veterans benefits comes in handy. I told her that I was a Priority Group 1 Veteran because I was at least 50% SC, and I first checked into the VAMC there over a month prior, and it wasn't my fault that I hadn't been assigned to a Primary Care Provider yet & that I needed continuous treatment for my ailments. I think I caught her off guard, but she basically said that I was right, that the law did specify that I be assigned to a Primary Care Provider within 30 days of my registration into the hospital. But she did say that because I didn't indicate that I wanted the assignment within 30days that they wouldn't have bothered setting that up for me. She said she would take care of it, and I got an appointment in March with a Primary Care Provider thanks to the knowledge I obtained from the Hadit.com site after I read that off of there from someone else's experience with that. The next stage was waiting again to be called in to see a doctor. He basically had an attitude too. I told him about my knee pain that I was having. Have you ever been to a Generalist Practioner trying to do Specialist stuff? Well this was a prime example of an incident such as that. I told him that my knee buckled on the stairs in my house, and that I fell down the stairs about a week prior because of that. The Generalist doesn’t know how to do Pivot Shift testing, which would indicate the laxity in the knee. All he did was Endpoint test & Lachman test. In any case, he left me with the impression that he thought nothing was wrong with my knee & he didn't even bother acknowledging the pain aspect I was having with it. So I didn't get any meds for my knee pain. Next on the list was my dried out hands problem. He told me to stop picking at it or it wouldn't heal. I don't know if any others out there have this problem, but when the skin dries out, it leaves a crevice like design in the skin, which the skin underneath the top layer is exposed & it hurts, well it feels more like a burning sensation, but it is still irritating. So that ticked me off, him accusing me of something I didn't even do. It wasn't like he even asked me if I picked at my skin, he just assumed, and I hate going to Generalist that think they know everything. In actuality, they're like a "Jack of all trades, but master of none." That's just blue-collar lingo, but it applies. The next was my headaches, and that is when he said that I was only there for emergency purposes. That's when I told him that if administration had set me up with an appointment with a Primary Care Provider within the 30day mandate that the law indicated I was entitled to, I wouldn't be there in the first place. I told him I needed a renewal of my prescriptions, and that was that. He was more accommodating after that, but still had the almighty attitude that some of those resident doctors have at a VAMC. Well, I got my meds, and my appointment for next month into a Primary Care Clinic. I'll just have to wait & see how this turns out. I just basically wanted to bi*ch, which has made me feel much better. I guess taking a load off my mind, you could say. Thanks for being here. [This message has been edited by genie (edited February 23, 2004).]
plowboy Junior Member	February 23, 2004 well don't feel alone i've spent years being told by military and va docs that there is nothing wrong with me and it is all in my head, but just maybe i've found a doc at the VAMC in Helena MT that might admit that there is actually a problem.
Gale Administrator	February 23, 2004 I'm so glad you let them know you knew your rights and priority! I wonder what a difference it would make if some of the doctors and other healthcare providers had to wait the long periods of time the rest of us do to be seen for their own illnesses, and be treated the way they do us? Maybe we should keep a thread about WAITING ROOM WOES-- complete with names, dates and locations? It might be helpful in presenting to congressional reps concerning veteran issues.
genie Member	February 23, 2004 Plowboy, after about ten yrs. of going to the other VAMC, in a different state than I'm at now, I finally felt like I was getting somewhere with my treatment. My Primary Care Provider was very helpful there, and the specialists at the various clinics were great too. I really didn't want to leave the state because of that aspect of my health care, but such is life. We can't always get what we want. In any case, I'm glad that you are receiving the treatment that you feel you’re entitled to receive. It helps with that frustration issue a lot of vets encounter when we have to deal with the VAMC personnel there. I guess some of them forgot whose paying their paychecks for them; cause without us, there wouldn't be a need for them in the first place. Gale, it was nice for a change to know & utilize the laws that have been created for us against them. If that worker knew the law, then I'm sure the registration clerks know it too. If that is true, then why don't they just do their job and implement it. It would be a lot less hassle involved for us sickly vets. Maybe they're hoping we die before we can raise any hell about it. I really don't know, but that adage of "knowledge is power" is so true when it comes with dealing with your rights as a veteran in the system we have today. I did feel pretty good about myself when I left there that day, only because they couldn't push me around like they do with other ignorant vets, that don’t know any better, that’s for sure. I really do try to be easy going with them, because I know that they're just earning a living, but heck, I'm just trying to live. I don't think that's too much to ask of them, do you? No, that's what they get paid to do anyway. So they shouldn’t feel like we’re sapping the life out of them, because we’re not, and if anything, there have been times where they have done that to me. Too many times to count, but I do remember those days, and it wasn’t good at all. Thanks for your thoughts both of you. It helps me to generate my thinking process too when I respond. Take care.
Mother Margaret Member	February 24, 2004 genie, would you mind sharing what you were doing in the military that caused your hands to loose moisture? And may I ask where in your back the pain is? Is it in the area of the kidneys or the bones?