Could Running a Marathon have anything to do with my flu-symptoms and Fatigue that began after that ... and is still with me today?

Second Hand Solvent Exposure -

From Running a Marathon Race?

I've worked with Agricultural chemicals in my business for more than half my life, been soaked in DDT, sprayed with " Agent Orange" and handled agricultural Equipment that we really did not know what had been through them. I have never been able to substantiate the position that "chemicals" were the reason for my CFS. It does not make any sence. So, I highly doubt if any other form of household cleaners could do any thing to me. My father had his arms immersed in Agent Orange. He is still alive at 83 years. Agricultural pilots have been tested on a routine basis and they have found no levels higher than the normal population. And they have been exposed to levels far greater than anyone else. So I am a firm believer that you should not worry about the things that you can not control. Basically why fret over something that probably had no danger to you. I do realize that there are people with MCS disorder and perfumes and hairsprays even affect them. But, it is probably not the cause.
They still have not determined the direct cause of CFS, GWS or FM. All I do know is that the day after a Marathon in 1979, it felt as though I had a terrible Flu and I simply did not recover from it and have had cfs ever since. I highly doubt if it was the race, since I was a seasoned runner and ran about a dozen marathons and 50 and 100 milers. I could simply not make a direct correlation. I even asked a very well known specialist in CFS and he told me , "You would have gotten ill anyway"

This is just my perspective on things. Without agricultural spraying the world simply could not continue to expand its population to the extent it has. Organic farming is only done well on a small commercial basis or at home by people that want to eat organic foods.

I spent a couple of years in the Peace Corp in W. Africa and the only reasons I became very ill was from amoebic dysentary (house boy did not boil the water) and from Maleria after being bitten somewhere near the outhouse.
We are so fortunate to live here in the USA where it truly is the land of plenty. Our health care system is great, exept for maybe properly treating this darn illness. You may speculate and give your opinion freely, but the facts do not simply substantiate the correlation of chemicals and FM/CFS/GWS. Sorry this is sooo... long.

Kindest Regards,
Grit

Where was this Marathon?

There are some places that emit these chemicals in the air. Can you think back to what happened that day?

I believe the unknown 'fatigue' can be diagnosed.

I believe it is important, because you can stop the harm to others.

I believe a little won't hurt, but too much is another story

PS

It also occurs to me that if there were a lot of people in a 'pack' so to speak, and if many of them may have had exposures recently to this chemical (like those in the oil cleanup business, or plastics business, or dry cleaning or painting & the like) there would have been the expelled solvent from their breath 'floating' at head level to get in people's eyes & also to be breathed in & on their skin. This is a more probable cause of a 2nd hand exposure to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether or the like.

How long did the marathon race last?

WHO AM I? A Business Owner & Former ultra-marathon runner with races up to 100 miles. Yes, I was crazy!!! Ran races all over the western US and competed at a high level. Became suddenly ill while running a regular marathon and had to drop out of the race in Feb 1980. The next day it was like I had the flu, only alot worse. Symptoms never disappeared and went undiagnosed for years until I found the right doctor. Have CFS/FM. Have worked most of the time until August of 2000 when I became incapacitated and had to step aside and lease out my own manufacturing company.

Hunting , fishing, camping, shooting, reloading and enjoy nearly all sports especially baseball, basketball, football and soccer, with my two sons Damon, age 12 and Kaylor age 7. The boys are the most important thing in my life and we also just like to "hang out" and have fun.

Dear Gritman,

I am interested in the 'Never Give up' Quote ... THANKS

AND I am interested in more info on Kidney Cancer. It would be a possible cancer of the 2-butoxyethanol exposure that I've been learning about as besides the other things this chemical does, it targets the liver and kidneys and people exposed need regular liver and kidney function tests.

AND I wanted to add a comment on my reply to your ... 'Just my 2 cents worth,'

"It also occurs to me that if there were a lot of people in a 'pack' so to speak, and if many of them may have had exposures recently to this chemical (like those in the oil cleanup business, or plastics business, or dry cleaning or painting & the like) there would have been the expelled solvent from their breath 'floating' at head level to get in people's eyes & also to be breathed in & on their skin. This is a more probable cause of a 2nd hand exposure to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether or the like.

How long did the marathon race last?"

If you you have the wrong ratio of mature to immature red blood cells and if there is something odd in the size and shape of your red blood cells, the harm being from this chemical may be possible to prove. Especially if others known to be harmed by this chemical all test out this way too.

'retic ratio' is the coined phrase for this $50 add on blood test:

Reticulocyte Count

Do you have any of these other symptoms?

Chills
Fatigue
Pale color
Shortness of breath
Rapid heart rate
Yellow skin color (jaundice)
Dark urine (indicative of blood in urine - never dismiss this! Stop exposure immediately!)
Enlarged spleen

AND, then it targets the kidneys and liver and there is
Central Nervous System damage showing up sometimes as
Loose your temper easily?
Short term memory loss
Difficulty concentrating
Personality changes to 'grumpy' - Extreme Irritability
All the time Depression
Suicidal Tendencies

I write web pages on this topic, and I'm sure they would be very easy to find on the internet. The groups I know to be exposed to the 2-butoxyethanol are the Exxon Valdez oil spill bioremediation workers with Inipol EAP 22; the US Coast Guard who monitored that 'experiment;' and the US Navy who helped with the Corexit experiment (Today this product is still in use and harming many, many people & our environment, too. It is 38% 2-butoxyethanol and is not safe AT ALL!)

Gritman, I've just learned that MTBE was out at that time of your marathan race, and it is very hazardous. It was banned in Alaska by our governor long years ago. . . and it is the poisonous additives in gasoline (high octanes) and it is really horrible for those who live near airports. It is also a pesticide and there has been an astonishing diminishing of birdlife in the USA since then. The component that is the same with it and the chemical I have studied is BUTYL ETHER

AND here are some helps I just learned to find out if this chemical exposure has affected you:

Asking your doctor to check the size and shape of red blood cells is a good idea because red blood cell fragility is a consequence of chemical poisoning, particularly 2-Butoxyethanol (a component of which is butyl ether).

The red blood cells become round-like, rather than hourglass shaped (an exaggeration of configuration). The change in shape is caused from the outer membrane becoming weakened, losing its ability to hold its elasticity. Others have found their red blood cells to be too small. Are mature red blood cells 'ragged and beat up?'

AND what is the retic ratio? Is the bone marrow compensating for approaching hemolytic anemia by making new, low functioning immature red blood cells? FOLKS, I think this is the key to diagnosing an often overlooked form of fatigue. It is only about a $50 add on blood test & while you're at it make sure you get the absolute cell count which is part of the routine blood work.

I do believe your fatigue can be diagnosed as blood damage to red blood cells, most likely by the immune system. Liver and kidney function is also very important.

Of course you have these other odd symptoms, too with a CFS diagnosis. These relate to endocrine disruption (that's why they are all over the board) Pesticide chemicals such as these cause this.

For instance the kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells. Urinary tract infections, kidney disorders such as cystic kidney diseases, and metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism are also linked to kidney stone formation.

I was looking into kidney stones that showed up for one of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers - who didn't use the cleanup chemicals containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol) but could have been near a the mist of it. That's when I learned more this week, about what the kidneys do & realized the info that fit his situation would be metabolic.