My story in a nutshell is as follows.......
I was an industrial sign
painter for several years for a local sign company. My
symptoms started after 4 years of Polyurethane paint, V.O.C.,
& solvent exposure from my job.
MEK, zylene, tolulene, N-mono
butyl ether, benzene, alcohol, you name it I worked with all the
big nasties and had no training, no protection, & no Idea.
I started having Constant Fatigue,
Passing out at stop lights, or just blacking out a lot. It took
nearly 2.75 years to get a straight diagnosis.
I had a vasovagal reaction to a catalyst substance that I had
taken to them for analysis when it spilled onto the floor last
time I was seen in Chicago at the UIUC.
I fully lost consciousness and
came to surrounded by EMT's & fire fighters. I was
last told to schedule an appointment for some very expensive
test( that I could not afford ) and told I have to pay for them
upfront because of a lack of healthcare insurance. I had to
cancel the appointment and have since been w/out treatment for
my affliction (solvent poisoning ~ long term exposure)
I'm falling apart here and I don't
know what to do.
It seems all the doctors down here in Champaign, Il. refuse to
acknowledge even the slightest possibility that my symptoms are
related to my work...and V.O.C.'s.....It feels so hopeless , all
I want is to be seen by a specialist ~ who deals with this kind
of thing on a regular basis, knows what to look for, and the
proper course of treatment for my symptoms if there is one.
I'm still suffering from all of
the same symptoms , some of them have gotten worse.. the resting
tremors, fatigue, ringing in my ears, Sleep problems, upper
respiratory problems (especially) and headaches
are a fact of my daily life now.
Is there anything I can do
here??? I'm desperate. I did finally change jobs and have health
insurance , but they won't cover my pre-existing Condition.
I've
contacted OSHA, The EPA, and A lawyer.
No one Cares!!!! what is wrong
here?
These people are still in business and throwing their waste into
a dumpster that's been going to the same landfill year after
year, with office documents as well.
I'm talking about neon units
containing mercury, Fluorescent bulbs, paint cans that had lead
based paint in them as well as many other chemicals, used
Transformers and ballast too.
I know for a fact that all of
the above require special handling when it comes to disposal.
And that in their new location their paint booth exhaust into a
local children's park and baseball field as well as residences
next to the business.
I need help to make sure that
what has happened to me happens to no one else ever again.
Any Information or contacts
would be helpful. I'm so tired of suffering in silence.
I was told it was stress in
2001, I have lots of documentation of my case , OSHA inspection
reports with fines, exam records, MSDS sheets, witnesses to my
working conditions, photos of my work area, all pointing to the
cause- solvents!
Yet my former employers
insurance company still denies my claim, I can't get treatment
or seen by the doc's I need to see.
I was told it
was all in my head for a long time,
I've nearly committed suicide
over all this........ I knew I needed help w/ that, so I see a
counselor.
But now I hold out hoping for
some kind of justice. I do know I will never have the
quality of life I once had. I can't bike or play with my son
like we used to.
I've been told I'm narcoleptic
(solvent induced Narcosis) now and have been on Adderall for
about 1.5 years this started about 3.5 years ago.
I don't have the same symptoms
as most people w/ narcolepsy. Mine are way different! I feel I'm
being given a Band-Aid to but on an amputated limb.
My lawyer doubts I'll get any
compensation for my bills....since there were NO toxicology test
performed immediately when I became Ill.
I did everything that I was
told to do from day one by my healthcare providers yet I still
get shafted, what is wrong w/ these people??? How much
evidence do I need to prove this? |
