You seem to be describing

anemia

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to know if anyone out there could let me know if you are experiencing some of the same symptoms which I am having. I was recently diagnosed with anemia. Some of my symptoms are: pain in the joints, feeling weak across my shoulders, pains in the neck, headaches which last for a moment and then are gone, waking up to legs and arms which have also fallen asleep, feeling mentally sluggish or in a fog. And if you were diagnosed with anemia, how long did it take before you felt like you again? Or if these symptoms sound like something else, please let me know. Thanks for your help.
Stacie

Hi Stacie:
I also experienced much of the same symptoms that you are going through. It started off with just fatigue and then the symptoms began to increase. I had aches in my legs, brittle/dry hair, which was falling out, headaches, faint feelings, loss of concentration, and brittle nails. Hopefully you are taking your iron. I have been on iron for just about 4 months and am finally above level. My doctor ran a check up blood test, which showed I am still on the lower end of the normal range.... It does take some time and patience. Just remember to take your iron and eat meats and veggies...Keep me posted -Denise

Hello Sleepy 0,

I have the dry brittle, premature gray and falling out hair. Have you noticed any difference in your hair improving? How about with the shortness of breathe?

Hi Gals,

I seem to have similar symptoms, although, I have iron def, not full blown anemia. I, additionally notice vertical ridges on my nails which I read can also be a sign of iron def. How are you ladies doing? It is so hard to be patient, isn't it?
In my case, I also have very tender feet, which I think may be due to the oxygen not being delivered to the distal cell points of my body.
If you see this note, I'll hope you'll let us know how you are doing...and I sure hope you are feeling better!

Sunny

I had all the classic symptoms... tiredness (fatigue), pale skin, rapid/irregular heartbeat, trouble concentrating, weight loss... my hair even started to fall out and get really brittle... my nails broke way too easily... I had headaches all the time and ringing in my ears... I was always dizzy/lightheaded... I took iron for 6 months before I began to feel normal again. Now, I have been off of the iron for about 6 months... and I'm feeling tired and "off" again... :-\ Anemia sucks!!!! But, it takes time to get over... just be patient and stick to taking your iron. It helps, even though it might not be fun to take (I got really constipated and had a sore stomach all the time...)... Just hang in there, it gets better!

- Tropicali

You seem to be describing 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms

Check for fragility of red blood cells

These symptoms of Hemolytic anemia:
[list]
[*]Chills
[*]Fatigue
[*]Pale color
[*]Shortness of breath
[*]Rapid heart rate
[*]Yellow skin color (jaundice)
[*]Dark urine (indicative of blood in urine/kidney effects?)
[*]Enlarged spleen
[/list]

Many products we use at home and at work for cleaning and degreasing; in painting, etc ... for automotive and hobbies, too ... contain a very harmful, though thought to be 'safe,' chemical: 2-butoxyethanol; however, you would most likely recognize it's other name: ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. Lysol tub 'n tile for instance has the 2(2-butoxythanol) version. It has an EPA pesticide registration ... & it is recommended for industrial use only and suggested that this chemical be avoided. Look it up on the internet; look up 409 cleaner while you're at it.

To find the effects of this chemical, doctors would have to order the complete blood counts and a special test that costs about $50: the 'Retic ratio' and especially ask the lab tech to comment on the red blood cells! Do they look ragged and 'beat up?'

Here are other symptoms of too much exposure to a solvent-type chemical ... Symptoms (most common first) include: headache, sore throat, voice change or loss, constant humph, catarrh, unexpected tiredness, fatigue, sore/watery/gritty eyes, irritability, anxiety, depression, loss of concentration, short-term memory loss, reactions to other chemicals, dizziness, blocked nose, rhinitis, mouth ulcers, bad/metallic taste in mouth, lip sores, chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pains, asthma, sinusitis, nasal discharge, nose bleeds, ulceration of nasal mucosa, itchy burning skin, rashes, dermatitis, aching joints and muscles, fibromyalgia, uncontrollable twitching, heart arrhythmia's, palpitations, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, tinnitus, earache, pins and needles, numbness in fingers and toes, Raynaud’s Syndrome, menstrual irregularities, pain/difficulty urinating. Other areas of concern include liver damage, cancer, teeth and gum problems, reproductive effects and lack of interest in sex.

The Gulf War vets of 1990-1991 have much of this. They were exposed to these 2 solvents; but this is one of the things that HAS NOT BEEN STUDIED. I personally believe it IS the cause of gulf war syndrome. I personally believe our troops TODAY are at risk for a recurrence. What are they doing that would expose them? Repetitive cleaning of weapons is not safe without goggles and chemical retardant gloves (CLP MSDS says there is a proprietary ingredient hmm); there are these in pesticides which were sprayed around the living and working area of troops (real echelon soldiers had 'gulf war syndrome' whereas a front-line soldier reported none for his group); and jet fuels #3,4,5,6 are labeled as pesticides ... with warnings of 'defatted skin' such as would go along with what this chemical does. How long have jets had a 'jet trail' by the way?

This chemical also targets the testes. As long as this chemical has been around, since 1930's or so ... sperm count as been steadily declining and the quality of sperm, too; at the current rate, in another 50-70 years, men will mostly have zero sperm count.

One day, our people will realize that many whom they love and lost to premature death ... may be from the primary harm of this chemical, instead of all the multiple secondary harm it does... and our people will arise and BAN it.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=14398&page=1&pp=5

[url=http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=14398&page=2&pp=5]Note this prior post[/url]

These symptoms are very familiar to me, as I have studied a common cleaning/degreaser chemical, 2-butoxyethanol. The harm ranges from central nervous system damage to blood damage (one type of hemolytic anemia says not to be in the cold - odd, right?) Also there is concern for endocrine disruption, kidney and liver.

There might not be too much that can be done for it, but it is important to [b]be an educated consumer[/b], and not re-expose yourself to it (Lysol tub 'n tile; 409 cleaner; gun cleaner, too? ... many, many products) Using eye goggles, gloves; working in a ventilated area (equivalent to out of doors) would be helpful, when you do use such products.

AND getting an [b]accurate diagnosis for the blood anemia[/b]. You might need to have your doctor consult with a hematologist & do a RETIC ratio test for starters. RBCs seem to come in borderline normal, and Docs don't look further, but if the red blood cells are dying off prematurely, and the bone marrow is still putting out immature red blood cells, then they won't notice it for a long time in the RBC counts.

Posted here

2-16-04

http://www.valdezlink.com/hb_child.htm

Can this fatigue lead to paralysis?

http://www.valdezlink.com/_symptoms.htm

http://www.valdezlink.com/autoimmune_hemolytic.htm

The nation has only been tracking incidents of brain tumors since 1977. Although it appears at all ages, it is most common in people in their 50s and older. That would make sense on 2 accounts:
[list]
[*]chemicals such as 2-butoxyethanol (ethyelene glycol monobutyl ether) cause more tumor of the brain and leukemia in the children of those overly exposed (painters, oil cleanup workers, those who clean in general, etc) This is a World Health Organization study.... and
[*]2-butoxyethanol chemicals were in widespread use from the 1950's on[/list]
I can't speak to a headache from a brain tumor, but these chemicals also cause endocrine disruption. The pain is in the area of the pituitary gland, most likely, at the back of the head and down the neck. They are a searing, 'hot poker' type of headache and they come and go - several times a week over a period of years. The gulf war syndrome vets describe this kind of headache and so do the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers. Of course, when you tell the doctor you have a headache, maybe they don't realize it's not the normal migraine

My cousin had a brain tumor removed when in her 50s - surgury successful; my friend form IL had a dear friend in AGLOW, Thelma who died of a brain tumor; the operation was OK for the small tumor, but the one the size of a golf ball did kill her. Thema shared with Helen when driving through a central IL countryside, "Oh, my dad and my brother worked at that chemical plant" "My dad died when I was a little girl"

Hoping that the chiropractor alignment is all you need; especially since you said it happened right after turning your head a certain way.

Many of the symptoms you mention, however, could be a reaction to too much of a chemical, such as the commonly used 2-butoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) My other posts have more information; but the comments you share are also part of what I hear the gulf war syndrome vets sharing. And some of them were also exposed to this chemical. It does more than this, though, so for it to be this chemical, you would have a lot of other symptoms like all-the-time fatigue, endocrine disruption, even liver and kidney concerns are possible.

Next time you get a blood test, ask for the RETIC ratio. (Only costs about $50) It doesn't fully identify hemolytic anemia, but it supports such, and might suggest whether addition blood info is needed. This chemical damages the blood first & the damage is ongoing with too much exposure. It would underlie central nervous system damage, for instance ([b]tired all the time and depressed all the time[/b])

Posted here

[url=www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=861029#post861029]Check some of my other posts[/url]

These symptoms you are describing are the same as the 'gulf war syndrome' vets ... but it has been stated that they are no more harmed than the general population. So that means the cause is something that anyone could be affected by.... it doesn't mean that they weren't harmed, 'rubbish'

Check the internet and my other posts. There is lots of good info if you hunt for it; I would suspect hemolytic anemia for blood damage, but RETIC ratio may be all that shows it up in the beginning stages.

I would also search out 2-butoxyethanol. Our troops were exposed to it; it is a pesticide/poison/solvent. Many in the general population are exposed to it every day, but especially those who paint and clean.

What do you do for employment? Do you remember a time when your eyes were burning, and your urine turned dark, and then horrible fatigue? You may be able to pinpoint the exposure source, if so.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=861040#post861040

This is probably more common than we realize, but most people don't get a diagnosis on it; as there could be a lot of other things going on, and you know, people put off knowing if they can ...

There is a type of headache that is a searing, 'hot poker type headache' in the back of the head & running down the neck (This is the area you are talking about?) It is one symptom of endocrine disruption from chemicals such as 2-butoxyethanol (aka ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) I suspect it to be in the area of the pituitary gland (?)

I've talked a lot about it already, so please check my other posts, and also do an internet search.

Do you have other symptoms such as fatigue, or swollen organs, such as spleen, gall bladder, thyroid, testes, heart chambers? You can't imagine all the harm this one chemical does; and then how many more chemicals are being used at work and in our communities these days, as compared to 50 years ago when many of these ailments were practically unheard of.

There is even concern for male sperm quality and reduced counts in this same time period (This particular chemical targets the testes) There were major news articles about this in 1996: New Yorker, New York Times, USA Today and Mother Jones for starters. From studies done, it appears that at the rate we are going there will be more and more families that will have difficulty in having children, and by the next 50-70 years men will have a zero sperm count.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=861067#post861067

There was a comment yesterday on a gulf war vets discussion forum from a gulf war vet who had had a grande mal seizure, asking for input.

A Green Beret just returning from Afghanistan has the assorted 'gulf war syndrome symptoms' and also said he had a [b]grande mal seizure[/b] & it almost took his life.
This is something to do with the Central Nervous System? [quote]"In young people can be from metabolic disorders, such as abnormal blood levels of sugar (glucose), calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, or sodium. Seizures starting after age 25 may be caused by structural damage to the brain such as from a head injury, stroke, or tumor. When no cause can be identified, seizures are called idiopathic.
People with a seizure disorder are more likely to have a seizure when they are under excess physical or emotional stress or deprived of sleep. Strong stimuli that irritate the brain--such as injury, certain drugs, sleep deprivation, infections, fever, [b]low levels of oxygen in the blood[/b], or very low levels of sugar in the blood--can trigger a seizure whether a person has a seizure disorder or not. These seizures are known as "provoked seizures." Avoiding such stimuli can help prevent seizures.[/quote] Some interesting points. When you have a lot of ailments, docs prescribe a lot of medication. This Green Beret said he was on way more medication that he was used to taking. I am sharing this info (and more) hoping he will get an accurate diagnosis & stop this carnage among our troops today. He also talked about the bones hurting in the back and neck. Can this type of fatigue lead to paralysis? Symptoms - technical terms - Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia info
Checking Retic ratio may give an indication that hemolytic anemia is on the 'horizon'