A couple examples of how the Public can get 'Gulf War Syndrome' Symptoms

Dizziness, Fatigue and Head Pain [Post#1]

Hi,

My balance problems started suddenly 6 years ago. I was sat down and all of a sudden it felt like I was falling as though someone took the ground away. It came and went for a few months and the fatigue set in. Then I started getting shooting pains in my head. The dizziness became more persistent and worse with any exertion, walking and also when looking down.

I have had inner ear testing, a head and neck MRI and countless blood tests. My vision is blurry and my arms feel heavy and go numb if I hold them above my head. Also I get woke up in the night with pins and needles in my hands.

I feel as though it is something to do with my neck and any head forward position sets of the dizziness. I cant stand for long as I feel like I am going to pass out and get very lightheaded. My Doctor said my blood pressure drops a little when I am standing.

I really don't know which way to turn now - does anyone have any suggestions. I am 35 and this is ruining my life. I am managing to work (just) but I don't know how much longer I will be able to. I cant concentrate because of this dizzy feeling and fatigue.

Christine 35

Dear Maggie

01-21-2004

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/member.php?u=99693

Join Date: Jan 2004

Posts: 77

what were you doing 6 years ago?

Sometimes you can pinpoint part of the harm if you can remember what you were doing then? There is a chemical that causes eyes to burn like pokers; then flu like symptoms, and dark urine and fatigue big time.

It is 2-butoxyethanol (also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and it is in lots of products; it is not safe to use. It causes all the symptoms you've mentioned, but of course there are more. Please look it up on the internet & read up on it. (Basically same symptoms as 'gulf war syndrome'

Are the headaches searing ... not the normal type of headache? (This chemical is a solvent, a pesticide and a poison; it causes endocrine disruption and targets liver and kidneys, Central nervous system and blood damage first and foremost.)

Check some of my other posts

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.

hi guys,

just to let you know i am feeling more the less the same as you. If you read what i posted here earlier this week, i think i feel quite similar to you:

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I am a 21 year old male from England, UK. . . full post - What do these symptoms mean?
regards Jonathan

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanp
During the worst times i was confused, extremely fatigued, tired, my muscles ached so bad i couldn't walk at times, i had burning eyes, loss of appetite, strange uncontrollable eye movements, severe headaches, tingling sensations in my head, stiff neck, difficulty concentrating and choosing words, and bright light annoyed me. I was just knocked for six, the symptoms were back and were worst, i didn't even know who i was at times. I felt very very weird. - regards Jonathan

You are describing what could be the effects of chemical over exposure to a commonly used chemical such as 2-butoxyethanol or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (I call them the 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms). By any chance do you and your friend work on cars together or paint? What may have been going on when you noticed your eyes burning? I would go to a blood specialist, and see if the red blood cells are low functioning because this type of chemical damages the red blood cells. At first the bone marrow can keep up by producing more, but they don't do all the functions of mature red blood cells. The 'Retic' ratio is a good place to start plus having a lab technician comment on the red blood cells. I believe, from talking to many exposed and reading info on the chemical, that the blood damage happens first, and underlies all subsequent problems, but it 'hides out' in a way that it is overlooked. I hope your doctor can find it, because it won't show up in just the 'regular' blood tests doctors would normally do!

Is my girlfriend Alergic to me?

allergies? Jenna22

"last 2 days visiting parents, i ended up with the watery,itchy eyes,sneezing,coughs and feeling dizzy. I came back to DC and ever since i moved here 4 months ago i've been getting headaches." TX

This is a serious concern These chemicals are very harmful, and you must think back to what you were doing when this first started, especially the burning watery eyes ... were you painting? were you cleaning? What were you doing that was different? Did your urine turn dark? Did you feel an overwhelming fatigue? If it is this chemical (the one I know the most about is 2-butoxyethanol also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) You will have a lot of other odd symptoms, too - Margaret

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=881970#post881970

QUOTE: "Does anyone on here have an iron deficiency and have a digestive problem too? The reason im asking is because for about 11 months ive been having a burning pain where my gall bladder and liver is.... test shows iron deficient. My doctor seems to think it might be my gall bladder but ive have tests done for that and they came back negative. The only symptom i have so far since i found out i have and iron deficiency problem is extreme tiredness and weakness and a bit pale. Any thoughts, opinions gratefully accepted. Thank you" - suzyshop1

Reply - Dear Maggie: "Ask your doctor to do a 'retic' ratio and have comments from the lab tech on what's going on with your red blood cells. The pain in the area of gall bladder and liver along with the low iron (you need iron to make red blood cells); and the tiredness and weakness and being pale, are all signs of what could be approaching hemolytic anemia. There is a common chemical in cleaning and degreaser and varnish products that people are exposed to unknowingly. You have several symptoms of such, so you should look into it."

"Sadly, I'm not aware of many people affected getting any accurate diagnosis on what is going on with the blood; Central nervous system damage can show up, so that gets the attention; and too bad, what if anything, can be done for CNS harm? This chemical, 2-butoxyethanol, targets liver and kidneys, etc. Please check more info on my other posts and by searching on the internet. (Gulf war troops were exposed to this solvent; and best I can tell, the whole list of what this chemical does, is the whole long list of odd 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms.)"

Until the bone marrow can no longer replace the prematurely dying red blood cells, the blood counts can look normal; however, severe hemolysis can be taking place: compensating hemolytic anemia.

"I hope you find the answer. I hope some doctor will find the right way to test for this blood damage that is so illusive."

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=881985#post881985

Here is a chart to work thru to get the 'Big Picture' at Page bottom

How does Chronic Fatigue differ from Epstein Barr Virus and mononucleosis?

Is fatigue a symptom of all of those ailments?

Are there any definitive tests to diagnose any of them?

thanks.

Dear Maggie

How does Chronic Fatigue differ from ... ?

This is what the Center for Disease Control says about the latter 2:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm If these were to last longer than 6 months then check other causes of fatigue. CFS is only a singular symptom, fatigue only, no other symptoms

Chronic Fatigue can also be an aspect of 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms, so obviously, multiple symptoms are present. Most any of the anemias could cause fatigue, wouldn't you think? An often undiagnosed 'chronic fatigue' is fragility of the red blood cells (low functioning) & it doesn't show up for awhile in the blood counts, but a 'retic' ratio might give an indication.

What is your situation? What employment do you have? Do you recall when your symptoms started & whether anything was happening differently than before that?

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=882036#post882036