Hi there, my name is Megan and I just found this message board because I am having a lot of health struggles and have been wondering my whole life if they are related to agent orange.

My father passed away in September 2007 due to struggles caused by agent orange. He had dealt with diabetes and neuropathy for years, and then was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. He went through treatments and was in remission, when they discovered he also had lung cancer. The treatments for that failed, and the cancer spread to his brain.. he was gone within a matter of weeks.

Every since I was a teenager, whenever I would get sick in a way that didn't seem normal for kids of my age, Dad would worry it was because of the agent orange, but we could never get to the bottom of it. I went through a battery of testing when I was 17, and the doctors concluded that I have PCOS -- poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. At that point, they stopped looking for anything else that might be wrong, but I continue to have problems getting worse and worse.

Lately I have been having extreme abdominal pain, and both my ultrasound and CT scan look normal, and the doctors can't seem to explain my pains. My blood tests show that I am slightly anemic and my white blood cell count is elevated, but they still don't know what's causing it. Of course I have many fears running through my head, and losing my Dad has been very hard on me... he was always the person I could talk to about anything, and he was taken from me too early. He had just turned 67 a week before he died, and I guess I am grateful that I got 27 years with him before he died, but that doesn't make it any easier. Now I continue to struggle with my own health concerns, not knowing if there is any help available to me out there.

I'm reading through all the posts on this forum slowly (I've skimmed quite a few, and it sounds like people are having similar problems) and checking some other links, so I'm hoping to find some answers. I just wanted to post and add my little "I've joined the club, nice to meet you" to the pool. Hope you all are having a good December so far... and thanks for any help or advice you might be able to offer.

~Meg  <megasus@megasus.net>

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ajkenne@cox.net
I am mourning the recent loss of my 2 cousin to AO-related disease. As a military brat myself, there was only one branch of cousins I ever got to know growing up despite our constant moving around. These 2 guys and I were the 3 eldest of the 3 families and very close. And now, despite being the oldest of the trio, I'm the last one standing.

It was only today that I found this site and I thank you for having it. One of the very earliest posts asked about Type II Diabetes and Sleep Apnea. While I don't know of any specific relationship between the two, remember diabetes does tend to cause weight gain, especially if one is not careful to diet, exercise and keep excess weight off. And one of the major causes of Sleep Apnea is being over-weight. People with weight-induced Sleep Apnea who lose weight also lose the Sleep Apnea.

Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that diabetes can be a cause weight-induced Sleep Apnea. If you think that's a problem, talk to your doctor right away. Sleep apnea is dangerous. In the meantime, add more pillows or a wedge so you're at more of a sitting angle when you sleep. Be sure to include your chest, too, and not just your head. The idea is to decrease the pressure on your chest and neck when you're sleeping - sort of like sleeping in a lounge chair. 12/6/08
Diabetes and Sleep Apnea  *
I am sorry for your loss. Actually it is the other chemical in the AO mix that would cause most of the health damage they list for Vietnam Vets

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/achemicaltosuspect.htm



also for gulf war vets, if more info were known

http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/someshare.htm

 

NHL is high on the list of what 'the other chemical' in the mix does:  high white blood cell counts can be an anemia sign.  Do you have FATIGUE?  It doesn't show up very well in the blood tests because the CFIDS, CFS, FM group have more than one thing going on at the same time ... and they are AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES entirely from what I have observed.

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/andbrainand.htm

Note the helps I think you should have your doctor consider:  Rituxan and glyconutrients

 

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