Desert Storm "baby" Syndrome?

[dottiek]

I just found this site, after several years of frustration. I'm hoping someone out there has some common ground here. My husband served with 2ACR in 1991. Our son was born 10 months after his arrival home. He's now 17. As a baby, he seemed to have strange "seizures" that were never diagnosed, and lung problems. About age 3, he "outgrew" it all, but I recall seeing then in the Stars and Stripes an article about possible problems with DS kids, esp. their lungs and 'strange neurological problems'. Of course, I cannot find it now.

About age 13, he started to have problems with pain in his legs. Doctors first passed it off as "growing pains"; soon after it developed into sudden weakness--he would just be walking down the hall at school, home, anywhere, and suddenly fall down, his legs too weak to hold him up. He endured years of poking, prodding, million dollar workups--no diagnosis. EEGs "normal"; muscle studies "normal". Blood tests normal. Once again, the problem seemed to let up, gave him some peace. He kept his canes around just in case though.

Twice this fall he has been hauled off the field at his school (he's in the marching band) because his legs stopped working again. In my gut, I think it's DWS but no one will even take me seriously when I mention it.

My husband died when he was almost 4 in a car accident, leaving me with him and his 5 siblings to raise. I have no idea what condition he'd be in now if he were alive, but a close friend in the same unit who was with him there developed schizophrenia at age 48 (normally onset for such a thing is in late teens/early 20s). He's 100% disabled. Does anyone have anything similar to report? Are there any studies of family members born after the war being done?

[*Bergie*]

Dottiek, I am sure you will be able to find help here for some of your difficulities experienced by you and your son. I am glad you joined this site. People here look out for one another, and if they don't know an answer, they will try and seek it all over.

Hope is offerred here too. Your husband serving during Desert Storm is something you and your family can be proud of, and we salute his service and you loss.

May you find assistance on your journey, answers to some questions, and people who appreciate vets and their families. halos2

Dottie,

This is a web site I found some time ago. The people here conduct research that might be of help.

Good luck,

Bergie

http://www.umrc.net/

[sharon]

Gulf War Baby Registry (ABDC)

930 Woodcock Rd.,

Suite 225 Orlando, FL 32803

1-800-313-2232 1-407-245-7035

This would be a good place to start.

[douggle]

I just found this site, after several years of frustration. I'm hoping someone out there has some common ground here. My husband served with 2ACR in 1991. Our son was born 10 months after his arrival home. He's now 17. As a baby, he seemed to have strange "seizures" that were never diagnosed, and lung problems. About age 3, he "outgrew" it all, but I recall seeing then in the Stars and Stripes an article about possible problems with DS kids, esp. their lungs and 'strange neurological problems'. Of course, I cannot find it now.

About age 13, he started to have problems with pain in his legs. Doctors first passed it off as "growing pains"; soon after it developed into sudden weakness--he would just be walking down the hall at school, home, anywhere, and suddenly fall down, his legs too weak to hold him up. He endured years of poking, prodding, million dollar workups--no diagnosis. EEGs "normal"; muscle studies "normal". Blood tests normal. Once again, the problem seemed to let up, gave him some peace. He kept his canes around just in case though.

Twice this fall he has been hauled off the field at his school (he's in the marching band) because his legs stopped working again. In my gut, I think it's DWS but no one will even take me seriously when I mention it.

My husband died when he was almost 4 in a car accident, leaving me with him and his 5 siblings to raise. I have no idea what condition he'd be in now if he were alive, but a close friend in the same unit who was with him there developed schizophrenia at age 48 (normally onset for such a thing is in late teens/early 20s). He's 100% disabled. Does anyone have anything similar to report? Are there any studies of family members born after the war being done?

[douggle]

My son was born with mutiple birth defects and I was told it has nothing to do with desert storm. He had three holes in his heart ,cleft pallet,low blood sugar,hernias,poor eye sight,bad hearing,low muscle tone,the whole top of his head was a soft spot,slight developemental delays,he has needed growth hormone shots numerous times. He didnt walk until he was like 2 years old. he cant run normal because he isnt flexible enough in his hips. He has fluid on his brain but not causing pressure. I dont think I have left anything out! I had a geneticist tell me that I contribute so little that desert storm shouldn't affect my kids. I really would like to know why these things happened. Let me know if anyone would like to talk about this.

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit douggle

[Vync]

This sounds similar to agent orange and Vietnam Veterans' children being born with birth defects. VA only offered special benefits if the AO veteran was female and served in theater prior to giving birth to the children. Male vets who came back and fathered children received no special benefits.

I'm no expert on this, so I could be wrong. I just remember reading about this a while back. Not sure if there is any connection to these cases.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Vync