Progression Of Symptoms

[mpara]

All,

It is hard to believe that twenty-one years ago this month the U.S. and coalition forces began the air campaign to liberate Kuwait. We too, were Soldiers once and young……………. I am proud to call each and every one of you my brothers and sisters who answered the call to fight what was supposed to be the “mother of all battles”. I would like to start a thread for people to report updated symptoms that either you or a loved one who is a Gulf War Veteran are now experiencing. Perhaps it would also be good to at least list your major command and anything you may be able to think of regarding any locations on the ground so as to see if there is any correlation between location and condition. I will go first:

Unit/Location:

XVIII Airborne Corps area of operation, under the 101^st Airborne Division assigned to a supply unit under the coscom. Obviously Guarding City coming and going, an area that I think was called Bastogne which was about two miles east of the city of An Nuayriyah until the beginning of the air war then near a place called Rahfa . During the ground war we moved into Iraq but I couldn’t tell you where.

Medical issues within the first five years:

• Immunity problems: Caught everything that came around
  
• Ear infections
  
• Recurring skin irritations that sometimes would cause blisters to form (mainly around wrists)
  
• Depression/Anxiety issues
  
  Medical Issues last five years:
  • Continuation of immunity problems
    
  • Continuation of depression/anxiety issues
    
  • Pain, sometimes debilitating (doctors say that they don’t believe it is arthritis) in hip joints, knees, wrists, elbows
    
  • Sleep Apnea
    
  • Regular ear and lung infections
    
  • 90% (estimated) loss in sense of smell ability
    
  • Short term memory issues that I fear is gradually becoming general memory issues
    
  • Problem with reasoning/problem solving abilities sometimes
    
  • Trouble getting the right word out when communicating either written or spoken. (sometimes I just cannot find a word. Sometimes I will lose my train of thought in conversations or even sentences)
    
  • Ringing in the ears
    
  • Explosive ability to go into a rage
    
  • High liver enzyme numbers (non-drinker, only take medicine for high blood pressure and acid reflux)
    
  • Fingers sometimes lock or spasm for no apparent reason (Last several months)
    

  I have left out things such as high blood pressure and some other things that I am quite sure of are hereditary.

[Gulfvet45]

There is no place in the war one went that can not be told. the NGWRC and 91 outcome sites have many thing that are up dated all of the time. we have a Facebook page to share at. http://www.facebook.com/groups/Gulfwarvet/

All,

It is hard to believe that twenty-one years ago this month the U.S. and coalition forces began the air campaign to liberate Kuwait. We too, were Soldiers once and young……………. I am proud to call each and every one of you my brothers and sisters who answered the call to fight what was supposed to be the “mother of all battles”. I would like to start a thread for people to report updated symptoms that either you or a loved one who is a Gulf War Veteran are now experiencing. Perhaps it would also be good to at least list your major command and anything you may be able to think of regarding any locations on the ground so as to see if there is any correlation between location and condition. I will go first:

Unit/Location:

XVIII Airborne Corps area of operation, under the 101^st Airborne Division assigned to a supply unit under the coscom. Obviously Guarding City coming and going, an area that I think was called Bastogne which was about two miles east of the city of An Nuayriyah until the beginning of the air war then near a place called Rahfa . During the ground war we moved into Iraq but I couldn’t tell you where.

Medical issues within the first five years:

• Immunity problems: Caught everything that came around
  
• Ear infections
  
• Recurring skin irritations that sometimes would cause blisters to form (mainly around wrists)
  
• Depression/Anxiety issues
  
  Medical Issues last five years:
  • Continuation of immunity problems
    
  • Continuation of depression/anxiety issues
    
  • Pain, sometimes debilitating (doctors say that they don’t believe it is arthritis) in hip joints, knees, wrists, elbows
    
  • Sleep Apnea
    
  • Regular ear and lung infections
    
  • 90% (estimated) loss in sense of smell ability
    
  • Short term memory issues that I fear is gradually becoming general memory issues
    
  • Problem with reasoning/problem solving abilities sometimes
    
  • Trouble getting the right word out when communicating either written or spoken. (sometimes I just cannot find a word. Sometimes I will lose my train of thought in conversations or even sentences)
    
  • Ringing in the ears
    
  • Explosive ability to go into a rage
    
  • High liver enzyme numbers (non-drinker, only take medicine for high blood pressure and acid reflux)
    
  • Fingers sometimes lock or spasm for no apparent reason (Last several months)
    

  I have left out things such as high blood pressure and some other things that I am quite sure of are hereditary.

[bbknor]

Was in the 3/327 inf 101st and also suffer from same issues as well as severe neuropathies. All in the brain case think not.

[Grey_Mike]

I have all of those long term problems. I was with the 1st Marine Division.

When I was getting a PTSD screening at the VA about the time I was retiring, the doc sent me off to get thyroid tests (thyroid problems can cause a host of behavioral and mental issues). For years I had been exhausted and felt like I hadn't slept. I thought it was hypoglycemia. So the tests come back that my thyroid levels (TSH) are off the chart, as high as the test goes (75+ where the norm is between .3 and 3 or so). My liver functiopn tests were also off the chart. My doctor thought I had heppatitis and not the good kind. But, almost immediately after I began taking synthroid for my thyroid, those liver functions fell to near normal. Although, when I had to boost my synthroid, my trigliceride levels then went through the roof accordingly.

I also had a undignosed intestinal problem that caused me to have exploratory surgery, this two weeks after I was in with all kinds of joint and abdominal pains. Of course non of those were ever diagnosed.

If you haven't had thyroid checks get those done. These chemicals, depleted uranium and others can wreak havoc on your thyroid.

I doubt if I can claim GWI now, since most of those symptoms can be explained by my thryoid diagnosis.

-Mike