Autoimmune Disorder Connection To Jet Fuel Exposure?

[Tbird]

it is looking more and more like i have autoimmune disorder and i have read some stuff, but nothing definitive that links jet fuel exposure to autoimmune disorder.

anyone else out there with autoimmune disorder that has been able to connect it to jet fuel exposure?

[luvHIM]

TBird, I have not been exposed to Jet Fuel but something that Cowgirl posted got my attention:

Males are slightly more frequently affected than females.

I went undiagnosed and misdiagnosed for nearly 20 years because of statements like the aforementioned bombarding medical literature. (I know this wasn't Cowgirl's statement...she was posting from literature she'd read). But that is the whole of the problem. Docs don't dig deeper when it comes to women because it is considered to be more of a male complication or males are more commonly affected. Statements like that in the medical journals and other literature is what had me fighting so hard to win my claims.

I do have an autoimmune condition (ankylosing spondylitis), which is "rare" supposedly in women. So, for years I was misdiagnosed and untreated for the condition. Today I have irreversible damage as a result. Fortunately, I was able to have my children before my female issues resulted in a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago. But it shouldn't have to be.

My point...I hope you have some really good docs who are willing to go to bat for you, as I did. My rheumatologist was willing to go to the highest court with me and she indicated such in her IMO.

If there was exposure that you know about and believe caused and or aggravated your current condition then I would fight like crazy to get what is due, whether you are 100% or not.

Medical science has changed, as has the information docs once had privilege to. The world is changing every day and more and more women are being subjected to the same things as men. The medical community is going to have to start rethinking some things and autoimmune conditions affecting women, as much and as badly as men today, is one of those areas that is in need of reformation in our medical profession.

Sorry for getting a bit off topic...but just my 2cents worth. Best regards!

Edited May 17, 2009 by luvHIM

[SCIDVET]

Tbird,

Thanks for everything.

I only wish to forward: "Jet Fuel" is actually (in years past, when I was on flightline) JP4 a mix or nearly exactly diesel fuel and kerosene (wiki it will come up fast)

Why I mention: If you keep your search term to "Jet Fuel" you may not come up with much to sift. (in your search returns to work out this issue).

Recommend wiki, establish what kind fuel equivalent, remember it is all from same distillation stack.

This way your base of references online will be 1000 times greater, since few get jet fuel on them comparatively.

Mike

[Tbird]

thanks for the advice i'm pretty sure it was jp4 and maybe jp5 last squadron i was in we flew a7 and a3's before that it was p3's

Tbird,

Thanks for everything.

I only wish to forward: "Jet Fuel" is actually (in years past, when I was on flightline) JP4 a mix or nearly exactly diesel fuel and kerosene (wiki it will come up fast)

Why I mention: If you keep your search term to "Jet Fuel" you may not come up with much to sift. (in your search returns to work out this issue).

Recommend wiki, establish what kind fuel equivalent, remember it is all from same distillation stack.

This way your base of references online will be 1000 times greater, since few get jet fuel on them comparatively.

Mike

[retiredat44]

it is looking more and more like i have autoimmune disorder and i have read some stuff, but nothing definitive that links jet fuel exposure to autoimmune disorder.

anyone else out there with autoimmune disorder that has been able to connect it to jet fuel exposure?

I have a disability rating of 50% from Jet Fuel having made me sick while in the USAF. I am back again with another claim in for an increase in rating to 100%. I suffer from Myotonic Dystrophy and intestinal disease, among many other problems. I recently spent 6 months in the hospital for pancreatic surgery, fighting for my life. I am a sufferer of severe chronic pain. I have been searching for an Independent Medical Examination to supplement my claim for the increase. I hoping hoping for some recommendations for doctors that are doctors/specialists in the field that can provide me with a Nexus letter about Jet fuel exposure and health problems.

The Jet fuel caused me to have severe edema (sweling of my extremities with blood running down the open lesions..). I suffer/severed with extremely debilitating headaches. I have been been diagnosed and being depressed. I have been suffering with extreme intestinal pain, diarreha and weight loss for many many years.

That is only partial list of my health problems. I did not smoke nor drink.

I worked as a fuels specialist int he USAF. I worked with the distribution, storage and filling of aircraft and ground vehicles with JP-4, gasoline, and diesel. I was soaked in JP-4 too many times to list. When I became ill, and after many months of diagnosis I was cross-trained into the communications field. I was working in a chmical free environment for a few months, then CBPO notified me they were changing my job. I was put into a job with petrloleum chemicals all over again. I had a waiver from doctors to never work again with petro chemicals. That made no difference. I reported to work and had to work with printing presses. They use petro chyemicals. I was again exposed to the liquid trichloroethylene . I became sick all over again. So I got really screwed bad. Again the swelling bleeding, and headaches.

Any info to help claims please post..

thank you,

retiredat44

San Diego, Ca.

[retiredat44]

I can't find the edit button, so I will just add more in a second post. I am also on permanent SSDI. I have been fighting illness now and have been too sick to work for 20 years.

Regarding an IME, Independent Medical Exam doctor. I could not find one int he VA to write one, even though I live there, wel actually ddi for 6 months, I could not find one that would for my claim, so I had to search on the Internet to find some. They want anywhere from $600 to $1,500 to look at 1/2" of medical records to do an independent exam and from there if they would consider wrting a Nexus Letter. Though there is absolutely no guarantee they will.

I really, really am hoping bad somone will give me the name of some doctors I can see that already know about Jet fuel exposure and have written Nexus Letters.

thank you,

retiredat44

San Diego, Ca.