I am not sure where I belong so I will post some of my story here and hope for some advice.
I was recently (November 2012) diagnosed with a brain tumor/ Falx Cerebri meningioma. The meningioma was found by an Indian Health Service doctor who was treating me for migraines. I was being referred out to a neurologist by my Tribe because of financial matters I asked my local VA clinic if I was eligible for the VA Neuro and was then referred to the VA Neurosurgeon in Portland, Oregon. I just got back from a consultation which was on 01/02/13 found out I also have Chiari Malformation. The VA Neurosurgeon has scheduled me for surgery on 02/07/13. I have all the symptoms that go hand in hand with these two diagnoses. Headaches, tinnitus, tingling, double vision, memory loss, confusion, etc. The list goes on and on.
Here is the catch. I only served two years active duty 1992-1994 at a time when they were doing apprecticeships and then I did a so called inactive reserve until 2000. I was just a kid when I went in. I was only 17 when I enlisted and 19 when I got out. I am now 38 years old. I never really involved myself with the VA because for the longest time I thought because I only did 2 years I was not really a veteran until one day I was at the employment office and the VA rep asked me why I was not doing the veterans programs and then signed me up for servies.
So back to my service days... During my two years I also had a child while I was in the Navy. I was stationed aboard a sub tender during the first 5 months of my pregnancy which this paticular vessel was homeported in Italy. Due to my pregnancy I was sent stateside by my sixth month and finished out my two year stint on shore duty. My son was born in a Naval hospital and was born with a birth defect called a hypospadius the Navy doctors were real careful to tell me it was ok and this was just a cosmestic defect and could be repaired when my baby was older. This was later fixed by civilian doctors at the expense of Indian Health Service and private insurance when my son was 3 years old.
I have lived a fairly normal life and been healthy besides migraines, tinnitus and and some female problems which I never associated with my service.
Now I am overwhelmed with these diagnoses and am being told I should file for pension.
I am not sure how or where or what kind I would even be eligible for.
Now looking back I realize the ship I was on is one of the ships that had asbestos, lead paint, and what else? During my ship duty I was a deck seaman and with that job we all know we are exposed to the paints and primers and what ever else all day long. On top of that I was prgenant. I do not think in this day and age anyone would be put in that situation while pregnant. Now looking back I also remember an incident when I painted and had an accident with a sander and cut my hand open and still this day have a huge scar 20 years later. I went to sick bay and even got wrote up for not wearing gloves while sanding. My question is if I was sanding while pregnant whatever I was sanding obviously got directly into my blood stream. Could any of that have an effect on my diagnosis now or with what happend to my son?
I have done a quick google search on hypospadius and realize my sons defect is also directly related to maternal occupational exposure to chemicals like lead paint and asbestos. I am still in awe and shock of all of this and also preparing for surgery.
What steps should I take? And is any of this service connected or not? I was not even thinking of any of this but I had a friend ask me because their dad recently found out his ship had asbestos.
I never in all these years thought anything bad healthwise about those two years in the Navy or what happend to my son until now but this has me thinking what if?
I am a little scared for my upcoming brain surgery and this was my first visit to the VA hospital but so far they treated me good and the Neurosurgeon is really good and just wants to help veterans.
Made me feel good about myself and my little two years in
Question
jaglo
Hello all I am new here.
I am not sure where I belong so I will post some of my story here and hope for some advice.
I was recently (November 2012) diagnosed with a brain tumor/ Falx Cerebri meningioma. The meningioma was found by an Indian Health Service doctor who was treating me for migraines. I was being referred out to a neurologist by my Tribe because of financial matters I asked my local VA clinic if I was eligible for the VA Neuro and was then referred to the VA Neurosurgeon in Portland, Oregon. I just got back from a consultation which was on 01/02/13 found out I also have Chiari Malformation. The VA Neurosurgeon has scheduled me for surgery on 02/07/13. I have all the symptoms that go hand in hand with these two diagnoses. Headaches, tinnitus, tingling, double vision, memory loss, confusion, etc. The list goes on and on.
Here is the catch. I only served two years active duty 1992-1994 at a time when they were doing apprecticeships and then I did a so called inactive reserve until 2000. I was just a kid when I went in. I was only 17 when I enlisted and 19 when I got out. I am now 38 years old. I never really involved myself with the VA because for the longest time I thought because I only did 2 years I was not really a veteran until one day I was at the employment office and the VA rep asked me why I was not doing the veterans programs and then signed me up for servies.
So back to my service days... During my two years I also had a child while I was in the Navy. I was stationed aboard a sub tender during the first 5 months of my pregnancy which this paticular vessel was homeported in Italy. Due to my pregnancy I was sent stateside by my sixth month and finished out my two year stint on shore duty. My son was born in a Naval hospital and was born with a birth defect called a hypospadius the Navy doctors were real careful to tell me it was ok and this was just a cosmestic defect and could be repaired when my baby was older. This was later fixed by civilian doctors at the expense of Indian Health Service and private insurance when my son was 3 years old.
I have lived a fairly normal life and been healthy besides migraines, tinnitus and and some female problems which I never associated with my service.
Now I am overwhelmed with these diagnoses and am being told I should file for pension.
I am not sure how or where or what kind I would even be eligible for.
Now looking back I realize the ship I was on is one of the ships that had asbestos, lead paint, and what else? During my ship duty I was a deck seaman and with that job we all know we are exposed to the paints and primers and what ever else all day long. On top of that I was prgenant. I do not think in this day and age anyone would be put in that situation while pregnant. Now looking back I also remember an incident when I painted and had an accident with a sander and cut my hand open and still this day have a huge scar 20 years later. I went to sick bay and even got wrote up for not wearing gloves while sanding. My question is if I was sanding while pregnant whatever I was sanding obviously got directly into my blood stream. Could any of that have an effect on my diagnosis now or with what happend to my son?
I have done a quick google search on hypospadius and realize my sons defect is also directly related to maternal occupational exposure to chemicals like lead paint and asbestos. I am still in awe and shock of all of this and also preparing for surgery.
What steps should I take? And is any of this service connected or not? I was not even thinking of any of this but I had a friend ask me because their dad recently found out his ship had asbestos.
I never in all these years thought anything bad healthwise about those two years in the Navy or what happend to my son until now but this has me thinking what if?
I am a little scared for my upcoming brain surgery and this was my first visit to the VA hospital but so far they treated me good and the Neurosurgeon is really good and just wants to help veterans.
Made me feel good about myself and my little two years in
Edited by jagloLink to comment
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