Gulf War Syndrome May Stem From Chemical Exposure

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I am doing a report on the chemical exposure during the Gulf War potentially leading to fibromyalgia. I have a women that is like my second mother who is going through series of tests. She was in service in the air force at the time of the mentioned chemical exposures. And years later she is experiencing major symptoms of fatigue and anxiety and depression, which are all signs of fibromyalgia syndrome. She isn't able to tell me very many things because she is currently going through the testing. and because I am researching for a report in my class, it kind of leaves me clueless. So my question is, are there any outcomes of testing that prove that the symptoms that all of you are experiencing are caused by the chemical exposure? And if so, do they know what type of chemicals they were?
Answers as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated, thank you :).

Violet Litke of IN 9:27AM May 19, 2011

Where to start? How about all the worthless tests and doctor visits. The VA should soldier up and compensate all the veterans that they already have a record on as having the Gulf War Syndome. Me, well I have whatthe doctors call undignosed MYOCLONIC TWITCH. Well for starters it is alot more than a twitch when attempting to diagnose an electrical problem in a 240 volt circuit and your hand jumps and the elctrical meter shorts, blows up in your hand and you are dazed for 10 minutes. Now that is just part of this dreaded syndrome. How about while driving your car and you have sevier stabbing pains in your stomach followed by diarreha,urine and semen in your underware all at the same time, this only happens about 4 times per year. Cant sleep without Ambien, Have to take anxiety and depression pills to get through the day as well. They can treat you for all these symptoms but wont stand up and say HEY YOU ARE ILL AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Oh they say it on brochures, pamplets and to the media but once you get in their facilities, its like why are you here, what do you want me to do? After all this time and all the tests and all the pain I have never once received any letters, phonecalls, updates or anything. Yet after 18 years I am still fighting with the veterans courts with a lawyer of course and having to prove on my own that there is a connection between then and now. They WONT HELP YOU. They will only feed you......BullCrap. Good luck fellow Vets.

William Myers of TN 9:33PM November 12, 2009

It saddens me to think that i live in the greatest country in the entire world but yet our government takes such great strides to down play all the Vets that served in the Gulf War that inherited all these ailments.We where all good enough to send over there to fight but when you need them the most, where the hell are they? It makes me realize that we where just a number and once your used up they are done with you.I served over there for six mos. and was ordered to take the white pills that made me sick to my stomach.I have had episodes for the past 18 yrs.physically i have joint pain and stiffness every single day and muscle fatigue.I am 40yrs. old now and feel 70. I made two trips to the local V.A. filled out a ton of paper work and was made to feel like my problems where all my fault.It was all a waste of my time! We Vets will never get what we deserve from our government.Sometimes i feel like just moving out of the United States all together.I am no longer proud to say im American;how damn sad is that,but true!Hope all you other Vets get what you deserve,keep up the fight.No one understands our pain but us.

Paul Downey of KY 9:46PM September 14, 2009

The phrase Gulf War Syndrome was created by the media,
Not the DoD/VA medical staff or the troops/veterans.
Very few troops/veterans got to see Environmental Medicine, Travel Medicine, Industrial Hygiene, Travel Medicine
doctors unless we paid for their services out of (personal) pocket. If the incorrect diagnostics is used, one will not
find abnormal values!
In 1990-91 OSHA protections, standards were not in place for deployed troops. The studies show that vaccines during this period were of poor quality and some were listed as experimental given to U.S. troops.
If only 10% suffered from exposures during GW service,
there would be how many sick from 600,000 ?
These 10% is what I call disposable GI's. Your sons and daughters.
GW syndrome does not and never existed - GW Exposure Illnesses (at least 33 variants) still disables veterans 18 years later.
Army GW incapacited vet
http://post-deployment.blogspot.com
http://www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee

venus of FL 10:29PM April 03, 2009

I agree 100%. Im a marine who was vacinated. I searved in the theater of operation from 09/90 thru 04/91. I was discharged 12/93. Shortly later at the VA med center JP Boston I read about Gulf War Syndrom study. I had signed up for it. My blood blood was drawn, and tested. Weeks later the results were in. I had qualafied for the study. At that time I agreed to participate. I was told the reason I qualafied was that I had an infection in my blood called Mycoplasma infection. It was a double blind study. Neither me or the doctor knew I was on an antibiotic or a placibo. I took medication for 12 months not knowing what I was taking. Blood was drawn once again for a follow up. The results came back negative, I had no mycoplasma in my blood. I thought this was great, but then they told me I was on a placibo for 12 months. They said I had no symtpoms of GWS. After that I let it go. Until recently (thanks to the internet) I have researched GWS/Mycoplasma infection. How could I have a mycoplasma infection in my blood, and 12 Months later after being on a placibo they say my bloodwork is good. I dont understand how a placibo can take mycoplasma out of your system. I have researched on this, and have found articles where the CIA has submitted false information about Iraq, and chemical weapons during Desert storm. Trying to say GWS is from Iraqs chemical weapons. Do the research for yourself it will not take long

paul mazurkiewicz of MA 6:46PM April 03, 2009

I am done. the VA wants me to FKN die loading me up on upto 18 diff meds a day spinning me of from one "specialist" to the next never doing a damn thing, changed my Pri care 3 times in 5 monthes, lost my records -"deny deny deny until they die"- should be the new motto. Good luck out there all you vets your gonna need it. TM out...

Tony of FL 12:53PM March 31, 2009

18 years later, what do we see - just more and more and more and MORE lab experiments on possible causes of Gulf War Syndrome.
Do the Gulf Vets care about this? - no! , what they want and DESERVE WITHOUT RESERVATION is recognition of their symptoms, the best treatment available, and recompense from the respective governments. Oh, and also, I should point out that these are sought as soon as possible and not in the year 2100 when only historians will be around to consider the facts.
No doubt the "flawed vaccinations" were a major (not sole) cause of GWS and it doesn't take a Philadelphia lawyer to work that out when you consider the negligible GWS effect on French troops who were not similarly vaccinated with the anthrax vaccine like the US and British forces. Strange also how troops vaccinated at home base at the end of the War developed symptoms though THEY NEVER WENT to the theater of operations.
Why pump all this money into research when the primary directive after 18 years is surely to treat symptoms as opposed to produce theorems. How are Gulf vets to feel reading about experiments like this ... cheered or "talked over" yet again.
Even this month, in the UK, Lord Craig of Radley (Marshal of the Royal Air Force), chief of the Defence Staff in the 1991 Gulf War, called on ministers to act “urgently” on important US findings about the debilitating illness.
If you wish you can read more FACTS and INFORMATION here: http://www.blockbusterbooks.co.uk/1.html
Dr Blockbuster will continue to highlight the lack of closure on GWS after 18 years - HOW LONG MUST THIS NONSENSE CONTINUE?

Dr Blockbuster (Vince) 1:07PM March 30, 2009

Are we gulf vets going to take this lieing down? OR, are we going to do something about it ? REMEMBER our governments are now laughing at us behind closed doors now that they have had there dirty work done for them! and they really dont care a toss about any health issuses of anybody. They are only interested in how to dodge and avoid the issue! The evidence is thier attitude over the last 18 years on the subject ! my faith in you is TOTAL,----- God bless.

ALVIN PRITCHARD. 8:35AM March 28, 2009

Join the club....there are thousands of us. Kidney's failed and laundry list of probs. Fight the fight still.

Darin of MD 12:32PM March 27, 2009

There are a number of genetic polymorphisms related to cholinesterase (BCHE and ACHE genes) that can make some people more susceptible to cholinesterase inhibitors than others.
Hermona Soreq and her colleagues have done the best work I have found on this. Chapter 4 of the book "Cholinesterases and Cholinesterase Inhibitors" By Ezio Giacobini covers this well (http://books.google.com/books?id=g87duHRuvDQC&pg=PA47).
At least some of these polymorphisms appear on the list of SNPs that places like 23andMe and deCODEme test for. I am very curious what it would show if the veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome were tested for the BCHE and ACHE related SNPs Dr. Soreq mentions, and how well those results would correlate with the findings of Dr. Haley's imaging studies.
Also, if you are prone to sensitivity to cholinesterase inhibitors, stress and past exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors apparently can make you more sensitive, even to small doses, in the future. There are cholinesterase inhibitors in the food we eat -- particularly nightshade vegetables (potato, tomato, peppers, and eggplant), and pesticide residue on non-organic produce. I have found that trying very hard to avoid eating foods that contain cholinesterase inhibitors a lot of symptoms similar to those described above eventually improve or even go away. It can take a while, since these toxins can persist a long time (weeks to months), but it can help a lot.
I wonder if trying to modify their diets to reduce exposure to food-borne cholinesterase inhibitors might also help veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.

Anne Wright of CA 11:24PM March 25, 2009