Jay
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 1
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Posted:
Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:27 am
Post subject: Another story... |
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23/M/USAF (ret)
I'll give you a barebones story of what's been going on
with me, maybe you can offer advice/help =)
I don't think I have ever really written my story out...
so there may be some hole's i'll fill in later.
Jun 01 - Joined Air Force
Dec 02 - Told I will probably be deployed to Afghanistan
to a joint op command around May.
Feb 03 - 1st Anthrax Vac (070 - Wright Patterson AFB)
Mar 03 - 2nd Anthrax Vac (070 Wright Patterson AFB)
Jun 03 - 3rd Anthrax Vac (071 Wright Patterson AFB)
Jul 03 - Deployed to Iraq, primary base Al-Jaber, Kuwait
Aug 03 - Came down with severe pneumonia w/ slight
non-itchy rash, returned to duty after being released
from Army med clinic around Balad (before Balad was
Balad :-p)
Nov 03 - Returned to CONUS.
Nov 03 - After 2 week break from any real activity,
started PT back and after 5 min started coughing up
blood and solid mucus. Admitted into ER and was told it
was probably complications from the pneumonia, after
chest xrays and a ct... chest was clear. I was referred
to Pulmonology and Allergy Clinic.
Dec 03 - Told I have asthma after + Meth and + PFT,
started asthma meds and supporting meds. Placed on 4T
Profile (again it has been a long time, i am probably
wrong with the acronyms =P)
Feb 04 - Completed allergy panel 'lit up like a
christmas tree' haha. I didn't really expect anything
different. Was told I would start allergy shots to help
'asthma symtoms'
March 04 - Received 4th Anthrax Vaccine (don't recall
the lot number)
April 04 - (IIRC) - Received first allergy shot
(1:500,000 or 1:1,000,000 IIRC) - went into immediate
severe anaphalaxic shock. sp02 dropped below charts, no
redness of skin and no hives, after adrenaline + support
meds was stabilized, admitted into ICU. Received
additional adrenaline later that night and ephedrine.
May 04 - Received 5th Anthrax Vac (these dates might be
off and I will correct at a later date)
April 04 - Started 20mg prednisone after chest pains
were not tolerable
May 04 - Up'ed pred to 40mg
Jun 04 - Started a series of diff prescriptions to
control 'asthma'
Jan 05 - Informal Medical Board found 'asthma' to be
disqualifying for AD @ 10% disability
April 05 - Formal Evaluation Board - found diagnosis
'unknown immunogical disease of unknown origin' @ 30%
for a TDRL ruling.
May 05 - Medically Retired USAF as SSgt
Jul 05 - Evaluation for VA benefits - after several
small exams, denied benefits on top of 30% Air Force
rating
Jul 05 - Appealed - plus 250+ letters to Senators and
Reps
Nov 05 - Received 100% VA benefits for 'degradive lung
tissue disease of unknown origin' (can be decreased as
ailment is a) diagnosed b) improves)
That's the rough timeline.
There are deff details left out, also some dates are
off. I will fix as I look through my records in detail.
I have been told my ailment is Asthma/In my head to Lung
disease caused by depleted uranium haha.
Here are my symptoms/side effects:
- constant 'spots' - you know when you stand up quickly,
how you see some spots caused from blood rushing to your
head or the like, I see these ALL of the time.
- blackouts when doing ANYTHING strenuous
- complete lack of energy/lethargic
- constant tingling sensation in toes/fingers/face
associated with tiredness
- inability to go above 10k feet - oxygen requiring
above 100%
- chest pains (severe) if off prednisone for more than 2
days
- constant wheezing (never goes away) - even with drugs
below
- frequent night tremors
- any humidity + cold or humidity + heat = requires
oxygen
- the list goes on and on, will add additional stuff
later.
Prescriptions:
- 20mg pred day/30mg pred night
- albuterol inhaler (10 times daily)
- advair 500/25 or is it 50... i'll look after I post =)
- epipens are used when inhaler doesn't work after 20min
(use 1-2 a month, AND everytime I mow the lawn haha)
I have been through PLENTY of other meds, the list is
LONG =)
ER Visits:
I visited the ER roughly 6 times from 03-05 (pre
retirement) as the PCM's could see me readily.
From post retirement 05 - mid-06, I visited the ER about
once a month various causes but all because the inhaler
wasn't working.
I was told there was no reason to go to the ER after
about the tenth time hah. Just take my epi-pen, use
breathing techniques and relax. Good to go.
Bloodwork: I left this out and this is an edit. I have
highly elevated EOSINO levels from post-iraq. 10.5 and
7.5 iirc. Also, my iGE (i think that's how it's said)
are completely off the charts. They are around 1000 and
2000. Also, my WBC has been low since 03. I DON'T have
the exact numbers, but on request can get them.
Again, there are plenty of details left out.
Incl: Iraq medical records were lost soon after return
to Wright-Patt.
VA Medical records are currently MIA from Denver VA
Center
Several Military ER visit records are MIA
Letters included in the Formal Packages have been
removed, including those by my PCM/Allergist.
Also, I asked my PCM in 04 if this could be caused by
anthrax shots, the answer was 'don't be rediculous'. I
asked the VA in 05 if I should be evaluated for DSS, I
was told 'why? you don't have mental problems.' I again
asked about the anthrax vaccine and was shot down.
Physical condition: I still look to be fit, I have
maintained my weight via diets as I can't exercise. I
have decreased my weight from a peak very tone/muscular
170 in Iraq to 155 today. I am 5' 10" (ok ok, 5' 9.5")
and medium build, no chub.
Pain tolerance: I have a high pain threshold and have
had no real joint pains. I found most people to
associate the problems to pain in the joints.
VA: I had an awesome pulmonologist in Denver that had
worked at the Jewish Lung Center, I then got some old
guy that told me this 'the VA doesn't care what's wrong
with you. It's a money thing. It's cheaper to just treat
your symptoms'. I then moved back to Dayton ASAP
(Wright-Patt Med Center).
Thanks for the read. I pretty much just want to know
what's wrong with me and have found this forum/group
might be the next logical step.
Thanks!
Jay |
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