Its been long enough now, I guess I can come clean: For all of my friends, I have been off work since April 1st. It will be some time before I am cleared. I am working with the VA to find the source of my problems, but at this time, it looks as if it is related OIF. For all of my veteran friends who served in the Persian Gulf in either Desert Storm/Shield or Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn. If you start having different signs and symptoms, keep up with them. I began having several different issues develop over time: 1. Dizziness/Headaches 2. Insomnia 3. Memory problems, difficulty concentrating 4. Skin problems 5. Joint/Muscle pains and weakness 6. GI problems (I wont get into specifics) 7. Abdominal pain 8. Shortness of breath/respiratory problems 9. Chest pains If you start having multiple symptoms such as these, ask you VA to direct you on how to get a Gulf War Registry Exam. You may all remember the Gulf War Syndrome, well, the VA does not calls it that anymore for obvious PR reasons, it is now called Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness Clusters. It is used to describe the cluster of symptoms that several veterans who served during these times have started having. If you are having these issues, the VA will automatically connect these undiagnosed illnesses to your service in the Persian Gulf. At the Birmingham VA, the Persian Gulf Clinic is in the Agent Orange Clinic. Im hoping I will be able to get to where I can get back to work, and I ask for your prayers that things will all work out. But for all of my buddies, please IM me if you have any questions about this. Most VA PCPs have very limited information on this clinic, and WILL NOT refer you unless you ask. Its not that they will not, most just do not know it is an option available to Persian Gulf Vets.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 19:15:03 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015