Vol. 116, No. 4, 2007
Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 112 KB) Vol. 116, No. 4, 2007 -->
Original Article
Elevated sister chromatid exchange frequencies in New Zealand Vietnam War veteransR.E. Rowlanda, L.A. Edwardsa, J.V. PoddbaInstitute of Molecular Biosciences andbSchool of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North (New Zealand)
Address of Corresponding Author
Cytogenetic and Genome Research 2007;116:248-251 (DOI: 10.1159/000100407)
Abstract.
From July 1965 until November 1971, New Zealand Defence Force Personnel fought in the Vietnam War. During this time more than 76,500,000 litres of phenoxylic herbicides were sprayed over parts of Southern Vietnam and Laos, the most common being known as 'Agent Orange'. The current study aimed to ascertain whether or not New Zealand Vietnam War veterans show evidence of genetic disturbance arising as a consequence of their now confirmed exposure to these defoliants. A sample group of 24 New Zealand Vietnam War veterans and 23 control volunteers were compared using an SCE (sister chromatid exchange) analysis. The results from the SCE study show a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the mean of the experimental group (11.05) and the mean of a matched control group (8.18). The experimental group also has an exceptionally high proportion of HFCs (cells with high SCE frequencies) above the 95th percentile compared to the controls (11.0 and 0.07%, respectively). We conclude that the New Zealand Vietnam War veterans studied here were exposed to a clastogenic substance(s) which continues to exert an observable genetic effect today, and suggest that this is attributable to their service in Vietnam.
Monday, July 2, 2007
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43 comments:
Come on guys!!! Let's start networking!!! I was born in 1976 w/bilatteral cleft lip & palate. My father served in Vietnam, we don't have a history of this defect in my parent's famalies??? I know there are more than me.... please post and let's get the word out!!!! :)
My X-Husband was in CHu Lai in 1968. He said the smell of Dioxin was so heavy in the air it made it hard for him to breath. They had just cleared that area.One year later our daughter was born with horrible birth defects!
Her abdominal wall didn't close from the sternum to the pubic. It was just opened with all her internal organs disposed. Her rib cage was pulled outward as was her pelvis. Making her feet turn to the outside when she walked. SHe didn't have a rectum or vagina. She was so horribly deformed you couldn't tell if she was male or female in the genital area. She had "Prune Belly Syndrome" Her surgeon said her internal organs looked like they had been taken out put in a pot, stirred and put back into her abdomen.She has to wear a colostomy bag for her stools and an ileostomy bag for urine.Her bladder was split as was her uterus.They were both removed when she was 6 years old. She has severe emotional,behavioral and physchological problems. SHe has grown up in hospitals. Now she has to use medicaid to pay the medical bills (she is 37).I was told by medicaid when we moved to Texas they wouldn't pay for anything for her because they just didn't have the funds. "We are a big state" we just won't cover her. I had to phone Senator Nelson's office to get her in the medicaid system. She is still treated like she is worthless.She is wearing an old prosthetic leg that doesn''t fit and has sores on her stump from it. She was told in Austin they wouldn't cover for a new one because it wasn't considered something needed. She is always shifted from one agency to another because no one wants to deal with her. I am so angry at our government I can't bare it sometimes. If anyone should get any benifits from medicaid it should be the children of vets.She didn't ask to be born like this.Our government is responsible and I don't care if they will take responsibiliy or not I know agent Orange did this to her. I have a son 8 years younger that is very healthy.Even the nurses and Doctors in hospital's hate having to take care of her. One Rn made a comment one time that Texas just couldn't afford to care for her!!
Wow!!!! This is what I mean!!! All these years!!!! They are keeping this hush hush!!! $$$$ We have got to get this going---ORGANIZE!!!! Your daughter should be cared for by the VA!!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen
My name is David Barker. I am a former Marine, Viet Nam vet. I was sprayed directly with A/O. My 9 year old son has a lot of learning disabilities and has asthma and allergies. Per this organization (Birth defects Research for Children) these disabilities are prevalent in children of Viet Nam vets.
I work in the business office at the Lincoln, NE VA-medical center. I am trying to promote a grassroots organization to force congress to acknowledge this problem. My e-mail address is DBPEGASUS@AOL.COM. If you have questions after reading the information below please contact me. I have been fighting this for years.
This information has been presented to Congress and the VA twice and they have failed to act on it. Why you would ask when the evidence is clear.
As you know the Government has not acknowledged any birth defects except spina bifida from male vets and a number of other for female vets.
The government will not acknowledge any unless the population takes control and fights for it. They will do what they have always done and put it off as long as possible until most die off and others give up.
This is what you need to do.
1. Register with Birthdefects.org
2. Call your senators and congressmen. You do not need to talk to them directly but talk to their chief of staff and tell them, "My father/mother was in Viet Nam. It is presumed he/she was exposed to A/O. I have birth defects (list them) and make sure they write it down. Ask them to repeat it. Tell them you want action NOW. Tell them to check out this web site for information.
3. Talk to your Veterans County Service Officer (listed in the phone book under county offices). Have your parent or if deceased then you go in and present this information. Tell them to check out this web site and all the others on the net.
4. Tell them you want to file a disability claim based on the above.
More likely than not they will politely refuse stating that none of the defects being claimed are sanctioned by congress and your claim will be turned down. Tell them to file it anyway. That is what they are there for. If they have questions tell them to e-mail me because I have filed a claim for my son. My service officer was less than thrilled about filing a claim. I showed him the information I had to back it up. It took him 30 seconds to start the paperwork (had to find a pen).
5. Tell everyone you know to call their senators and congressmen, telling them they want action for the children of Viet Nam vets.
6. For Gods sake find other Children and help them do the same.
IF we fight together we can win.
FORCE THE ISSUE
My Father passed away in 1998 he was only 50 years old. He had type II diabetes. He died of a massive heart attack. I am currently 34. I was born without my right leg below the knee and several of my fingers. I also do not have a big toe on my left leg. I was born two months premature and weighed only 3 lbs 3 oz. My mother had two miscarriages prior to me and one between my brother and me. My brother was born without birth defects but he is 29 and wears bifocals, also he has terrible joint pain, as do I. I will be seeing an arthritis Doctor in August to check for some sort of autoimmune disease.
My parents were big in the Agent Orange awareness campaign in the late 70's early 80's in Ohio. My picture is in Marilyn Manson’s Autobiography Long road out of hell, it was taken at a car show with several kids who had birth defects or suspected ill affects from agent orange (Where are all of you????) and were judging the car show in Akron Ohio. Marilyn’s Dad was a Vietnam Vet. In his book he explained that he didn’t fit in with the kids because they were deformed. I was the only child in the photograph that you could tell there was anything wrong. My parents had me wear a skirt so that others could see my prosthetic leg. It was so demoralizing to see my picture there and he saying everyone was deformed. He also said that he was perfectly normal…lol. Whatever!
I was one of the first 12 members of the first class action lawsuit...which of course went nowhere. I have been in several newspaper articles in Ohio and New York in the 80’s and 90’s. My father died still fighting for me and you through the VA and the DAV. I am ready to do what it takes to bring awareness to what has happened to us. My parents worked very hard to advocate for me and for all the children who have suffered because of AO. We are adults now it is time for us to pick up where they have left off to still fight for people like Patina21’s daughter who cannot fight for herself. Please I plead with everyone let’s get organized! I don’t know how to do it but let’s figure it out. I am very comfortable with public speaking I would be willing to travel if needed.
One angle that I have been thinking about for awhile is the Vietnam angle. It seems that the American public is more sympathetic to the children of the Vietnamese that have been poisoned by AO. Maybe we as children who also have been affected need to somehow reach out to them. They are receiving a lot of press. Maybe if a group of us began trying to show up to their things we could gain attention as well, or tried to promote some sort of coalition. This of course is just a thought feel free to expand on it. I really have a lot of mixed emotions on this point considering I believe the government should take care of its own first but really that’s not where the attention is right now. I believe that if we could get a group of us together maybe…..who knows. Please again I am pleading there is power in numbers! My email is vietnamvetagentorangekid@yahoo.com please let’s keep this dialog going.
Heather
.
Mr. Baker has the right idea. This
has never been a "heart tugging"
political issue. When Congress
agreed to authorize benefits for
the children of women Vietnam vets,
it was little more than political
correctness...not to affend anyone,
but they were merely doing something special for the females
that served incountry. Good bless
their kids that are now receiving
medical care and financial help from the government, but the truth
is the studies as I understand them, have never shown any major
difference in the numbers of de-
fects in women/men vets. The
studies are boggus anyway. No one
has any idea of the real picture
of just how many unreported mis-
charages, and other birth related
problems the wives of male veterans
dealt with in the first years after
their leaving the war zone.
You guys need to find a friend in
the Senate. Write letters, make a
few phone calls, and tug at the
heart at some those powerful
Senators...make a friend on the
hill. My daughter is in your group
so good luck guys.
hey there, i am so sorry to hear about your stories, it must be extremely hard for all of you. although mine is not as big as your stories, i feel i need to ask peoole that know. my partner was born with one kidney and had a rough childhood in the hospital basically, he had a lot of problems as a baby. he is ok now, a bit emotionally scarred.. and still only one kidney, but seems to be living the life of a normal 24 yr old. i am curently 8 weeks prengant to him, and am concerned for the health and wellbeing of my unborn child... do you think it will have birth defects?
I was born in 1978 without a right ear, I have horrendous migraines, depression, tons of huge uterine fibroids, random fevers.....just the tip of the iceberg. My dad served 3 tours in 'Nam and my family has no history of birth defects. Also, my dad now has Type II Diabetes. If you ask me, anyone who was physically in 'Nam was exposed to Agent Orange, period. If anyone wants to contact me, has an ideas for getting our government to start doing more research on ALL of the effects of Agent Orange in veterans and their children and future generations, etc. please e-mail me at lilcarlton@aol.com
Rach - The best person to answer that is a doctor who studies Genetics. I have not been to one yet myself but when they discovered that my skin folding was not an ear as a child, my doctor back then estimated a 50% chance of me having a child without an ear, a 25% chance of me having a child with both ears that are perfectly fine, and a 25% chance of me having a child without both ears. How accurate that still is, I don't know. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
RACH said...
hey there, i am so sorry to hear about your stories, it must be extremely hard for all of you. although mine is not as big as your stories, i feel i need to ask peoole that know. my partner was born with one kidney and had a rough childhood in the hospital basically, he had a lot of problems as a baby. he is ok now, a bit emotionally scarred.. and still only one kidney, but seems to be living the life of a normal 24 yr old. i am curently 8 weeks prengant to him, and am concerned for the health and wellbeing of my unborn child... do you think it will have birth defects?
I the frist of 6 children my father had. He severed in Nam in 1967, and was exsoped to agent orange. He is now in a nursing home with dimentcha, and not even awhere of anything. He has gone through many horrible thing in his life, in which I'm am conviced is effects of that war, and agent orange. I, being his first born, in 1968, seemed to have not physical affects at that time. My sister, born in1969, was 3 months premature, and almost died. Now she lives with a mental slowness disablity. My brother, who at the age of 23, killed himself, after fighting with distrubing thoughts that he, or noone else could explain. My other brother,now lives a life that is to nicely say is quit messed up. I also have one more sister who was born with birth defects,exsposed bones in mouth, and cogenital hips in which she has to where a brace. She also has several learning disabilities, in which I think have to do with with our father's exposer to agent orange. Which now leads me to tell you what is going on with me, the frist born, I now with a rare form of narcolesy with cataplecksy. Which is caused by a deformed gene in the brain cells. Living with this has been very hard on me and my family. I have a wonderful husband, and three beautiful children, who are adjusting life with there mom being sick like this.I wouls like more research to be don, and am willing to do whatever is neccessary to help. Can someone point me in the right direction?
My name is Jenn and I am 31 years old. My father was in Vietnam in the late 60's and was exposed to Agent Orange. He also came back with Malaria and various other parasites that caused a gross rash on various parts of his body. I was born seemingly "normal" It was not until puberty that my issues started creeping up. My menstrual cycle almost came to a halt. My thyroid is out of whack and my endocrine system is generally on the fritz. I was also borderline diabetic for a time. My sister was born jaundiced and my brother with a calcium deficiency and an as yet undiagnosed ADD. My original doctor said that I couldn't have suffered from Agent Orange exposure because my mom would have had to have been in Vietnam. My new doctor acknowledges this. I often am prone to mood swings and exhaustion. I know I am one of the "lucky" ones. Does anyone else have any of these issues?
Okay so i'm curious i've talked to many people exposed 1st and 2nd generation. Many as well as myself have experienced "night terrors" frequently, resulting in insomnia. While these aren't nearly as severe as some of the other side effects the rest of you have experienced, I am interested in proving this as a Agent Orange side effect, so that hopefully they can do a little more research. If you have them yourself or have any other related info please let me know. i am also very interested in any other possible psychological effects of agent orange beyond mental retardation.
Thank you,
Crystal
crystalskydaisy@yahoo.com
Hi, my name is Jerry, and I am 31 years old. My father served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange on several different occasions.
My father suffers from severe emotional/psychological problems, heart problems, and many other things.
I was not born with birth defects per se, but as I grew to adulthood, I have had several problems. I was born with asthma and had/still have ADD. I have 3 children who were all born premature for "unknown" reasons. After the birth of my 3rd child I had to have a hysterectomy d/t the female problems I was having. I have severe kidney problems. I have really bad mood swings and stay tired all the time. I was diagnosed with MS about 4 years ago.
I'm not sure if any of these have to do with agent orange though....
Every one of you that has posted is quite brave in my book. My dad died in 1993 and certified by VA as casualty of Agent Orange. Fortunately for me, all of my siblings and I were born before he went to Nam.
Although I have to say, it is difficult to separate what was caused from domestic environmental damage and that of Agent Orange. There are several people in my mother's family born with three kidneys, none of which were in Nam or had a parent that was in Nam. Lots of families experience similar circumstances (ADD, depression, suicide, premature births, and early hysterectomies) again not related to Nam.
If you want to fight an effective case with Congress, there needs to be a lot of discernment and caution with regards to claims. Too many red herrings will hurt the whole cause and result in large loss of credibility.
It took Congress several years to update their list of Vet-related illnesses and diseases that include Type II Diabetes, prostate cancer, etc.
The registry on this site and good old-fashioned organizing that will lead to collaboration with genetics studies and certifications from the medical community is your best bet.
My husband served in Nam in 1970 in the area called III Corp, which was the area most heavily sprayed with Agent Orange and other dioxins. He has been ill many years now. In 1999 he had a massive heart attack caused from being a type 2 diabetic. He was given 5 years at the most. With God's help he is still here but his health is slipping every day. We have a daughter that just turned 26 years old. She has been plagued with many illness' all her life. I almost lost her while carrying her. I had 3 miscarriages before she was born.
As a toddler she was anemic, had unexplainable rashes, numerous allergies. unexplainable fevers and was just a sickly child. To this day her health is bad.
She just had a hysterectomy after 4 bouts of uterine cancer. Now they continue to find cancer cells. She became pregnant at 18 years old. She suffered severe anemia and was sent to an oncologist. After trying IV iron therapy and her having such reactions that required hospitalization, he refused to treat her anymore. It's ironic, my husband is also anemic and allergic to iron supplements.
My daughter has ADD, unexplained rashes, her teeth are all turning black and is still anemic. She is allergic to every antibiotic except a couple, she is allergic to every pain med that contains the word "caine", has many food allergies and is in poor health. Her children were all diagnosed as ADD and ADHD. They have asthma, allergies, and are anemic.
So doesn't this all kind of add up to being the offspring of a Vietnam Vet? I believe so. I have talked to many doctors over the years and told them of my suspicions, none of them would even test her for Agent Orange dioxin poisoning. I finally found one dr that would but he didn't know what tests to order that would tell him what we wanted to know. Most doctors just laughed and shrugged it off. I know in my heart that all her medical problems are from her dad's exposure to the Agent Orange. My biggest fear is that my grandchildren and their children will be the recipients of the exposure to Agent Orange. I don't think the government will ever acknowledge these children and their illness' because of the cost factor. If they stall long enough all the vets that were exposed will be dead and that will close the case. God knows they are dying off at a very young age. I thank God that my daughter didn't have any deformities such as yous have had but we have been through alot also. God bless you all.
Hi, my name is Bobbie. I'm 34 and the oldest of 5. My father served in '67 and '68. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He passed away last June due to a heart attack. He had COPD, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and PTSD. I was born with several birth defects. I have a mitral valve prolapse with a dilated aortic root, dislocated lenses in my eyes, severe scoliosis (4 surgeries so far), severe anemia (hospitalized 2 times needed blood transfusions and have to take 3 times the noraml dose of iron), depression, marfan syndrome, joint pain, my knees and other joints easily pop out of place, migrains, ostopenia, and most recently glaucoma. Two of my sisters had to have hysterotomies, one at 23 the other at 24. One sister has a tumor in her eye. 2 of my sisters have learning disabilities.
I have 16 nieces and nephews. 9 have ear problems. 1 with a heart problem (2 surgeries so far and one more coming up). 8 have eye problems. 3 with learning diabilities. 4 have ADHA. 10 have skin problems.
I have a hard time believing that the birth defects just happened. None of my cousins have any of the problems that we have. I blame the Agent Orange exposure that my father had.
I would love to have the VA reconize that we the children of the vets are affected in more ways than what they have "approved".
My email is
bsmith62674@sbcglobal.net feel free to email me. I would gladly help in any effort to get our government to reconize what we have gone thru all these years.
My name is Bobbi and my dad served in Vietnam in 1969. Before he left he married my mom to whom was pregant with me. I was born in 1970, with no defects. After my dad came home, my brother was born in 1972. He died at the age of 17 from a heart defect that went on detected by doctors. After he died my mom and dad had my sister and me checked out. I was fine, but my sister had a very mild case of what my brother had had. Also, she had asthma. I really think my brothers defect/death was caused by the agent orange my dad was exposed to.
I have just begun my research on the effects Agent Orange has caused children of exposed parents. My dad served in Vietnam before he and my mom were married. He was exposed to Agent Orange and always worried that he had passed on the effects to me and my sister. My dad did not have diabetes but died in 2004 of a massive heart attack, he was only 53 and had no known heart problems. When my sister was only a few years old she had a tumor on her shoulder that was removed. She is now 35 and just last year was diagnosed with a small tumor on her pituitary gland. I wonder if there is any relation to Agent Orange. I have never had tumors or other birth defects but when I was pre-teen began having fainting spells/seizures that to this day are undiagnosed. I don't really get them anymore but I will get the "feeling" that I am on the verge of fainting on occasion. This past year I have begun having frequent dizzy spells to the point that I have to lay down on the floor. I also have had asthma and allergies practically my entire life. I have read that there is potentially neurological effects to those exposed to Agent Orange which makes me wonder if there could be a link to the children of those exposed also.
My husband was in Vietnam in 1969. He now has Type II Diabetes and Asthma.
Our daughter was born with Cornelia deLange Syndrome in 1979. She has moderate learning disabilities, is short in stature and wears a size 1-1/2 children's shoe. Some of the children born with CdLS are much more involved than her including missing limbs, servere retardation and health issues.
This is not genetic in the fact that my husband nor I have passed anything down. But, it could caused by a gene that was accidently deformed at the time conception (I am not medical and don't know the right way to put it but something like that.) There are about 3 genes that have been identified so far but not all of the children exhibit a problem with the genes (at least not the genes that have been discovered so far).
They believe that there are many children/adults in the US and the world that have CdLS that have not been identified yet. http://www.cdlsusa.org
My husband brought this up to the VA a number of years ago but was told that it was not on the list of "birth defects".
Anyone out there have a child with CdLS?
My father was just approved for his agent orange . He is dying of prostate cancer...though i must be so proud of him...he's living life like he's not even sick most of the time... he's had about 8 major surgeries and is currently on a bag....i too suffer from many of the agent orange side effects.. I was born in 79....i wish the government would step up and take some responsibility. I suffer from chloracne, headaches, kidney problems, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, intestinal problems, infertility and was just diagnosed with psoriasis that no one else in my family has....all my life i've been sick and has managed to rack up an innumerable amount of doctor's bills that i'll never be able to pay off....someone needs to help us.
My father was a Vietnam vet who recently passed of cancer from A/O. I was born in 1971, today after a visit to the chiropractor, I learned that I was born without an atlas vertebrae (C1). Does anyone know if this could be related?
I was born in 1975. My father was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for 2 years now and the doctors believe I have hormonal issues causing my infertility. Does anyone know of any link with infertility in 2nd generation victims?
My father was exposed to Agent Orange in 1968 and 1969. My sisters and I have all of the same type symptoms. Headachs, low back pain, leg pain, numbness in our arms and legs. We also have female issues as well. We have 9 children between the 3 of us ranging from 17 yrs to 1yr. So far the all seem healthy. Thank the Lord! If anyone has any similar symptoms as we do please email me at meldpedigo@comcast.net. Maybe we can get some information that could be helpful.
We were born in 1969, 72, and 74.
Our father died in a car accident in 1979 so we don't really know if he had any side effects.
So any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!
My dad was in Vietnam in 68 and 69. My mom had 5 miscarriages before she got pregnant with me. my dad is not in good health he has severe joint deterioration has a back surgeries, hip replacements and now needs a knee replacement. he also has lumps on his fingers and elbows. My 3 sisters and brother all have migraines, anxiety, and severe joint problems and we are only 21,23,27,& 29. I know this has to do with agent orange.
I came across this blog while doing research for AO. My father served in Vietnam for years. He recently passed away of CHF. He also had Type 2. Along with many other health problems. I am 24 years old, and from as far back as I can remember, my dad told me about AO and what a horrible thing it was. I have read your posts and my heart goes out to you all. I cannot say in honesty that my dad's health issues were related entirely to AO, but I personally believe a lot of them were. And the Hell I watched my dad go through... Please know that my heart really does go out to you. While doing this research, I have started to put two and two together... My brother suffers from mental illness, and I, myself, have had a headache every day for at least the past 14 years. Some are crippling. Bed bound for 3 days or more, vomitting, loss of vision, extreme sensitivity to light and sound... I have been to multiple doctors, have had multiple scans and tests done by neurologists. No one seems to know what is wrong with me. I am now at the point where I believe no one believes me. Also, I was wondering if anyone could direct me toward finding an answer to a question I have regarding Chloracne... Has it been proven to genetically pass to the children of those exposed?
My heart goes out to all of you!! My dad did 2 tours in Vietnam, exposed both times. He does have type2, PTSD, and many other problems. The VA finally recognized all his problems are due to A/O, and is considered 100% disabled.
I, luckily, do not have a birth defect. My problems didn't start until I was a teenager, and gradually got worse (I'm 34 now, born in 1974). I suffer from migraines, intestinal problems, fatigue, and 2 different rashes. I have had several tests to determine the cause of my migraines, with no luck. My doctor did blood work, and everything came back fine. My rashes are unexplained, 1 is rough, gets irritated easily, is located very high in my inner thighs. The other looks like white spots on my arms, shoulders, neck and my back, and itch like crazy. Lotions and anti-itch creams do not work.
My brother suffers from migraines also, and has problems with his feet. Other than that, he's fine.
My 3 children (8, 11, 14) suffer from migraines also. However, I don't know if it's possible that they have been affected by A/O.
I've been told that the government is recognizing migraines in 2nd generations now. Has anyone heard any different??
Please feel free to contact me at dekiri@hotmail.com
Thank You,
Dawn
My heart goes out to all of you!! My dad did 2 tours in Vietnam, exposed both times. He does have type2, PTSD, and many other problems. The VA finally recognized all his problems are due to A/O, and is considered 100% disabled.
I, luckily, do not have a birth defect. My problems didn't start until I was a teenager, and gradually got worse (I'm 34 now, born in 1974). I suffer from migraines, intestinal problems, fatigue, and 2 different rashes. I have had several tests to determine the cause of my migraines, with no luck. My doctor did blood work, and everything came back fine. My rashes are unexplained, 1 is rough, gets irritated easily, is located very high in my inner thighs. The other looks like white spots on my arms, shoulders, neck and my back, and itch like crazy. Lotions and anti-itch creams do not work.
My brother suffers from migraines also, and has problems with his feet. Other than that, he's fine.
My 3 children (8, 11, 14) suffer from migraines also. However, I don't know if it's possible that they have been affected by A/O.
I've been told that the government is recognizing migraines in 2nd generations now. Has anyone heard any different??
Please feel free to contact me at dekiri@hotmail.com
Thank You,
Dawn
My Father served in Vietnam, and was covered through the VA for agent orange expossure. My Father recently passed away, he was 59, had Type 2 diabetes, and throat cancer which spread throughout his body. I was born in 73 w/out birth defects but many medical problems and allegies. No one else in my family share any of my problems. I lost a child to birth deffects that even the doctors had never seen so major. I am curious to find out if there is a chance that I could have passed these problems to my children.
My father was certified as Agent Orange several years ago. He suffered from many health problems including, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, bone cancer, heart disease, strokes, etc. His medical records would fill a room and he practically lived at the VA. He died two and a half years ago. My younger brother (36 years old) also had diabetes and died 6 months ago from heart failure. The coroner said it was from coronary artery disease and his diabetes. I suffer from endometriosis (I am the only one on either side of my family to have it) and have had 4 surgeries to date for it, including abdominal adhesions, bowel adhesions, and ovarian cysts. I also have a heart defect. This chemical is pure evil and the people who made it and used it should burn in hell! I have bills I will never be able to pay, am unable to work due to the constant pain, and was fortunate to have one daughter (which took some effort to even conceive) who I now believe also may have endometriosis. None of us, except my father, have ever been compensated for what has been done to us! It is just deplorable. More so for me since I served in the Army Reserves and was working full-time with them for the US Army Reserve Command in Wichita as a military technician during the First Gulf War!
My name is Veronica my dad served in Vietnam, he was discharged from the army with 100% disability, he has nerve disorder,he is also diabetic and he suffers fron PTSD , i am not to familar with the agent orange symtoms but i suffer from sever migranes, depression,endometriosis,cystic fibrosis of the breast and cysts in the uterus. My daughter has sever skin rashes, my other daughter suffers with extreme mood behavior, not able to focus.My son has sever back pains since he was 7 years old,he also suffers with eye problems, if anyone has had similar symtom or if you it can also effect grandchild please feel free to contact me at envernie55@yahoo.com
My Father served in Vietnam from 67-68. My mom was pregnant with my brother when my dad left for Vietnam. He is fine. Then my mom got pregnant with my sister who has several learning disabilities and migraines. I have migranes and had tons of huge uterine fibroids,cysts,random fevers and had to have a hysterectomy at age 33.I got pregnant with my son, then had 2 miscarriages before I had my daughter. Also, my mom was pregnant with my 2nd sister who died in my mom stomach when she was 8 months pregnant. My mom took care of herself so why that happened we are still not sure. I also was born with some of my baby teeth not having any adult teeth under them. I still have 1 baby tooth that has no adult tooth under it. I don't know if this is from A/O but after reading all of everybody elses syptoms I belive that A/O is responible for these problems. If you would like to email me please feel free to email me at ajakgerretse@yahoo,com.
God Bless all of you!
My husband was in Nam and a door gunner, he was definitely exposed. He died of schirrosis to the liver, complications from hep b and c. He was shot down and in the hospital a year. Our daughter has crooked feet, had surgery, crooked little fingers growing over the top of the others and a kidney disease. My husband was working on a A/O claim before he got sick and died. I was told by the VA there was nothing I can do. Can I still try to file a claim on my daughters behalf?
My dad was in Vietnam and now has type II diabetes. I have no birth defects nor does my brother to date. My only issue is that I have hypothyroidism, migraines, and now have endometriosis. I have been reading that endometriosis can be caused by Agent Orange. I have a high case of endometriosis and infertility issues. Any help would be great.
kdhampton@tds.net
My dad and my father in law were both vietnam vets. My father in law died of benign brain tumors at the age of 53. My son was born in 2005 with a cleft in his soft palate and just a small part of his hard palate. My niece had cancer when she was 1 in her tail bone, she did survive it! Could this all be due to our father's exposure to agent orange?
my name is dave my dad was in nam and suffers many problems i have hydrocephelus and suffer head aches and fall asleep often va says my mom had to be in nam 4 me to get benifits i feel like a chemical experiment gone wrong signed sick
My mother was an intelligence agent for three tours in Vietnam. She was discharged for being pregnant with myself. She suffered heavily from PTSD, due to several instances namely the Tet Offensive of 1968. I finally got her into VA treatment in 1991. Shortly there after she began having severe tremors that I believe was due to AO exposure. When I was born, I was born with teeth. I suffered greatly from leg pains which I was told by doctors that they were growing pains. Well I must still be growing because I still have the pain. When I turned 13 a second row of permanent teeth began to erupt behind my original permanents. I had them removed in 2004. Since then I have had 2 more teeth come in. I'm still cutting teeth at 37?!? My mother died in 2002 from COPD. I have yet to receive the VA medical files for the last 5 years of her life. Due to the fact that none of our "SYMPTOMS" are not "DIRECTLY RELATED" to dioxin exposure from service in the RVN we aren't recognized as victims.
My dad was in vietnam and loaded the agent orange on the planes, of course, without knowing the hazards. He now has tenitus and has lost hearing which he gets only 10% compensation for from the military. He has had both wrists operated on. He had 2 grand mull seizures that could not be explained at the age of 28 and 38. Recently he went to a Dr. that was not working for the military that told him during investigation to see if he could get more compensation, that he had strokes. But there is no evidence of that in MRI's, Cat Scans or it affecting him. My ex-husbands father was in Vietnam too and died at 43 or 44 from a heartattack. Our 2 children have Asthma, and ADHD, and our 15 yr. old was just diagnosed with unexplainable epilepsy, after 2 Cat Scans, an MRI, 2 EET's, and blood work. He went through unusually fast puberty and had to got to an endocronologist and it was too late to change things. He has reached 5'7' almost, so they are not concerned now. He has a high IQ, but failed the first year of high school because of the seizures. Now he's going to a psychiatrist and and he has to get help as being disabled in school. We are going to be broke from $150 a session, but the hospital says he needs to go. My other 2 children's father was in the military and I'm now wondering if our 6 yr. old could be having some type of seizures. He stares off for a moment and doesn't answer me and then says after that he hears me, and he had a night trauma where he looked at me and talked to me, but was going crazy for 2 hours or so that he was seeing spiders and jumping around and in a daze. I'm going to take him to a neurologist. The Dr. thinks he may also have ADHD and he is very hyper, as his dad is. I want to do something and I'm going to talk to my dad about it. My mom says I had problems when I was younger (I've had asthma all my life and my family does not smoke either) and I was hyper and have always had trouble sleeping. I seemed to have grown out of it in school, but she says my 6 yr. old is the same way. She said I had nightmares all the time and they would not let the Dr. put me on any medication. I have TMJ, headaches, and allergies. I have unexplained numbness in my arms and wrists sometimes. The Dr. says I could possible have arthritis. My brother (who has arthritis, as my dad does) and his wife had trouble having children, had a miscarraige of twins and one of their children has ADHD. And my sister in law has had emotional troubles and health problems all her life, I think her dad was in Vietnam, and he has been battling Cancer. We do need to do something about this...I'm going to try.
My husband was in Vietnam during 1968/1969. Our daughter was born with Corneila de Lange Syndrome. My husband talked to the VA but they said that this was not caused by Agent Orange. Anyone else hear of any Viet Vets with a child born with this?
My Father served in Nam from march of 1968 through September of 1970. I was born before he left for Nam. My sister however was born in 1979. She is now in her 30's and has chronic medical issues. From depression to Chronic fatigue. I am wondering if these issues could be related to agent orange. Any information would be well received.
Thank you
Rhonda
My dad served 2 tours in Viet Nam. I suffer from a laundry list of medical problems but the one I am the most curious about is KERATOCONUS. Degenerative eye disease. Anyone else suffer from this? contact me at grandforksgirl@hotmail.com
My father served over in Nam 67, 68 and has 100 percent disability.He suffers from joint pain and heart problems. I think I have severe joint pain and some digestive problems.Also alot of the time I just plain cant do things I love to do. I was born in 75 I'm a carpenter and it really hurts to go to work. My prayers go out to all the familys that have had to live in such pain.
Hi,
I wanted to share a great resource for Children of Vietnam Vets exposed to AO.
Agent Orange Legacy - Children of Vietnam Veterans
http://agentorangelegacy.ning.com/
The more we connect, the loader our voice, and the harder it is not to hear us....
In loving memory of my Father.
Traci
I suffered 4-5 Ischemic strokes which is on there Assumed Agent Orange list. I have a Senator and Congressman involved. They are already fighting me, because I did'nt have "boots on the ground". Everyone should write there Congressmen and Senators to support Congressman Fulner's 2009 Agent Orange bill in 2010. This rule was passed to save money by screwing the Navy. Please write emails and letters!
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