If you served in the Gulf War, did you later experience Gulf War Illness?

2016-01-19T21:35:02-05:00

I was asked to write a series of small articles describing Gulf War Illness to other veterans for a newsletter and website aimed at people involved with Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), called "Vet Like Me." The website can be found at VetLikeMe.org.

My first of four articles was published today, and the other three will be published one each week over the next three weeks. It was difficult to cover everything in four parts, each under 500 words, writing for people who mostly don't have a clue about the illness, where it came from, what it does, or anything about it. Keeping something so complex fairly simple is a real challenge. Hopefully you all will think I did alright in meeting that challenge.

The link to the first article is http://vetlikeme.org/gulf-war-illness-25-years-later/

Here is the link to Part 2 of the series of four articles: http://vetlikeme.org/gulf-war-illness-25-years-later-no-closer-to-a-cause-cure-or-treatment/

Gulf War Illness – 25 Years Later - VetLikeMe

This is Part 1 of a four-part series on Gulf War Illness. Part 1 describes the conditions that set the stage for this illness in the first Gulf War. Part 2 shows how the illness manifested itself in veterans over time and the responses from DoD and VA. Part 3 will explain how Gulf War vets have been fighting back, and where we are now on compensation, research, and medical care. Part 4 describes my personal journey with Gulf War Illness (GWI)....

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jan 19 at 2016 9:39 PM

2016-01-19T21:39:33-05:00

SGM Private RallyPoint Member thanks for posting, I do suffer from the Gulf War! I have four tours to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. Thanks for posting will read!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 9:47 PM

2016-01-19T21:47:13-05:00

Excellent article SGM. Your first article is spot on with the over view of what we encountered. I still have my chocolate chip DCU's still covered in oil spots. My wife looked at it and asked what it was. After I explained it to her and showed her on the map where we were and how the smoke clouds during the day made it look like night. And let's not forget about the little white pills that were mandatory and had to be taken in front of Team and Squad leaders.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jan 20 at 2016 8:36 AM

2016-01-20T08:36:27-05:00

Good article. I am a veteran of the first Gulf War. One of the primary reasons that there is such a controversy with GWI, is that there are at least equal numbers of individuals that served with the individuals suffering from numerous maladies that have no symptoms of any illness at all. And at this time are only suffering the effects of growing older. I do have friends that served in other companies and battalions of the 325th AIR, that do suffer from various ailments that can be attributed to their service in DS/DS.

Pyrodistigmine Bromide (PB) pills, were not the only pills that we were taking as a prophylaxis. I would note that another commentator has already noted this.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Jan 20 at 2016 8:43 AM

2016-01-20T08:43:44-05:00

I believe I do have some of the ailments from the Gulf War and of course possibly from Operation Iraq Freedom I&II.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jan 20 at 2016 11:22 AM

2016-01-20T11:22:23-05:00

I was there, and was with the most forward Infantry unit of the 1AD. You can look at our path on the header pic (map), and follow the 1AD route, and we were literally at the "tip" of that arrow. We encountered un-fired chemical munitions, as well as spending a few weeks staring right at the burning Ar Rawdatayn oil fields.
Having mentioned that, I do have a few friends from my unit that I've kept in contact with that have had some major issues that have been consistent with Gulf War Syndrome. As for me, I've been completely healthy. SGT Michael Epstein might be able to weigh in on this as well.

Response by 1SG George Sr made Jan 21 at 2016 4:04 AM

2016-01-21T04:04:24-05:00

Yes I'm disabled receiving 30% sc for respiratory issues and environmental hazards from gulf warand total disability thru social security

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Jan 21 at 2016 2:04 PM

2016-01-21T14:04:10-05:00

Well, I do remember they had talked about children born to Gulf War vets, were having heart problems. My daughter was born about a little over a year after I returned, she was born with a VSD (hole in her heart) Her Navy Cardiologist was great, he set up open Heart Surgery, to patch the hole, with one of the best cardiologist in the US when my daughter turned 1 year old, at UCSD Medical Center. Everything went well, and she has never had any issues with her heart.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jan 28 at 2016 10:29 PM

2016-01-28T22:29:10-05:00

I was with 1ID during Desert Storm. Have never had any of the "normal" symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome. I knew four men who were recon from one of the 1st Brigade battalions who all worked in construction in Manhattan, KS after leaving the service. All four had symptoms. We were all in the same areas, so should have been exposed to the same things. I guess one of the most difficult things to understand about GWS is that there seems to be no reasonable explanation why people who worked in the same location had different health experiences afterwards. There certainly was enough garbage in the AO to make anyone sick.
I also had a friend who developed a degenerative bone disease while he was over there.

Response by CPL Zach Spurloch made Jun 17 at 2016 9:01 AM

2016-06-17T09:01:52-04:00

I was diagnosed with SLE in 2007. Which is extremely rare (0.2% of caucasian men in 50's-60's, not young men in their 20's), ever receive this as a diagnosis. I have recently been reading a book, "Vaccine A" which goes into depth, the effects of the Anthrax vaccine given to troops between 1990- 1997, due to it's adjuvant of squalene. This disease of mine and so many others, is only getting worse. Has anyone been able to get the VA to accept that squalene causes SLE/ Lupus?

Response by PFC Rob Wolverton made Nov 17 at 2016 5:19 AM

2016-11-17T05:19:56-05:00

I was in Dhahran from Oct 95 through March 96. Looking back, I realize I began suffering from fatigue early on that slowly increased until it left me damn near incapacitated. I was skilled with computer programming, sold some software I wrote, made some money, but now the brain fog leaves me unable to comprehend my own work. I spend all day in bed sometimes, totally happy so it's not depression, just so danged tired and can't stay awake. Been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, both presumptives for gulf war illness (they call it CMI these days)

Response by SMSgt John Windham made May 9 at 2019 2:55 AM

2019-05-09T02:55:56-04:00

Nice read, looking forward to 3 and 4

Response by SMSgt John Windham made Sep 1 at 2019 2:16 AM

2019-09-01T02:16:59-04:00

I was in Riyadh for Desert Storm working the AOC and Intel tent with the Brits and the troops from Shaw. 6975 (P). This is what is going on with me and I got to say that I feel alone in this. I have Reflux, intestinal polyps—pre cancerous kind, BM problems for 20 years. I have granulomas in several major organs, ii have asthma, weight gain, diabetes, kidney cysts, chronic hypertension with LVH. I have calcium build up in my heart and asthma. I am 90% disabled. This is without GWS claim. I am also dealing with depression and anxiety. I am a hot mess. I just put in my GWS claim addressing my 20 years of abdominal issues, granulomas, lung infection, etc. I won’t know anything till the holidays.