Namvet Medical Journal
| AO at Ascom Depot by: Randy Watson |
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...MedReport. I was stationed at Ascom Depot from Dec 68 to Feb 70. I was with Company B Supply and Transportation Division. We stored,shipped and transported Agent Orange to the DMZ. We were the main supply division for all of Korea. There were times these barrels would get punctured by the forks on the forklifts and spill out causing us to get skin contact with AO. I also served in Viet Nam from April 70 to July 70. I suffer from hypertension, heart disease and other illnesses. It's documented in my military medical records that I had high blood pressure in 1975, 5 years after leaving Korea and Viet Nam. I'm getting ready to file yet another claim with the VA for Hypertension and Heart Disease. I've had open heart surgery in 1991 and since then I've had six heart attacks. Anyone with more information about Ascom Depot please email me at aboogger@swbell.net |
| Robert Zendejas by: Vet 12 |
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...MedReport. Robert, I was stationed at Ascom, South Korea in 68-69. I have a claim in for exposure to AO. I had non-hodgkins lymphoma. I would like to talk with you concerning AO being stored at Ascom. |
| nite sweats by: a.o.lancaster nz 14110 |
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...MedReport. I think you should invest in a cpap mchine for sleep apnea ,you risk stroke and or heart attack |
| flue shots by: docdave |
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...MedReport. they say older people should get there shots.well now thats us.they also say people get the flue from the shots.well that means someones immine system is so low they would have gotten the flue anyway but a lot worse. the shot is the flue germ injected under the layer of skin.then our immune system is turned on and signals are sent to send white cells to kill the germs.the build up of new white cells should keep us preety well immune to the flue bug.I nsome cases people still get the flue, but not nearly so severe due to the fact they alreay have anti-bodies in their system.we all(vets) can get them free this month (oct) at any va facility. |
| nite sweats by: docdave |
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...MedReport. I personally think the reason varies in many of us.And is more wide spread than the va admits to.I know I have it all the time, and many of my vet friends here in long beach va have it too.the only thing we have in common is ptsd.It goes away for a sort time and then it comes back.I sweat thru my pillows every nite.I usually end up buying new ones all the time.Another thing is sleep apnea, where we stop breathing for short times.Have you been told you do that too.Many of us also have that as well.Why I don't know.thats the reason they won't give me sleeping pills at nite.So I wake up every two hours or so. makes for rough dragged out am's.then the cycle repeats. |
| night sweats in men by: ray cuff |
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...MedReport. what are some causes for men sweating at night? |
| shingles by: docdave |
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...MedReport. one of my vet friends here in long beach VA came down with them.He went thru quite a depressive time,has many ptsd symptoms along my M.S. so his auto-immune system is down and very week,allowing the shingles to take hold on the right side of his body.this comes from the events I described, and stress related too,a person who has had chicken pox in his past, can happen to.the docs treated it aggresssively with both oral meds and a medicated pack to the infected areas, and in ten days he only had scarring on his leg to show for it.be careful about letting yourselves to get so far down as to allow infections to take hold. |
| vitamins by: docdave |
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...MedReport. sometimes vitamins can be a help if you are careful and don't over do it. name brands are usually safe. some that I believe in are; saw palmetto,for prostrate;vitamin E helps clean the blood,a good daily multi-vitamin,helps make up for not eating correctly? Alfalfa tablets,clears the lungs for like emphasyma pts,or fluids,a real good one now is Omegs-3,help with digestive tract and other stuff.Beta-Carotene is a good blood cleaner and thinnerfor better circulation.there are others but all I can think of right now. |
| vaso-vegal syncope by: docdave-medtech |
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...MedReport. a condition of feinting due to low blood volume to the brain perhaps, two pints or so ,in the feet.The vegas nerve accross the heart and leading to the brain is suspected to be involved here.this condition is rare.these symptoms are identical to many other conditions like low blood sugar, cardio insufficient blood volume in the chambers to pump out, before the signal the brain gives it.Most all of this is called auto-nomic; that is we don't control it , our auto -nomic or central nervous system (cns) does. syncope ,means feinting, and dizziness,from the greek word to cut off.that is cut off blood supply in this case.Vaso , meaning blood system, and vegas nerve, the largest nerve accross the heart for the return of blood to restart its return to the body again when insufficient blood volume desn't fill the chambers of the heart properly;and the signal from the brain tells it to pump,then it sets up tachtchardia,or irregular rythm, which leads to convulsions,feinting, dizziness and passing out.when the heart restarts, it is back into normal rythm again.Lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.episodes are much like seizures and are treated whith anti-seizure medications. |
| hepititus by: docdave |
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...MedReport. If that is the word the below entry is looking for. there are two basic types.1.the one we were concerned about hep. from bad water.to counteract that we(medics) gave out those little rusty looking pills that were basically iodine tablets.to kill the bactria in the watr we drank. we also got those bnad ass gamma globulin shots to prevent hep c. Later after we came home we lerned of another type hepititus B.by getting bad blood products.sharing needles,bad blood transfusions,drugs, needle pricks,bad handling of blood products all brought on a scare of hep b. many of us are still struggling with the aftermath of our generations mistakes . from, agent orange to hep c, to hep b, chloroacne rashes,lymphoma,just to name a few. |
| reply to crotch rot by: docdave |
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...MedReport. many guys got both crotch and foot rot in the jungle,many things bring it back. heat and humidity and stress are two things come to mind. My MD is giving me both hydracortizone for itch and clotrimazole cream. he says to mix the two togethr and apply.the hydacorti--doesn't treat the infection only the itch, and he says we need the clotrimazole to treat the infection.It seems to help me.but it never goes away permanently. |
| Crotch Rot Korea by: Robert Zendejas |
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...MedReport. I am a 66-67 vet of Korea. We saw barrels of Agent Orange stored at a place called Ascom Depot. Spraying was done as early as the summer of 1967 according to news reports from Korea newspapers. I now have Type II Diabites. I was also exposed in Panama where Agent Orange was also sprayed on a regular basis. I first had an expisode of Crotch Rot in the summer of 1967 when we were chasing Gooks through the rice paddies, etc. I still suffed when the humidity get real high here in Tennessee. When I go to places with very low humidity it gets better and goes into remission. But when I go back home it starts acting up again. If you have never had it you cannot believe how much you want to scratch until you can bleed. I live with hydrocortisone ointment in my drawer. The VA treatments do not do very well. So I suffer in frustration. |
| HYPOCHRATES by: docdaave |
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...MedReport. The fater of medicine was unique.Back in a time the was no official medicine of any written type to study and pass on. He wrote, that he had discovered 4 body humors. the white of lymph, the re of blood, the yellow of urine and the black of bile. He passed that on to the next doctor and official medicine system began. We honor him as the first one; by echoing his words,Doctor ,do no harm. |
| jungle rot by: docdave |
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...MedReport. many of us got it.It can reccur anytime.Usually when you are stressed. the VA name for it is;Chloracne rash.they have some salves and such but not very good.Also they don't recognize it on the disability claim.As far as I know. There is a guy listed below who wants people to talk to him about the rot.You might give him a shot?jefferychow@aclo.com give him a try he may know something.If he does come back and tell usa all about it.doc |
| jungle rot by: Ernest Mitchell |
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...MedReport. contracted jungle rot in vietnam |
| headaches by: docdave |
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...MedReport. many viet vets have reported major headaches.But headaches are not on the list for rating at the VA.Too many possible causes to link them to military service. Immitrix is one of the best meds I have found to help with mine.The VA here in long beach has stopped ordering them because they can't get a cheap enough deal to purchase them,So they are putting us all on other meds,one that melts under the tongue(no good), and another that is a squirt up the nose(also no good).So the thing s that work we can't get due to price and the the things (meds) that don't work they send plenty of.Thats our VA at work again.p.s. So the docs who have tried to help me asked if I could try geting them thru civilian pharmacies. They are $80.00 for a card of eight pills, I need two cards per month.Now if you oreder them canada where they are half price, that constitutes a felony and I could lose all my benefits if caught. |
| Jungle Rot by: jefferychow@aol.com |
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...MedReport. Anyone interested in possible help with Jungle Rot email me |
| agent orange by: docdave |
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...MedReport. agent orange is competely seperate from all other problems.When I wasa in bravo co, 1969,We saw the spraying going on over our heads at leats three times.The planes would fly together low and fast streaming out the poison to kill everything that had dna.That is all living things.Like a ticking time bomb it was waiting inside of us to raise its ugly head.I believe the worst cases of us were denied from the va, and most died ,before the va finnally recognized it, and began to treat it.Here at the va in long beach calif.the agent orange clinic is completely seperate from all the other hospital and every one need s to sign on the list to cover ourselves for later on.The seperate testing and intro to agent orange ,requires you to name the places you were at, to see if you were in areas they sprayed or not.the claims are filed and the compensation is completely seperate from your regular va claims. the money comes out of a different pocket at the fed budget level.there are lists and handouts for what they pay for everywhere now and the list keeps being added to. so check the lists often. |
| hepititas by: docdave |
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...MedReport. Many service men are suffering from hepititus.You get it from bad water. also another form of hepititus can come from bad blood products, sharing needles,and so on. Some of you remember the medic handing out those bottles of little reddish pills to put in your water to kill germs.Those helped.Again everyone didn't get ot use them everytime.Badwater was everywhere.there were many enemies to fight besides the cong. |
| malaria by: docdave |
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...MedReport. We medics gave out evry day little white pills and one big orange one each week. The hope was they would protect us all from malaria.Some of the guys did not take their pills when given.Some guys were in places they didn't or couldn't get their pills over long periods.And ome guys just got malaria,even tho they took their pills.Malaira a tropical disease is recurring.It can come back anytime later when conditions permit it to.One of the symptoms to cause it is stress.The VA will recognize itr and treat it ,but there are no percentage points and they deny it as service connected.Quinidine one of the pills ingredients seems to help.A supply of quinine water to help ease the symptoms when they come back is one idea.Going to the va and getting it in your file is important too.Remember this came from mosquitos. |
| BAC-SI by: docdave |
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...MedReport. sounds like bocks see.It was the vietnamese word for medic or doctor. Remember they had primitive medicine back then.It was a medicine man or witch doctor type who healed the civilians in the villes.They had no idea of hygiene whatso ever.Let alone any medical knowledge.I watche one of them during a medcap op.He did blood letting to reduce fever.He took a needle and scratched the back of a guys neck till blood streaked from the needle marks to let the blood out to reduce the mans fever.We hade to get permission from the village elder to treat the civilians with real medicine.They all lined up at the doorway and expected to get sdomething even if they weeren't sick.So we gave them aspirin and coolade to placate them.I saw broken arms and legs that had healed crookedly.They had no idea hoe to set a broken bone so they set in place whatever position they were broke in.Most of them had never taken a pill before and had to bre taught how to swallow a pill.A good effort, especially if you don't speak the language.SAME, SAME, DO LIKE ME, BOXIE.They spelled it amny different ways,but most of us came home knowing what bocx-si meant. |
| nite sweats by: docdave pfeifer |
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...MedReport. After talking to 30 or so viet vets from the va here in calif. it seems they all are having nite sweats at different times.One time is usually anniversary dates of events recored in his mind and recurs every year at the same time. I also sweat my pillows each nite. It comes and goes.Usually it means the war is on his unconcious mind during sleep.Probably having nitemares as well if he can remember them.This is one of the more milder forms of PTSD symptoms.My suggestion is be-careful about waking him up during those periods.Everything passes in time, but don't be surprised if they come back again.Hope that helps a little. |
| male nite sweats by: tracy |
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...MedReport. my husband has been having nite sweats for about two months atleast 5 nights a week. what could be wrong. |
| cancer by: |
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...MedReport. many keep smoking after cancer diagnonis |
| jungle rot by: docdave |
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...MedReport. Get a referal to dermatology clinic,from your primary MD. Show them, and explain how long you have had it. When they diagnose it, they will enter it in your files.Go to insurance and files room,get copies of the report. Take the reports over to the agent orange clinic,if you haven't already registered ,then register now.The disease is usually called Chloracne (jungle rot).Get it in your file for compensation,treatment can go on for a very long time, don't expect any easy fixes.It may go away and recur again from stress,or many other triggers.It should get you a small percentage on your claim for reimbursement.?Back in nam, the only thing I could find to half way fight it was called Kenalog cream.They should have better stuff now. doc |
| jungle rot by: |
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...MedReport. I have a persistant skin problem charactorized by itching,burning,redness and skin peeling down until it bleeds. It's located on my feet,crotch,armpits and sometimes behind my knees and the crook of my elbows. I first got it while in the field in Korea 1974. My fellow soldiers who were namvets said it was jungle rot from the rice patties. Any help out there? |
| Drugs by: Jonathan Myers Medic 1st 501st 101st ABN |
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...MedReport. Read Doc Dave's review on Drugs in Nam It took a while but my personal experience with drugs was introduced to me during stand-down and when I was able to take a break in the rear area and on RandR I was a non-com medic that went through P-Traning at Sally in June of 69 and set to Tam Ky. Smoked a lot of Sally Jay's and became adicted to Opium in Viet Nam Only once did I take a joint into the field and smoked it under a poncho and regret that to this day. Only know of one in our unit that did not do someting, drugs, booze etc. that was Doc from Texas who got fragged that same night. I think his name was Honeycutt. Always had a smile on his face regardless of what was going on and always was positive in attitude. |
| Drugs by: Jonathan Myers Medic 1st 501st 101st ABN |
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...MedReport. Read Doc Dave's review on Drugs in Nam It took a while but my personal experience with drugs was introduced to me during stand-down and when I was able to take a break in the rear area and on RandR I was a non-com medic that went through P-Traning at Sally in June of 69 and set to Tam Ky. Smoked a lot of Sally Jay's and became adicted to Opium in Viet Nam Only once did I take a joint into the field and smoked it under a poncho and regret that to this day. Only know of one in our unit that did not do someting, drugs, booze etc. that was Doc from Texas who got fragged that same night. I think his name was Honeycutt. Always had a smile on his face regardless of what was going on and always was positive in attitude. |
| breathing clinic by: docdave |
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...MedReport. update report on breathing test.Called me back in to say my entire life style contributed to my sleepless nites.(no shit)then gave me a breathing machine to take home to use at nite when I sleep.Its a big mask goes over your head and pushes air up your nose all nite.Tell you the truth I am scared of it and don't use it at all.Probably expensive too. So it sits like a big black back pack in the corner. |
| sleep study at VA by: docdave |
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...MedReport. Just finished the sleep study at the VA hosp. in long beach.Uncomfortable as it was and everyone reports after taking it of feeling weird for several days. Got the report from records.Says a lot about how my lifestyle contributes to sleep disorder along with my PTSD symptoms as probable cause.Could not distinguish but suspects I have Aepnea.Treatment is:diet ,exercise, quit smoking,don't eat, read watch tv etc. in the same room of my trailer.No stimulents after six PM,e.i. coffe, sodas,ciggerettes etc.Try to control my hypervigilance at nite,get therapy in psych. for my dreams and nitemares. Take meds as RX'D for anxiety and stress.return for checkup in one year. In summary;it is another source for proof of PTSD claim.But I did not get my prescription for sleeping pills,or is it proof of seperate disorder to file with VA for additional points to my rating now.everyone says don't reopen any claims now; as the congress is getting ready to approve a bill to reopen and re-evalute ptsd claims to make sure they are evenly rated accross country.It gives them a chance to lower your rating under the new guidlines, or so says the gossip around the VA now. |