Burn Pits -Oil Well Fires Gulf War

The burn pits in Iraq are just larger version of
the burn pits created from 91 till 2003.
Some 175,000 soldiers who fought in the Gulf War
have lived a nightmare for 17 years. Plagued by
debilitating illness since they deployed in this
theatre. Environmental medicine is not practiced
by military and VA doctors.
The VA and DoD is failing to advertize on going studies.
Veterans have not been told they could use the VA-WRIISC
clinics and hospital directors mis-informed Vets
that they did not have transport money to get to
DC or Orange,NJ

If you are still having problems getting care or
home or other beneifits please contact this Office.
This Committee is asking for written comments from Veterans
This Committee is allowing Vets to speak before them,
during Public Coment Sessions.
This Committee is allowing Vets to Teleconferece -
hearing sessions by telephone. Silence is not an Option ! http://www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee
VA - Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Policy and Planning (008A1)810 Vermont Ave, Washington, DC 20420202-461-5758 Lelia P. Jackson, Policy Analyst ,lelia.jackson@va.gov

I and others suffer http://www.InvisbleDisabilities.org
Please speak up Now!

VA-RAC on Gulf War Illness let us down

This is my response to the meeting of Veterans Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses 14-15 Sept 2008 in Washington D.C.

Researchers -they can set out to prove a pet theory,
they can ignore data which contradicts a favored hypothesis,
and they can read into data facts which simply aren't there.
In addition, and perhaps more importantly, their employers can be biased.
DoD can put pressure on researchers or even research firms to
validate a preordained position or to produce a desired result.
Not that they really have to, since it is much easier to hire or retain
investigators who agree with them to begin with.
And even that is not necessary, since the DOD/VA employer gets to
write conclusions and recommendations. Scientists who dissent can
effectively be buried simply by not publishing what they have to say.

Research is never economically beneficial except for those in position
to profit from Research expenditures." What else am I to think when
monies are appropriated by southwest university and Dr. Haley
and three years or 36 months and no project started-
up to 45 million dollars not working for us veterans.
Promises 's broken.

It is sad Gulf War Scientists can find their research blocked,
or find themselves threatened with financial ruin. Corporations,
Veterans agents, think tanks, even government agencies have been
caught suppressing or distorting research on the safety of chemicals
on and around our battlefield.

This is why I feel Gulf War Research has been hijacked.
I feel the VA-RAC on GWI has been stonewalled.
I have seen the last few VA Secretaries make vague
promises of support, yet fail to implement any Recommendations
this committee has made over the years

It is the former RAC board member and Principal scientist
to southwestern university department, who accepted 15 million
for the last three years for the promise of neuro-imaging, veteran
survey and maybe a clinic.

Has not happened, will not happen. As I listen Dr. Haley give a
political doublespeak when trying to explain what he has
accomplished in the last three years.

I believe gulf war veterans will not see any Recommendations
actual carried on into completed and published research project
before this administration ends.

Only veterans who speak out, demand oversight !

Is it Gulf War Illness or Undiagnosted Sympthoms

This is a book VA and Military doctors are afraid
that you will read, said Jagmedic.

What's Wrong with Me?
The Frustrated Patient's Guide to Getting an Accurate Diagnosis (Paperback)
by Lynn M. Dannheisser (Author), Jerry M. Rosenbaum (Author)

BOOKS
Help your doctor give you right diagnosis
Fed up with not knowing what ailed them, a local doctor and lawyer
wrote a book to help others with the same problem.


Nine years ago, life became a blur for Jerry Rosenbaum.

Lights were too bright, borders too soft, and opening his eyelids --
which felt like they had turned into sandpaper -- for extended periods
of time was next to impossible. Rosenbaum, a doctor in Miami-Dade County
for 20 years, had no idea what was happening to him. And worse, neither
did his colleagues.

At 45, he had developed what he and a patient of his, former Sunny Isles
Beach City Attorney Lynn Dannheisser, called a ''mystery malady,'' a
term that birthed the idea for their coauthored book, What's Wrong With
Me? The Frustrated Patient's Guide to Getting an Accurate Diagnosis.
Dannheisser, who has suffered from three mystery maladies.

The problem for many patients, Dannheisser said, is that people expect
doctors to immediately provide all the answers -- even if the patients
aren't disclosing the right information.

''Patients can certainly help their doctors,'' said David Lubarsky,
chair of the anesthesiology department at the University of Miami, home

to the school's Center for Patient Safety. ``Obviously, the best patient
is an informed patient.''

That's why, Dannheisser said, it's imperative for patients to become
more proactive with their doctors. To help, Dannheisser and Rosenbaum
created an eight-step guide to help patients be more prepared for their
appointments.

''You don't have to be a doctor in order to help your doctor,''
Dannheisser said.

However, as Rosenbaum's case shows, being one doesn't guarantee success
either. Eventually, running a practice with hindered vision became too
much for Rosenbaum to handle -- his mystery malady had forced him into
an early retirement.

But just six weeks ago -- after nine years of pain -- Rosenbaum finally
made headway with his eye problem. After scouring the Internet, he found
a surgeon who specialized in helping people who suffered from the same
symptoms. Finally, Rosenbaum was able to put a name on his disease --
blepharospasm, or involuntary eyelid muscle contraction -- and have it
treated.

Now, Rosenbaum said, he's able to keep his eyes open -- without pain --
for extended periods of time. With continued healing, he hopes he may
one day be able to reopen his practice.

''I'm keeping my fingers crossed,'' he said.