Re: Military Men

Hey Doc, TY Molly for your action...

A little bit of background info for you... I was in excellent health prior to my deployment to the middle east in Dec 2002. During my six months there I did some travelling and was under a great deal of stress. I had many pers working for me and had a lot of responsibilty. I can not divulve the precise duties that I had nor the locations that I was... but I did live in the middle of the dessert...

I began to feel exhausted during the last two months or so and found great diffriculty concentrating and getting my work done. I was in no position to complain but was a good officer and sucked it up. Upon my return to Canada in May 2003 I found myself completely exhausted and just not feeling 'right'. I could not explain what was wrong but the exhaustion was already partially debilitating and I was getting very dizzy, having tunnel vision and some chest tightness.

I was given a medical but all tests came out okay. I was unable to complete my normal duties in my old job and was calling in sick, leaving early and using leave to take time off to rest. Six weeks later I was admitted into the ER with a severe episode of Atrial Fibrilation that required cardioversion x2. After that my fatigue increased ever further and my abilty to work was severely impaired. My visual problems became worse, My left arm was now numb (asleep) all the time and remains that way today. Dizziness/lightheadedness is now commom place. The Dr's tried many different beta blockers none of which worked and most of which made me even more tired. I had another episode requiring cardiversion a few weeks later.

With no idea what was wrong with me, I was sent to dozens of specialists over the next year... internal medicin, cardiologists, neurologists, etc... but to no avail. I was certain that all my symptoms were inter related and most likely from my central nervous system.

I was fianlly diagnosed with CFS in 2004/05 and taken off of active duty... I have not worked since and remain plagued by chronic fatigue and bouts of AF. My memory is terrible and I can not focus or concentrate without great difficulty. I am unable to work and unable to keep up with the demands of daily life. There where times of depression in the beginning but I've had many lifestyle changes and have a new attitude of acceptance.

After 3 years, Veterans affairs has finally said that my symptoms are a result of my tour of duty so now that I am on retirement leave for a medical release at least I know that I should be able to live of my pensions.

I am currrently undergoing treatments at an environmental clinic in Nova Scotia and they are great.

I have given up ever finding out what exactly caused this.. I believe it was a combination of stress, heat, toxins/bugs/viruses, etc... I do know of a couple other military folks who came back with AF or CFS... I am the only one that I know of to come back with both CFS and AF as well as all these other problematic health issues. If you can offer any ideas of what may have triggered this, or any other methods that may elliviate these symptoms somewhat that would be greatly appreciated.

Gord... Tweet