It’s sad that it has taken so many years for the sick veterans of the Gulf War to have their illness validated, but those of us with FM and ME/CFS know what they have went through to get to this point. The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses had this to say…
“The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is the result of neurotoxic exposures during Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans have recovered or substantially improved with time.”
Gulf War illness is typically characterized by a combination of memory and concentration problems, persistent headaches, unexplained fatigue and widespread pain, and may also include chronic digestive problems, respiratory symptoms and skin rashes. Sounds a lot like chronic fatigue syndrome, doesn’t it?
The full report featuring the Gulf War illness and the research surrounding it can be found at this link. Approximately 1 out of 4 Gulf War veterans suffer from Gulf War Syndrome and these patients continue to suffer because there have still not been any effective treatments found to date. The veterans contracted Gulf War Syndrome through exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas. Very few of the affected veterans have recovered or shown any substantial improvement over the years.
The 450-page report brings together for the first time the full range of scientific research and government investigations on Gulf War illness and resolves many questions about the condition. The report points out that what these veterans have suffered from is not any of the stress-related disorders that are commonly found after war. In fact, the report revealed that veterans of the Gulf War were shown to have less post-traumatic stress disorders than what has been found in other wars.
If you would like to read more about this extensive report and on Gulf War Syndrome, click the link below.
“The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is the result of neurotoxic exposures during Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans have recovered or substantially improved with time.”
This is so sad really