PD as result of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination through 1980s

[AmyLindy]

Like me, are there others under evaluation for PD as a result of the historic water problems up through the mid 80's? My claim was submitted April 2017. I don't expect to hear anything too soon- but has anyone else ?

[Hikoi]

I am not much help as Ive never heard of Camp Lejeune or pd caused by contaminated water. I'm presuming this is in the US. Im curious, can you tell us a bit more about Camp Lejeune water.

[Motal in reply to Hikoi]

Hikoi:

Synopsis: 30+ yrs of chemical contamination of the well water at the US Marine Corps base in Jacksonville, NC from the 1950's to late 1980's. Somewhere in that timeframe VOCs found, but water continued to be used. It's a huge base and families of Marines drank the water as did the Marines. Subsequently linked to several diseases including Parkinsons among Marines and families who'd lived there then.

Ongoing story: northcarolinahealthnews.org...

[AmyLindy in reply to Motal]

Nice synopsis@Motal! Like that Link-never seen that one before.

[Motal in reply to AmyLindy]

Thanks. And Welcome to HU...

[Hikoi in reply to Motal]

Thanks, and for the link too.

[Ameister]

I got the letter but Im not covered as I was a dependent . My dad was chief of staff of the base. Interesting to me because I have no othet links to PD.

I remember the water tasted terrible

[AmyLindy in reply to Ameister]

Does ur dad have any hidden symptoms of PD I wonder? So much of PD is beneath the Iceberg waterline...

I was stationed @NAVHOSP For 3 years during the timeframe.

[AmyLindy]

@Ameister it seems dependents might also have coverage for the same timeframe; to review qualifications follow the links from publichealth.va.gov/exposur...

[AmyLindy]

publichealth.va.gov/exposur...

[Ameister]

He passed . No pd signs but i have it

[Ameister in reply to Ameister]

I called the number on the lerrer they said dependents dont qualify. ;(

[AmyLindy in reply to Ameister]

Was he COS prior to my time (1983)?

[Ameister in reply to AmyLindy]

Yes late 70s to 81

[sharron2]

After we had the official diagnosis my husbands' neurologist social worker filled out the DBQ the VA uses for evaluating medical claims for Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. With the completed DBQ our response from the medical review board was about 2 mos. Since Lejeune, blue water and feet on the ground vietnam vets are presumed to be at risk for Parkinsons', you only have to have the diagnosis to be awarded the disability. Now the question will be how great your rating will be based on how you are impacted by the disease.

My husband is mildly affected and received a 70% disability rating. He has extreme exhaustion, apathy, loss of smell, tremor of right dominate hand, stooping, mild gait impact, some orthostatic hypotension and mild swallowing issues. Part of the rating is due to the fact that this disease is incurable, progressive and is expected to shorten his life.

He now receives his meds from the VA, but continues to go to the best available Movement Disorder Neurologist group in Dallas as we do not trust the VA to implement the best care due to financial constraints. Hopefully we can afford to this for the rest of his life.

Hope this helped you. Good luck.

[AmyLindy in reply to sharron2]

Meds from VA - Civilian Dallas doctor writes Rx to VA or?

[sharron2 in reply to AmyLindy]

We get most of his prescriptions from the VA, but we use our civilian and tricare insurance for his Parkinson's meds. We had our favorite private neuro move and went to one of the associates in the practice. The (new to us neuro) had students do an evaluation that initially said he had Multiple System Atrophy, not Parkinson's. That scared us badly as it is a very difficult diagnosis and would have taken our Parkinson's rating away! I challenged that diagnosis and a few months later the head doctor agreed. We decided we would not share our Parkinson's medical records with the VA. We only sent our DBQ the original doctor prepared for us.

As we have the other pharmacy options, we feel safer with this. Yes the cardiologist prescriptions are brought to the PCP and they forward them to the VA pharmacy.

[AmyLindy]

Quite helpful@Sharron2. I haven't been called back for an eval; only submitted the FORM from my civilian Movement Specialist , here, in small town NC.

I am from Dallas, originally. Y'all will have great care options there and like you, I intend to use my civilian specialist for most care with the VA for Rx and "2nd opinions" as indicated. Our new VA CLINIC is a beautiful space with talented providers, however, they are taxed enough, so, I will not add on to that burden. I am fortunate to have options.

The VA offers some medical assistance devices & assistance (for future reference, anyways)...

I try not to focus on the future, but by nature, I am a 'contingency planner' (retired Navy) and can't help myself

[AmyLindy]

Really appreciate your thorough reply and re-reading it helps me sort of settle in and prepare...

[sharron2]

My PWP takes sertraline and bupropion for depression. The greatest disabler for him has been orthostatic hypotension and fatigue. We have focused on this issue for the last year and have finally seemed to have his medications adjusted so that this is now very minimized. We are so thankful he can get out of his chair without debilitating nausea and vertigo. With these blood pressure issues we are not adding any extra meds as there is often some type of drug interaction. He is under the care of a cardiologist, movement specialist, urologist, and va psych. Keeping all of these care plans in concert rather conflict takes a lot of focus on drug details.

He is now thinking of adding a rock steady type of exercise now he is more stable on his feet and feeling so much better.

[AmyLindy in reply to sharron2]

The RSB /Boxing is fun!

[KERRINGTON]

Wonder how residents of Flint, Michigan will fare in the future.....