agent orange related blood count problems

i was in pcz from 78 to 79 and have herbacide poisoning

I was stationed in Danang SVN 1970/1971.During a pre-op blood test in 2007,I was diagnosed with essential thrombocytosis.(Too many platelets...My count was almost 1,000,000 and it was supposed to be about 140k to 450k)Anyway,I was put on a regimen of hydroxyurea.1 500mg tab daily for the rest of my life!I was also advised to take 1 ,81 mg aspirin,daily.I couldn't get the op(for a simple inguinial hernia) until the count was lowered AND stabilized.In March of 2008,about 5 months after the diagnosis,I had the operation...........The surgeon found a "moderately sized tumor" in the area of the hernia............benign.............The surgeon(Well known/respected/experienced in this area of NH),told me in recovery,that in all of the years he's performed hernia ops,he'd NEVER seen this before.Tumor.......hmmm.

I also filed a claim with my local VA trying to link AO and my condition and guess what?..........DENIED,because it........ET......... is not on the agent orange presumptive list.The claim is in now in appeal status.Get this though.My friend(a viet vet also) was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and is currently collecting a 100% disability benefit.Type 2 is one of the most common diabetes around,one of the most treatable and reversable as well! MANY people get this type.Not just Viet vets.How does this ao presumptive list,or more like who, determines what can be listed or what can't?I've been researching the possible correlation of AO and my condition and I've found that there are MANY other viet vets with my condition or the "other" one.Lower platelets.What's up with this ?I also read on a medical website/blog etc. that ET was actually on the presumptive list...............BUT taken off.If this is true why was it?...........How do we connect with the proper "experts" and get a satisfactory answer to this problem?By the way,I also read an article about a medical research team that was sent to Viet-Nam in 2007 to study the possible after effects of AO to the now warless heavily populated communities.Danang was found to have (STILL) 300 to 400 times the allowable/safe levels of the toxins from AO!!!!!!!!!!!!! This article was from the Denver(Co.) Post,June 2007. Coincidence?..............I don't think so.How do we (ALL concerned) make a case with this?..............We paid the price,in more ways than one,serving in the 'Nam.Wake up VA and do some homework! Someone must know ,even approx. how many Viet Vets have these conditions.MORE serious than type 2 diabetes.Comments/suggestions anyone.I'm NOT backing down on this one,for sure.Anyone interested in starting a "information type group" to pursue this?

This site will not publish my e-mail address,BUT I am on Facebook,so "friend" me if anyone wants to start a snowball rolling.To all my Viet Vet brothers and sisters(regardless of service) Thank you all for your service and a belated "Welcome Home"!!!!!!!!!!!



Wayne Erickson

i was in vn 70 -71 exposed to agent orange i was diagnosed with pv in 95 after years of blood promblems cancer dr. put me on hydera to controle my blood count my bone marrow had depleated to 40% i now take 1500mg hydrea a day

Hi. I have ITP since 1991 and believe it's caused from when I served in Vietnam. ITP is an auto imnune problem where your body dumps platleets. Made a claim to VA in summer 2010 still waiting for an answer.

Please see an oncologist or a hemotologist and tell them your story...I am going through this same thing with my 2 very best friends who served in Nam and it was comfirmed that their cancers were due to AO. Please tell the doctors your story and don't leave anything out. AO carries residual effects and effects the red blood and white cells and platelates. Don't contact VA doctors as they will snow you....its a government thing.

Just starting the battle. I have P-Vera and was diagnosed in 2001 like you. I had been self-treating myslef by giving blood every 8 weeks all those years.

My stepdad also suffers from PV and after some research we also believe it is due to his exposure to AO during his time in Vietnam. Recently he was denied for the second time benefits from the VA for this illness. If anything new has been discovered regarding this issue we would very much appreciate an update. Thanks and good luck!

I made application to the VA online for AO disability after talking with my doctor. I received a packet of forms from the VA basically asking me to "substantiate with scientific evidence that the P-Vera and AO were related." That really threw me. Filled out there forms and sent some articles I found on line about Lymphatic Leukemia which is associated with PV and I think already recognized by the VA as a possible fallout of AO. I understand it will be about 3 years before the VA will act on my request.

as soon as I was diagnosted with diebeties I was diagnoted months later with high blood pressure hish cholesterol and stomack problems with very severe pain hainv to use antibiotics.could this be from agent orange also.

Roger that! I was in Vietnam (Con Thien, Dong Ha, Quang Tri 1970-71. Was diagnosed with PV in 1989 and Prostate Cancer in 2003. I dropped my fight over PV, but would love to pick it up again. It is a national; disgrace that WW II "Atomic Vets have presumptive eligibility for PV and it's just the opposite for Vietnam Vets. It's just plain out and out discrimination against RVN vets, as the cause of PV is just as unknown for WWII vets as it is for RVN vets, it's just that they are more popular with the politicians than are the Vietnam Vets. I would greatly enjoy working with others to get PV service connected for Vietnam vets.

Yes, been trying since 2004. Are there any NIH articles linking PV to Agent Orange and Benzene?

I know this is a very old post, but are you still there?

possibly polycythemia vera id check with your doctor and ask for a blood test for it!

I have also been diagnosed with PV and been fighting for comp from the VA since 2004. I was in Vietnam in 1966 before being blown up, losing an eye and part of my arm. I have Type II Diabetes and a liver disease. Let me know of your appeals. Mine was just remanded back to the BVA. You can find me on FB under Tommy-Teresa Capps.

My father was a USAF pilot, he was in Vietnam. He died of the exposure when I was young. 1984. His death certificate was Agent Orange exposure. Skin cancer, heart disease, red rash. His chest X-ray showed thousands of pin holes in his lungs. His job was to pick up the dead and wounded. They had to fly with the doors open due to the smell. I thank all the soldiers who fought. I understand the flash backs and depression