I too am on blood thinners, I had hip replacement surgery and developed blood clot despite being on lovenox. un-explainable.... Had Pulmonary embolism , almost died.. 1 year treatment on blood thinners. Blood thinner then stopped no cause for blood clotting found, had second DVT , un provoked, no surgery....and 2nd Pulmonary embolism.. I am on blood thinners for life. I'd be dead if it wasn't for my nurse wife recognizing symptoms. I think it is from agent orange, ,I don't smoke , no heart disease, I have had hypertension since before leaving the service, no blood clots in my family.. Also many skin cancers. I have lung damage from the PE. Va denies benefit for my agent orange exposure. I was in the airforce ground crew loading the stuff and they sprayed my airfield. I got SS disability at 62 because of PE and lung damage, shortness of breath. VA denied claim.
Hi! So sorry about your health issues as I can relate to the PE, but have no other health issues. You may have read my story which I posted to this discussion last year. The only thing I think that can be done is to try to get your Federal House of Reps. official and your two Federal Senators to ask the VA to re-consider the relationships to Agent Orange exposure and the onset of PE and other similar illnesses. If enough of us do this, perhaps the VA will recognize it as one of the conditions caused by AO. BTW - Type 2 diabetes is recognized as one of the 'accepted' AO exposure conditions even though most people with this particular condition developed it because of their personal eating and exercise habits not necessarily AO exposure. Go figure! Thanks for posting here.
yes, I served at Ubon air base that was sprayed with agent orange, i also was in Korea in 70 when it was sprayed, i have had 2 pulmanary embolisms and still fighting blood clots
Our storys are identical even a wife thats a nurse.
I had a hip replacement and clotting in my legs started, they went to my lungs and i had a pulmonary
embolism that that put me in the hospital for 12 days. i was on blood thinners but was taken off. I had and PE that put me back in the hospital. I am now on coumadin for the rest of my life. I have to have my blood tested every week and adjust my medication. I've been to some of the finest doctors at M D Anderson and they can't explain why this is happening.
embolism that that put me in the hospital for 12 days. i was on blood thinners but was taken off. I had and PE that put me back in the hospital. I am now on coumadin for the rest of my life. I have to have my blood tested every week and adjust my medication. I've been to some of the finest doctors at M D Anderson and they can't explain why this is happening.
Sorry to hear about your problems re: PE also! If you can get even one the M. D. Anderson MDs to write a letter to the VA stating that she/he believes that your PE was a result of exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam conflict, that will really help to get this condition recognized by the Va and listed as one of the conditions caused by AO exposure. Thanks for sharing your story. Take care.
My husband has had your experience . Active healthy but now experiencing unprovoked clotting . On blood thinners he had a couple big bleeds . Agent orange exposure could ge the connection . We're going to the Hillman Cancer center for further testing .
My father served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange. He had 2 episodes of DVT and PE. He just passed away from multiple PE's.
Hello yes my husband has a embolism and had a hematoma on hi right leg and also a brain cancer GBM he is a Vietnam era vet
yes,i have the same problem with clots for no reason. in my lungs and my legs also one on my brain.
My friend was exposed to agent orange in vietnam 68-69 and was diagnosed with blood clots on his lungs yesterday at the va hospital. Has anyone ever been awarded compensation for this? Has it ever been proven to be agent orange connected?
Like your friend, I had 2 PEs (1st in 2003 followed by the 2nd one in 2006) both of which lodged in my lung tree and if either one had been any larger, I wouldn't be responding to your message. I tried to get the VA to recognize PE as a recognized condition caused by AO exposure, but it was denied. I think that it was denied because there weren't "enough" (how many do they need?) to warrant the recognition! Typical bureaucratic BS, I do believe! It is interesting that Type II diabetes IS one of the health conditions (14 or 15) that is recognized as resulting from AO exposure, because 95% of the cases of this Type of diabetes is caused by lack of exercise and poor nutrition! I suggest that your friend (or you on his/her behalf) write to your Congressional Representative and Federal Senators asking them to request that this condition be recognized by the VA as an AO caused condition. I have, but haven't heard back as of this date. Best of luck to your friend!
Was digonised last Feb 2016 with blood clot to my lung
Sorry to hear that! I wish you all the best! If "the Donald" does actually win, do't expect any improvements in the VA system!
Not to rain on anybody's parade, but worldwide the incidence of DVT/PE is similar-this was determined by a comparison of large studies from Europe and America. There are just as many Swedish people getting DVT/PE as Americans. I can't comment on how many Europeans have been exposed to AO because I don't know, but I don't think the Swedes were involved in Vietnam.
The incidence of DVT/PE increases with age. It is common as people age, and something that every newbie medical student knows to watch out for. It is rare in people in their 20s, although females on oral contraceptives are 3-4 times as likely to have it.
As people age, the incidence increases. 40% of the time there is no discernible reason, other than plain aging and breakdown of tissue, veins, less activity, etc., IOW, as you get older, just like with cars, your 'parts' don't work as well. People who have just had surgery are VERY prone to getting DVT/PE, which is why they give you compression stockings and try to get you up and moving. Sitting still causes the blood to pool in your ankles, which is why traveling a long ways in a car or plane increases the incidence.
It is one of those things that just happens, like arthritis or cataracts, or going bald, and was happening to the general population long before Vietnam, and it will continue long after Vietnam. The aging body just doesn't work as well over time, and s**t happens.
Not everything can be blamed on a conspiracy or the fact that you were in Vietnam. I am still amazed that somebody who is 100 pounds overweight gets SC for diabetes, supposedly caused by AO. The reason you have diabetes is because you are obese!
The incidence of DVT/PE increases with age. It is common as people age, and something that every newbie medical student knows to watch out for. It is rare in people in their 20s, although females on oral contraceptives are 3-4 times as likely to have it.
As people age, the incidence increases. 40% of the time there is no discernible reason, other than plain aging and breakdown of tissue, veins, less activity, etc., IOW, as you get older, just like with cars, your 'parts' don't work as well. People who have just had surgery are VERY prone to getting DVT/PE, which is why they give you compression stockings and try to get you up and moving. Sitting still causes the blood to pool in your ankles, which is why traveling a long ways in a car or plane increases the incidence.
It is one of those things that just happens, like arthritis or cataracts, or going bald, and was happening to the general population long before Vietnam, and it will continue long after Vietnam. The aging body just doesn't work as well over time, and s**t happens.
Not everything can be blamed on a conspiracy or the fact that you were in Vietnam. I am still amazed that somebody who is 100 pounds overweight gets SC for diabetes, supposedly caused by AO. The reason you have diabetes is because you are obese!