If you have respiratory damage from burn pits, please read this now!

usafaviator

usafaviator

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
I have been posting about my injuries that occurred while at Balad. A quick rehash: Asthma, Hashimotos Thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. I was informed this week (after continued CT scans/MRI's and cardio pulmonary stress tests) that my diagnosis is quite a bit worse. It appears that exposure to the burn pits has led to all the above, plus COPD and constrictive broncholitis (sp). Although none of this is curable, the asthma and COPD symptoms can be mitigated with steroids (prednisone, symbacort, Advair, etc). NOTHING will help with constrictive bronchiolitis (intrinsic lung disease) and it is life threatening, and has been directly linked to the burn pits/combat.
Now, if you are having respiratory issues and were around burn pits of any type (especially Balad 2003-2007 or the Mosul sulfur fires in 2003, PLEASE get checked out NOW. The problem with this disease is that it is often misdiagnosed as asthma and the MRI/CAT scans present normal UNTIL it is too late and severe damage is done. Like I said, it is not curable, but it is nice to know you have it before it gets bad.
I was ramping up for my annual RILO for the asthma before the stress test identified the real issue...now (even though I have a strong retention letter from my boss, Brig Gen), I have no idea how this will play out. I was retained after my first MEB last year. My mil doc (flight med) says that the constrictive bronch will lead to a 100% med retirement.
Sorry for the long post, but my bottom line is PLEASE BRING THIS POSSIBILITY UP TO YOUR DOC SO THEY DON'T OVERLOOK IT!
 
I was in balad in 2007 and have had problems since. The military docs seemed to ignore me (i was overseas, and had limited access to docs offbase) and since I was medically separated in nov 2011 I listed it on my VA claim but have yet to hear back since they've had my initial claim for 13 months. However when I did a breathing test for my VA physical the examiner looked kind of funny and said something was wrong (don't remember what he said now since it took 9 hours for my physical from start to finish). Anyway, I had the form from outprocessing Iraq where I listed breathing problems so we'll see what happens.
 
I know I was exposed I lived right next to the burn bit god dam kbr burned medical waste too. The thing was I didnt even think to say anything and my meb is over ):...
 
Hello,

I was in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq, from 2006-2007 on a huge airbase with a HUGE burn pit. Kirkuk is somewhat near Mosul but Kirkuk was adjacent to an Oil Field. In which, it was my Platoon's AO. Go Figure.

years later...

A MEB was initiated due to Asthma but I came off with a combined retirement of 70% and 80% from the VA. Completely aware of the situation. I believe a bunch of soldiers from the 82nd came back with crazy lung problems.
 
http://www.burnpits360.org/ You might want to look up this website and get registered, for awareness and legislation being sponsored by this group? ;)
Click to expand...

I agree and registered about a year ago. They also have a Facebook page. There are many members that have lung damage from the pits that have yet to come forward because, like I did, they are sucking it up and don't realize that something is seriously wrong. While it's ok to work through some pains/issues, burn pit exposure and pulmonary disease is a serious (possibly life threatening) issue and (if you even think you were exposed) you should address the possibility with your provider asap. You can survive if you lose a limb, but if your lungs fail, it's over. Seriously. Gavin, even though your MEB is complete, you should contact the VA to get an exposure exam through the Environmental Exposure section and get on the burn pit/Gulf War Illness Registry.
 
Question for you: how did your doc come up with the 100% disability that you referred to? I am currently on my third deployment, but am going home in the next few weeks. I was around burn pits in Iraq my first deployment and have been around the oil refineries and chemical plants in Kuwait my last two deployments. A civilian pulmonologist diagnosed me with constrictive bronchiolitis before this deployment but never explained how serious it was. I've got to see the doctors when I get home, and am not sure if I will be med boarded or exactly what is going to happen. Some of the stuff I'm reading on this diagnosis is inconclusive, but some of it is pretty scary stuff.
 
@usafaviator, what tests did they do to get the constrictive bronchiolitis diagnosis? I've had the methacholine challenge and FEV tests, both of which aren't good at diagnosing CB. My last pulmonologist at Landstuhl told me that 'almost everyone has CB to some extent'. HUH?? I have extreme shortness of breath on exertion, was in Kirkuk in 2003 and Balad in 2006. It's SO frustrating, I do cardio 5-6 days a week and it NEVER improves.
 
My med records have a letter in them from when I was in Balad in 04-05. It states that I was exposed to burn pits and other carcinogens. Since then I have had recurring bronchitis, and now suddenly have asthma. My methacholine challenge confirmed the asthma, so now I am wondering what else might be wrong with me from that deployment (was outside the wire A LOT, and they burned worse stuff than we did). Maybe I will present that letter to my pulm doc to see what he says.
 
Sorry for the dealyed response:

Larry3477 said:
Question for you: how did your doc come up with the 100% disability that you referred to? I am currently on my third deployment, but am going home in the next few weeks. I was around burn pits in Iraq my first deployment and have been around the oil refineries and chemical plants in Kuwait my last two deployments. A civilian pulmonologist diagnosed me with constrictive bronchiolitis before this deployment but never explained how serious it was. I've got to see the doctors when I get home, and am not sure if I will be med boarded or exactly what is going to happen. Some of the stuff I'm reading on this diagnosis is inconclusive, but some of it is pretty scary stuff.
Click to expand...

Larry- CB is restrictive lung disease and (depending upon the severity of your symptoms and if you ever have to use oxygen) carries a VASRD rating typically 60-100%. Although CB is not listed in the VASRD, they rate as restrictive lung disease. The only way to 100% diagnose CB is through an open chest lung biopsy, as it obliterates your small airways (thus it typically not showing on an x-ray or MRI). However, one of the major indicators (which I have) is called "patchy attenuation" of the lungs from MRI or "mosaic pattern" demonstrating air trapping, typically indicative of small airway disease (CB).

bombkitty said:
@usafaviator, what tests did they do to get the constrictive bronchiolitis diagnosis? I've had the methacholine challenge and FEV tests, both of which aren't good at diagnosing CB. My last pulmonologist at Landstuhl told me that 'almost everyone has CB to some extent'. HUH?? I have extreme shortness of breath on exertion, was in Kirkuk in 2003 and Balad in 2006. It's SO frustrating, I do cardio 5-6 days a week and it NEVER improves.
Click to expand...

bombkitty- The main contributors to the CB diagnosis that I have are:
PFT's demonstrating obstructive and restrictive lung disease, MRI showing mosiac pattern patchy attenuation (air trapping) and cardio pulmonary stress test showing obstructive and restrictive lung disease. CB is unresponsive to bronchiodialators (rescue inhaler, albuterol, etc.) and tests show that steroids (including a combo of inhalational and systemic) can help slow progression down in the early stages, but only temporarily as the disease is progressive. CB is often misdiagnosed as primarily asthma when, in fact, asthma may be present along with other obstructive lung disease like COPD.....but CB can often be the main problem "hidden" behind an easy diagnosis. The only way to know for sure is to get all the tests done and, even then, the only way to get the 100% diagnosis is via open chest lung biopsy.:eek: And the info from you last pulm is not only incorrect, but is a dangerous viewpoint on a life threatening (at minimum, life altering) disease.

kmhknight said:
My med records have a letter in them from when I was in Balad in 04-05. It states that I was exposed to burn pits and other carcinogens. Since then I have had recurring bronchitis, and now suddenly have asthma. My methacholine challenge confirmed the asthma, so now I am wondering what else might be wrong with me from that deployment (was outside the wire A LOT, and they burned worse stuff than we did). Maybe I will present that letter to my pulm doc to see what he says.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how mine started and progressed until I was finally given the care/testing etc. that I should have had a long time ago. Bring up your deployment conditions/locations to your doc and the possibility of CB. It never hurts to rule it out (hopefully), but letting it go (even though there is no cure for it, only mitigational meds) will ensure that you will worsen with no real explination or proper treatment/meds etc.
 
I did bring this up with my pulm doc and unfortunately he does not perform the biopsy to test for the CB. I would have to drag my new PCM into this mess, and he/she is just a PA now. <sigh> Since I have my records ready for my MEB, I am going to go through and count the number of times I have had URI's/Bronchitis (about 3-4 times/year). That is since being in Iraq. I have to have something to approach my PCM with, who will still probably stonewall me regardless.
 
I am being retired due to lung problems that I believe to be from the burn pits over there, but the DOD did not deem the illness (occured in combat), but did deem it service related..
 
kmhknight said:
I did bring this up with my pulm doc and unfortunately he does not perform the biopsy to test for the CB. I would have to drag my new PCM into this mess, and he/she is just a PA now. <sigh> Since I have my records ready for my MEB, I am going to go through and count the number of times I have had URI's/Bronchitis (about 3-4 times/year). That is since being in Iraq. I have to have something to approach my PCM with, who will still probably stonewall me regardless.
Click to expand...

There is a lot of information in re burn pits via Google. You might get further with your PCM if you print a few of the studies up and show them to your chain of command and PCM.

bamagun said:
I am being retired due to lung problems that I believe to be from the burn pits over there, but the DOD did not deem the illness (occured in combat), but did deem it service related..
Click to expand...

Yeah, unfortunately this is going to be a fight for us...just like Agent Orange was (is) for Vietnam vets. There is progress being made in linking some of the lung diseases that vets are returning with to burn pits. I can't really go into specifics on that because I'm involved in the litigation against KBR/Haliburton (burn pit contractors/operators).
 
Yeah, I get all of the emails from MandR and it doesnt look good.. I need to contact them and get all the paperwork and fill it out and jump on board with yall.. I would assume the more people fighting them, the more firepower MandR have against KBR.. And maybe that damn judge will remove the head from the anus and realize that there is an issue over there
 
usafaviator said:
There is a lot of information in re burn pits via Google. You might get further with your PCM if you print a few of the studies up and show them to your chain of command and PCM.



Yeah, unfortunately this is going to be a fight for us...just like Agent Orange was (is) for Vietnam vets. There is progress being made in linking some of the lung diseases that vets are returning with to burn pits. I can't really go into specifics on that because I'm involved in the litigation against KBR/Haliburton (burn pit contractors/operators).
Click to expand...

Well, good luck in your fight and let me know how it turns out. They did a lot of things over there to save money that hurt us and made a lot of us sick. They deserve whatever beating they get.
 
Everyone, my name is Jayson Williams, I know what you guys are going through. Military is going to ignore the issue. If you are on TDRL, go to you Pulmonary Doctor and demand him or her to do the Lung Biopsy.
It will show up in the Biopsy. If you are on Active Duty still contact http://www.lawyersservingwarriors.com/ Immediatly to get help. Military is treating this as a business decision and they damn sure don't care about your
health. Research National Jewish Hospital in Denver Colorado. They are #1 in the Nation for Heart and Lungs. I did the Lung Biopsy and used National Jewish for my second opinion and the Army is not happy. If you need assistance, you can call me at 719-391-9080. I would be glad to steer you right. Here is a good read fellas:

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/04/army-want-to-hide-soldiers-with-constrictive-bronchiolitis/
 
Thanks for the info Jayson!
 
Hey Everyone, If you are a Moderator, can we get a dedicated thread for Burn Pits. I have some good input, but it would be easier if their was a thread for Burn Pits which would be easier for people to find. I have an article from Patricia Kime ( Army Times on Medical) I have been talking to her and we will be talking soon about Burn Pits. It would be awsome if everyone would read the article and then blast the thread. If we all stick together, maybe we can cause someone a headache. I found this article disturbing. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/08/military-VA-DoD-airborne-health-hazards-symposium-082212w/ I also found this registry on Burn Pits, if your not registered, please do and look at all information available. Burn Pit 360 Website: http://www.burnpits360.org/Burn-Pit-Registry.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top