Dave, thanks for the reply. Good luck Freddy.

hello..my name is matthew radford and my father spent 3 tours of duty in 'Nam....he was ground recon and got alot of the exposure to the chemical agaent orange...when he came home he wasnt the same father i knew before...i realize he also had p.t.s.d but i account the agent orange for the biggest part of his spratic behaviour,..outburst....drug addiction...he finally died 3 years ago with the same thing everyone elses loves ones dies from...hepatitis c and stomach cancer........the after effects have made me suffer 2..i am considered bi polar skitzo with a personally disorder.....when i was young i couldnt talk till i was 5 years old...i was in speech therapy the whole time.my motor fuctions in my brain would sgort circuit each other..sayin i was holdina pencil in my hand id fall out of the chair i was in..i have mood swings...constant back pain(why im addicted to pain killers now

For general information about AO, go here.

There are no VSO's who are complete authorities on the topic so it's best to rely on Department of Veteran's Affairs information which will provide accurate information.

I am 32 years old and have been fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the past two years.
I have also been battling depression and anxiety, not just associated with the cancer, but for my entire adult life.
My father Lou served in Vietnam and is a decorated war veteran.
Recently my father randomly disclosed to the whole family that his primary care physician has been urging him to deal with his PTSD related to his experience in Vietnam. I was astonished at his admission - albeit made in a forum which prevented any serious discussion - ever my father's way. I have not discussed the matter with him since, but am preparing to do so.

In preparation for this discussion I have been researching PTSD in vets and its effect on the children of vets.
As a result I have discovered several other diseases that vets suffer from, the most apropos being Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. My father has never had cancer, but since I do I am concerned that there is a link. I am reaching out to as many people as I can for information about this issue. My ultimate goal is to grow closer to my father, and secure appropriate healthcare benefits from the VA for both me and my younger brother.

Does anyone have any advice regarding any of the above?

HI! MY NAME IS GINA AND I AM NEW TO THIS SITE. I AM THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF A VIETNAM VET, WHO I'M SURE WAS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE. ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN IN& OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. MAINLY WITH KIDNEY INFECTIONS & UTI'S.HAVE RHEUMATIOD ARTHRITIS & ASTHMA. WAS DIAGNOSED BORDERLINE LUPUS. DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS BORDERLINE WITH LUPUS. HAVE HAD SURGERIES FOR; KIDNEY STONES, GALL STONES, & APENDISITIS. ALSO SUFFER ON/OFF WITH DEPRESSION. HAVE BEEN ON/OFF DIFFERENT MEDS SINCE I WAS @ 4 YRS OLD. I DONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP! MY DOCTORS HAVE ALWAYS SAID I'M MUCH TOO YOUNG FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS, BUT NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN CONECTED. I BELIEVE ITS BECAUSE MY DAD WAS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO FIND A DOCTOR IN MY AREA THAT CAN CONNECT THE DOTS. I FEEL LIKE I'M ALL ALONE EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!

To MATT & Feeling helpless

Here is a spring board website that is comprised of the Registry for Children of Soldiers and AO, as well as contacts, where to go for help, the VA and other agencies. I am deeply saddened that you, the children of men who tried to serve their country as best they could would then also have to suffer, tantemount to having to go to war twice, and certainly no battle for you to have to wage yourself. Here it is http://www.vvof.org/vvofaopg.htm...Also,we are blessed to have DAVE BARKER, who I'm sure will catch your post and help as much as he can, He is the Resident expert on AO, not just here on Mil.Com but also a very well versed advocate in the U.S
On the legal side, there are several lawsuits throughout the U.S specifically targeted for individuals like you, and so if there is any legal help you would like on a pro bono basis, feel free to email me. But, by all means do visit the site I listed for it contains a wealth of information and resources.
Wishing you the best and Godspeed.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

TO ERES TU FREDDY,MATT,& MARGARET: FREDDY, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING WITH A SITE I CAN LOOK-UP.THERE IS SO MUCH INFO OUT THERE THAT IT'S MIND BOGGLING!THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRRECTION! MATT, HANG IN THERE! I'M GLAD YOUR DAD IS FINALY GETTING HELP FOR PTSD. MY DAD SUFFERS SO BAD FROM IT THAT HE CANT BE AROUND PLACES WITH ALOT OF PEOPLE. WHEN I WAS A KID HE USE TO DRIVE ME TO MCDONALDS, HAND ME $5 AND SEND ME INSIDE SO I CAN BUY MY OWN B-FAST BECAUSE HE COULD NOT WALK IN WITH ME. I WAS ONLY 5 OR 6 YRS OLD. WE COULD NEVER GO TO PLACES & DO FATHER/DAUGHTER THINGS BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS TOO PARRINOID. HE CUD NOT WALK ME DOWN THE ISLE AT CHURCH WHEN I TURNED 15. HE DIDN'T EVEN ATTEND. NOR COULD HE COME TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I GAVE BIRTH TO MY CHILDREN. IN A WAY, I DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER. I KNOW IT'S NOT HIS FAULT & I DO LOVE HIM FOR LOVING ME AS BEST HE COULD! BUT HE CANT SEEM TO LET GO OF THE DEMONS THAT BIND HIM TO THE VIETNAM WAR. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU & YOUR DAD, THAT HE CAN MAKE PROGRESS WITH LETTING GO OF HIS DEMONS! MARGARET, MANY THANKS TO YOU TOO FOR RESPONDING TO ME. I'M NOT THAT SMART WHEN IT COMES TO USEING COMPUTERS, SO IT MAY TAKE ME A WHILE TO LEARN HOW TO CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY.PLEASE EXCUSE TYPOS & ERRORS. I DONT KNOW HOW TO GO BACK & FIX THEM. .

I sincerely hope that you can find the resources you need, and pray your Father to find some peace to calm his turbulent soul. Perhaps you can share with him the fact that he is not alone and there are many veterans out there who through their own experience can identify with him and vice versa and by so doing become each others catalyst to some normality in life's functions.
My best to you and yours and Godspeed.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

ERES TU FREDDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I HAVE CONNECTED WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS THAT I HAVE. IT IS BOTH A RELIEF & DISTURBING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OF US OUT THERE. MY FATHER HOLDS ALOT OF ANGER TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE RESULTS OF THE VIENTNAM WAR. HE FEELS LIKE NO ONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE WENT THROUGH IN THE WAR. LOUD SOUNDS MAKE HIM FLINTCH, THE SOUND OF A HELICOPTER CAUSES HIM TO BECOME NERVOUS. THE SMELL OF RUBBING ALCOHOL CAUSES HIM TO HAVE DAYMARES. HOW DOES SOMEONE LIKE HIM GET PAST ALL THIS? WITH TIME HE HAS TONED DOWN A BIT, BUT 35+ YEARS HAVE BEEN LOST. IS IT GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER 35YRS FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO NORMAL THINGS LIKE: GO TO THE MOVIES, GO HAVE A MEAL IN A RESTRAUNT, OR GO TO A BASEBALL GAME? HE COULDN'T EVEN ATTEND HIS GRANDDAUGHTERS' H.S. GRADUATION. HOW CAN I HELP HIM WHEN I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT HE MAY HAVE SEEN, HEARD, & EXPIRIENCED IN VIETNAM? ANY THOUGHTS?

Yes, again....your Father must be told over and over again that his Vietnam war experience was NOT unique, no more than my experience was for me. For a long long time I thought I was alone too, and who would I talk or share my thoughts and feelings about my experience with if they're not me, or weren't like me or served with me..you see, it was all about me, and the extreme fear of what would happen if those dark dark secrets were suddenly cut loose and my life "Book" of "The War and My war and My sins of war" were exposed, would I lose my sanity?

I spent 4 tours in Vietnam, my wife, kids suffered quite a bit and quite needlessly for a very long time. I now openly talk about having spent 13 months in a Psychiatric ward as a result of a total breakdown I had because of the violent effects of PTSD, but for a long time after my release, I also kept it to myself and a secret. I also had many, many admissions to the Psych ward afterwards too, and that was always placed in the closet as well. Now, I am much better than ever before, because in large part I simply stopped keeping things a secret.

I did some very terrible things in Vietnam and I have no doubt that your Father likely keeps alot of skeletons in his closet as well, but over time, I found that some basic and fundemental elements of PTSD can be overcome by coming to terms that what happened, happened and no more running from it, it was and is history, and no matter how bad or terrible the thing we, me or he did, it happened and while I was (another admission) in the National Center for PTSD at Menlo Park, CA THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO AS PART OF THE TREATMENT WAS TO "OWN" IT...
Not long ago and even today..some Vietnam veterans would have been so repulsed, angry with me because in a post not long ago, I openly stated that while transporting one of the men assigned to my platoon to an evac hospital, a couple of the guys I was with and myself went outside of that "Hootch" I guess that's what they called them (The Evac hospitals had continuing strings of them so I'm not sure what the proper name for it is or was) anyway..like I said we went outside for a smoke and not having any place to kick back..and I openly stated that 'I HAD BECOME SO COLD, SO INDIFFERENT AND SO CALLOUS" that NOTHING bothered me...there were 3-4 "Gurnies" you know those rolling tables..each had a body bag on it awaiting transport to the "Prep" Morgue I think was in Cahm Rahn Bay by air..Myself and my right hand man (he was my radio man, I was a Squad Leader) just jumped up and sat on them..That incident is easier to admit and say...NOW..but it was a nightmare to me and for me for YEARS,,after I came back home and realized just what a cold sonnofabittch I had become, that no one with any sanity would do what I did. At Menlo Park, I had to not only say it but i HAD to own it..BELIEVE ME..I HAD TO OWN ALLOT OF THINGS..AND NONE GOOD..

The key to all of this is, that it is part of the recovery of your soul..It is part of the treatment to help stop the bleeding from an injured heart..and lastly, My conscience that knew no peace at all for many, many years is now more soothed and comforted, by the knowledge that I owned the things I did, I came to realize that I was not alone, that I was very young, and the things I did were in direct response to the horror of what the VC and NVA soldiers did to Americans, so as a coping mechanism, I BECAME JUST LIKE THEM..

PTSD is a simple label for a very devastating disorder..such easy letters for easy words..yet so profound in the damage to the soldier and collateral damage done to the children.

Now, I live with a Grandson who I gave the nickname Bubba to, he's sleeping (apparently) and I woke up (normal) and saw this. But like my Bubba..He was an extreme Preemie..that everyone gave up on..he was born at 4 months..had no skin...had tubes, wires and God knows what else in the hospitals attempt to keep him alive. My daughter gave up on him, everyone did, and so I asked if they would give me custody, they agreed, they were convinced he would never make it anyway..even the nurses as kind as they were told me not to expect much..But yanno what..I lived...yep, basically lived right next to him for about 5 months, my hand, arms were numb..literally NUMB from the lack of blood because my finger was against his cheek the WHOLE TIME, 24 hours a day..and I would whisper to him to be tough...tougher than I ever was in life..and to fight..and FIGHT FOR ME..not for his life but for mine..because I told him that I needed him to make it, to prove he could do what I could never..and in one conversation I told him that I would from that moment call him Bubba..because all Bubba's are redneck hillbillies and tough as hell, and he was going to be that tough..Now, even last night (now morning) as I tucked him in, he always, (just like clockwork) he grabs my arm, squeezes it, hugs me and tells me that he loves me....In short..He is my redemption and my hope. He is my example, to remind me that if he could overcome ALL obstacles, I was given another chance to heal my heart broken by the ravages of PTSD..and it is healing, I am fine and getting finer..every single day..Your Father may need to look into the eyes of the girl he brought into this world and see the love she reserved just for him as she tells him Just how much she loves her Father while she holds his face in her hands..and Sweetie, that is what I am suggesting strongly that you do..Show him that the beginnings of his salvation is a tear from either you or him of which the water is made from the pure expression of unconditional love.

Eres Tu!
Freddy

A P/S to you

After you have done the above..the next thing you do is grab that old soldier and tell him he will go somewhere, anywhere with your daughter, his grand daughter and quit feeling sorry for himself (even though he really isn't) but say it anyway..only words that get quick reactions..and that HIS grand daughter needs him..so be as proud of her, enough so to prove it to the world by taking her..anywhere and she is proud enough of him to want to do something..a store..a mall, anywhere where he can buy her something..TOGETHER..so he can see her smile and she...his...it's a feel good thing for everyone..and they're all just baby steps..next time something else, and then again..until..who knows..I go fishing now...
God bless you, yours and your Dad.
Eres Tu! ""TOUCH THE WIND""
Freddy

i really want to say there is help out there for us children effected by agent orange. i can help you just email me at jen_chris99@yahoo.com.

quote:

Originally posted by susanmillerm:
My father was 100% disabled American Vietnam Vet who was exposed to AO, who died in 2000 from a vehicle accident. Before he died he had been having skin cancer removed, lymphnode cancer, diabetes and a few other problems that VA had determined was AO related. My brother and I, We both have been experiencing nerve problems, stomach problems and weird bumps on our skin. When I asked around about these problems and being related to Agent Orange, I am told that I had to only have Spina Bifida to get anyone to listen to me. I see and am going thru alot of the things my father went thru. My brother lives in Florida and I live in Oregon. We never see each other and when we do talk on the phone...the things he tells me he is going thru is identical to what I am and what my father was. I just dont know where to turn to or get help with this. I havent been able to work since 2004 nor hold a job longer than 6 months thru my life...and neither has my brother. Due to complications from this. help?

hi i just wanted to say your not alone. there are alot of children out there just like you i am one of them. please contact me at my email maybe we can help each other jen_chris99@yahoo.com

quote:

Originally posted by nanascraps:
My father was in Vietnam 1969-1971 and has since been 100% disabled through the VA for all of his health problems due to AO. I have been reading the various posts by other children of Vietnam vets and their health problems they are having. Sounds exactly like me! My mom and dad got married and had me in 1972. I have Diabetes,rheumatoid arthritis and they are testing me for Lupus also. My poor dad is beside himself thinking that all of my health problems are due to his exposure to AO. I will forward to him the link to Dave's website. I tell him not to blame himself that he did what was right and courageous for his country and if anyone is to blame it is the govt. for not recognizing and admitting to what we all know is the truth.

Thanks for the information! I have learned a lot here!

Cathie

Posted Sun 27 January 2008 06:04 PM Hide Post
I am the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran USMC . I have had many problems like the rest of you.

hi i understnad completely how you feel. if you like i would be happy to talk to you. or i can get you in touch with the group im in we are agent orange effected kids that are here to help each other. casue seems like no one else will email me at jen_chris99@yahoo.com

quote:

Originally posted by mattd248:
I am 32 years old and have been fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the past two years.
I have also been battling depression and anxiety, not just associated with the cancer, but for my entire adult life.
My father Lou served in Vietnam and is a decorated war veteran.
Recently my father randomly disclosed to the whole family that his primary care physician has been urging him to deal with his PTSD related to his experience in Vietnam. I was astonished at his admission - albeit made in a forum which prevented any serious discussion - ever my father's way. I have not discussed the matter with him since, but am preparing to do so.

In preparation for this discussion I have been researching PTSD in vets and its effect on the children of vets.
As a result I have discovered several other diseases that vets suffer from, the most apropos being Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. My father has never had cancer, but since I do I am concerned that there is a link. I am reaching out to as many people as I can for information about this issue. My ultimate goal is to grow closer to my father, and secure appropriate healthcare benefits from the VA for both me and my younger brother.

Does anyone have any advice regarding any of the above?

hi i just wanted to say your not alone. there are alot of children out there just like you i am one of them. please contact me at my email maybe we can help each other jen_chris99@yahoo.com

quote:

Originally posted by jokerz_wild:
hello..my name is matthew radford and my father spent 3 tours of duty in 'Nam....he was ground recon and got alot of the exposure to the chemical agaent orange...when he came home he wasnt the same father i knew before...i realize he also had p.t.s.d but i account the agent orange for the biggest part of his spratic behaviour,..outburst....drug addiction...he finally died 3 years ago with the same thing everyone elses loves ones dies from...hepatitis c and stomach cancer........the after effects have made me suffer 2..i am considered bi polar skitzo with a personally disorder.....when i was young i couldnt talk till i was 5 years old...i was in speech therapy the whole time.my motor fuctions in my brain would sgort circuit each other..sayin i was holdina pencil in my hand id fall out of the chair i was in..i have mood swings...constant back pain(why im addicted to pain killers now

Susan - I also have experienced similar symptoms. I welcome the opportunity to share with you my findings as I have been researching ways to resolve my symptoms for over 5 years. I did connect with a woman who is an expert in Agent Orange and assisted in the studies done in Australia. She helped me to determine that, first, I am not alone and validated what I was going through (which many doctors haven't done; in fact, they made me feel like I was imagining things). She gave me some information which has turned out to be very useful. I have only had the symptoms once since speaking with her and finally feel like I have some control. Please contact me via email at llchamberlin@yahoo.com

I am the wife of a Vietnam Veteran and the mother of one of his sons. Jim has been Type ll diabetic now for four years,he also has a skin condition that has not been diagnosed by the VA hospital in our area, he also was just diagnosed with diabetes nueropathy. Our son is 20 years old and at was diagnosed with Type l
diabetes, sarcoidosis, rhuematoid arthritis, nuetropenia, and Felty's syndrome. These are all auto immune disorders that do not run in either side of the family. And when we found all this stuff, the doctors informed us that
David had been nuetropenic for at least 10 to 11 years. We know that the Agent Orange that his father was introduced to during his two tours in Vietnam is the cause of these, but are having a hard time proving this. Where do we go to get the medical help that he needs, and how can we get the genetic testing done on Jim,
and both sons. His son from a previous marriage
also has the same skin condition that his father has. I have done some research that shows the male Vietnam Veterans still had dioxin/ agent orange in their sperm 20 years later. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that if its in the sperm than it will transfer to the child. If anyone out there can point me in the right direction, all help would be appreciated. Also there is a group called
Agent Orange Legacy, their website address is
agentorangelegacy.ning.com This is a website for Veterans, wives, widows, husbands and their
children who have been exposed to Agent Orange.

jparrish

I am sorry to hear that your family is having to endure what so many of us are. I am curious about the skin condition your family members are suffering from...I too suffer from a condition that affects the skin. I have spoken with a woman who headed up a lot of research regarding agent orange and she gave me some wonderful recommendations. One is to avoid regular drinking water...many children of Vietnam Veterans have a reaction to the chlorine in water. She recommended drinking only water that is carbon filtered - Aquafina is one of the bottled waters that uses this filtering system and pur water filters do as well. Her advice really helped me to avoid some of the symptoms that I was experiencing. She also had me look up porphyria - it's an illness that can have an affect on the skin. There are several forms of this illness. Some affect only the skin while others affect the skin as well as the muscles and joints. If you look up the illness, some sites give you recommendations of how to get tested and ways to avoid symptoms. I have not yet been diagnosed because there are only a few places to be properly tested in the US and you have to be experiencing symptoms when tested for a proper reading. I have no desire to set off the symptoms again to have the testing done. I suffer from extreme pain when my symptoms are set off and her advice has helped me to avoid the painful symptoms for over a year.

I don't know if this information will help you and your family, but I hope it can.

Thanks and good luck,
Lisa Chamberlin