"There is no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome"

[thewayne]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060912/ap_on_he_me/gulf_war_illness_1

Now, they have a valid point. There is no "one set" of symptoms, but there are many common symptoms. So basically they seem to be describing fibromyalgia. But there are far too many seriously sick veterans for tthis to be ignored.

""There's no unique pattern of symptoms. Every pattern identified in Gulf War veterans also seems to exist in other veterans, though it is important to note the symptom rate is higher, and it is a serious issue," said Dr. Lynn Goldman, of Johns Hopkins University, who headed the Institute of Medicine committee that prepared the report.

Comments

[annaonthemoon.livejournal.com]

I thought Gulf War syndrome was ruled to be PTSD several years ago?

[donkey-hokey.livejournal.com]

Gah. There's been similar wordplay with the "hidden" 9/11 victims, the first responders who went into the smoke and dust with the government's assurance the airquality was just fine. (One of many links: http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_4317797)

Anything to keep those asses covered, eh? I'd love to drop some of these analysts and decision-makers into Iraq and leave them there for a few months or even a year, and see what interesting symptoms they manifest.

One bit from the article I don't see as really related to Gulf War Syndrome: "They also face an increased risk of anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse". These are symptoms that happen in any conflict, now or present. In fact, it's a nice summary of PTSD. PTSD sucks, but it shouldn't be lumped in with (or confused as) the syndrome itself.

Gulf War Syndrome seems more like an extreme version of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, which also has a common set of symptoms that vary from individual to individual.

Bleh.. a longer response than I intended...sorry.