Peripheral Neuropathy DUE TO Agent Orange- A Vietnam Vets Story

Facts about Vietnam, Agent Orange, Peripheral Neuropathy.. this is Dennis' experience, just in part. It has been a very long road full of much heartache.



Aloha, my name is Dennis Magnusen

I am a Vietnam Vet.; I served in the army from 1967-1970, my time in Vietnam was 1968-1969. I was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive for about a month, then in Can Tho (Mekong Delta) for the remainder of my tour. My rank was sergeant.

I learned the devastations of war first hand, I saw too many dead and mangled bodies. I questioned myself, what can I do to prevent war? I became an educator (Mentor Teacher). I taught 16 years; the first 8 years in grades 1-3, & 6, the last 8 years as a math teacher for 7th & 8th grades during the day as well as "home students" in the afternoon and high school in the evening at a "store-front community school" in the evening. Those
last 8 years I taught in a hard neighborhood for kids to grow-up in, Hawaiian Gardens, California.

Although I taught a variety of subjects, in between the lines I spoke of tolerance, peaceful resolutions amid conflict, and allowing others to speak their "mind" even though their views may be different. I encouraged them to speak up for their "rights". I respected my students, in return, they respected me.

In 1990, I had to go on disability leave; the effects of Agent Orange (dioxin), Agent White (dioxin), and Agent Blue (arsenic) finally took their toll. I now spend most of my time in bed, unable to do most of the things I used to do.
It took the VA 18 years to properly diagnose me, and even then, it was at my persistence.

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I had to dig and research until I found a test that would do the job, the VA was of no help in this matter, if fact, they resisted. My neurologist, Chief of Neurology for the VA in Hawaii at Trippler, always told me that there was nothing they could do for me, and always questioned my pain that was progressing. They said it was a "mental problem".

Finally, I called Walter Reed (mid 2007), I talked to nurse Nancy Reed in the neurological ward. She told me of a nerve biopsy test at Therapath Lab (http://www.therapath.com). It took my neurologist months to finally authorize it. On 3/19/08 I finally got the results, but not from my neurologist. I got the results from an "outside" doctor who performed the biopsy. On the test from Therapath it stated:

DIAGNOSIS: left calf & left thigh; skin with significantly reduced epidermal nerve fiber density, consistent with small fiber neuropathy.

My neurologist was supposed to interpret, with more detail, the results of this test to me as well as a course of treatment. But he can't, he doesn't even know what small fiber neuropathy is, and this is the VA Chief of Neurology for Hawaii. I can only imagine how many of my fellow vets, from Vietnam to the present, could be properly diagnosed with this test from Therapath. They don't need to be told they're crazy, they need to be helped; But THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR US TO DIE.

An on-line friend who writes for the Neuropathy ass. newsletter was wheel-chair bound. He went thru IVIG treatments (intravenous immune gamuglobulin), now he walks; I am close to that wheel chair.I asked my neurologist if I could have IVIG treatments. He said that it was too dangerous, that it would destroy my liver and that I would be on a dialysis machine for the rest of my life. We did the research, it's been used for 25 years without complications for a variety of diseases.

As for me, I still have things to do. Remember the back cover of Richard Bach's book "Illusions";

"Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished; if you're alive, it isn't."

There are so many vets who need help in getting properly diagnosed and treated, the VA has to wake-up. This has become my mission, I'm still alive. Think how many vet suicides this might prevent, how many bodies could be saved from deterioration; my fellow vets still have missions to finish.
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9/2/08
I just spoke to Nancy Spencer, a nurse in the neurological ward at Walter Reed. About a month ago my neurologist, Dr. Ross (Chief of Neurology for the state of Hawaii, VA) at my insistence, was to talk to her about reading my biopsy test for small fiber neuropathy since he could not; he does not even know what SFN is. Dr. Ross has not called me since their conversation. I have left a message every week at his office at the VA in Honolulu, he has not called me back. Nancy Spencer told me that she told Dr. Ross to refer me out to someone who could be of help. She also said that Dr. Ross never asked her help in reading my biopsy test results. She was shocked. Nancy told me to go to my computer and look up NIH.gov, then click on National Institutes of Neurological disorders & strokes for information about treatments that would help me. Nancy also said to write my congressmen, I am a vet, someone should help me. Nancy ended our conversation by saying "hang in there, don't give up".


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Peripheral Neuropathy HELP and SUPPORT:

http://www.neuropathy.org

The Neuropathy Association is the leading national non-profit organization serving the peripheral neuropathy community. We provide support and education, advocate for patients’ interests, and promote research into the causes of and cures for neuropathy.

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