scruffziller
06-25-2005, 11:19 PM
For a couple years now my dad has been struggling with his health. He has been going to doctors and they can't figure out what is wrong with him overall. He has heart arithmia, bad stomach problems, and has panic attacks. For some reason he has never wanted to go to the VA hospital, he doesn't seem to trust the doctors or something.
I had struck up a conversation with my neighboor whose husband is 57 (3 years older than my dad) and he has been totally disabled since 1990 due to the exposure of AGENT ORANGE while he was in Vietnam. I told her that my dad is also a Vietnam vet and he has had bad health problems. And it so happens, that he has been having the same problems as my neighboor's husband. She gave me a phone number to a VA health middle-man who helps fight for the veterans. And from my neighboor said was that you go into the VA hospitals now and all your Vietnam vets are suffering from the same problems. And the problem is that AGENT ORANGE is not a disease, so it can't be dealt with in the same way. With any luck, my dad should be able to get some benefits. However, retribution is out the question since the supreme court has ruled that suing the government for AGENT ORANGE health problems is like suing them for friendly fire. My neighboors husband is getting $4000 a month, but would trade all of that to be pain free. And all the medication he takes only takes the edge off.
My dad has had similar problems through his life but not as severe as they have in the last 2 years. He has always had stomach problems and said that he had some problems immediatley when he came back from Vietnam.
My dad says that when he was there, they sprayed that AGENT ORANGE everywhere all around them. Even though he didn't have direct exposure, the substance was in the air and in the water supply. Even to this day, there are many places in Vietnam that are saturated with the poison and people are still expieriencing its wrath.
But I was wanting to know if any of you guys have any friends, relatives etc. that are suffering through the ordeal of AGENT ORANGE and any advice you might have.
I had struck up a conversation with my neighboor whose husband is 57 (3 years older than my dad) and he has been totally disabled since 1990 due to the exposure of AGENT ORANGE while he was in Vietnam. I told her that my dad is also a Vietnam vet and he has had bad health problems. And it so happens, that he has been having the same problems as my neighboor's husband. She gave me a phone number to a VA health middle-man who helps fight for the veterans. And from my neighboor said was that you go into the VA hospitals now and all your Vietnam vets are suffering from the same problems. And the problem is that AGENT ORANGE is not a disease, so it can't be dealt with in the same way. With any luck, my dad should be able to get some benefits. However, retribution is out the question since the supreme court has ruled that suing the government for AGENT ORANGE health problems is like suing them for friendly fire. My neighboors husband is getting $4000 a month, but would trade all of that to be pain free. And all the medication he takes only takes the edge off.
My dad has had similar problems through his life but not as severe as they have in the last 2 years. He has always had stomach problems and said that he had some problems immediatley when he came back from Vietnam.
My dad says that when he was there, they sprayed that AGENT ORANGE everywhere all around them. Even though he didn't have direct exposure, the substance was in the air and in the water supply. Even to this day, there are many places in Vietnam that are saturated with the poison and people are still expieriencing its wrath.
But I was wanting to know if any of you guys have any friends, relatives etc. that are suffering through the ordeal of AGENT ORANGE and any advice you might have.