Age: 41.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: ANTH
Symptoms: Fatigue, Headache, Idiopathic urticaria, Injection site erythema, Laboratory test
Clinical narrative: 1st Vaccine (17 Sep 98)  12 hours later - sore arm, redness about 4 inch in diameter, feeling of being tired (this fatigue went away after one week); common side effects according to doctor when asked the next day while at lunch; no entry in medical records of this reaction. 2nd Vaccine (1 Oct 98)  8 hours later - sore arm, greater redness with raised bumps on most of upper arm, lasting about a week, continued feeling of being tired, slight headaches; common side effects according to doctor, no entry in medical records.  Fatigue started again, but this time never went away and continues to present. 3rd Vaccine (26 Jan 99)  extremely sore arm within 12 hours, 24 hours later, severe hives started appearing all over body  extreme fatigue, headaches; 48 hours after vaccine the raised patches started to subside but itching, hives and fatigue increased; 72 hours (29 Jan 99) after vaccine, informed doctor that "this can't be normal", doctor noted zero raised lesions even though there was slight evidence and severe redness over most of my body; doctor prescribed Benadryl and Atarax; follow up appointment (22 Feb 99), still taking Atarax to keep hives / itching away.  Never was referred to an allergy clinic.  Never was reported by doctors.   This was the first time I asked to be taken off the Anthrax program. 4th Vaccine (9 Apr 99)  No hives due to the fact that I was taking Atarax  still suffering from fatigue and headaches. Early June 99 - Saw doctor (visit not found in my records anymore) starting to need Atarax less and less..eventually not needing it anymore and moved to creams  still slightly fatigued but improved.  Asked once again to be released from vaccine program  declined by doctor.  Doctor made note in records of the visit and that the reaction must have been from eating shellfish; which I had not done since mid-tour in Dec 98. 9 Aug 99  Granted waiver for (among other issues) Idiopathic Urticaria possibly due to "shellfish / iodine allergies"  even though I had not consumed ANY shellfish for months prior to the allergic reaction to the vaccine  at this point, I clearly should have taken off the Anthrax Vaccine program  still fatigued.  Of note, had difficulty breathing in 1991 after receiving IVP dye, prior to an XRay, and received epinephrine and steroids vaccine; had immediate recovery and left the hospital 45 minutes later.  Never had another problem again until Anthrax Vaccine.  See no correlation between this experience and the anthrax vaccine problems.  Have never experienced any difficulty when eating shellfish and was skin test negative to shellfish in 2000. Because of this reaction, on 24 Oct 1991, I received an indefinite waiver from HQ ATC for Chronic Urticaria.  Other waivers at this time were Hearing Loss, Microscopic Hematuria and Ulcers.  See 13 Jun 96 Aeromedical Summary, pages 7-10.  This was a one time problem (IVP Dye) waiver and no mention of Urticuria problems on the 20 May98 Aeromedical Summary. Jan 00  Entered a Memo for Record into my medical records to try to stop the vaccine program.  Nobody in the medical community would even discuss the subject.  I would mention it to the flight surgeon's when they would come to the squadron to fly and it was quite apparent that they did not wish to discuss the subject. 5th Vaccine (17 Feb 00)  22 hours later, 18 Feb 00, in to see doctor for, as doctor stated, "reaction to Anthrax shot", lesions noted by doctor  extreme fatigue.  Five minutes prior to receiving this vaccine, I told the administering tech that I have a history of reactions to this vaccine.  He asked if I was waived and I replied no.  I asked what my options were and he replied, "Well sir, unfortunately it is either the vaccine or Article 15".  I visited him a couple of weeks after the vaccine and showed him what the vaccine had done and I am sure he would remember me even to this day.  He was only doing his job.   Numerous appointments tested for shellfish and other allergies and Anthrax serum (formaldehyde / chloride)  all negative. 14 Aug 00  oral prednisone burst, doctor noted lesions. 15 Sep 00  MC Allergy Clinic assessment  urticuria associated with anthrax vaccine. 21 Feb 01  Again, doctor mentions shellfish (this time specifically lobster) as possible reason for hives  and again, I stated that I never consumed any shellfish. Late summer of 2001, symptoms start to go away and waiverable drugs are working to keep the rash / hives away, still moderately fatigued, slight headaches, joint pain, loss of feeling in feet/legs. 17 Sep 01  Back on flying status through waiver process.  Still taking Claritin, only flying once a day due to fatigue, headaches, joint pain, loss of feeling in feet/legs.  Please see letter from my Squadron Commander. Dec 2002  Started working less than full days due to fatigue. 17 Apr 03  DNIF again, permanently this time, because the waiverable drug (Claritin) not working, started taking Zyrtec and later needed to go back on Atarax; experiencing more severe fatigue, headaches, joint pain, loss of feeling in feet/legs. Nov 03  Transferred to non-flying job, started working 4-6, then 3-4 hour days due to Chronic Fatigue (Please see letters from General Officers and supervisors  this is my work schedule to this day.  Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours after waking, while sitting at my work station, my mental capacity declines rapidly and fatigue increases.  On a couple of occasions, my supervisor has offered to drive me home, fearing a safety (driving) factor. Fatigue is well documented in numerous OPRs and letters from supervisors. -Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Chronic Urticuria/Joint Pain  all due to anthrax vaccine, noted numerous times in medical records.  Sometime in late summer 2005, the flight surgeon's office promised to initiate a MEB followed by a PEB medical retirement due to my obvious unemployable status.  It is now Oct 2006 and I am still asking that the medical community be honest and state the obvious during my medical retirement. Per information received from the annual follow up: I still suffer from chronic fatigue syndorme, severe painful neuropathy of the lower extremities, and knee & elbow pain.