Age: 28.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: ANTH
Symptoms: Dehydration, Fatigue, Gait disturbance, Headache, Hypoaesthesia
Clinical narrative: 32 yo patient who states he "was in really good health" until he was dx'd with Type I DM on Oct. 9th, 2008. He now is insulin dependent and has an insulin pump. He heard that the development of Type I DM may be related to receipt of Anthrax Vaccine(s). Patient received AVA #1 on 28 Oct 2004, AVA #2 on 24 JUN 2007, AVA #3 on 28 JUN 2007 and AVA #4 on 30 NOV 2007. The patient is sure that he received an additional dose of Anthrax (not documented in DEERS). My knees (L>R) and lower back really began to bother me during my 2nd deployment x 14 months (JAN2007 to 13FEB08). Seen and I began taking 800 mg. Ibuprofen "like it was candy" and had difficulty just walking around I began to have daily headaches (no prior hx migraines, HTN or HA's). I figured it was just all the dust and dirt and just "sucked it up" and took whatever I could find to relieve my joint/back pain and headaches- TYLENOL, MOTRIN, ALEVE. Patient PCS'd to camp in FEB 2008. His knee and back pain continued and he saw providers about his back and knee pain. MRI of knees. The patient was seen for a "Viral Syndrome: (N/Vx1, weak) on Sep. 8th of 2008 and was told he was "dehydrated" and given fluids and PHENERGAN. The patient believes that he was experiencing sx of diabetes at the time, but did not know it- he was attending an extremely demanding Advanced Leadership Course AUG/SEP2008 "always trying to advance and be the best I could be." I felt run down and worn out, but attributed this to the physical demands of the Advance Leadership Course he was taking. I felt thirsty ALL the time and it seemed like nothing could quench my thirst. Patient lost from 165 to 147 lbs without dieting. Was tired all the time- no energy. Felt numbness and tingling in his hands and feet. His Supervisor at the Course noticed the patient's fatigue and said "Are you alright? were you out partying or something?" Patient managed to graduate from the course "somehow" on 25SEP08. On Saturday 04OCT08 he noticed that his "vision was a little off- blurry." Patient returned to his work on Monday 06OCT08- was cleaning his equipment, but just had no strength or energy and his vision was more blurry. On 08OCT08 he had to drive in a rental vehicle with another person. His vision was so blurry that he had to ask the other person to drive. Patient called his sister, who is a nurse, who advised him to get checked by MD. Patient was seen by Surgeon on 09OCT08 and went to hospital for labs. Two hours later his doctor told the patient he had diabetes, but he was not sure which type yet. The patient was hospitalized from 09OCT08 to 12OCT08 and given fluids and insulin and stabilized. Patient was then referred to Internal Medicine. Sx could not be controlled with Metformin. Referred to Endocrinology, who formally dx'd patient as having DM-Type I. Most recent visit with Dr. was at the end of AUG 2009. Patient has had an insulin pump x 2 months and his glucose control is improving. Patient states: "My lifestyle has completely changed- I no long have a career doing what I love (Communications Engineer); I no longer have the energy for health to do the activities that I used to do- I passed out trying to mow the lawn last week; I do not know my future and where I will be after the corps lets me go." Patient is facing a MEB and has been told he cannot continue his service with this dx. He has been in the service since 1997. He denies any family hx of DM1, but MGM (obese) has DM2 and denies any other personal hx of other chronic illness. He request that this VAERS report be filed and would like to know if causality can be established for his DM Type 1 s/p Anthrax vaccines/Live Intranasal FLUMIST Vaccines.