Age: 43.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: ANTH
Symptoms: Tinnitus, Vision blurred, Vitreous floaters
Clinical narrative: Since returning from overseas in May 2003, I have been diagnosed with: Obstructive Sleep apnea and now sleep w/CPAP machine, insomnia, major depression w/suicidal thoughts, severe anger problems, high blood pressure, acid reflux, headaches, chronic pain, joint pain, chronic fatigue, vasomotor rhinitis, chronic soft stools and diarrhea alternating with constipation, internal bleeding hemorrhoids, fatty infiltration of the liver, chronic back spasms, a cyst removed from my upper lip, a deviated septum, bronchitis and monoarticular arthritis of right hip.  I continue to have chronic stomach pain in the area of the gallbladder even though it was removed in December 2004.  A Colonoscopy Procedure Report in May 2005 revealed: Congested, erythematous and eroded mucosa terminal ileum consistent with chronic infectious process or Crohn's disease and internal hemorrhoids. An EGD (Upper GI) procedure in October 2004 revealed "there was evidence of chronic gastritis of the antrum of the stomach and evidence of duodenditis in the 1st portion of the duodenum" and internal bleeding hemorrhoids.   In addition to the above, I'm currently experiencing: Short term memory problems, tingling/numbness on left side of face and arm, severe tingling (burning) pain in both heels and toe areas of both feet, tingling/numbness left knee, severe tingling (burning) pain in right knee, tingling/numbness pad of left thumb, severe tingling (burning) pain right thumb and tips of first and second fingers to the first knuckle of right hand, blurred vision, dry/itchy eyes, black spots (floaters) in eyes, ringing in ears, lightheadedness, dry spots on face, decreased circulation in my feet.  I have chronic left knee pain which has had an ACL reconstruction in August 1989, I'm now experiencing the same type of severe pain in my left hip which I experienced in my right hip in the spring of 2003. The answere I normally get from doctors is "lets fix one thing at a time." The problem with that philosophy is,  I have to many "one things" going wrong with me all at the same time.   Add to that, my prior existing DDD (degenerative disc disease) and chronic back spasms that have been out of control and I find it extremely hard to walk, stand, sit or sleep when it's flared up.  I thought I was having kidney stones again because of centralized pain in my right kidney area, the hospital later found to be a muscle strain.   To date I've had Anthrax 7 shots.  Since starting, I've found that four of my seven shots received are associated with Autoimmune-Related Symptoms or fully diagnosed Autoimmune Diseases in Troops, per a study, those affected lots being FAV017 (first three shots) and FAV066.  Since those first shots, I noticed an increase in my joint pain, fatigue when doing PT and started getting numerous skin tags and keratosis within the first couple of months and also had two cysts removed from my neck and shoulder in November 1999. I knew I had bad knees, a bad back and a bad shoulder and like a lot of my friends thought it was payback for years of competitive sports. Within a few weeks of receiving FAV066, I was experiencing right hip pain and forward deployed 1 April 2003, it was there the hip pain became so severe I sought medical attention. Within a couple months or so of being home I was still having chronic pain and went to ER and was diagnosed with monoarticular arthritis of the right hip and had another cyst removed from the cupid bow of my upper lip in July 2004. It was only a few months after that the onslaught of symptoms started to see above.  11/18/05 - review of patient's immunization records indicates he received a smallpox vaccine Lot # 4020071 on 1/22/03 (after anthrax vaccine date in Box 10 and prior to AE onset date of 3/25/03 in Box 11). 11/18/05 Per a review of medical records for care received after the date in Box 10 the majority of symptoms noted by patient were confirmed.  It's a very well documented fact that the area in and around where I was forward deployed at the onset is highly contaminated with Depleted Uranium. Also, I was given LARIAM for my forward movement and took approximately 4-doses upon arriving before we were told to stop.  I've been through two right shoulder surgeries, one with 4-tears in and around the labrum in February 2004, another to retrieve a pain pump catheter that broke inside my shoulder as it was being removed and a third shoulder surgery was scheduled for July 2005 for 2-more tears in the labrum and a partial rotator cuff tear. They plan to use arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair and possible Bankart. But, it had to be cancelled due to my forced short notice retirement. I had two right knee reconstructions (ACL and PCL) after twisting it while deployed. It's still painful even to touch the inside of my right knee down my knee joint about 6 inches.   In the year 2004 alone, I've had 5-surgeries: 2-right shoulder, 2-right knee and gallbladder removal. In January 2005, I was hospitalized for major depression w/suicidal thoughts and continued in daily intensive outpatient therapy until my forced short notice retirement after 26 years of service.