Navagating the VA Maze - Barb

[Guest guest]

I split this out so others can skip if they want to ignore. I could try to

explain the registery but I think you will find all you want to know here:

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/registry.asp

I got intrested in Agent Orange after my PCP pointed me in that direction when I

was DXed w/DM. When I saw many tumors were involved I wondered if maybe that

would include adrenal tumors. (No HX of DM in my family so I didn't know much

about it.) I had assumed only the ones in the field had to worry about AO and I

was a computer operator at DaNang AFB. Never considered where it was

stockpiled, loaded onto planes and the people that did it! Then I found a study

done by Canadian Scientists a couple years ago that concluded that the

contamination level at DaNang is still 350 times what would be acceptable in

Canada!

I have concluded the DoD/VA system has not even consider if AO could be a cause

of PA since they don't even know how to DX it or treat it! In fact I may have

DXed more cases than anyone else at the local VA (2)! I DXed the other at 6:45

am one morning while waiting for the van to take us to Boston VA Hospitals for

further treatment. He had been there many times while they tried to figure out

" what was wrong with him " . After he gave all the symptoms of PA I asked if he

had been tested for PA. His response, " What? " I asked if he knew his renin

level, " What's that? " I then told him they may do a scan of his adrenals and

find a small benign tumor. He practically ran accross the lobby and said " They

already have and told me it was benign, not to worry about it! " I told him to

tell his PCP to check out chapter C167 of the HYPERTENSION PRIMER fourth edition

and s/he could confer with my PCP since I have been training her for the last 18

months!

Good luck to you and Tom and if we can help you thru the maze don't hesitate to

ask, not that you appear to be the timid type!

- 65 yo super ob., fastidious male - 12mm X 13mm rt. a.adnoma with

previous rt. flank pain. Treating with DASH. Stats w/o meds = BP 175/90 HR 59

BS 125. D/C Spironolactone 12/20/2011 due to adverse SX.

Other Issues/Opportunities: OSA w Bi-Pap settings 13/19, DM2, Gynecomastia, MDD

and PTSD.

Meds: Duloxetine hcl 80 MG, Metoprolol Tartrate 200 MG, AmlodipineBesylate

10mg, 81mg aspirin and Metformin 2000MG. Started washing Spironolactone 12/20/11

to prepare for AVS.

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> > > > > > > >> >> >Using HTN medication also is causing diabetes and I had

> > > > to start Metformin after about 10 years on HTN medication

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> Did you see any studies on that or it's just your

> > > > experience and intuition, Max?

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> I am very curious because I always suspected that the

> > > > large dosage different HTN medications caused my diabetes. I like

> > > > you started Metformin about 10 years being on HTN medications. No

> > > > family history of diabetes, and I even didn't have marginally

> > > > numbers. My experience with Metformin is different. Even if I take

> > > > 2000 mg, my appetite is the same :-)

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> Natalia

> > > > > > > >> >> From: StudyCircle <studycircle@>

> > > > > > > >> >> To:

hyperaldosteronism <mailto:hyperaldosteronism%40><\

mailto:hyperaldosteronism%40>

> > > > > > > >> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 6:08 PM

> > > > > > > >> >> Subject: RE: Re: Statins linked to

> > > > diabetes

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> Hi ,

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> I am not sure about the details on this research but I

> > > > suspect definition of diabetic these days is GLUCF>7.0 mmol/L = 126

> > > > mg/dL . Assuming that she starts statins now she perhaps get to 16

> > > > in some 5 years and 126 is not so bad because with some Metformin it

> > > > can be overcome and another 5 years to level that she might need

> > > > insulin...something like this...so it's good idea to see what level

> > > > of diabetics disorder and in how many years one get to such level.

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> Using HTN medication also is causing diabetes and I had

> > > > to start Metformin after about 10 years on HTN medication...of

> > > > course my GLUCF was always marginally high but I was not taking

> > > > Metformin...and I suspect Metformin reduced my appetite considerably

> > > > because I am finding myself unable to finish a half plate of food

> > > > that until last year I could easily finish ! not bad...

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> So basically I assume becoming diabetic is gradual and

> > > > not as bad as HTN if it is taken care medically, i.e., not allowing

> > > > glaucoma or cataract ...etc.

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> Max.

> > > > > > > >> >>

> > > > > > > >> >> |Thanks Max, a very timely message for my wife. Her Card

> > > > just insisted she be

> > > > > > > >> >> |on statins and I asked her if he did a family HX. He

> > > > didn't but if he had he

> > > > > > > >> >> |would have found her Dad died at 84, her Mom at 93 and

> > > > her Grandmother at

> > > > > > > >> >> |97. She is the youngest of 8 and 7 are still living,

> > > > one brother died of colon

> > > > > > > >> >> |cancer. Of course maybe he just wants to make sure she

> > > > doesn't die from

> > > > > > > >> >> |heart attack, it'll be listed as complications due to

> > > > DM! I printed it and

> > > > > > > >> >> |suggested she discuss it with him!

> > > > > > > >> >> |

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