The next study from Australia looks at erythrocyte( RBC) damage ie shape of cells....this harkens back to DR Simpson's tests...many gulf war vets had sent blood to him to be examined early on.  I was one of those and yes the red blood cells were distorted in shape.  Not only that but the first thing I noticed after returning from the gulf war was that my RBC count which had never had problems re annual physical being a flight nurse and even after moving to Denver(higher altitude) I never had any change until the gulf war.  My RBS had dropped to a borderline level.  This shift definitely had me the old nurse look twice and say wow what happenned!

I am wondering how many other gulf war vets had a shift in the number of red blood cells and also how many had the RBC shape evaluated by Dr Simpson?

 

This is also what is noticed by those with known exposure to 2-butoxyethanol .... fragility of RBC membranes .... and borderline normal range.  I believe this is why doctors do not find THE FATIGUE (per definintion of CFS, FM, CFIDS)  which with this chemical exposure would be compensated autoimmune hemolytic anemia.  Doctors must LOOK at the red blood cells

Central Nervous System Effects: Difficulty Concentrating Short Term Memory Loss Difficulty Sleeping Constantly Irritable Depression Suicidal Tendencies Horrible Headaches Do you recall any times of severe flu-like symptoms  more and Horrible FATIGUE?  AIHA Fatigue clues: Chills Fatigue Pale color Shortness of breath Rapid heart rate * * Yellow skin color (jaundice) Dark urine Enlarged spleen Eyes burning & hurting Red blood cells immature? etc Blood in Urine?

A flight nurse, addendant can get the chemical exposure second hand, as those strongly exposed can expel it in their respiration (MY theory)  I believe my husband had similar last week sitting across from someone on a plane http://groups.msn.com/valdezrentals/drunkcrazyman.msnw

 

I recognize 'the pattern' of this particular chemical exposure, that's all CFIDS, CFS, FM Those who go to the doctor are generally told there is nothing wrong with them.  If I'm right, he would have had an elevated 'retic rate' just at 2.5 days after serious exposure (So at noon on Friday) * Compensated autoimmune hemolytic anemia  *  Can Dr Reg Crack the Case ?

"A reticulocyte count is a blood test that measures how rapidly immature red blood cells called reticulocytes are made by the bone marrow and then released into the bloodstream. Reticulocytes circulate in the bloodstream for about 2 days before developing into mature red blood cells. Normally, about 1% to 2% of the red blood cells in the bloodstream are reticulocytes"

Look for THIS fatigue *

"The presence of spherocytes indicates that red blood cells are being destroyed."

very sick