Re: Organic solvents exposure at work

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On 11/10/08, GW wrote:
> On 4/14/08, Kenneth wrote:
>> In trying to make a long story short, I worked for Union
>> oil research facility in California as an electrician in
>> the early 1980s. I work daily with toluene and
>> trichloroethylene 111 as a cleaning solvent with no type
>> of safety equipment like gloves or respirators
>> whatsoever. I worked with these organic solvents among
>> others for approximately 2 1/2 years and had some slight
>> neurological effects like sleepiness, dizziness and loss
>> of depth perception. The symptoms would come and go and I
>> thought nothing of them. I left the facility and went to
>> work on my own as an electrical contractor and didn't
>> notice any more symptoms until I went to do a job at an
>> Air Force base which also had lots of solvents throughout
>> the plant. The symptoms were tingling and numbness in my
>> ring and pinky fingers of each hand. I thought it could
>> be a pinched nerve and I consulted chiropractic
>> consultation. I was traded approximately a year and a
>> half and then numbness and tingling seem to go away. The
>> next time any symptoms started was while I was working
>> temporarily approximately 3 months at a nuclear power
>> plant during a power outage. Again I went back to the
>> chiropractor and after several months of treatment, he
>> referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist had me
>> undergo an MRI and after seeing the multiple plaques on my
>> brain and spinal cord I was told I had MS and further
>> testing would be needed. I went through numerous tests
>> including lumbar punctures and Evoke potentials and all of
>> the testing came back normal. So based on the MRI only, I
>> have been treated for MS for the past 15 years. Over the
>> past several years I started seeing An Internist who felt
>> he might be able to help my condition. And has tried me
>> and different infusion therapies to help my body repair
>> itself. In December of 2007, a genetic blood lab called
>> Athena diagnostics in Worcester, Massachusetts started
>> accepting insurance and my doctor decided to send my blood
>> to them to see if I have any at the anti-bodies of MS.
>> Again the results were negative and it has proven to the
>> doctor that I do not have MS. So that's when I started
>> thinking about where I was and what I was doing when I
>> first had any kind of symptoms. That's what I remembered
>> working with toluene and trichloroethylene 111. So I
>> decided to research on the Internet both these solvents
>> and discovered that all the symptoms I have that currently
>> has me confined to an electric wheelchair as basically a
>> quadriplegic, has been caused by these organic solvents.
>> What I am looking for now is other people with similar
>> stories and possibly some legal guidance. I would love to
>> hear from anybody who has possibly work in the same oil
>> industry and you might know other people who has gone
>> through the same misdiagnosis. Thank you for your time,
>> Ken
>> Here is the person your looking for. I can relate to
everything your saying & much more. I accidentally
ingested "TOLUENE". This is my first pc & its a piece of...,so
parden my typing & brain injury. We need to compare some notes.
Do you have an attoney? I found out we have 30 years{statute of
limitations) since last exposure,to file a lawsuit, which is
against Osha & the company exactly. I'm so sorry for you. I
should be dead & at times I wish I was. The pains I get are
unexplainable. I worked with toluene& chemicals that are not
even around anymore off/on over 30 years. I would like to talk
to you. We can help each other. I feel like an expert on
tolune,but it will/can mess with you for 30-40 years, you can't
fix it. They make bombs with it. I have a lot to tell, but I'm
new to this, so let me know if I can email you or how to
contact you, if you would. My brain does not co-operate, well!