Re: Organic solvents exposure at work

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On 4/5/2011 S.B. wrote:
My father worked for Union Oil for nearly thirty years. He died
just short of retirement in 1993 with , "Multiple Complications"
that included double kidney failure, (originals and donor's),
cancer around his heart, and repeated blood infections. Thank
you for your story. I'm seeking professional help.
On 11/16/09, D..L. wrote:
> 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!

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