Medical Support

506th Medical Support Aid Station: This Medical Support Guestbook is set up to be a place where anyone can post items relating to their service-connected medical issues: A place where you can write about the medical care that you received during your tour of duty; your thoughts; your impressions. A place where Currahee medics and physicians can write about their medical experiences during their tours A forum where someone with medical or administrative experience can guide medical and service-connected questions to places where answers can be found. This Aid Station is monitored by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968). After a 10-month tour of duty in Vietnam, "Doc" Lovy returned to private practice, obtaining a specialty in Adult Psychiatry. He currently holds Medical Licenses in 6 states and Certifications from the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry; the American Academy of Pain Management; and the American Board of Forensic Medicine. (Photo at left: Lovy at Eagles Roost in Vietnam) Lovy is the author of various publications, including the book, Combat Surgeon in Vietnam, a personal account of his tour of duty as a battalion surgeon. During the past 30 years, he has held many psychiatric and veterans-related medical positions and is currently a Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurobehavioral Sciences, AT Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine; and an Associate Examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. (Photo at right: Lovy preparing for the Currahee Veterans Jump, June 2000) Medical Advice Disclaimer: we are not offering medical advice or medical opinions, on general or specific conditions, or otherwise at this web site. What is stated here is not to, and does not, take the place of medical examinations and medical opinions. We encourage and direct you to consult with your physician for your specific medical condition. View and/or Sign the Medical Support Guestbook

Dapsone: Drug Said to Cause Similar Symptoms as Agent Orange: July 2, 1980 The Post (MD) article [1-page Adobe PDF file] From the 506th Medical Support Guestbook: Question from Salvador L. Gonzalez - Monday, July 15, 2002 at 16:21:22 (PDT) I served with D Co of 1-506 Dec 68 to Dec 69. In I Corps we took a weekly anti-malaria pill along with a daily pill called dapsone. I have read that dapsone was originally used for leprosy and one of the side affects is male infertility. I had trouble conceiving children, eventually I was able to conceive one son and wonder if dapsone might be the cause. Response from Doc Lovy - Friday, July 19, 2002 07:52 AM Dapsone was used for resistant strains of malaria. Effects are possible, but very minimal. Infertility has been reported in males receiving Dapsone, but fertility was restored following discontinuance of the drug. "has been reported" does not rule out that it had that effect on a particular individual, but the likelihood is fairly slim. Male infertility is not listed as one of the Adverse Effects (not as more frequent and not even as rare or very rare) of Dapsone, so it would be very difficult to establish a positive link.

Lariam: 2002 NOTE from "Doc" Lovy: With the interest in Lariam, the antimalarial medication that is implicated in the Fort Bragg situation where 4 wives of servicemen were killed, I contacted the manufacturer. Lariam was approved for use by the FDA in 1990, and the product was researched through the military as well as other sources, so it was probably available in 1988 or 1989. Therefore, any trooper that had to take antimalarial pills prior to those dates was not taking this particular medication. Any trooper who was involved in operations that involved travel to countries where malaria was prevalent could have taken the medication. One of the precautions regarding the medication does state that it should not be used in those having a known mental illness since the medication may cause an increase in mental symptoms.

Medical Support Articles: Study Looks at TBI Symptoms: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center website Official US Government Site for People with Medicare: useful site for making comparisons when Medicare, SSI, etc. may not be enough to cover medical expenses Free Glasses for Military Retirees Agent Orange Exposure for VA Disability Claims: The VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for disability compensation or survivors' benefits for these diseases. Current list of medical conditions that can be related to exposure to Agent Orange Agent Orange Articles: Agent Orange: US Department of Veterans Affairs VA Completing Agent Orange Claims: July 2012 EPA’s Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Volume 1: February 2012 [344-page Adobe PDF file] Secretary Seeks Fast Track to Process Claims: March 9, 2010 press release from US Department of Veterans Affairs: Focus on 200,000 Veterans Expected to File Claims under New Agent Orange Presumptives over Next Two Years Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Articles: PTSD Alliance: provides educational resources for individuals diagnosed with PTSD New PTSD Assistance App: August 2012 VA Continues PTSD Outreach: July 2012 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress: [253-page Adobe pdf file] by US Department of Veterans Affairs Best Practice Manual for PTSD Compensation and Pension Examinations: [121-page Adobe pdf file] by US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Win PTSD Settlement: January 23, 2012 military.com article National Center for PTSD: US Department of Veterans Affairs Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): from MedicineNet Welcome Home!: from PTSD Support Services Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): from At Health, Inc. Falciparum Malaria and PTSD: by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968) David Baldwin's Trauma Information Pages: web site by a licensed clinical psychologist in Oregon that focuses on trauma, especially PTSD PTSD References: by Andrew "Doc" Lovy, DO, FACN (HHC, 3rd BN Surgeon, 1967-1968) Acute Traumatic Stress: excerpt from an article by Kenneth Harbert, PhD, BCETS, CTS, PA-C PTSD High in NYC after September 11: from Reuters Health Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: from Natural Health and Meditation Resource Pages Mesothelioma: According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, there are currently 25 million living individuals who have served in the United States' armed forces. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of these living veterans were exposed to toxic asbestos-containing materials during military service. Mesothelioma information is available at the following web sites: asbestos.com Mesothelioma & Asbestor Awareness Center Mesothelioma Web Pleural Mesothelioma Mesothelioma Symptoms Mesothelioma Guide