Guest guest Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 Barb, I have been a long time in posting also. Your question to Sandie brought back conversations we had online over two years ago. In May 2003 I was lucky to attend a caregiver's conference in Sacramento with Jan Childress, Jim Whitworth, and Young. One of the workshops I attended was about Parkinson's, which, as you know, is a Lewy Body Disease occuring in the substantia nigra area of the brain causing movement problems. Many or most of our LO's display these symptoms along with the the LBD ones. In this workshop I came across an interesting study conducted on the agricultural areas in California. The highest rate of PD occured just north and south of Sacramento in the vast valleys where large amounts of chemicals where sprayed on crops. My mom was born and raised in the Oroville area, just north of Sacramento. Her brother, my Uncle Duke, came down with Parkinson's in his 40's. He was also in the Korean war. I believe both these things had a great impact on his acquiring the disease. When Mom retired here in Washington State she loved to grow flowers. She had some of the most beautiful dalias that reached 4-5ft tall. They were planted along her neighbor's fence line. The neighbors continuously sprayed weed killer along that fence line so that the weeds would not interfere with the electric fence for their horses. They also had a pygmy goat named Paraquat. I discovered that it was also the spray that they used on the fence line. Interestingly, there is also Sally in England who lost her father several years ago. He was an avid gardener as I remember her saying. Her father's behavior became quite bazaar. I hope she is lurking and may share her story also. The research that I further conducted leads me to believe that there is a great connection between chemicals in our environment, everyday household sprays for gardens and insects, dry cleaning solutions, plant run-off - as in Sandie's dad's situation - as well as things our LO's are exposted to in the military, agent orange in past wartime to the sprays our soldiers are now being exposed to in the gulf war. I hope this raises the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. It is my belief that there has never been enough testing on these chemicals that we are all being exposed to on a daily basis. While this is a major influence, in my own mind, there are also the variables that come with lifestyle; drinking, smoking, exercise, etc. Lastly, there is a very small percent of Parkinson patients that have a genetic connection. It could be so with LBD also, but there is still so much more research needed. Hope this helps some. While I do not respond much lately, I still scan messages regularly. Betty Wittenberg Shelton, WA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 I have been looking at everyone's post in regards to environmental factors regarding LBD. He developed a form of asbestosos of the lungs which means the lung tissue hardens and makes breathing more difficult. He has had that for many years and in general has not affected his health too much. However, my father who I believe started with LBD around the age of 60 worked in an oil refinery for over 20 years. He worked originally for Cheveron and then for Hess when the Chevron plant closed down. I know for a fact that working in the refinery was very dangerous work and there were several different chemical that were very deadly that the workers were exposed to including Hydrogen Sulfide gas which required an air mask and complete coverage of the body during periods of time when they were working in areas they would be exposed to that particular gas. People would die within a minute or two of exposure if not wearing protective gear. There were lots of other chemicals also as during the refining process some of the residues were made into asphalt and various other products. My family has often believed that my father's original stroke was due to chemical exposure but, until your recent posts, I never connected it to his LBD. There is no history of parkinsons disease or dementia in his family so this seems to make so much more sense. Lynn In LBDcaregivers , sprtfdloon@a... wrote: > Barb, > > I have been a long time in posting also. Your question to Sandie brought > back conversations we had online over two years ago. > > In May 2003 I was lucky to attend a caregiver's conference in Sacramento > with Jan Childress, Jim Whitworth, and Young. One of the workshops I > attended was about Parkinson's, which, as you know, is a Lewy Body Disease > occuring in the substantia nigra area of the brain causing movement problems. Many > or most of our LO's display these symptoms along with the the LBD ones. > > In this workshop I came across an interesting study conducted on the > agricultural areas in California. The highest rate of PD occured just north and > south of Sacramento in the vast valleys where large amounts of chemicals where > sprayed on crops. My mom was born and raised in the Oroville area, just north > of Sacramento. Her brother, my Uncle Duke, came down with Parkinson's in > his 40's. He was also in the Korean war. I believe both these things had a > great impact on his acquiring the disease. > > When Mom retired here in Washington State she loved to grow flowers. She > had some of the most beautiful dalias that reached 4-5ft tall. They were > planted along her neighbor's fence line. The neighbors continuously sprayed weed > killer along that fence line so that the weeds would not interfere with the > electric fence for their horses. They also had a pygmy goat named Paraquat. > I discovered that it was also the spray that they used on the fence line. > > Interestingly, there is also Sally in England who lost her father several > years ago. He was an avid gardener as I remember her saying. Her father's > behavior became quite bazaar. I hope she is lurking and may share her story > also. > > The research that I further conducted leads me to believe that there is a > great connection between chemicals in our environment, everyday household > sprays for gardens and insects, dry cleaning solutions, plant run- off - as in > Sandie's dad's situation - as well as things our LO's are exposted to in the > military, agent orange in past wartime to the sprays our soldiers are now being > exposed to in the gulf war. > > I hope this raises the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. It is my > belief that there has never been enough testing on these chemicals that we are all > being exposed to on a daily basis. While this is a major influence, in my > own mind, there are also the variables that come with lifestyle; drinking, > smoking, exercise, etc. Lastly, there is a very small percent of Parkinson > patients that have a genetic connection. It could be so with LBD also, but there > is still so much more research needed. > > Hope this helps some. While I do not respond much lately, I still scan > messages regularly. > > Betty Wittenberg > Shelton, WA > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 Regarding environmental factors in LBD. I personally feel it is being overplayed as a few years ago a person who underwent surgery seemed more prone to either developing or causing an earlier reaction by the body ( they may have shown signs of dementia later in life ) to LBD. I realize many malignant diseases are caused by factors in the environment, but, are we searching too hard to blame an outside source for our lo getting a " disease " that society tends to shun? Simmel > >Reply-To: LBDcaregivers >To: LBDcaregivers >Subject: Re: Pond in Des Moine >Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:46:12 -0000 > >I have been looking at everyone's post in regards to environmental >factors regarding LBD. He developed a form of asbestosos of the >lungs which means the lung tissue hardens and makes breathing more >difficult. He has had that for many years and in general has not >affected his health too much. However, my father who I believe >started with LBD around the age of 60 worked in an oil refinery for >over 20 years. He worked originally for Cheveron and then for Hess >when the Chevron plant closed down. I know for a fact that working >in the refinery was very dangerous work and there were several >different chemical that were very deadly that the workers were >exposed to including Hydrogen Sulfide gas which required an air mask >and complete coverage of the body during periods of time when they >were working in areas they would be exposed to that particular gas. >People would die within a minute or two of exposure if not wearing >protective gear. There were lots of other chemicals also as during >the refining process some of the residues were made into asphalt and >various other products. My family has often believed that my >father's original stroke was due to chemical exposure but, until >your recent posts, I never connected it to his LBD. There is no >history of parkinsons disease or dementia in his family so this >seems to make so much more sense. > >Lynn > > In LBDcaregivers , sprtfdloon@a... wrote: > > Barb, > > > > I have been a long time in posting also. Your question to Sandie >brought > > back conversations we had online over two years ago. > > > > In May 2003 I was lucky to attend a caregiver's conference in >Sacramento > > with Jan Childress, Jim Whitworth, and Young. One of the >workshops I > > attended was about Parkinson's, which, as you know, is a Lewy Body >Disease > > occuring in the substantia nigra area of the brain causing >movement problems. Many > > or most of our LO's display these symptoms along with the the LBD >ones. > > > > In this workshop I came across an interesting study conducted on >the > > agricultural areas in California. The highest rate of PD occured >just north and > > south of Sacramento in the vast valleys where large amounts of >chemicals where > > sprayed on crops. My mom was born and raised in the Oroville >area, just north > > of Sacramento. Her brother, my Uncle Duke, came down with >Parkinson's in > > his 40's. He was also in the Korean war. I believe both these >things had a > > great impact on his acquiring the disease. > > > > When Mom retired here in Washington State she loved to grow >flowers. She > > had some of the most beautiful dalias that reached 4-5ft tall. >They were > > planted along her neighbor's fence line. The neighbors >continuously sprayed weed > > killer along that fence line so that the weeds would not >interfere with the > > electric fence for their horses. They also had a pygmy goat >named Paraquat. > > I discovered that it was also the spray that they used on the >fence line. > > > > Interestingly, there is also Sally in England who lost her father >several > > years ago. He was an avid gardener as I remember her saying. >Her father's > > behavior became quite bazaar. I hope she is lurking and may >share her story > > also. > > > > The research that I further conducted leads me to believe that >there is a > > great connection between chemicals in our environment, everyday >household > > sprays for gardens and insects, dry cleaning solutions, plant run- >off - as in > > Sandie's dad's situation - as well as things our LO's are exposted >to in the > > military, agent orange in past wartime to the sprays our soldiers >are now being > > exposed to in the gulf war. > > > > I hope this raises the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. It >is my > > belief that there has never been enough testing on these chemicals >that we are all > > being exposed to on a daily basis. While this is a major >influence, in my > > own mind, there are also the variables that come with lifestyle; >drinking, > > smoking, exercise, etc. Lastly, there is a very small percent of >Parkinson > > patients that have a genetic connection. It could be so with LBD >also, but there > > is still so much more research needed. > > > > Hope this helps some. While I do not respond much lately, I >still scan > > messages regularly. > > > > Betty Wittenberg > > Shelton, WA > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 I have been reeding the posts on the environmential possibilities. My mom worked for an ink manufacturer for many many years and was subjected to all types of chemicals. I don't know if any of the other employees have had similar health issues. She was in the office, but did go to the back regularly for various reasons. Certainly seems that chemical exposure is a common denominator. Re: Pond in Des Moine I have been looking at everyone's post in regards to environmental factors regarding LBD. He developed a form of asbestosos of the lungs which means the lung tissue hardens and makes breathing more difficult. He has had that for many years and in general has not affected his health too much. However, my father who I believe started with LBD around the age of 60 worked in an oil refinery for over 20 years. He worked originally for Cheveron and then for Hess when the Chevron plant closed down. I know for a fact that working in the refinery was very dangerous work and there were several different chemical that were very deadly that the workers were exposed to including Hydrogen Sulfide gas which required an air mask and complete coverage of the body during periods of time when they were working in areas they would be exposed to that particular gas. People would die within a minute or two of exposure if not wearing protective gear. There were lots of other chemicals also as during the refining process some of the residues were made into asphalt and various other products. My family has often believed that my father's original stroke was due to chemical exposure but, until your recent posts, I never connected it to his LBD. There is no history of parkinsons disease or dementia in his family so this seems to make so much more sense. Lynn In LBDcaregivers , sprtfdloon@a... wrote: > Barb, > > I have been a long time in posting also. Your question to Sandie brought > back conversations we had online over two years ago. > > In May 2003 I was lucky to attend a caregiver's conference in Sacramento > with Jan Childress, Jim Whitworth, and Young. One of the workshops I > attended was about Parkinson's, which, as you know, is a Lewy Body Disease > occuring in the substantia nigra area of the brain causing movement problems. Many > or most of our LO's display these symptoms along with the the LBD ones. > > In this workshop I came across an interesting study conducted on the > agricultural areas in California. The highest rate of PD occured just north and > south of Sacramento in the vast valleys where large amounts of chemicals where > sprayed on crops. My mom was born and raised in the Oroville area, just north > of Sacramento. Her brother, my Uncle Duke, came down with Parkinson's in > his 40's. He was also in the Korean war. I believe both these things had a > great impact on his acquiring the disease. > > When Mom retired here in Washington State she loved to grow flowers. She > had some of the most beautiful dalias that reached 4-5ft tall. They were > planted along her neighbor's fence line. The neighbors continuously sprayed weed > killer along that fence line so that the weeds would not interfere with the > electric fence for their horses. They also had a pygmy goat named Paraquat. > I discovered that it was also the spray that they used on the fence line. > > Interestingly, there is also Sally in England who lost her father several > years ago. He was an avid gardener as I remember her saying. Her father's > behavior became quite bazaar. I hope she is lurking and may share her story > also. > > The research that I further conducted leads me to believe that there is a > great connection between chemicals in our environment, everyday household > sprays for gardens and insects, dry cleaning solutions, plant run- off - as in > Sandie's dad's situation - as well as things our LO's are exposted to in the > military, agent orange in past wartime to the sprays our soldiers are now being > exposed to in the gulf war. > > I hope this raises the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. It is my > belief that there has never been enough testing on these chemicals that we are all > being exposed to on a daily basis. While this is a major influence, in my > own mind, there are also the variables that come with lifestyle; drinking, > smoking, exercise, etc. Lastly, there is a very small percent of Parkinson > patients that have a genetic connection. It could be so with LBD also, but there > is still so much more research needed. > > Hope this helps some. While I do not respond much lately, I still scan > messages regularly. > > Betty Wittenberg > Shelton, WA > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 I can think of no excesive exposure to chemicals for my Mother. She has always been careful with chemicals and has stayed away from them as much as possible. None of her stories from growing up indicate any thing that might be a cause for the LBD. in Dallas > > Barb, > > > > I have been a long time in posting also. Your question to Sandie > brought > > back conversations we had online over two years ago. > > > > In May 2003 I was lucky to attend a caregiver's conference in > Sacramento > > with Jan Childress, Jim Whitworth, and Young. One of the > workshops I > > attended was about Parkinson's, which, as you know, is a Lewy Body > Disease > > occuring in the substantia nigra area of the brain causing > movement problems. Many > > or most of our LO's display these symptoms along with the the LBD > ones. > > > > In this workshop I came across an interesting study conducted on > the > > agricultural areas in California. The highest rate of PD occured > just north and > > south of Sacramento in the vast valleys where large amounts of > chemicals where > > sprayed on crops. My mom was born and raised in the Oroville > area, just north > > of Sacramento. Her brother, my Uncle Duke, came down with > Parkinson's in > > his 40's. He was also in the Korean war. I believe both these > things had a > > great impact on his acquiring the disease. > > > > When Mom retired here in Washington State she loved to grow > flowers. She > > had some of the most beautiful dalias that reached 4-5ft tall. > They were > > planted along her neighbor's fence line. The neighbors > continuously sprayed weed > > killer along that fence line so that the weeds would not > interfere with the > > electric fence for their horses. They also had a pygmy goat > named Paraquat. > > I discovered that it was also the spray that they used on the > fence line. > > > > Interestingly, there is also Sally in England who lost her father > several > > years ago. He was an avid gardener as I remember her saying. > Her father's > > behavior became quite bazaar. I hope she is lurking and may > share her story > > also. > > > > The research that I further conducted leads me to believe that > there is a > > great connection between chemicals in our environment, everyday > household > > sprays for gardens and insects, dry cleaning solutions, plant run- > off - as in > > Sandie's dad's situation - as well as things our LO's are exposted > to in the > > military, agent orange in past wartime to the sprays our soldiers > are now being > > exposed to in the gulf war. > > > > I hope this raises the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. It > is my > > belief that there has never been enough testing on these chemicals > that we are all > > being exposed to on a daily basis. While this is a major > influence, in my > > own mind, there are also the variables that come with lifestyle; > drinking, > > smoking, exercise, etc. Lastly, there is a very small percent of > Parkinson > > patients that have a genetic connection. It could be so with LBD > also, but there > > is still so much more research needed. > > > > Hope this helps some. While I do not respond much lately, I > still scan > > messages regularly. > > > > Betty Wittenberg > > Shelton, WA > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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