[Jules A]

I just read this today on their website:

"In response to a growing demand for specialized care for veterans with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the Baltimore VAMC coordinates one of only two MS Centers of Excellence throughout the VA. The Center is responsible for facilitating clinical care, research and education for patients with MS in the Eastern part of the country."


I wonder if veterans with MS know about this? Sandy?

Hope everyone is good today.
Jules

[SandyC]

I know about it Jules, thanks for bringing this up. I keep asking myself why only two facilities when there is a growing population of vets with ms? However, I know Hines VA hospital coordinates research with them. Jim has been a volunteer several times. We also participate in simple surveys as needed. But, we've noticed as Jim is aging, the opportunities are coming less.

Thanks for thinking about the vets Jules! Your awesome!

[Jules A]

My first thought was:

Why so many vets with MS?

[SandyC]

Originally Posted by Jules A

My first thought was:

Why so many vets with MS?

I know! My thought on this is there must be an environmental component that triggers ms in soldiers, as well as civilians. Maybe soldiers are exposed to this component more than civilians?

When Jim was dx'd our first thought was all the shots he had and/or the chemicals he was exposed to. He was exposed to various chemical gases. But then, people in the civilian arena aren't as far as we know.

Maybe it's the physical exertion and environmental exposures that bring it on faster than say people never in the military? Who knows? Maybe this will prompt more intensive research to get to an answer sooner. For every soldier dx'd, the government may have to pay a pension based on severity of the dx if it's while on active duty or within seven years of discharge, not to mention free VA healthcare.

[Victor H]

I think we have been exposed to a bunch of stuff that is not necessarily kept in the isolation that we wanted. My guess is that these materials are also part of our daily lives and our probable genetic predisposition to MS is the combination of things that is the culprit.

I hope that a similar MS Center is opened in our area of So. Cal., because there a ton of vets with MS in our area.