Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs - November 28, 2012

Ex Canadian Forces Member. While serving in the Canadian Forces imagine 16 months away from your family, having occasional numbness in your feet after patrolling all day with 40 – 50 lbs of gear, then one day you feel a strange sensation in your chest, your heart beat is irregular, all of a sudden you feel en enormous weight on every part of your body and you collapse onto your knees, unable to lift your arms, your breathing slows and blackness begins to narrow your vision .... you wake up disoriented and with a sharp pain in your shoulder. A few months later your driving to work, you begin to experience stabbing abdominal pains, your hands and feet go numb, instantaneously sweat begins to pour off your head, you feel nauseated and then your breathing slows. Suddenly your entire body is charged with electricity and every muscle begins to contract, then your head and chest are resting against the steering wheel, you are confused and uncertain of your location. 20 months after leaving the Canadian Forces you've spent more than 4 months in bed, called 911 on 4 different occasions and spent more than 30 days in multiple hospitals while neurologists, cardiologists, respiratory and gastrointestinal specialists run hundreds of tests and invasive procedures. Without any clear cause you become short of breath just standing up, you drop utensils, phones, glasses and other items and are unable to button up your shirts because you can't feel the ends of your fingers. You are frequently unable to drive or walk when the dizziness and nausea becomes severe. Without any notice you suddenly feel extremely fatigued and your legs and arms become weak and you have to lye down wherever you are, even in a vehicle. Occasionally you feel a strange sensation down your spine and collapse on the floor, completely paralyzed. These are just a few of the challenges I now face, here is my story: I was on duty with the Canadian Forces in 2009 when I received the H1N1 shot (AREPANRIX by GSK GlaxoSmithKline) and had a severe adverse reaction resulting in PERMANENT symptoms: dizziness, vertigo, irregular heart rhythms, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, pain and cramps, numbness in hands and feet, vision problems and severe fatigue. My physical fitness changed from special forces fit to that of a 70 year old in a matter of days. I advised the military doctors that my change in health occurred immediately following the H1N1 vaccination and although they noted my concerns on 8 different occasions, they did not investigate the link or file an adverse reaction report. According to CF Health Services (CFHS) they are required to report adverse reactions to Health Canada. There was no record of this report in my medical file. According to Health Canada there were 5,712 adverse reactions reported across Canada. The DND and CF filed only 9 reports, 5 had neurological symptoms. Due to the severity of my symptoms I was unable to continue performing my duties and was released from the military. Following my release, the military determined I was disabled and altered my release record due to the severity of my symptoms. Two years later Alberta's health officer in charge of the Immunization Program for the province reviewed my medical history and verified I had a severe adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine. I applied to Veterans Affairs (VA) for benefits through both their pension and rehabilitation programs, providing proof of vaccination, a letter from both Alberta Health Services (AHS) Immunization and another doctor verifying I had an adverse reaction and was denied on 3 separate occasions. Even though I was on duty training personnel when I received the vaccination, Veterans Affairs stated “There is no evidence that your barriers to reestablishment are related to your service time”. In an attempt to understand their decision in order to appeal it I asked them why they felt this injury was not related to military service. First the case manger advised me they did not have the authority to make a decision on my rehabilitation application. When I advised the case manager that a different case manager and a client service agent both told me they did have the authority, she then stated they simply did not want to provide rehabilitation benefits in case the pension division denied pension benefits based on the same criteria. They advised me to appeal to their national office or wait 9 – 12 months or longer until the pension division makes a decision. I asked why I should be denied rehabilitation and continue to suffer severe symptoms which can be treated when they can make a decision immediately. Again the case manager did not respond. Since they believe the injury was not service-related, I then asked for their definition of “service related” so that I could understand how to appeal the decision and they refused to answer the question and told me to contact the Bureau of Pension Advocates (BPA) who could assist with the appeal process. Again I told the case manager that it is difficult to appeal a decision if you don't know why the injury is not considered service related. I then advised the case manager that I had contacted the Bureau and was told they they are only involved in pension applications and cannot review or comment on rehabilitation appeals.  The case manager then told me she was not aware of this and when I asked her who would assist me in my appeal again she could not provide an answer. I then asked if I was immunized while on active duty in Afghanistan and suffered an injury as a result would it be considered service-related and the case manager stated “yes, it would”. I pointed out the double standard which the case manager agreed with but she still refused to acknowledge my injury was service-related. Another case manager told me the main concern of Veterans Affairs was, if they approved the rehabilitation application and the pension application was denied, they would not be able to cut off my benefits until I reach the age of 65. Next I asked if they recognized the validity of the information from Alberta Health Services verifying I had a serious adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccination. Again the case manager refused to answer the question but stated symptoms are not the same as adverse reactions. I then attempted to educate the case manager explaining adverse reactions are undesirable symptoms according to Health Canada and the vaccine manufacturer GSK. Incredibly, the case manager continued to disagreed advising me that even though I may have had an adverse reaction that my symptoms are not related to the adverse reaction. After arguing with the case manager over the definition of “service related” and adverse reactions versus symptoms, she told me to contact Alberta Health Services and use their rehabilitation programs instead of Veterans Affairs because VA programs are meant to get members back to work and are not for the permanently disabled. In fact she advise me Alberta Health Services will pay for all the rehabilitation that I require. I asked to speak with the Veterans Affairs doctor who advised the case manager regarding the adverse reaction and was provided his name and was told he was not in the office this week. Through the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Alberta website I was able to instantly identified him as a General Practitioner with no specialty in immunization and obtained his direct phone number within Veterans Affairs. I immediately called and was prompted with a message advising me he was on the phone and to leave a message which I did. To date he has not returned my call which was not a surprise to me. Following a previous pension application that was denied, I obtained the medical report from the Veterans Affairs doctor who reviewed my file which stated my injury was also not related to service, however he ignored medical information from several of my doctors, altered the conclusion of one of several of my neurologists reports and then claimed there was no agreement on my diagnosis, which became grounds for denying the application. He then speculated in his report that had the military determined my diagnosis was related to service there was no medical treatment that would relieve my symptoms. According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons this doctor is listed as a general surgeon with no specialties in neurology or other disciplines. When I asked the case manager why the information from my doctors were not used in evaluating the validity of my application, especially when Veterans Affairs specifically requested it and paid my doctors to provide the reports, I was told Veterans Affairs took the position they did not have to use it and chose not to. I forwarded the Veterans Affairs Medical Report to my neurologist whose conclusions were altered by the Veterans Affairs doctor. Incredibly my neurologist called me on the weekend and advised me the Veterans Affairs doctors conclusions were false, that he did not have the authority and professional experience to reinterpreted his report. Clearly he was annoyed and stated the Veterans Affairs doctor should have consulted a specialist who was familiar with my condition and symptoms. Veterans Affairs admitted the doctor had made errors, but refused to review the original application advising me to appeal the decision through an Administrative Review which would take another 6 – 8 months. In 2012 I have been bedridden for more than 2 months, housebound most days, spent more than $10,000 paying for medication, therapy and specialized equipment to assist in my daily living and to manage my symptoms. I am now unable to afford the specialized physiotherapy which costs thousands of dollars each year and am unable to work due to my disability. I have written to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. To date, no response has been received.

Wow...what a story. I also have been battling alot of the symptoms you have. I got my Glaxo Smith Kline flu shot in 2009 and my life has been ruined ever since. The only reason a got the shot was to protect my son who was 1 1/2 at the time as the new/media was making a huge deal about it and had me scared not to get it. Since I was 41 years old and won't be having another child I thought it was the right thing to do...I've never had a flu shot in my life. I felt great until I got the flu shot. I've become hypersensitive to Electro Magnetic Fields and got tested at a wellness centre in Ottawa and I'm hypersensitive to high power tension lines, household electricity, wifi, cordless phones, cell phones, xrays, microwaves, radiowaves, dirty electricity, desktops and laptops, ionizing radiation, smart meters. They told me that they don't see too many people this bad. I have advised the Health Unit about this adverse reaction and was trying to get some feedback from my doctor but he's pretty reluctant to say anything. He did mention that it was probably the adjuvant. I have called Health Canada and told them too and they told me to put it in writing...so I faxed my doctor a letter and now I'm on a waiting list to see a specialist for Multiple Chemical Sensitivies. It's been a 1 and half year wait for see her. I've been taking matters into my own hands and praying like never before to get over this...I'm very scared that I am going to die. My husband and son also got the shot but they didn't get what I got. I also have malar rash across my face, blurry vision, hearing problems with terrible ringing in my ears and get shocks when I touch metal (like the filing cabinet) and wicked food allergies. I found that when I keep a wet towel around my neck and shoulders that the shocks don't happen? My whole left side knots up and won't relax...not sure if it's lymph nodes or muscles. There's more but I don't have alot of time to write all of this. Just wanted to ask you if you know your blood type...I'm a B+...maybe this blood type is not compatible with that f***king flu shot. I met with a herbal master this past summer and she is helping me. What she did first off was Iridology...she told me that my lymphatic system was really, really backed up. She gave me a diet to follow for my blood type and I've been on lymph cleaners (LYM-MX and All Cell Detox (bought through Nature's Sunshine). I also had a hair analysis done to see what would show up...that doctor told me to avoid all grains (rice/corn/wheat/barley/oats/etc.)...that also helped. He mentioned that grains, especially genetically modified ones can also cause hypersensivity. I've also done parasite cleanses (Parapak by Nature's sunshine). Also taking epsom salt baths (2 cups in bath water). Another thing the Herbal Master is helping me do is clean my blood...by squeezing a 1/4 of lemon into water and drinking that 3 times a day as well as drinking Chlorophyll water (Nature's Sunshine). I'm doing what I can to get over this but I've not been able to work either. I've paid for all this myself. We have our own business but I can't even do that anyone...thank god I was self employed so I could lay down whenever I have too. My husband has been very understanding but I know that he's pretty sick of my problems. Hopefully the Multiple Chemical doctor that I will see in about 6 more months will sign off for me to claim on my CPP disability as I can't work...I can't even go into Home Hardware or the grocery store or the bank due to the flourescent lights and EMF...it's feels like I'm going to have a seizure or pass out...my ears start ringing and it feels like I'm really stoned, so I just get the hell of there as quick as I can. We've since closed our business and my husband got a different job without involving me. I really need to get bacl to work to pay the bills but I know that no one will hire me now as I can't be around lights or noise or computers etc. Our world is full of EMF. Maybe I'll try to get a job as a garbage collector...they don't seem to be around the high tech gadgets. Or maybe I should move way up North. Anyhow, I'm not well enough to back out there yet...just wanted to let you know that you are not alone...hope you can get some compensation...you fought for our country and you had to get the vaccine and now you are disabled...period! I hope that anything I have told you can help you...Donna :(