From Peace Corps Online (peacecorpsonline.com):

Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for
this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron
Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may
include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money
for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting
the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more
volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical,
healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers,
providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals
process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned
volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain
circumstances, private donations to support their development projects.
He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the
Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

I've passed this request on to the Lariam group, since
there are many former Peace Corps volunteers there.  I'll
send my story along shortly. -- Felicia

> All,
>
> if you are so inclined and have the time to do so could
> you please
> provide your story describing your injury/illness, it's
> relation to
> your PC service (or service to the federal government [I
> know not
> everyone here is necessariy PCV]), and the quality of your
> care.  This
> request is in response to information sent by Nancy Tongue
> regarding
> Senator Schumer's interest in our case.  The more stories
> we have the
> more compelling a case we make.  Please speak up!  Just
> send your story
> as a reply to this email.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

You are correct.  I often point this out to volunteers who
are trying to get medical coverage, as they often fixate
on Lariam.  My problem isn't that I don't get coverage,
but that the Peace Corps is the largest user in the world
of this medication and they deny that it causes problems.
Most doctors just want to say that I have depression or
that I'm neurotic and lazy.  If the Peace Corps were to
say "Yes, Lariam can cause long term problems" then I'd
have better luck getting doctors to look harder at my
problems.  Luckily, my psychologist is convinced that
Lariam has caused this weird collection of cognitive,
emotional, vision and balance problems that I have.  Does
that make sense?  Please feel free to ask more questions.
-- Felicia

> Thank you for putting up with my questions.  I know most
> of what I asked
> was redundant; I was just too lazy to read through several
> old messages
> to find the answers.
>
> The reasons I asked what I did, particularly those
> questions in item 1,
> was to get a feel for when and how the adverse effects of
> Lariam arise.
>
> In my opinion, you and other persons in your situation
> should not be
> asked by Peace Corps or OWCP to "prove" that Lariam was
> the underlying
> cause of your condition.  It's irrelevant.  As the OIG
> noted in his
> report, the [FECA] regulations provide for a presumption
> that any injury
> sustained by a Volunteer while he or she is located abroad
> has been
> sustained in the performance of duty, and any illness
> contracted by
> aVolunteer during Peace Corps service is proximately
> caused by the
> employment.
>
> Early on, I too was asked to prove that my condition
> (asthma) was caused
> by some environmental factor in Yemen.  OWCP quickly
> backed off when my
> Congressman at the time called them on it.  I don't know
> if claims
> examiners are so poorly trained that they don't know the
> special
> regulations for former Volunteers, or if trying to saddle
> the claimant
> with the burden of proof is just a tactic to get people to
> withdraw
> their claims.
>
> Kevin
>
>
> --- In owcp@yahoogroups.com, "Felicia" <felicia@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> > 1. Did you have symptoms during your PC service?
>>
>> Yes, I was eventually medically separated because of
>> this
>> problem.
>>
>> > If so,
>> > do you have
>> > substantially similar symptoms now or a documented
>> > progression of those
>> > symptoms?
>>
>> Yes. Lariam toxicity typically is cyclical, though, so I
>> go through phases.
>>
>> > 2. Do you receive or have you received any medical or
>> > disability
>> > benefits from OWCP?
>>
>> Yes, I receive both time loss payments and
>> medical/psychiatric coverage from OWCP. This, I believe,
>> is because I made a huge stink when I was in DC before
>> my
>> medical separation. I was so emotionally unstable that I
>> knew (and I was right) that there was no way that I'd be
>> able to work. I told them that I'd end up homeless if
>> they sent me away in that condition. The Peace Corps
>> said
>> that my illness was because of my service, although the
>> psychologist in DC never mentioned Lariam. Here we are
>> three years later and my psychologist tells me not to
>> even
>> think about work, as it will be years before I will have
>> recovered enough. Although in the last few months, I
>> have
>> found that my ability to think is coming back, which
>> gives
>> me hope that recovery is possible.
>>
>> My problem with the OWCP is mainly small things, like
>> billing issues, combined with the larger problem of the
>> Peace Corps not talking about the damage that Lariam
>> does.
>> It is an uphill battle to get anyone to take my
>> condition
>> seriously, but I am far luckier than most Lariam
>> victims.
>> Most cannot get any disability, have much more severe
>> psychological and health problems, and are still trying
>> to
>> work. -- Felicia
>>
>
>
>

My name is Dallas Konecny and I am an Air Force civilian at Hill Air
Force Base, Utah.  My story starts on February 5, 2004. I injured my
left shoulder in a bad fall. I had two surgeries on the shoulder each
followed by PT. I was on and off light duty for over two years. After
the surgeries, even following all doctor's orders and goung through
PT, my shoulder just kept getting worde. During this time I was a
C-130 aircraft mechanic which is a very hard job even in good health.
But I liked my job and I liked knowing that even though I wasn't
sacrificing myself for our freedom and security as so many brave men
and women do, I was supporting them with the aircraft they need. I
tried so hard to keep working on the planes. I finally got
disqualified in early 2006 and they found me a new job just 1 week
before I would go out on disability. Because of all the problems and
leave from work, my leave soon was gone and was on Leave without pay.
  This sent me and my young family, a wonderful wife, 2 year old girl,
one on the way, into severe financial hardship. I have submitted 71
hours of the 256 hours that I am trying to "buy back" 1 1/2 YEARS
AGO!! OWCP is still dragging their feet and pulling all their usual
stuff. All the leave I accrue now all goes to doctors appointments,
etc. So even though I have a great job with "great benefits" I have no
leave for a family vacation or anything, not even just a day off. If
it has taken this long for the 71 hours and they are still not
reimbursed I will never see the rest of it. I also have been trying to
get an impairment rating for the purpose of a schedule award in hopes
of restoring some financial security to my family. I have called
doctor after doctor in Utah and cannot find one to do the evaluation.
I contacted OWCP many many times to get a referral with no response. I
sent a letter to my Senator, Orrin Hatch. His representative was very
helpful in getting an inquiry letter to OWCP regarding the Leave Buy
Back and the Schedule Award. The only reason the Leave issue has gone
any where was because of this letter. On the Award issue they just
sent a response back using wording to make it seem as though they did
their part, typical.
     I know many others in our organization at Hill that are going
through the same problems as well as many others in this group.  It is
really good to hear that Senator Schumer is taking interest in this
case. I really, really think it is about time something is done about
all the problems we all face. I am glad I found this group, but I was
deeply sadened to learn that the wonderful men and women of the Peace
Corps and other services, after all they do for people all around the
world, are not taken care of by there own country. You all do such
great work, keep it up and God Bless. I work very hard for the Air
Force and the United States government and then OWCP has left me and
my family sruggling to survive. If they worked even 25% as hard for us
as we do for them something would probably get done. It is time for
change!!! Thank you all.

Dallas Konecny

This is a great idea, Sue.  Having several case histories on hand
will be useful if Senator Coleman's staff comes back for more
details, too.

--- In owcp@yahoogroups.com, "Sue" <sallie_ali_sue@...> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> if you are so inclined and have the time to do so could you please
> provide your story describing your injury/illness, it's relation to
> your PC service (or service to the federal government [I know not
> everyone here is necessariy PCV]), and the quality of your care.
This
> request is in response to information sent by Nancy Tongue
regarding
> Senator Schumer's interest in our case.  The more stories we have
the
> more compelling a case we make.  Please speak up!  Just send your
story
> as a reply to this email.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005
>

I am passing this on from another volunteer ("Nathan
Hedges" <nathanthedges@...>).  Since this is a
problem more with the Peace Corps than with the OWCP, I
don't know if it is helpful, but I thought I'd pass it on.
  For your information, the FDA and Roche (the makers of
Lariam) warn that no one with a history of depression
should be given the drug because of the severe
psychological reactions to it.

Forwarded Message:
I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin, West Africa
from 5 July to 4 November 2005.  I started experiencing
symptoms almost immediately after talking my first pill -
headaches, dizziness, slurred speech, hallucinations, and
finally suicidal ideation - but did not suspect Lariam
until late October, when I had two suicidal episodes at
post.  I immediately traveled to the Medical Office in
Cotonou, meeting with the Peace Corps Medical Officer.
After hearing my symptoms he looked at my chart, saw that
depression ran in my family and that I had taken
anti-depressants before joining Peace Corps.  He was
visibly scared, but not for my health or safety, rather
for his job.  He placed me on "Suicide Watch" for two
days, after which we flew straight to Washington DC where,
not understanding what was happening, I was admitted to
the Impatient Psychiatric Wing at Sibley Memorial
Hospital.

I was institutionalized for seven days.  Throughout the
experience and afterward, staying four days at the hotel
where other med-evac'ed PCVs stay, I sensed that my health
and safety was secondary to Peace Corps damage control.  I
was medically separated on 4 November 2005 and was back
home in Dallas by the following night.

For the next three months I experienced severe symptoms -
headaches, photophobia, depression, dizziness, but
fortunately the suicidal episodes did not return.  I was
repeatedly misinformed by Peace Corps Post-Service Medical
Office - the process of getting them to pay for the spinal
tap, MRI, blood tests and psychiatrist appointments was
exhausting.  After five months of this I was finally
instructed to apply to the Federal Office of Worker's
Compensation program.  I was almost immediately accepted,
after which time all my bills were paid.  It was like
night and day.

As my experiences happened in mid to late 2005, I was
pleased to find that my experiences with Peace Corps was
far better than similarly affected PCVs who came before
me; Peace Corps ultimately did pay all of my medical
bills.  But the emphasis, I think was on damage control,
not on solving the underlying problem of Lariam.  I fear
other Peace Corps Volunteers are still at risk.  I have
written my senators in Texas, and in Alaska when I lived
there, as well as the current head of Peace Corps.  I can
only hope my campaign made a difference.

Sincerely,

Nathan Hedges
PCV Benin 2005

> All,
>
> if you are so inclined and have the time to do so could
> you please
> provide your story describing your injury/illness, it's
> relation to
> your PC service (or service to the federal government [I
> know not
> everyone here is necessariy PCV]), and the quality of
your
> care.  This
> request is in response to information sent by Nancy
Tongue
> regarding
> Senator Schumer's interest in our case.  The more
stories
> we have the
> more compelling a case we make.  Please speak up!  Just
> send your story
> as a reply to this email.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

The following links to a discussion started by our own Nancy, and may
be a good addition to our 'database' of stories:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2015148.html

--- In owcp@yahoogroups.com, "Sue" <sallie_ali_sue@...> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> if you are so inclined and have the time to do so could you please
> provide your story describing your injury/illness, it's relation to
> your PC service (or service to the federal government [I know not
> everyone here is necessariy PCV]), and the quality of your care.
This
> request is in response to information sent by Nancy Tongue
regarding
> Senator Schumer's interest in our case.  The more stories we have
the
> more compelling a case we make.  Please speak up!  Just send your
story
> as a reply to this email.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005
>

I received notification of this site from the Lariam Support group.
Wow, do I have a story to share.  I forwarded a few of my letters and
responses to the moderator of this site.


Basically I was on Lariam from March 2001-January 2003.  I began
feeling  sick around November 2002 but it was not until December 16,
2002 when things really took a turn for the worse.

I passed out while riding my bike and awoke to find myself on the side
of the road.  I have no clue how long I was out and after 2 weeks of
medical treatment in Dakar Senegal, the Peace Corps Washington decided
to send me to DC for continual evaluation.

Eventually I was medically seperated on February 14, 2003.  I had only
received financial compensation from February 2003 until July 2003.  I
have been contunually fighting with no luck.

I have spent my entire savings, my 401k, ran up my credit cards
(almost to the max), and have lived off of cash advances on my credit
cards.  Even to this day I really can not work, but I force myself to
work to earn some money.

The last thing Dept of Labor had done was the request for me to see a
Shrink which I did back in February of 2007.  I have yet to hear
anything and still waiting for financial assistence and hopefully
medical care.


I guess we are supposed to email the moderator?  If not, please let me
know who I should send my paperwork too.


Thanks,


Kenn Miller

Out of curiosity, I googled Lariam.  I found a variety of interesting
and informative sites including Lariam Action USA
(http://lariaminfo.org), which I'm sure some of our members are
familiar with.  That led me to the Care2 Petition Site
(http://www.thepetitionsite.com) to view the "Ban the Use of Lariam on
US Troops" petition.  That, in turn, got me thinking about petitioning
Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter in an attempt to persuade him
to create an Ombudsman position akin to the one that the former Peace
Corps Director opposed.

What do you think?  A good idea or not?

Kevin

The lariaminfo.org site is the maintainer of the Lariam
support email list that many of us are on.  As far as I
know, they stopped giving Lariam to US troops because the
suicide incidence was so high.  It would be fantastic if
we could get the Peace Corps to stop using Lariam.
However, really if they just did better screening and
followed the instructions for prescribing the medication
the number of serious cases would be greatly reduced.
Right in the instructions, it says that at the first signs
of high anxiety the patient should be taken off the
medication.  Not only did they not do that, but they also
didn't warn us in advance about what could happen and
later lied to us as we were signing the liability wavers.
I griped about anxiety and panic attacks for months and
months before I was finally taken off of Lariam.  --
Felicia

> Out of curiosity, I googled Lariam.  I found a variety of
> interesting
> and informative sites including Lariam Action USA
> (http://lariaminfo.org), which I'm sure some of our
> members are
> familiar with.  That led me to the Care2 Petition Site
> (http://www.thepetitionsite.com) to view the "Ban the Use
> of Lariam on
> US Troops" petition.  That, in turn, got me thinking about
> petitioning
> Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter in an attempt to
> persuade him
> to create an Ombudsman position akin to the one that the
> former Peace
> Corps Director opposed.
>
> What do you think?  A good idea or not?
>
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Has anyone heard anything about Larium and if there is any connection to severe
GI problems? I had severe GI problems in PC until I was switched to Doxycycline
(of course, not due to any complication because of Larium). But I was just
wondering. The difference between before Larium and after the Larium switch was
the difference between night and day for me.


On Monday, July 16, 2007, at 02:32PM, "Felicia" <felicia@...> wrote:
>The lariaminfo.org site is the maintainer of the Lariam
>support email list that many of us are on.  As far as I
>know, they stopped giving Lariam to US troops because the
>suicide incidence was so high.  It would be fantastic if
>we could get the Peace Corps to stop using Lariam.
>However, really if they just did better screening and
>followed the instructions for prescribing the medication
>the number of serious cases would be greatly reduced.
>Right in the instructions, it says that at the first signs
>of high anxiety the patient should be taken off the
>medication.  Not only did they not do that, but they also
>didn't warn us in advance about what could happen and
>later lied to us as we were signing the liability wavers.
>I griped about anxiety and panic attacks for months and
>months before I was finally taken off of Lariam.  --
>Felicia
>
>> Out of curiosity, I googled Lariam.  I found a variety of
>> interesting
>> and informative sites including Lariam Action USA
>> (http://lariaminfo.org), which I'm sure some of our
>> members are
>> familiar with.  That led me to the Care2 Petition Site
>> (http://www.thepetitionsite.com) to view the "Ban the Use
>> of Lariam on
>> US Troops" petition.  That, in turn, got me thinking about
>> petitioning
>> Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter in an attempt to
>> persuade him
>> to create an Ombudsman position akin to the one that the
>> former Peace
>> Corps Director opposed.
>>
>> What do you think?  A good idea or not?
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

OK - lots of folks suffering from after effects of
Lariam.  This problem definitely shines out.  Please,
keep the momentum rolling.  I will try to parse out
different people's stories here this week.

A couple items to take up with the group:

1.  Though communication with two congressmen has been
discussed here, I think it would be useful if someone
were officially the "spokesperson" for our group.  I
mean, if the problem with us having a single voice is
decentralization, it seems to me that the first order
of mobilization would be to see if somoene here will
be the official person to liaise between us and
congress.  I don't want to volunteer anyone so if you
are interested please let me know.  As moderator I
would assume some responsibility to organize a
database (my forte) to hand over to someone to
approach the congress people who are already online
and interested in the Lariam issue (not my forte right
now).

2.  It occurs to me some people who might
need/want/appreciate some advocacy might not be
sufferers of Lariam toxicity (such as myself).  To be
sure, I don't want to dilute the Lariam issue and I
think it is a worthy cause.  As I understand the
issue, the Lariam issue is such a hot potato
particularly for PCVs b/c of two facts:  1)  There is
not a lot of independent info/after market study which
illustrates the long-lasting effects of Lariam; 2)
PCVs are administered the drug more than any other
group of people.  If I'm wrong, let me know.  I
definitely want to keep the momentum of this Lariam
issue growing and, as moderator, I'll try to find a
way to nurture this thing (perhaps a Lariam blog
associated with this forum per Jay's suggestion????);
however, I don't want this to just be a Lariam group.
I was stabbed and have had myriad problems in my
readjustment.  Like many other PCVs, my situation is a
freak thing, but the kind of advocacy we need is a bit
different from the Lariam issue I believe b/c PC has
NEVER disputed my rightful claim to benefits and my
claim was adjudicated immediately.  My problem is with
the OWCP system b/c no doctor near me will bill ACS
and I ahve to drive 7 hours to Tallahassee FL to see a
doctor.  Etc etc etc.  So, again - could folks here
who have non-Lariam issues please speak up?  I want
your stories too.  If you don't speak up this forum
will be of little service to you.  We are all (for teh
most part) former Peace Corps volunteers, or at least
former federal employees, who need resolution or
general moral support getting through the quagmire of
our government agency in which we were injured and the
Wonderful Wild World of OWCP.  It may be possible to
create a blog for this larger, miscellaneous group
(but I won't call it miscellaneous, I'll call it
something else).

3.  If we get a nice number of ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING
members in this forum, I would like to have a letter
writing campaign.  We need to find our critical mass,
develop a cohesive message and move forward our
cause(s).  Send your stories.  I'll organize the
stories for group consumption when Ig et more time --
it's been a busy two months for me with a new job and
all.

I hope you are all well as can be.  Hopefully this
group can be a source of some comfort where you can
find someone to at the very least commisserate with
you in your dark hour.  I don't know how I made it
through my low point without a sympathetic group like
this~

Be well,
Sue Trone
Peace Corps Georgia 2005





--- owcp@yahoogroups.com wrote:


---------------------------------
   OWCP            OWCP
        Messages In This Digest      (2
Messages)

1a.
       Re: Revival of thei OWCP forum:  Please send
your stories~  From:       Kevin

1b.
       Re: Revival of thei OWCP forum:  Please send
your stories~  From:       FourDirect@...

                View All Topics | Create New Topic

               Messages
1a.
                        Re: Revival of thei OWCP forum:
  Please send your stories~              Posted by:
  "Kevin"            rpcv@...
                       owcp2004
     Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:58 am        (PST)
       The following links to a discussion started by
our own Nancy, and may
be a good addition to our 'database' of stories:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2015148.html

--- In owcp@yahoogroups.com, "Sue"
<sallie_ali_sue@...> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> if you are so inclined and have the time to do so
could you please
> provide your story describing your injury/illness,
it's relation to
> your PC service (or service to the federal
government [I know not
> everyone here is necessariy PCV]), and the quality
of your care.
This
> request is in response to information sent by Nancy
Tongue
regarding
> Senator Schumer's interest in our case.  The more
stories we have
the
> more compelling a case we make.  Please speak up!
Just send your
story
> as a reply to this email.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005
>


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1b.
                        Re: Revival of thei OWCP forum:
  Please send your stories~              Posted by:
  "FourDirect@..."            FourDirect@...
                       Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:56 am
(PST)                    Kevin,

Oh, you are a great researcher. I guess that with
having had so many
relapses, inbetween which I keep trying to put my life
together, my struggle has
been intermittent. I'm so pleased that you found this
site once again and I
think it is a great place in which we can add our
stories. Once we have some
strong ones we can gather them and I'll present them
to Senator Schumer.
Secretly, I wish I had know to approach Michael Moore
last year.

For someone who was trying to eliminate "extra"
activities, you certainly
have been active with us and I am most appreciative!

Please everyone, do go to the link that Kevin just
posted and I may try to
write back to many who used to participate in this
group.

Best,
Nancy T.

************************************** Get a sneak
peak of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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OK - lots of folks suffering from after effects of
Lariam.  This problem definitely shines out.  Please,
keep the momentum rolling.  I will try to parse out
different people's stories here this week.

A couple items to take up with the group:

1.  Though communication with two congressmen has been
discussed here, I think it would be useful if someone
were officially the "spokesperson" for our group.  I
mean, if the problem with us having a single voice is
decentralization, it seems to me that the first order
of mobilization would be to see if somoene here will
be the official person to liaise between us and
congress.  I don't want to volunteer anyone so if you
are interested please let me know.  As moderator I
would assume some responsibility to organize a
database (my forte) to hand over to someone to
approach the congress people who are already online
and interested in the Lariam issue (not my forte right
now).

2.  It occurs to me some people who might
need/want/appreciate some advocacy might not be
sufferers of Lariam toxicity (such as myself).  To be
sure, I don't want to dilute the Lariam issue and I
think it is a worthy cause.  As I understand the
issue, the Lariam issue is such a hot potato
particularly for PCVs b/c of two facts:  1)  There is
not a lot of independent info/after market study which
illustrates the long-lasting effects of Lariam; 2)
PCVs are administered the drug more than any other
group of people.  If I'm wrong, let me know.  I
definitely want to keep the momentum of this Lariam
issue growing and, as moderator, I'll try to find a
way to nurture this thing (perhaps a Lariam blog
associated with this forum per Jay's suggestion????);
however, I don't want this to just be a Lariam group.
I was stabbed and have had myriad problems in my
readjustment.  Like many other PCVs, my situation is a
freak thing, but the kind of advocacy we need is a bit
different from the Lariam issue I believe b/c PC has
NEVER disputed my rightful claim to benefits and my
claim was adjudicated immediately.  My problem is with
the OWCP system b/c no doctor near me will bill ACS
and I ahve to drive 7 hours to Tallahassee FL to see a
doctor.  Etc etc etc.  So, again - could folks here
who have non-Lariam issues please speak up?  I want
your stories too.  If you don't speak up this forum
will be of little service to you.  We are all (for teh
most part) former Peace Corps volunteers, or at least
former federal employees, who need resolution or
general moral support getting through the quagmire of
our government agency in which we were injured and the
Wonderful Wild World of OWCP.  It may be possible to
create a blog for this larger, miscellaneous group
(but I won't call it miscellaneous, I'll call it
something else).

3.  If we get a nice number of ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING
members in this forum, I would like to have a letter
writing campaign.  We need to find our critical mass,
develop a cohesive message and move forward our
cause(s).  Send your stories.  I'll organize the
stories for group consumption when Ig et more time --
it's been a busy two months for me with a new job and
all.

I hope you are all well as can be.  Hopefully this
group can be a source of some comfort where you can
find someone to at the very least commisserate with
you in your dark hour.  I don't know how I made it
through my low point without a sympathetic group like
this~

Be well,
Sue Trone
Peace Corps Georgia 2005



________________________________________________________________________________\
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That's wild!  I had to go off of Doxy and back onto Lariam
because Doxy caused severe stomache pain for me.  Lariam
generally results in liver damage, so that could be
related. -- Felicia

> Has anyone heard anything about Larium and if there is any
> connection to severe GI problems? I had severe GI problems
> in PC until I was switched to Doxycycline (of course, not
> due to any complication because of Larium). But I was just
> wondering. The difference between before Larium and after
> the Larium switch was the difference between night and day
> for me.
>
>
> On Monday, July 16, 2007, at 02:32PM, "Felicia"
> <felicia@...> wrote:
>>The lariaminfo.org site is the maintainer of the Lariam
>>support email list that many of us are on.  As far as I
>>know, they stopped giving Lariam to US troops because the
>>suicide incidence was so high.  It would be fantastic if
>>we could get the Peace Corps to stop using Lariam.
>>However, really if they just did better screening and
>>followed the instructions for prescribing the medication
>>the number of serious cases would be greatly reduced.
>>Right in the instructions, it says that at the first
>> signs
>>of high anxiety the patient should be taken off the
>>medication.  Not only did they not do that, but they also
>>didn't warn us in advance about what could happen and
>>later lied to us as we were signing the liability wavers.
>>I griped about anxiety and panic attacks for months and
>>months before I was finally taken off of Lariam.  --
>>Felicia
>>
>>> Out of curiosity, I googled Lariam.  I found a variety
>>> of
>>> interesting
>>> and informative sites including Lariam Action USA
>>> (http://lariaminfo.org), which I'm sure some of our
>>> members are
>>> familiar with.  That led me to the Care2 Petition Site
>>> (http://www.thepetitionsite.com) to view the "Ban the
>>> Use
>>> of Lariam on
>>> US Troops" petition.  That, in turn, got me thinking
>>> about
>>> petitioning
>>> Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter in an attempt
>>> to
>>> persuade him
>>> to create an Ombudsman position akin to the one that
>>> the
>>> former Peace
>>> Corps Director opposed.
>>>
>>> What do you think?  A good idea or not?
>>>
>>> Kevin
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Kevin

--- In owcp@yahoogroups.com, Sue T <sallie_ali_sue@...> wrote:
>
> OK - lots of folks suffering from after effects of
> Lariam. This problem definitely shines out. Please,
> keep the momentum rolling. I will try to parse out
> different people's stories here this week.
>
> A couple items to take up with the group:
>
> 1. Though communication with two congressmen has been
> discussed here, I think it would be useful if someone
> were officially the "spokesperson" for our group. I
> mean, if the problem with us having a single voice is
> decentralization, it seems to me that the first order
> of mobilization would be to see if somoene here will
> be the official person to liaise between us and
> congress. I don't want to volunteer anyone so if you
> are interested please let me know. As moderator I
> would assume some responsibility to organize a
> database (my forte) to hand over to someone to
> approach the congress people who are already online
> and interested in the Lariam issue (not my forte right
> now).
>
> 2. It occurs to me some people who might
> need/want/appreciate some advocacy might not be
> sufferers of Lariam toxicity (such as myself). To be
> sure, I don't want to dilute the Lariam issue and I
> think it is a worthy cause. As I understand the
> issue, the Lariam issue is such a hot potato
> particularly for PCVs b/c of two facts: 1) There is
> not a lot of independent info/after market study which
> illustrates the long-lasting effects of Lariam; 2)
> PCVs are administered the drug more than any other
> group of people. If I'm wrong, let me know. I
> definitely want to keep the momentum of this Lariam
> issue growing and, as moderator, I'll try to find a
> way to nurture this thing (perhaps a Lariam blog
> associated with this forum per Jay's suggestion????);
> however, I don't want this to just be a Lariam group.
> I was stabbed and have had myriad problems in my
> readjustment. Like many other PCVs, my situation is a
> freak thing, but the kind of advocacy we need is a bit
> different from the Lariam issue I believe b/c PC has
> NEVER disputed my rightful claim to benefits and my
> claim was adjudicated immediately. My problem is with
> the OWCP system b/c no doctor near me will bill ACS
> and I ahve to drive 7 hours to Tallahassee FL to see a
> doctor. Etc etc etc. So, again - could folks here
> who have non-Lariam issues please speak up? I want
> your stories too. If you don't speak up this forum
> will be of little service to you. We are all (for teh
> most part) former Peace Corps volunteers, or at least
> former federal employees, who need resolution or
> general moral support getting through the quagmire of
> our government agency in which we were injured and the
> Wonderful Wild World of OWCP. It may be possible to
> create a blog for this larger, miscellaneous group
> (but I won't call it miscellaneous, I'll call it
> something else).
>
> 3. If we get a nice number of ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING
> members in this forum, I would like to have a letter
> writing campaign. We need to find our critical mass,
> develop a cohesive message and move forward our
> cause(s). Send your stories. I'll organize the
> stories for group consumption when Ig et more time --
> it's been a busy two months for me with a new job and
> all.
>
> I hope you are all well as can be. Hopefully this
> group can be a source of some comfort where you can
> find someone to at the very least commisserate with
> you in your dark hour. I don't know how I made it
> through my low point without a sympathetic group like
> this~
>
> Be well,
> Sue Trone
> Peace Corps Georgia 2005

Hello All,

About a year ago, I posted a message re. the OIG investigation on the
Peace Corps Online Bulletin Board:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2032332.html

If you'd be willing to respond to that post, it might stir up some
attention outside this group.  And it will eventually get picked up by
the search engines too!

If you do reply, please state that you are a member of the OWCP Yahoo!
Group.  Thanks.

Kevin

Friends,
Thanks to Felicia for posting the info about OWCP to the Lariam group on
Yahoo. I'm co-director of Lariam Action USA. We've been working with PC
sufferers for ten years. We even had a booth at the PC's 40th anniversary
sessions in Washington, DC and met many of you Lariam survivors in person.

A concerted effort might get the PC to develop a consistent policy about
Lariam.
Not only must they agree to follow the requirements  on the drug label, but
they must acknowledge the damage to RPCVs so people can be treated and
compensated. It's criminal to deny responsibility for what happens when PC
volunteers become ill because of medication the Peace Corps required you to
take.

Someone mentioned contacting Sen Charles Schumer for assistance. Other
people in congress have strong PC connections. You need to identify the one
who will be your champion.

The fact is the drug is much too strong to use for prevention. Since it's
given to healthy people, the risks are too great. Especially when other
safer equally effective drugs are available! Whoever said there's not enough
research is wrong. For the true picture, read "A Lesson Learnt: the rise and
fall of Lariam and Halfan"
http://www.lariaminfo.org/pages/pdfs/alessonlearntlariamhalfancroft.pdf
(4-07) and
http://www.medicationsense.com/articles/jan_apr_07/lariam062007.html.

Lariam Action USA will be glad to help you but we can't do it for you. We're
a small volunteer organization ourselves.  You might consider using the
documentary "Taken As Directed" to help you present your case. A Peace Corps
volunteer is one of the 5 survivors whose stories are told in the film
www.takenasdirected.com. Her story of dealing with the PC  over Lariam is
classic.

Jeanne Lese
Co-director, Lariam Action USA
Co-producer, Taken As Directed

This is from a email that was sent directly to me ...

> You may want to contact Daniel Pailes or at least read his story. He
> once wrote a guest article for PC Online and has posted his phone
> number on that forum.  His issues are his own but he has also been in
> contact with several RPCV's with unresolved health issues.  He was the
> one who got congress to look into the Walter Portier disappearance.
>
> Did everyone note the resignation today of the administrator blamed
> for the veterans' health care situation?

I took Lariam in July 1991 after it first came on the market.  There
was no warning in the medication guide then and we were told to switch
to Lariam exclusively.  After about three weeks of taking the drug I
started to Hallucinate, have delusions, and become psychotic, but I
took the drug for a total of six months working as a volunteer.  I
couldn't sleep, had nighmares, and become manic.  It wasn't for six
months that I was finally sent home in January 1992, not because of
symptoms but because the Peace Corps had eliminated my post four months
early.  I never received my completion bonus.  I have the same symptoms
today and I have to take medication for it which keeps me sane.
Psychiatrists diagnose me with bipolar disorder, but the fact that I
took Lariam and developed these symptoms cannot just be a coincidence
explained by bipolar disorder.  I can also semi-function without
medication which leads me to believe it isn't bipolar disorder.  The
institutional bias for the drug developed by the Army and the fact that
it wasn't tested properly are big indicators that something is wrong
with this drug.

I have added information about the OWCP! Yahoo Group to Peace Corps
Wiki (see below).  My additions can be found in the Returned
Volunteers FAQs, section 3 "Where can I get assistance with medical
issues?" and section 17 "External Links."

--- In peacecorpsnetwork@yahoogroups.com, "sheppa28" <guinness42@...>
wrote:

http://www.PeaceCorpsWiki.com

is now up and running.

Peace Corps Wiki is a collaborative project whose goal is to create
a free, interactive, and up-to-date source of information about
serving as a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. Anyone is welcome
to edit, add, or change any entry.

The beginning entries and original outline of Peace Corps Wiki were
copied directly from the official Peace Corps website. Also, the
Welcome Books for each country were turned into a wiki as the
starting point for each country.

(Both the Peace Corps website and Welcome Books are in public
domain  in the United States and outside of copyright, as they are
the work of the United States Federal Government.)

-MIke
RPCV / The Gambia

--- End forwarded message ---

From the NPCA E-newsletter for July 2007:

"[On] July 3, the Peace Corps Office of the Inspector General conducted
an online survey to a random sample of RPCVs. If you have received a
request to complete this survey, NPCA and Peace Corps would greatly
appreciate your sharing your experience with the Medical Clearance
System. If you have already completed the survey, both the NPCA and
Peace Corps sincerely thank you for your time and assistance--your
feedback is invaluable to the study!"

To All:  Do you know anything about this survey?  Did you receive it?

Would someone send us a copy of the survey? either Word or pdf would be great. If you can't do this, a paper copy is fine. Email me if you need my address. jlese@...

Jeanne at Lariam Action USA

www.lariaminfo.org/

-----Original Message-----
From: owcp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Jul 22, 2007 6:15 AM
To: owcp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [owcp] Digest Number 133

OWCP

Messages In This Digest (2 Messages)

1a.

Re: OIG Survey From: Andrew Sterioff

1b.

Re: OIG Survey From: FourDirect@...

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Messages

1a.

Re: OIG Survey

Posted by: "Andrew Sterioff" apsterioff@...   apsterioff

Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:59 am (PST)

I did not receive it.

Andy Sterioff

----- Original Message ----
From: Kevin <rpcv@coolgoose.com>
To: owcp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 12:08:22 PM
Subject: [owcp] OIG Survey

From the NPCA E-newsletter for July 2007:

"[On] July 3, the Peace Corps Office of the Inspector General conducted
an online survey to a random sample of RPCVs. If you have received a
request to complete this survey, NPCA and Peace Corps would greatly
appreciate your sharing your experience with the Medical Clearance
System. If you have already completed the survey, both the NPCA and
Peace Corps sincerely thank you for your time and assistance-- your
feedback is invaluable to the study!"

To All: Do you know anything about this survey? Did you receive it?

__________________________________________________________
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1b.

Re: OIG Survey

Posted by: "FourDirect@..." FourDirect@...

Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:03 pm (PST)

I wonder if any of us who have been ill or struggled were sent the survey? I
was investigated but received no survey.

Nancy Tongue

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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Jeanne,

I have not seen the survey, nor do I know anyone who was surveyed.

You might be able to get a copy from the National Peace Corps
Association (operations@...) or from the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG@...) .

If you track down a copy, will you please let us know?  Thanks!

Kevin

-----Original Message-----
Would someone send us a copy of the survey? either Word or pdf would
be great. If you can't do this, a paper copy is fine. Email me if you
need my address. jlese@...

Jeanne at Lariam Action USA

www.lariaminfo.org/

Could I speak to someone in The Peace Corps if I have a medical problem
now and I was a Peace Corps Volunteer back in 1990?