I have had several medical problems over the last 20 or so years. I couldn't figure out what had happened to me to cause these problems. The problems were unique to me in the family. I've had kidney problems, mental health problems, nueropathy, joint problems, etc... As I was looking around at different sites a couple ays ago, I ran across a site dealing with lead poisoning and the symptoms of it. It was a eye opener to me! I have or had almost every one of the symptoms. Thiking back on it, I also had a multi year contact with vast quantities of lead, lead duct, and lead oxide. I worked at an indoor shooting range while I was in the Air Force for 3 years, and then worked the semi-enclosed outdoor ranges for another 4 years. Twice a year we'd dig out the lead that collected in the impact area below the angled armour backstop. After a day of that we'd be covered in lead dust and then we'd spread it into our cars, and take it home with us. This is when I started getting anxiety attacks, being extremely lethargic in the mornings, and having joint pain. During the normal course of a day we'd give classes, the take the students out the the firing line to shoot. The instructors on the line would go down range and score targets just in front of the impact area where the dust had just been stirred up by the impacting bullet fragments. We would do this at least 3 times a week for 8 months out of the year. That's spending about 2 hours a day of breathing lead. Not to mention everyone in the shop smoking 2 packs a day. I'm amazed I was able to have another child in this time period.

Now I have to start fighting the 800 pound gorilla known as the Department of Veterans Affairs for a service connected disability over my poisoning.

Robi