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HOLLAND
COLLEGE • November 1, 2001
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COLLEGE
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focuses on living with irritable bowel syndrome after Somalia Julie Veinot julieveinot@hotmail.com It's bad enough dealing with irritable bowel syndrome. Far worse to deal with it when you're in the military and tramping kilometres each day under an African sun so hot the skin peels from your face. Now a Holland College business student, John has no qualms talking about irritable bowel syndrome and how it has affected him since taking an anti-malaria drug while serving in Somalia. Still, he asks his last name not be printed because he does not want to be known as the man with bowel problems. It's been several years since the military discharged him because of irritable bowel syndrome, which began after he took mefloquine, he says. The drug, used by the military to prevent a mosquito-borne diease, has been linked to side effects like nightmares, digestive problems and violent behaviour. John suffered severe diarrhea. In Somalia, the tank crew commander lived off rations that didn't include fresh fruit, milk or hot meals ÑÊunless you count what the sun baked. Many times while he was serving on his peacekeeping mission he didn't eat until late, hoping to avoid a diarrhea explosion. "I would not be able to eat until suppertime," the 41-year-old says, occasionally stroking his brown beard, flecked with grey. He was part of a 1993 peacekeeping mission to Somalia, an African country torn apart by civil war. It borders Ethiopia. He stayed there five months, but was on mefloquine even longer Ñ seven months. The Canadian Forces ÑÊalong with American, British and Dutch forces Ñ still use mefloquine as well as other anti-malaria drugs, says public affairs spokesperson Sub. Lieutenant Morgan Bailey. As a doctor with the forces and someone who has taken the drug himself, Commander Dr. David Carpenter says the benefits of mefloquine outweigh the risks. "The risks of malaria are death," he says. "Malaria kills over one million a year." He adds all drugs come with side effects. The side effects hit five of the dozen people in John's troop. They experienced bowel problems. Doctors even removed the large intestine of one. "We all had clean bills of health prior to going," says John. He didn't lose his bowels, but he had to be discharged from the military because most overseas missions don't always come with convenient toilets. It was his military experience that led him to Holland College. He signed a waiver promising to never sue the armed forces. They agreed to pay his college bills. "I am satisfied," he explains. "It worked out well." At one point he talked to a lawyer about possible action against the military and their role in handing out the drug. However, legal fees would have cost $100,000. Joking Ñ having a sense of humour helps most days Ñ he says, "I didn't have that many pop bottles to turn in." Having irritable bowel makes it hard to know what business he should get in, says John. Once his college course is over, he hopes to work as a car salesperson, then retire. He's satisfied with the way the Department of Veteran Affairs handled things, especially how easy it was to receive help. "DVA didn't argue with it at all," he says. "They gave me a lawyer to assist me." He also says they are willing to pay for Depends in the future ÑÊnot just any old adult diapers, but the one of the brand name brands. Then, in a burst of humour, he points out one thing they won't agree to pay for. "The fluffy toilet paper." What is irritable bowel syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that causes a variety problems including constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, fatigue, bloating, headaches. There is no known cause for irritable bowel syndrome, although many patients say their symptoms begin after an intestine infection or a stressful period in their lives. } |
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