My story in a nutshell is as follows....... I was an industrial sign painter for several years for a local sign company. My symptoms started after 4 years of Polyurethane paint, V.O.C., & solvent exposure from my job. MEK, zylene, tolulene, N-mono butyl ether, benzene, alcohol, you name it I worked with all the big nasties and had no training, no protection, & no Idea. I started having Constant Fatigue, Passing out at stop lights, or just blacking out a lot. It took nearly 2.75 years to get a straight diagnosis.
I had a vasovagal reaction to a catalyst substance that I had taken to them for analysis when it spilled onto the floor last time I was seen in Chicago at the UIUC. I fully lost consciousness and came to surrounded by EMT's & fire fighters. I was last told to schedule an appointment for some very expensive test( that I could not afford ) and told I have to pay for them upfront because of a lack of healthcare insurance. I had to cancel the appointment and have since been w/out treatment for my affliction (solvent poisoning ~ long term exposure) I'm falling apart here and I don't know what to do.
It seems all the doctors down here in Champaign, Il. refuse to acknowledge even the slightest possibility that my symptoms are related to my work...and V.O.C.'s.....It feels so hopeless , all I want is to be seen by a specialist ~ who deals with this kind of thing on a regular basis, knows what to look for, and the proper course of treatment for my symptoms if there is one. I'm still suffering from all of the same symptoms , some of them have gotten worse.. the resting tremors, fatigue, ringing in my ears, Sleep problems, upper respiratory problems (especially) and headaches are a fact of my daily life now. Is there anything I can do here??? I'm desperate. I did finally change jobs and have health insurance , but they won't cover my pre-existing Condition. I've contacted OSHA, The EPA, and A lawyer. No one Cares!!!! what is wrong here?
These people are still in business and throwing their waste into a dumpster that's been going to the same landfill year after year, with office documents as well. I'm talking about neon units containing mercury, Fluorescent bulbs, paint cans that had lead based paint in them as well as many other chemicals, used Transformers and ballast too. I know for a fact that all of the above require special handling when it comes to disposal. And that in their new location their paint booth exhaust into a local children's park and baseball field as well as residences next to the business. I need help to make sure that what has happened to me happens to no one else ever again. Any Information or contacts would be helpful. I'm so tired of suffering in silence. I was told it was stress in 2001, I have lots of documentation of my case , OSHA inspection reports with fines, exam records, MSDS sheets, witnesses to my working conditions, photos of my work area, all pointing to the cause- solvents! Yet my former employers insurance company still denies my claim, I can't get treatment or seen by the doc's I need to see. I was told it was all in my head for a long time, I've nearly committed suicide over all this........ I knew I needed help w/ that, so I see a counselor. But now I hold out hoping for some kind of justice. I do know I will never have the quality of life I once had. I can't bike or play with my son like we used to. I've been told I'm narcoleptic (solvent induced Narcosis) now and have been on Adderall for about 1.5 years this started about 3.5 years ago. I don't have the same symptoms as most people w/ narcolepsy. Mine are way different! I feel I'm being given a Band-Aid to but on an amputated limb. My lawyer doubts I'll get any compensation for my bills....since there were NO toxicology test performed immediately when I became Ill. I did everything that I was told to do from day one by my healthcare providers yet I still get shafted, what is wrong w/ these people??? How much evidence do I need to prove this? | 
