Anyone else a DES daughter?

I am a DES daughter. DH has been on me the past few years to sue for compensation. I've known since I was a teenager that I was exposed because my mother knew it would cause me some problems down the road. The only reason I haven't proceeded with a claim is that my mother's medical records mysteriously disappeared when the lawsuits started happening. My mother was given this drug by a military hospital so I really didn't see why the records had to disappear. I still have one place to check where closed medical files are sent. I just haven't taken the time to do it. I even found an attorney who specializes in those claims but so far he's won cases where the woman ended up with certain rare type of cancer that's common in DES daughters. I have always told my Doctors that I have been exposed and they took it seriously because there were obvious signs of it.

I was only curious because I have a suit pending that is going to be settled this summer. I did not even have to have my mother's records. I just think it is important that everyone who was exposed to this drug receive SOME sort of compensation. Granted we will never be millionairs, and they could never give back what was REALLY taken from us...but the drug companies need to accept fault at the very least.I would do something soon if I were you. There are statutes of limitations on these cases, and I would hate to see you wait too long. There were 4 drug companies activly distributing DES in the year I was born, so my lawyer is seeking 4 separate settlements. It is a law that was passed because of this drug that allows multiple settlements based on the market share at the time of distribution. It is also comforting to know that I am not alone in this!

I've been thinking about filing again lately because I may have surgery again this summer. Did you have to submit your entire medical history? I was born in 1964 and my mother took it because of prior miscarriages. She didn't take it with my older sister because the problems didn't start until after she was born.

I'd like to second BugandBearsMom's suggestion that you go ahead & see a lawyer, even if all you do is to figure out if the statute of limitations has run or when it will run, so you'll know how much time you have to make a decision. It's possible that the statute of limitations started running as soon as you discovered the problem. And if you were not of the age of majority by then, it was probably tolled during that time (sorta like putting it on "pause" if you think about a VCR), but started running when you hit 18 (or whatever the legal age of majority is in your state). There's no point in agonizing about whether to sue if it's not even a possibility, so find out. My cousin was a DES daughter, and has had special gynecological exams I think twice a year where the dr. goes through a more elaborate procedure than a Pap smear to see if there are any precancerous changes to the tissues where they've run into a rare kind of cancer in DES daughters. She also had some infertility problems that she attributed to the DES, but did manage to get pregnant twice and carry the babies to term. Because this drug was sold generically, it is hard to determine which drug company to sue, like BugandBearsMom said. I don't know that the market share - split it between all the companies kind of law has been passed everywhere. I do know of one other case that settled because the attorney was able to find where the pharmacist in a little town old timey drug store had written on the back of the prescription which drug company version he had fillld the prescription with. Best wishes, and it's worth seeing if you can find another gynecologist who is more familiar with DES.

I was sent a questionaire that was about 20 pages long. I also had to get all my own medical records going back as far as I could. Most of the questions were pretty general and nothing that I couldn't answer myself. There were some that I had to have my mother answer. Many had to do with my borthers and sisters ability to conceive and or carry a child to term...which they have all been able to do.They have many ways of trying to get you the longest statute of limitations they can...for example, I was born in Iowa, I was treated in Oregon, I resided in Washington at the time of the suit, and my lawyer is in New York. They were able to find out which state had the longest statute time and go with that. I believe it was Washington that won out. I have done a fair share of research on the internet, and I believe since the market share was a decision that came from the supreme court that it applys pretty much everywhere. Even at that, an attourney will be able to tell you if it is so for sure or not. All in all, I think it is worth it. I got started about 3 years ago with my particular suit, and it will be settled this summer.

I found two law firms online who specialize in DES cases, one in NY and the other in DC. Did you check out the DC firm too? I should have sued a while back and I might have gotten enough to do multiple IVF tries. We were a military family so we could probably use any number of states to file the claim. I think I'll contact an attorney to find out what options I have.

I am sure the one in NY is the one I am using. They are also involved with another firm in California regarding one of the newer fad heart drugs. They aren't promising to make me a millionaire, but enough to buy a bigger house (so if/when bug & bear's mothers get PG again we won't have to turn a sib away) and pay some bills. Maybe even enough to pay off the vehicle loans and a couple others...then I can be SAHM!! Anyway. I am using Michael London. I have been pretty happy with them so far.