Airman Tate soars on through rare disease

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C --  Editor's note:  Discovery Health's popular show, "Mystery Diagnosis" will spotlight the Shaw Air Force Base meteorologist, June 21 at 10 p.m. Eastern time.

The crew of "Mystery Diagnosis," from the Discovery Health Channel, came here to document the case of Senior Airman Jake Tate, 28th Operational Weather Squadron forecaster, April 6 and 7.

As he met the crew, Airman Tate greeted them with a charming smile. One would never know by appearance that he had anything wrong with him.

Airman Tate has Dercum's disease, which, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, is the third rarest disease in the world. That's why the crew came to document a story about him.

According to the NORD, Dercum's disease is an extremely rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful growths consisting of fatty tissue, also known as lipomas. The growths are found just below the skin. It often causes severe pain from the lipomas pressing on the nearby nerves. Dercum's disease mainly occurs in adults and more women are affected than men. In some cases, affected individuals may also experience weight gain, depression, lethargy, and/or confusion. Fortunately, it is not a terminal disease.

"My wife and I counted about a month ago, and I had 815 nodules," he said. "They range in size from marble to golf ball."

It hurts when he sits or does a certain task too long, Airman Tate said. When pressure is applied to them, it causes them to grow.

"It's kind of like a water balloon with a hole in it," he explained. "If you squeeze it, a little bit of water is going to leak out."

The nodules start leaking more fluid when pressure is put on them, then fat is gathered around that fluid and causes more nodules, Airman Tate said.

He first started noticing problems about two and a half years ago while he was in technical school.

"I had about two or three while I was in tech school," said Airman Tate. "They were very painful, but I didn't really think much about it. But over time, they started to get worse."

After technical school, the irritation and the symptoms gradually got worse, he went on. He had about 50 or 60, and they were starting to be a nuisance. Whenever he did anything physical, he would start getting cramps where the nodules were.

"I used to play a lot of basketball," Airman Tate said. "Whenever contact was made with the lipomas, they would swell up and turn blue."

Airman Tate's training supervisor at the time, Master Sgt. Timothy Harrell, 28th Operational Weather Squadron first sergeant, had no idea that there was anything wrong with him at the time, said the first sergeant. He had been dealing with this disease for almost two years, and now it was starting to escalate.

"I was worried about what the Air Force was going to say, and that they would kick me out," said Airman Tate. "I didn't realize they would be so supportive."

When Airman Tate first brought it up the need to see a doctor, he was sent to his first doctor and spoke with one of her assistants. Her assistant then referred him to see a dermatologist.

He was bounced around between several doctors, trying to figure what was wrong, he said. So he finally decided to do some research on his own when he came across Dercum's disease.

At first, the doctor's were skeptical about it, since Dercum's is 80 percent more prominent in females then males, and generally in those who are in menopause or obese, according to the doctors.

Eventually, they opened up to the idea and referred him to a specialist, Airman Tate said. By this time, he had more than 100 nodules.

Airman Tate met with the new doctor at the National Naval Medical Center in February of 2009, he said. She looked him over for 15 minutes and officially diagnosed him with type three Dercum's disease.

Airman Tate said his reactions to the diagnosis were mixed. Although he had an idea, it was still a surprise. Since there is no cure, he was hoping it wouldn't be Dercum's, but it was nice to know what was wrong.

"The first thing I thought of was my kids," he explained.

Being the father of three; a 9-year old, an 18-month old and a new baby, was a concern of his because Dercum's is a hereditary disorder, he continued.

The people at his work were also surprised by the diagnosis. Sergeant Harrell said he was confused; he had never heard of Dercum's and didn't know how to react.

Sergeant Harrell described Airman Tate as a very energetic, motivated and eager Airman who has excelled at every job and is always trying to learn and succeed.

"It was disheartening to him at first that he might not be able to serve the way he wants to," said Sergeant Harrell about Airman Tate's reaction. "But, it hasn't stopped him from trying to provide for his family. He is still very active and engaged. He's always been very energetic and positive. Now, even after the diagnosis, he still maintains that attitude."

Since finding out about the disease, lifestyle changes have had to be made, both at work and at home.

Forecasters are required to work 12-hour shifts, explained Sergeant Harrell. Because of the nodules, Airman Tate can no longer work on the floor since he can't be confined to a seat for that long and is limited to certain tasks. Now, he performs administrative work at the squadron.

Even with this, he has excelled, said Sergeant Harrell. He's limited to four-hour shifts, but gets as much done as possible.

"We're trying to support him with doctor's requirements, his and his family's needs, and meeting any other obligations of his," the sergeant said.

Work has been very supportive, Airman Tate said. They allow him to take leave or go home early whenever he needs to.

He tries not to let it, but this has caused him to make changes at home.

"My wife has taken up a lot more responsibilities because there are a lot of things I can't do anymore," Airman Tate said.

He has found ways to make up for what he can't do anymore.

"I'm not able to wrestle with my boys and do as much athletic stuff with them," he said. "But, I have found other ways, like coaching their baseball team and just trying to be there for them."

Even if some things cause him a little bit of pain or discomfort, he still puts out the effort.

"I don't want my kids to see their dad -- their role model -- as the weak, sick guy who has to lie on the couch all the time," he said. "Even if I am in pain, I try not to show it because it doesn't really help anyone out."

There are other lifestyle changes he has made as well, Airman Tate said. He uses a heating pad and takes pain medication several times a day. He also takes the times to think about what he is about to do before he does something and takes seat cushions with him whenever he goes out.

Currently, Airman Tate is in the process of finding out whether the Air Force is going to medically retire him or allow him to stay in and serve, he said. Medical retirement would allow him to keep all of his benefits. This is just one more example of how the Air Force has been supportive to him.

"The Air Force really is like a huge family," he said. "Everyone who finds out has been super-supportive to me and my family. I'm very grateful I joined the Air Force when I did. I can't imagine finding out about having this and not having the support I've had in the Air Force. They've sent me to San Diego, they've sent me to Bethesda, Md., they've let me try all kinds of expensive treatments, and I haven't paid a dime for it."

Through all of the treatments, the pain and discomfort, Airman Tate has maintained a positive attitude and continued to be excellent in all he does, Sergeant Harrell said.