2/C at USNA with Eczema - Report or No?

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bluejayburrito

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Jan 26, 2020
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As the title states, I’m a rising 2/C with eczema unsure of when I should seek help. I had a waiver to get in here for it, and it has been doing alright and been manageable until this summer. I’ve flared pretty badly, but know that since I have not signed 2 for 7, I’m at risk for separation of medical issues. I’ve heard some people say it’s separation, others golden handshake, as well as restricted line or maybe only SWO. Is anyone familiar with the outcomes to this? Should I wait until I’m a firstie, or could I get a restricted line guarantee as a 2/C?
 
Worrying about it, will cause it to flare even more. My advice would be to tackle it now. It can get out of hand, open sores on your legs/arms etc that others will notice. Even your roommate.

I’m not a DR, but your health is the most important thing to take care of. Everything else will will work out.

Keep in mind, stories of ‘xxx got xxx’ are stories. Each situation is unique. No way to know the outcome of your situation compared to another. A subpar problematic Mid may be handled differently than an exceptional Mid, for example. Idk.

Don’t be scared. Take care of it ( it won’t go away), attack the problem head on. Knowledge is power!!
 
Don’t spiral about the ‘what could be.’ Have you tried some over the counter items yet? Are they helping? If those aren’t helping and it’s not getting better, it’s time for medical.
 
__________________________
Du kannst es schaffen
Es ist schwer eltern zu sein
Habe vertrauen in Gott
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I have mild occasional flare up eczema. No fun. After my bout with Covid over the last few weeks, it has really flared. Doc explained that eczema is caused by an overactive healthy immune system. So when I am stressed, over tired, or depleted by something like Covid, I may have a flare up.

Awful. Painful. Itchy. Annoying. Using all topical prescription meds and still fighting it. He did say how important it is to properly care for skin and moisturize. He recommended Aveeno or Eucerin.

In terms of reporting, seek the medical help you need.
 
Even if you don’t report it now, I’d expect that the doc would find it during your 2/C pre-commissioning physical. For that reason assuming you’ve already exhausted all options to take care of this on your own with OTC creams etc, I’d probably just go to medical. The fact that you are diagnosed a month before signing 2/7 shouldn’t make a difference in your commissioning outcome. Also, the doctor should be able to tell you the outlook in terms of being considered for a waiver so you can hopefully still commission. Better to find that out now.

Good luck shipmate.
 
since you are already talking about this personal health issue , that could impact commissioning , on an open Internet forum , where a lot of USNA folks might read , you have no option IMO but reporting it now. Assuming this is going to be a chronic issue and easily Dx in the future.

That may also have been the best option to start with but now it’s your only option again IMO.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
since you are already talking about this personal health issue , that could impact commissioning , on an open Internet forum , where a lot of USNA folks might read , you have no option IMO but reporting it now. Assuming this is going to be a chronic issue and easily Dx in the future.

That may also have been the best option to start with but now it’s your only option again IMO.
Click to expand...

To be honest I don’t think this is a factor whatsoever. OP has not included any personally identifying information, and I doubt USNA staff spend their limited time perusing this forum looking to bust midshipmen with any regularity.
 
OP, your health comes first. The stress of thinking about this is no doubt a contributing factor. It’s usually better to act, than react, to solve a problem.

Seek medical help. The sooner you do this (assuming OTC meds aren’t helping), the sooner you can be seen by specialists and gain some control and relief. USNA/the Navy wants to keep you if it can, because they have invested in you from the moment they offered you an appointment.

The solution set will be along the range you mentioned, and it would be after treatment, observation and assessment of your case, which is not done overnight. Set your mind to take this one step at a time. You will feel immediate mental relief once you seek help to manage the condition. Down the road, if it means you might be restricted to certain officer communities, well, that is life. It happens. You will be able to handle every aspect of this by fully engaging and taking it as it comes. Life has a way of taking twists and turns, but you are in control of how you feel about it and how you approach it. (Read VADM Stockdale’s two essays on Stoicism, where he makes that point again and again. Some things you have no control over, but you can control your feelings. The essays are on USNA.edu.).

In the meantime, be the absolute best mid you can be, relentlessly cheerful, the go-to person in company, respected by all. Once you get the medical ball rolling, let your SEL and company officer know what’s going on. Don’t be reluctant to let them know your concerns and fears - a fear voiced is a step toward conquering it. Be the mid the chain of command will fight for.

If you catch your brain going into catastrophizing mode, leaping ahead to “oh no, what if,” slow down, try some SEAL box breathing, focus on immediate next steps. Coach yourself to get through this.

If things get rugged, go find a chaplain or counselor at the center. They are there to support you as a young adult, perhaps hitting the first big boulder in their life path.

Keep us posted here if you wish. There are many of us here who have run into our own boulders and adapted.
 
My older brother has had extremely bad eczema his whole life … steroids throughout childhood.

Beyond the excellent advice above, diet can also play a factor. Talk to the doctor about things you can do to minimize the problem. Iirc my brother stayed away from dairy and acidic food.
 
Everyone has a cross to bear. I can't imagine the stress and anxiety you must be under. Lots of good advice above. Control what you can control. Good luck to you.
 
A friend of mine has eczema and is also thinking about whether to report it or not. But I ran into your post to see what ppl say about it. I think that if your eczema is really bad and needs regular treatment, or if it might affect your health or how well you can do your duties, I'd say it's probably a good idea to let someone know about it.
 
Dealing with eczema can be tough, especially when it starts affecting your career decisions. I understand your concern about seeking help and how it might impact your future in the Navy.I've been navigating through my own skincare challenges lately, trying to find the right balance of treatment and management. I recently stumbled upon a dermatology reference textbook that's been quite enlightening. It's helped me understand more about my condition and potential solutions. Here's the link: https://www.therapeutique-dermatologique.org/ . As for your situation, it might be worth reaching out to a medical professional or counselor at the USNA for guidance.
 
I have another kid that has dealt with this her whole life and I think we are on the right track...it's the gluten, the sugar, the dairy. I would make a conscious effort to try to cut those out for a couple weeks and see how you do. Best of luck!!!
 
my youngest had eczema flare up post covid last year, and since he started using vanicream immediately after showering, and only NON antibacterial soap (dove) it has gone away. Eliminate sugars and stay hydrated and lotion right after drying off...hopefully you can get it under control.
 
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