I've had a very small peanut allergy since I was a toddler, the only reaction that I have is that I sense peanuts are in my mouth and I go and spit it out. I've even swallowed it before and nothing happened. That's how small of an allergy it is. When I was going through these forums the other day I read that you're almost guaranteed to be disqualified and denied a waiver to attend USNA. This is really bothering me because it's been my dream for a very long time to attend this school. Would I be granted a waiver since it is such a minor allergy, or would they not take the chance on me and deny a waiver?????
Allergy Disqualification?
- Thread starter rcramer
- Start date
? True Allergy
What you say is that you sense peanuts in your mouth and spit them out, but you have no other reaction, even when you swallow them.
An allergy is an abnormal reaction of your immune system to a stimulus. People are often allergic to Poison Ivy. They get redness, swelling, blistering and itching where the contact occurs. Others are not allergic and have no response.
Some people are allergic to peanuts. The immune response often causes swelling around the eyes, red blotches on the skin or full blown hives on the skin. There may be constriction of the airway with wheezing or even more severe breathing problems. This is an allergic reaction.
I would be careful what you call an "allergy." Saying you have a peanut allergy brings up the picture I have described above in the minds of medical people.
Simply not liking peanuts, simply not enjoying the sensation of them in your mouth but having no immune reaction (see above) when you swallow them is not an allergy. In my case, I do not like boiled or scrambled eggs. If I encounter them and have to swallow them I nearly gag. However, I am not remotely allergic to them.
You definitely want to be careful on your DODMERB questionnaire and not label yourself with a problem that you do not actually have. This is my response to your post based on what you say in the post, but I may not understand your situation fully. You can always talk to your personal medical provider if you are still in doubt about your reaction to peanuts.
What you say is that you sense peanuts in your mouth and spit them out, but you have no other reaction, even when you swallow them.
An allergy is an abnormal reaction of your immune system to a stimulus. People are often allergic to Poison Ivy. They get redness, swelling, blistering and itching where the contact occurs. Others are not allergic and have no response.
Some people are allergic to peanuts. The immune response often causes swelling around the eyes, red blotches on the skin or full blown hives on the skin. There may be constriction of the airway with wheezing or even more severe breathing problems. This is an allergic reaction.
I would be careful what you call an "allergy." Saying you have a peanut allergy brings up the picture I have described above in the minds of medical people.
Simply not liking peanuts, simply not enjoying the sensation of them in your mouth but having no immune reaction (see above) when you swallow them is not an allergy. In my case, I do not like boiled or scrambled eggs. If I encounter them and have to swallow them I nearly gag. However, I am not remotely allergic to them.
You definitely want to be careful on your DODMERB questionnaire and not label yourself with a problem that you do not actually have. This is my response to your post based on what you say in the post, but I may not understand your situation fully. You can always talk to your personal medical provider if you are still in doubt about your reaction to peanuts.
I had an allergy test done at the age of 4 and the doctor said that I am allergic. Now I don't know if I have outgrown that or not. It sounds like I should go to the doctor and get retested for my allergy. I am starting to think that I have outgrown it and simply still hate the taste.
No Allergic Reaction
You have had the nuts in your mouth and swallowed some and nothing that would be considered an allergic reaction has happened.
Eating the nuts is the ultimate test. This is what an allergist would do in his/her office as the final test. Some offices have cooks who prepare the test items for you to eat. Then they watch you to see if you react. You have done the challenge already and passed, based on your post. SIMPLY SPITTING OUT THE NUTS DOES NOT CLEAR THE ALLERGIC TRIGGER FROM YOUR SYSTEM.
Since you have done the challenge yourself and passed, my personal recommendation would be to check "no" on the DODMERB questionnaire for food allergies. Again, YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THE TEST.
If you decide to bring up this questionable issue by checking "yes" you will have to go to an allergist and have additional testing. Maybe they will do a blood test for antibodies to peanuts. Who knows what this lab test will show? The ultimate test is to give you peanuts, WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE.
Based on your post, I believe you can, in good faith, check "no" for food allergies and move on with your application.
Assuming you otherwise pass the physical and report no other medically disqualifying issues, DODMERB WILL NOT ASK FOR MEDICAL RECORDS that might indicate a QUESTIONABLE peanut allergy in the past. It sounds like you have already done the testing to rule this out. I would go based on that.
You have had the nuts in your mouth and swallowed some and nothing that would be considered an allergic reaction has happened.
Eating the nuts is the ultimate test. This is what an allergist would do in his/her office as the final test. Some offices have cooks who prepare the test items for you to eat. Then they watch you to see if you react. You have done the challenge already and passed, based on your post. SIMPLY SPITTING OUT THE NUTS DOES NOT CLEAR THE ALLERGIC TRIGGER FROM YOUR SYSTEM.
Since you have done the challenge yourself and passed, my personal recommendation would be to check "no" on the DODMERB questionnaire for food allergies. Again, YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THE TEST.
If you decide to bring up this questionable issue by checking "yes" you will have to go to an allergist and have additional testing. Maybe they will do a blood test for antibodies to peanuts. Who knows what this lab test will show? The ultimate test is to give you peanuts, WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE.
Based on your post, I believe you can, in good faith, check "no" for food allergies and move on with your application.
Assuming you otherwise pass the physical and report no other medically disqualifying issues, DODMERB WILL NOT ASK FOR MEDICAL RECORDS that might indicate a QUESTIONABLE peanut allergy in the past. It sounds like you have already done the testing to rule this out. I would go based on that.
usna1985
15-Year Member
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- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,854
^^^^
Depends on how the question is framed. If the question is whether you currently have an allergy and you have confirmation from an allergist that you do not based on recent testing, then the correct answer would be "no."
However, if the question is whether you ever "were diagnosed with" an allergy, and you have a previous diagnosis of an allergy, then the correct answer would be "yes." In that case, I would expect DODMERB would request additional information. If a current test indicated the allergy did not exist (either you'd grown out of it or were incorrectly diagnosed in the first place), then you would likely be ok.
Depends on how the question is framed. If the question is whether you currently have an allergy and you have confirmation from an allergist that you do not based on recent testing, then the correct answer would be "no."
However, if the question is whether you ever "were diagnosed with" an allergy, and you have a previous diagnosis of an allergy, then the correct answer would be "yes." In that case, I would expect DODMERB would request additional information. If a current test indicated the allergy did not exist (either you'd grown out of it or were incorrectly diagnosed in the first place), then you would likely be ok.