DoDMERB Waiver

[pjs12296]

Hi I just recently began ROTC in my freshman year and have a few questions before I sign up for my DoDMERB exam. I am diagnosed with excessive induced bronchiospasm (asthma) but it is really because of shortessof breath during a soccer game a few years ago from playing while I had a cold. My mother pushed for my doctor to prescribe an inhaler "just in case" so now I have to deal with that obstacle on my record. I have an albuterol inhaler that I do not use and have not used in a long time. I am wondering how difficult it will be for me to have this waived, and if the fact that cadre have seen me run and participate in PT and labs with no breathing difficulty would help my situation.

Next, which I think may be my biggest issue is that I had surgery to correct pyloric stenosis as an infant. I have had no issues since and am concerned that this could disqualify me. The wording of the DoD policy on this confused me so I was hoping someone else may have some input.

Cadre currently know about the asthma issue but I didn't even consider pylori stenosis being a problem until I saw something about it while researching the asthma issue. Is this something they could help me work around (if it is even an issue), or do I just have no chance at serving anymore. Neither of these issues have caused me an issue in the past and would not be an obstacle to doing anything I am asked. Is there anything I can do to still have a chance because this is something that means a lot to me? Thanks

 

[pjs12296]

Sorry -- *exercise* induced not excessive

 

[EDelahanty]

Nobody here can give you certainty about the outcome of your individual DODMERB process, and I am no expert on matters medical. That being said, I would be optimistic.

You said the pyloric stenosis was corrected surgically in your infancy and has not been an issue since then. I agree that the language in the Army Medical Standards is unclear, but I saw nothing that was overtly negative. Are there any reports, ancient or otherwise, of examinations by your pediatrician or the pediatric surgeon who did the procedure which verify your recovery? If so, these would go a long way to resolving any question. It is likely that DODMERB will ask you to produce any available records on this. If there are no records around but you have the same pediatrician, a letter could be helpful.

Regarding the asthma, if you search back through the numerous DODMERB threads on this subject, you will find that most of them concern childhood asthma which later disappeared. A common result following a DODMERB DQ was that a bronchial stress test, such as a methacholine challenge test, was required. My recollection is that a waiver was typically granted after a successful test. There may even have been a few who were able to avert a DQ by taking the test privately. (By the way, if the test is required by DODMERB, it will be ordered through DODMETS and will not be at your expense).

Your case is different because the asthma has been diagnosed more recently. It's unclear from your statement whether asthma actually was the problem or whether the inhaler was ordered out of an abundance of caution. In either case DODMERB will want to make sure that the condition, which you say was triggered by a cold, will not recur. Cadre is not qualified to evaluate you, so you may very well have to undergo the bronchial challenge (as many others, including my son, have done successfully).