DQ'd! Now what?

M

mom in baltimore

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
3
Greetings,
I'm new to this site. It's amazing how creative one gets when panicked and looking for a way through a crisis. Here's the situation... My son is a high level wrestler and grabbed the attention of the USMMA wrestling coach. In Nov 2010, the coach sent him a letter of interest, and my son began the admissions process. It's been a whirlwind of activity getting everything completed on time before the deadlines. A few days ago, he got a notification that he's been dq"d because he has a hx of asthma. He had some issues a number of years ago with allergies that caused wheezing, and was treated with an inhaler. As he's gotten older, the symtoms and allergies have subsided. Unfortunately, his medical record stated a dx of asthma and restrictive airway disease. He has since transferred to a new doctor, but in reading his old chart, the new doc has continued to refer to a hx of asthma whenever he presents with cold and flu. About two years ago, he had a chest cold, and was given albuterol for chest tightness. This was the last time he had any wheezing symtoms, and has not taken any medication, allergy or otherwise, since. Actually, he's been well since that visit. He wrestles year round, and has also participated in crosscounty at school without any symptoms. So... he/we were very dissapointed by this decision. I spoke to a very helpful gal at the DoDmer who advised my son to contact our physician and get documentation of his current state of health and absence of symptoms to challenge the Dodmer decision. She also told me that, based on the deadline of Apr 16 for medical review, I might want to get a consult with an asthma specialist to support a challenge from our end. My son also called the Captain at the admissions office at the USMMA to begin the waiver process. Two questions, how do we drive the process, check on the status, etc., without being an irratant to everyone involved, and given that the clock is ticking (April 16 deadline), is there anything else he should do in addition to talking nicely to God... Thanks in advance for any advice or shared experiences...
 
Hello,

I had a very similar situation earlier this year. I had been labeled with exercise induced athsma a year or so ago. I run Cross Country, and it had been a minor problem once. If you can get a letter into DODMERB stating what it was originally, and how affects in daily life, especially in high stress activities, they may call for a remedial. I did a methacholine challenge test. Checked out fine. Hope everything works out for you!
 
Honestly, you can consider yourself fortunate that you received what sounds like a little guidance. At least someone pointed you in the direction to which to focus your energy.

My son has been going through this process for months and has had nothing that approaches guidance in any way the entire time.

Nobody wanted to hear additional information even though we offered to provide it, nobody asked any clarifying questions from our physicians, nobody counceled us to obtain clafifying information to submit on our own.

No advice from DODMERB, nothing from USNA, no guidance whatsoever from the BGO, zero from the "RD" whoever that was, no way to get status info from DODMERB web-site, no clarifying questions from waiver authority, nothing.....that is until he got the "waiver denied" letter that is.

Bitter...you bet.

Many seem to find plenty of assistance. We never did.

Better luck to the rest of you.
 
Mom in Baltimore-

Does your son already have his nomination and conditional offer (pending medical)? Were you give a remedial for his medical records. I have my fingers crossed for you that it will work out. My son is also in a similar situation. I'll let you know more as we find out any information. I can't really guide you on how often to call, but it does take time and we both know we've only got about 5 weeks left (USMMA deadline- not DoDMERB. It's essentially out of our hands, and the waiver authority, not DodMERB will make the recommendation. DoDMERB has been very helpful and I imagine they've been indundated with calls since their website is down. Fingers crossed for us both and keep the faith that it will all work out
 
Thanks, SoccerMom2015, for the kind words. He hasn't gotten anything in writing, but when we spoke to the DoDmerb, we were told that he'd been accepted. I know that means nothing until we get word formally. A remedial was already assigned, which prompted sending the medical records for review and a dq was issued as a result of that review. Since the website is down, I don't know the status as of today. I'll call them on Monday. Are you saying that we'll be issued another remedial? Tick tock tick tock... I'm expecting that they'll ask for a methylinecholate test. Tick Tock Tick Tock...The good news is that we got a confirmation from the admissions office at USMMA that the waiver was submitted to Dodmerb. Proactively, he was seen by our family doctor yesterday. She will write a letter clarifying his condition (or should I say absence of any condition). I also made an appointment with a pulmonologist on Monday for an assessment. My hope is that the challeges to the dq from our end will support the waiver. When you call the Dodmerb, are you asking for an update/status of the waiver? I'm not even sure what to ask.
 
Mom in baltimore,

This is exactly what we did, we did and it appeared to work. I went and talked to my JROTC instructor and this is exactly what he recommended. Not sure if they wanted to hear it, and they definitely didn't ask for it. No guarantees on a remidial tho. Best of luck.
 
Waivers for USMMA are decided BY USMMA. They notify the applicants via letter. They receive a medical recommendation from the US navy's BUMED. DoDMERB does NOT grant/deny medical waivers. DoDMERB DOES render medicla determiantions on whther applicants MEET/do NOT meet medical standards.:thumb:
 
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