Asthma Questions

T

TheJrder

5-Year Member
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Jun 27, 2014
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I haven't yet scheduled my physical or done anything with DoDMERB, but I saw on here that asthma can be disqualifying. This worries me, because when I was 14 or 15, I went to the allergist for a routine allergy check. At the end of my appointment, they had me blow in some machine and they said, "Oh yeah, by the way, you have allergy induced asthma". This surprised me because I ran cross country for multiple years and played basketball, soccer, and baseball for years without any complaints or problems. So, the next day I used the inhaler they gave me before basketball practice. I noticed no difference, and I haven't used or refilled it since. Like before, I play varsity basketball, varsity soccer, and varsity tennis along with long distance running in my free time and I don't have any problems. Even during allergy season, I notice nothing different (my allergies aren't all that bad anyways). Will this be an automatic disqualification? Is there a way to fix it? Should I go back to my allergist and ask for a re-check, or does the physician at DoDMERB check for that? I saw that DoDMERB is pretty black and white on this and if it's on your record, you're out. Any and all advice is appreciated.
 
Asthma

TheJrder,

You noted that you were 14 or 15... Your age at the time the Dr. put it in your record is very important. Find out how old you were for certain.

I don't like to post a negative response; however, any asthma after 13 is going to be a DQ as I have read and understood it. This is why you need to be sure how old you were. If by chance you are incorrect with the age and you were younger than 13 your "chances" become different.

Talk to your peeps... As parents my wife and I knew things that my son learned as he got older only because he was too young to understand. My son had asthma at the age of 8. He didn't have a clue what it was, it was up to us to observe and get him what he needed. When he got older he learned more, his asthma was also a seasonal allergy & a non-issue.

So...again, talk to your peeps and see what they know, then firm up how old you truly were when it was placed in your record.

Last important note. Please follow-up with the responses to your post. I am only one person. If I am wrong someone will correct my feedabck and be as helpful by giving other guidance.

Good luck...
 
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Thanks for your reply. I was 15 when it happened.

So, is that it? Does the fact that it doesn't affect me mean anything? If it was a wrong diagnosis, can I go back and get it corrected? Do the DoDMERB doctors take anything that I would tell them into consideration, or is that it?
 
I was almost exactly in your position. I had chest pains earlier this year and i was given an inhaler without any tests and my doctor said I had asthma. I sent in everything I could from all the sports and running I do and DoDMERB didn't DQ me but instead told me to get a pulmonary test. I took one 5 days ago and the results came out normal. I faxed it to them and the next day my status was updated to qualified
 
TheJrder,
It sounds like you haven't filled out the medical questionnaire yet. When you do, be honest and include everything (don't self-diagnosis, but include everything that can be traced back to a doctor's visit). Having said that, if you were prescribed an inhaler after age 13, most likely you will have to provide more information to DoDMERB. You may get DQ'd right off the bat (and hope for a waiver). OR, you may get a Remedial, which means DoDMERB will request more information in the form of doctor's records or tests. You may be asked to take a spirometry test (the most common type of pulmonary function test) or you may be asked to take the methacholine challenge test, which is more in-depth and tries to induce narrowing of the airways. Either way, you just need to go through the process with DoDMERB, make sure you have your medical records ready to send, and explain in detail on the questionnaire anything out of the ordinary. Good luck!
 
JaredZerro said:
I was almost exactly in your position. I had chest pains earlier this year and i was given an inhaler without any tests and my doctor said I had asthma. I sent in everything I could from all the sports and running I do and DoDMERB didn't DQ me but instead told me to get a pulmonary test. I took one 5 days ago and the results came out normal. I faxed it to them and the next day my status was updated to qualified
Click to expand...

Did you bring those to your examination? Or did you get a remedial and then send those in? Did your coach write them? Thanks so much for replying.
 
I'm going through a similar thing right now. Although mines not as severe. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 8 or so, stopped using meds at 11 and doctor stopped prescribing them at 12. However, my doctors office never took the meds off my "current meds" so that REALLY screwed me... I got DQ'd and so I got a spirometry test which came back pretty much normal, one measurement was slightly low but he said it was insignificant. So a month and a week later, the Navy requested more info, I had to get a methacholine challenge and provide a statement reguarding my past 6 months of running. The Methacholine went great, came back negative for asthma and I run varsity track so my statement should have been fine. It's been another month and a week since I've had that stuff submitted to them and I'm still sitting here waiting... :(

My advice, Hurry up and get everything done as soon as possible. They take forever on their end so you can't afford to lose any more time on your end. You will get DQ'd just schedule a spirometry test and have it sent to them along with a note from your doctor stating you do not have an asthma related symptoms or inhibitions and that you only used the inhaler once and it didn't help so you stopped and
 
Jordan2819 said:
I'm going through a similar thing right now. Although mines not as severe. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 8 or so, stopped using meds at 11 and doctor stopped prescribing them at 12. However, my doctors office never took the meds off my "current meds" so that REALLY screwed me... I got DQ'd and so I got a spirometry test which came back pretty much normal, one measurement was slightly low but he said it was insignificant. So a month and a week later, the Navy requested more info, I had to get a methacholine challenge and provide a statement reguarding my past 6 months of running. The Methacholine went great, came back negative for asthma and I run varsity track so my statement should have been fine. It's been another month and a week since I've had that stuff submitted to them and I'm still sitting here waiting... :(

My advice, Hurry up and get everything done as soon as possible. They take forever on their end so you can't afford to lose any more time on your end. You will get DQ'd just schedule a spirometry test and have it sent to them along with a note from your doctor stating you do not have an asthma related symptoms or inhibitions and that you only used the inhaler once and it didn't help so you stopped and
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Would I get that from my allergist or my general practice doctor? And what do you mean when you say "everything done"? I thought I would just wait until the exam in case I got a remedial. Should I bring signed papers from my coaches saying I don't have any trouble to the exam?
 
Info...

TheJrder,

My son went through this...

+ 1 ca2midwestmom. TheJrder, go back and read this reply, it is good information and guidance.

I will describe what happened with my son but understand "all" situations are different.

Before my son got too deep into applying I spent my own money to get him tested but a Dr. that concentrats in this area, he is also a Dr. that works with the Navy & the Navy divers. In the end he was give a clean bill. He was lucky; DoDMERB did ask for a remedial which in his case ended up being copies of "all" of his medical records. He is qualified.

I have to go back to saying situation is different.

Good luck.
 
Listen to EX every candidate is different, you just have to go through the process.

You can bring supporting material, but a coach is a coach it is not going to be taken to the same level as what EX did since those were specialists performing specific tests. DoDMERB docs will place more weight on medical exams from a doc with military medical experience than just a HS coach.

Secondly, there are two paths, remedial and DQs. The diagnosis of asthma at 15 is where the flag will be thrown up since it is passed the age of 13. I would be prepared for the fact that they will demand pulmonary tests by their disc.
 
It'd probably be from a separate doctor, the pulmonologist at your closest hospital. When I say everything done, I just mean throughout the whole process not particularly at this moment. Schedule things with the earliest available appointment, this process needs to take precedence above everything. You will definitely get a remedial/DQ it's very black and white. Already having the results of the spirometry by the time they ask for it will save a lot of time. Call your doctors office and tell them you need you doctor to order you to get spirometry done and they'll set the appt. up for you and everything, at least mine did. To the exam, probably not. That would be better if/when they ask for a statement regarding your running, IF you have to go that far. I just called the Navy medical office less than 10 minutes ago and the navy doctor approved my waiver on Saturday!!! Such long awaited great news :)))))))))))))))) Best of luck to you as well!
 
Jordan gives sound advice.

The issue is to get in front of it with your medical paperwork from Docs that have specialized experience.

I.E. Ex. Took his son to a specialty doc that had Navy experience. JMPO, but I believe this is why his DS got a remedial, and not a DQ. He was in front of what the AD military calls an 8 ball.
~ You need to weigh the cost for a specialist to diagnose you AND HOPE they take it against doing nothing and HOPE that the deem you competitive and start the waiver process.

JMPO
 
I cannot stress enough the importance of of being proactive on remedials and DQ's. Be ready with medical records. I firmly believe if it were not for DS being examined and clearded by a retired Army MD who specialized in their field his journey would have been much longer or worse, over much sooner. Be ready to be your own advocate.
 
Jordan2819 said:
It'd probably be from a separate doctor, the pulmonologist at your closest hospital. When I say everything done, I just mean throughout the whole process not particularly at this moment. Schedule things with the earliest available appointment, this process needs to take precedence above everything. You will definitely get a remedial/DQ it's very black and white. Already having the results of the spirometry by the time they ask for it will save a lot of time. Call your doctors office and tell them you need you doctor to order you to get spirometry done and they'll set the appt. up for you and everything, at least mine did. To the exam, probably not. That would be better if/when they ask for a statement regarding your running, IF you have to go that far. I just called the Navy medical office less than 10 minutes ago and the navy doctor approved my waiver on Saturday!!! Such long awaited great news :)))))))))))))))) Best of luck to you as well!
Click to expand...

I don't know if it's true, but I heard they cost upwards of $1000? So if they order more testing, it would be from one of my doctors, not one of theirs? Also, congratulations! That's super exciting.
 
It will be one of their DoDMERB approved docs. which may indeed be one of your docs. They will pick up the bill so if insurance cost is an issue just be ready for the fact that they may send you to a pulmonary specialist. They will send you a list of docs to choose from, do not delay going because as others have stated a waiver can take months.
~~~~ Typically waivers take longer starting late fall because there are only so many people working in those depts and they can only process so many files a day, thus as more candidates need waivers the queue becomes longer.

Some candidates can wait up to 6 months for a decision. This can become an issue come April when you need to start sending in matriculation answers. I.E. plan B ROTC.....you have a scholarship to dream school, but can't afford it without the scholarship....do you send in 2 deposits? One to the dream school and one to plan C college that you can afford with no scholarship.

Good luck

OBTW are you a SA candidate or just ROTC? Big difference because ROTC will not order an exam until the scholarship is awarded. SA will order it when they deem you competitive. The exam will be used for all commissioning sources you list. You will be given 45 days to get it done.
 
Pima said:
It will be one of their DoDMERB approved docs. which may indeed be one of your docs. They will pick up the bill so if insurance cost is an issue just be ready for the fact that they may send you to a pulmonary specialist. They will send you a list of docs to choose from, do not delay going because as others have stated a waiver can take months.
~~~~ Typically waivers take longer starting late fall because there are only so many people working in those depts and they can only process so many files a day, thus as more candidates need waivers the queue becomes longer.

Some candidates can wait up to 6 months for a decision. This can become an issue come April when you need to start sending in matriculation answers. I.E. plan B ROTC.....you have a scholarship to dream school, but can't afford it without the scholarship....do you send in 2 deposits? One to the dream school and one to plan C college that you can afford with no scholarship.

Good luck

OBTW are you a SA candidate or just ROTC? Big difference because ROTC will not order an exam until the scholarship is awarded. SA will order it when they deem you competitive. The exam will be used for all commissioning sources you list. You will be given 45 days to get it done.
Click to expand...

So I shouldn't get a spirometry or other testing done before they order it? I'm a SA candidate.
 
If you can afford it, I would get it done for the reasons EX mentioned.I was just saying your coach's rec is not going to have much sway with DoDMERB.
 
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