anxiousness leading up to medical exam

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Tptb518

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Apr 29, 2017
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It is my fate to serve as an officer in the military, and honestly, I have trouble seeing myself elsewhere. That being said, I know the ONLY thing that is stopping me from going to ROTC/SA would be medical. (even though i have no injuries/diseases/etc that have been diagnosed and would lead me to be DQed.) Thankfully, I have been graced by God with excellent health.

However, I frequently have these "what if" moments about the medical exam. I have self-diagnosed one or two "issues" but I am pretty sure my mind is blowing them WAAAYY out of proportion.

Unless I am completely insane, I think others who have gone through this process (ROTC/SA) who share my same passion had these thoughts about medical. If so, would those of you be willing to offer me any advice on dealing with this stress?
 
We were very surprised by the lack of thoroughness of the DoDMerb exam. If you think you have a mystery condition that has not been hitherto diagnosed, it would be very surprising if it was uncovered by this exam. They didn't even do lab work. You might find out something you didn't know about your vision. Or you might find out if your weight is out of reg, even slightly. Obviously, illegal drug use will be discovered, and possibly diabetes or proteins in the urine. But if you have been passing your regular annual physicals with no problems, there is nothing more scrutinizing about DodMerb than your own doctor.
 
Tptb518 said:
It is my fate to serve as an officer in the military, and honestly, I have trouble seeing myself elsewhere. That being said, I know the ONLY thing that is stopping me from going to ROTC/SA would be medical. (even though i have no injuries/diseases/etc that have been diagnosed and would lead me to be DQed.) Thankfully, I have been graced by God with excellent health.

However, I frequently have these "what if" moments about the medical exam. I have self-diagnosed one or two "issues" but I am pretty sure my mind is blowing them WAAAYY out of proportion.

Unless I am completely insane, I think others who have gone through this process (ROTC/SA) who share my same passion had these thoughts about medical. If so, would those of you be willing to offer me any advice on dealing with this stress?
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There is no such thing as a self diagnosed medical issue with respect to DodMerb. If it has not been diagnosed by a medical professional and is not in your medical record, it does not exist.

On the survey, be honest about drug/alcohol use etc, but do not report any medical condition that has not been diagnosed by a medical professional. You can read other threads in this forum about candidates that have been DQ'd or gone through remedial hell because they inaccurately self diagnosed conditions.
 
Devil Doc said:
What are these "issues" you have self-diagnosed?
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A bit of rosacea on my cheeks and nose, and a very very mild amount of what i think may be eczema. The "eczema" is from what I have found to be caused by my hockey gloves and stress. During my AP/SAT exams a few weeks ago, I had a very mild flare up; a couple days later, I had hockey practice for the first time in a month. It has been dormant for almost 7 months up until the exams and the practice. I am thinking that my minuscule amounts of rosacea and eczema are caused by puberty, but my opinion on what may be the cause is worthless because I am not a doctor :confused:

Also, I have never been diagnosed/treated by anyone for any condition, and my medical record is as clean as a whistle. This is not to say that I avoid doctors, I have annual check ups and actually had on just this last month with my doctor.
 
Hi tptb518,

I'm not a doctor either but played one in the USN for a long time. The cause of rosacea is not really known and I don't think is disqualifying. Eczema though is a problem. Not to knock your diagnostic skills but I recommend you go with your clean record and history of not being diagnosed by a clinician with these conditions. Hopefully you don't have any visible skin lesions the day of your physical. Do you have an anti-inflammatory cream you use during flare-ups? Either way, you can honestly fill out the medical history form and answer the doc's questions according to what you've written here.
 
Devil Doc said:
Hopefully you don't have any visible skin lesions the day of your physical. Do you have an anti-inflammatory cream you use during flare-ups? Either way, you can honestly fill out the medical history form and answer the doc's questions according to what you've written here.
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I am having a flare up now, but to put it into perspective, one would not even notice it without really looking hard. I do have some cream I use that is not topical and for the little amount I get, it takes care of it (its like the goldbond lotion)

however, I will not self diagnose because I am not sure it is even eczema, and specifically on the USAFA website they tell us not to self-diagnose.
 
Tptb518 said:
Devil Doc said:
Hopefully you don't have any visible skin lesions the day of your physical. Do you have an anti-inflammatory cream you use during flare-ups? Either way, you can honestly fill out the medical history form and answer the doc's questions according to what you've written here.
Click to expand...

I am having a flare up now, but to put it into perspective, one would not even notice it without really looking hard. I do have some cream I use that is not topical and for the little amount I get, it takes care of it (its like the goldbond lotion)

however, I will not self diagnose because I am not sure it is even eczema, and specifically on the USAFA website they tell us not to self-diagnose.
Click to expand...

And, if they try to diagnose this during your exam, my opinion is that you may certainly speak up (very politely) and indicate that you’ve never been diagnosed as having it, which is truthful. During your eye exam (separate from the med), if you need clarification on what they are asking you, be sure to ask questions. The optometrist that conducted the eye exam for my DS was not clear with what she was asking. It later led to a DQ and weeks of frustration. The DQ was later reversed. Best of luck and no worry for your med exams!
 
GHTeam said:
During your eye exam (separate from the med), if you need clarification on what they are asking you, be sure to ask questions.
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Okay thanks. My doctor said i have 20/13 vision which is way better eyesight than average. What else do they look at with eyes?
 
GHTeam said:
And, if they try to diagnose this during your exam, my opinion is that you may certainly speak up (very politely) and indicate that you’ve never been diagnosed as having it, which is truthful. During your eye exam (separate from the med), if you need clarification on what they are asking you, be sure to ask questions. The optometrist that conducted the eye exam for my DS was not clear with what she was asking. It later led to a DQ and weeks of frustration. The DQ was later reversed. Best of luck and no worry for your med exams!
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Very good advice.
 
I would not self diagnose eczema. Myself and my DD both have eczema diagnosed by a doctor. I am not a doctor, but if Gold Bond lotion will clear it up than impo, I doubt it is eczema and more likely to be extreme dry skin.
~In my case and my DDs, we have to use prescribed steroid lotion to clear it up. Our skin itches so badly we will scratch it until the skin is raw and bleeds.
~~ If you have never had to use prescriptions than do not say it is eczema.

Eczema is unique. Flare ups can occur due to stress and food. It can lay dormant/remission for years
~ IE Our DD would get flare ups whenever finals rolled around ---stress
~ She would get a flare up when she came home because her favorite food is shellfish (lobster and crabs). Shellfish can cause flare ups
~ Her flare up is always either in the crux of her elbow or her knee. Mine is always in the webbing of my left hand (ring finger) and behind my knees.
~ Hers laid dormant for about 10 yrs (started back in college), and is in remission again. Mine laid dormant for yrs., and is in remission now. I stay away from dairy, chocolate and shellfish to keep it at bay.

I hope that helps you on your path.
 
Tptb518 said:
GHTeam said:
During your eye exam (separate from the med), if you need clarification on what they are asking you, be sure to ask questions.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks. My doctor said i have 20/13 vision which is way better eyesight than average. What else do they look at with eyes?
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20/13, that's near the bottom of the Snellen chart. I did a visual acuity on a patient once and asked him to read the bottom-most line on the chart.
He said, "Made in Taiwan"
 
Tptb518 said:
I do have some cream I use that is not topical and for the little amount I get, it takes care of it (its like the goldbond lotion)
Click to expand...

topical - relating or applied directly to a part of the body.

Do you swallow this stuff? If not, then it IS topical. Probably just a "typo" on your part, but I wanted to point it out as an example of the great care you must take when answering questions. Errors typing or orally can get you in trouble.

Calm down. Take deep breaths. You're worrying way too much about this. If it hasn't been diagnosed, then you don't have it. It's as simple as that. Period. End of discussion.
 
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kinnem said:
Tptb518 said:
I do have some cream I use that is not topical and for the little amount I get, it takes care of it (its like the goldbond lotion)
Click to expand...

topical - relating or applied directly to a part of the body.

Do you swallow this stuff? If not, then it IS topical. Probably just a "typo" on your part, but I wanted to point it out as an example of the great care you must take when answering questions. Errors typing or orally can get you in trouble.

Calm down. Take deep breaths. You're worrying way too much about this. If it hasn't been diagnosed, then you don't have it. It's as simple as that. Period. End of discussion.
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Good catch.
 
Tptb518 said:
GHTeam said:
During your eye exam (separate from the med), if you need clarification on what they are asking you, be sure to ask questions.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks. My doctor said i have 20/13 vision which is way better eyesight than average. What else do they look at with eyes?
Click to expand...
Color blindness, depth perception, and peripheral vision. Occasionally a candidate will find they don't meet military standards for these.
 
kinnem said:
Calm down. Take deep breaths. You're worrying way too much about this. If it hasn't been diagnosed, then you don't have it.
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Listen to Kinnem. You need to control the things that you CAN control and let go of the things that cannot.

Worrying is not the same as planning.

Plan your work and work your plan. Anxiety will just adversely impact your ability to execute the things you DO have control over. Have some faith that things will fall into place. As challenges arise (and they will), meet them head-on.
 
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kinnem said:
Do you swallow this stuff? If not, then it IS topical. Probably just a "typo" on your part, but I wanted to point it out as an example of the great care you must take when answering questions. Errors typing or orally can get you in trouble.
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What I meant to say was topical steroids. The gold bond stuff is not a steroid, it's just a moisturizer. Until now, I thought topical meant steroid. :oops2:
 
AROTC-dad said:
Listen to Kinnem. You need to control the things that you CAN control and let go of the things that cannot.

Worrying is not the same as planning.

Plan your work and work your plan. Anxiety will just adversely impact your ability to execute the things you DO have control over. Have some faith that things will fall into place. As challenges arise (and they will), meet them head-on.
Click to expand...


This is going to be a bit tough for me. I work hard because I want to achieve my goal as an officer, and during the rough times, I feel that my years of work could be all in vain.

As a military officer, I know that I can't let anxiety influence me negatively, so now, I need to continue to tough out the hard times.

Thank you for the sound advice @AROTC-dad
 
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