Asmatha and Immunotherapy

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mnoronha09

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I am an applicant to USNA, and recieved a LOA August, but was found disqualified for two reasons-

D 123.21 History of Allergy Immunotherapy within the last year - I receive treatment every 6 weeks, but should I discontinue treatment? I understand that if I should be denied a waiver on this, I could possibly appeal for the Class of 2013 if I had gone without treatment from September 2008 to March or April of 2009.

D 241.30 Asthma, including reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm, or asthmatic bronchitis after the 13th birthday- I don't have asmatha. I had it as a child, and I got a bad flu this year that they put me on ibuterol for, which was followed by some post nasal drip. I saw a doctor recently, and he found me in perfectly good health. I am a distance runner, and can run a half marathon without a cough or hint of wheezing. He advised that I take a Pulmonary Function Test and Methacoline challengeand send the results to Dodmerb. Should I wait for instructions from the waiver board before I book an appointment?

I sent this question via email with my personal information a week ago or so, but am open to any imput
 
Clearly you want other inputs, so it's open for those who wish to "assist." That said, any medical decision to stop therapy is strictly between the treating physician and the applicant. No one, say again, NO ONE, within the Navy or Department of Defense who knows anything, will tell you to stop treatment for the sole purpose of being selected for an Academy or ROTC program.

Anyone can take any test they want and submit it to DoDMERB for consideration. If the determination "does NOT meet medical accession standards" is sustained @ DoDMERB, it will be posted on the secure waiver website for the medical waiver authorities to consider. "If" an applicant gets it performed on their own, it will ALWAYS be done at their own expense without reimbursement. It also may be done, without the waiver authorities even requiring it as part of their decision making process. Whereas, if the waiver authorities direct any test to be completed, then the applicant may "choose" to have DoDMERB pay for the test at the DoDMERB selected provider.:thumb:
 
Then I would not ask if I should stop treatment, but is it possible for a decision on an immunotherapy waiver to come down to simply how long I have been off treatment even if only for a few months?

Another quick question, how long do programs usually take on waiver decisions, like is it an issue of months or weeks? Assuming that they did not ask for any additional information.
 
That would be a waiver authority call. You may wish to call USNA Admissions and ask to speak to the Office of the Senior Medical Officer or ask your BGO.

The waiver decision, with an LOA in hand, and not asking for additional information, will "normally" take anywhere from a week to 30 days, depending on what issues and workload the decision makers have before them.:thumb:
 
My son was in a similar situation as you. He received an LOA then later found out that he was disqualified for immunotherapy. He had been getting shots for the past three years for allergies to dust and dust mites. We knew that there was a possibility that he was no longer allergic, so, we made an appointment with the allergist to get retested. All of the tests came back negative. We sent in his medical records (with the assistance of Larry Mullen - thank you Larry!) from the allergist along with a letter from the doctor stating that all tests were negative and that shots were no longer necessary. Once his file was complete at the academy he received the waiver.

Good luck to you.
 
I was denied waivers on both conditions, so I will now pursue both the testing and the halting of therapy if it gives me even a small chance.

Thank you for your help!
 
SORRY:thumbdown: Understand.

I do NOT speak for the USNA, but if they denied your waivers with an LOA in hand, I just want you to know how difficult, if possible at all, it would be to get that decision overturned. I don't want you to have unrealistic hopes. Standing by to assist in receiving the results and reposting for reconsideration. You may send those directly to me as an email attachment (Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil)
 
I completed pulmonary testing, and the results will be sent to DoDMERB in 1 to 2 weeks after the doctors write it up.

Basically, I demonstrated a lung capacity 114% of predicted, and easily passed the Methacoline challenge, demonstrating no asthmatic symptoms.

My last immunotherapy was in September, meaning that it will be almost 10 months without it by I-Day.

Should I notify USNA or DoDMERB of these conditions before the results come through? I got flak over this during a Congressional Nomination interview today, and it would be helpful to somehow document this for my next interview coming up, especially since the next decision could be up to 6 weeks out.
 
Again, you clearly are not interested in my input...so I'll let other folks provide you guidance. Good luck:thumb:
 
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