Medical Issues Thread Not DoDMERB

[Devil Doc]

Is there any interest in a thread where medical issues can be discussed not resulting in a recommendation to post in the DoDMERB thread?

Things like SSRI use, torn ACLs in senior year, or dysmenorrhea can be discussed and questions asked and personal experiences passed on.

We have physicians here who can chime in if they would like. Surely there are questions and concerns that can be answered without a need to be transferred to another thread.

 

[Devil Doc]

I'll give a little intro to military medicine, Navy Medicine in particular. I've answered a few questions from parents about their kid's medical issues while they are at the academy. I even called a nurse practitioner once who worked at Brigade medical. Not patting myself on the back but medical folks are generally good people and see their patients as the reason for their day and not a hindrance. I don't recommend that parents call medical IRT their kids however.

Most Naval Academy parents surely know what a chit is. The Navy has a chit of some sort for everything. In medical we have the light duty chit and the SIQ chit. SIQ is sick in quarters which is a recommendation to the MIDN, sailor, et.al. chain of command that the member needs a day off to heal or receive treatment. It is also known as a rack pass. They may not necessarily have to stay in their rack for 24 hours but they'd best not be caught out enjoying themselves. The light duty chit should not be confused with limited duty. LIMDU is an administrative process that is given for a period of months and can be extended. LIMDU can lead to a medical discharge or in my case, a return to full duty after a period of treatment and recovery.

Midshipmen and I'm sure cadets at WP and the USAFA have access to wold-class healthcare and some of the most talented specialists in the world. Primary care providers will write a consultation to a specialist if they cannot handle a condition the patient presents with. Everything from dermatology to orthopedics to general surgery is a short bus ride down Route 50 at Walter Reed.

Once in the fleet, the officer will receive medical care from an Independent Duty Corpsman if on a destroyer or other ship without a medical officer assigned. We have the same signature authority as a general medical officer as far as writing prescriptions and consultations to a specialist. Larger ships have medical and dental officers with more advance facilities and equipment.

 

[Devil Doc]

In my close to four years here I've seen several candidates and parents mention they had asthma as a kid, an allergic reaction to a peanut, or "mom took me to a counselor when I was 12 because my parents got a divorce."

My advice is to be careful filling out medical history forms with conditions which may not be conditions. A local reaction to a bee sting isn't an allergic reaction. A session with a counselor to have a talk isn't a psychiatric diagnosis. Having an inhaler prescribed at 9 years old isn't asthma. A diagnosis of asthma by a kid's pediatrician and a history of inhaler and cortico-steroid use through the teen years is asthma and should be reported.

As many others here advise, do not self-diagnose.

 

[flieger83]

In my close to four years here I've seen several candidates and parents mention they had asthma as a kid, an allergic reaction to a peanut, or "mom took me to a counselor when I was 12 because my parents got a divorce."

My advice is to be careful filling out medical history forms with conditions which may not be conditions. A local reaction to a bee sting isn't an allergic reaction. A session with a counselor to have a talk isn't a psychiatric diagnosis. Having an inhaler prescribed at 9 years old isn't asthma. A diagnosis of asthma by a kid's pediatrician and a history of inhaler and cortico-steroid use through the teen years is asthma and should be reported.

As many others here advise, do not self-diagnose.

This sounds like a recording of my ALO speech to prospective candidates and parents...

 

[MullenLE]

So many things to say here, but I'll leave it at this:

Not all DQs, have diagnoses...and not all diagnoses are DQ.

This is not a trick, nor rocket science: The question is "Do you currently have or any history of?" Applicants should answer that forthrightly. We'll figure out what is DQd or not

Your advice from time to time, is often inaccurate and misleading to be on a public forum. Hence, that's why I have the individuals email me directly, vice establishing the opportunity for someone who doesn't have (e.g.) asthma, but instead has exercised induced bronchospasm, draw incorrect conclusions. I have the ability to have access to see what's declared vice what's in the medical/pharmacy records

 

[Devil Doc]

So many things to say here, but I'll leave it at this:

Not all DQs, have diagnoses...and not all diagnoses are DQ.

This is not a trick, nor rocket science: The question is "Do you currently have or any history of?" Applicants should answer that forthrightly. We'll figure out what is DQd or not

Your advice from time to time, is often inaccurate and misleading to be on a public forum. Hence, that's why I have the individuals email me directly, vice establishing the opportunity for someone who doesn't have (e.g.) asthma, but instead has exercised induced bronchospasm, draw incorrect conclusions. I have the ability to have access to see what's declared vice what's in the medical/pharmacy records

.

 

[Devil Doc]

Since my misinformation campaign hasn't been deleted I'd like to talk about dental care.

Military dentistry often times gets a bad rap. Our dentists are graduates of the same dental schools as your family dentist. The military has the same equipment and operatories as Dr. Jones, the family dentist. Military personnel are required to get an annual exam and cleaning. A Class 3 dental patient is classified as being not deployable. Class 3 means work is needed, much of which can be accomplished in one or two visits. With an annual exam and cleaning, there is no reason to be anything but Class 1 or 2 on the dental readiness list.

Dental readiness is usually only important to the ship's medical department until a sailor or Marine has to be flown off the ship due to a dental emergency. Dental problems are the number one cause of non-combat medical evacuations at sea. Strike group commanders and ship COs don't like changing course and running at flank speed for preventable medical or dental conditions.

Aircraft carriers and big deck amphibs have dental departments for routine care and they receive patients from other units. IDC ships, or ships without a medical or dental officer, can also do dental work. IDCs are trained to care for dental emergencies. I've taken care of cavities (dental caries), abscesses, infections, and oral trauma. I put in a filling at sea once and when we returned to port, I sent the sailor to base dental. He came back and told me the dentist said there was no reason to replace the filling because the one I put in was good.

Military Dentistry: We put the bite in the fight.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

In my close to four years here I've seen several candidates and parents mention they had asthma as a kid, an allergic reaction to a peanut, or "mom took me to a counselor when I was 12 because my parents got a divorce."

My advice is to be careful filling out medical history forms with conditions which may not be conditions. A local reaction to a bee sting isn't an allergic reaction. A session with a counselor to have a talk isn't a psychiatric diagnosis. Having an inhaler prescribed at 9 years old isn't asthma. A diagnosis of asthma by a kid's pediatrician and a history of inhaler and cortico-steroid use through the teen years is asthma and should be reported.

As many others here advise, do not self-diagnose.

So many times I have wanted to say this here, but I knew I would get flamed if I did. Glad someone with more medical background did.

 

[Devil Doc]

So many times I have wanted to say this here. Glad someone with more medical background did.

I’m certainly not the first here to say this but among the moms, BGOs, moderators, and senior members who’ve said it, I get accused of spreading misinformation.

Once someone gets beyond the accession phase, there are other waiver offices out there. In fact, I ran into a retired corpsman at the range yesterday. He was at BUMED before my time there and worked in the waiver section of MED-02.

As an IDC I was at the receiving end of people who were either not DQ’d or were given waivers and don’t take the topic lightly. Dealing with an asthmatic in an industrial environment or a back pain patient with numerous ladders and rolling decks is not a joy.

 

[justme]

... Military personnel are required to get an annual exam and cleaning...

Have the MIDNs been getting that of late? 3C DS said other than a plebe summer eval, he hasnt seen base dentist due to covid delays.

Or, is this something they independently schedule, like haircuts and he just hasnt.
Home dentist screaming about wisdom teeth.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

I think of myself as an example. My mother used to tell me that I had celiac (gluten allergy) as a baby/toddler. I believe this is a disqualifying condition. Who the hell knows if that is even true or whether it was an actual medical diagnosis. I am sure no medical records still exist. I have never had any food allergies that I can remember whatsoever at any time and Wheaties is my favorite cereal. If I were filling out a medical history I would certainly NOT list celiac or gluten intolerance because I do not believe there is any credible evidence that I ever actually had that condition. An anecdotal story from my kooky old Mom is not a diagnosis. From what I have heard, people very often grow out of allergies that they had as young children.

 

[Devil Doc]

Have the MIDNs been getting that of late? 3C DS said other than a plebe summer eval, he hasnt seen base dentist due to covid delays.

Or, is this something they independently schedule, like haircuts and he just hasnt.
Home dentist screaming about wisdom teeth.

I don’t know about the current status of dental appointments on the Yard but our two member Midshipmen will know.

 

[Devil Doc]

I think of myself as an example. My mother used to tell me that I had celiac (gluten allergy) as a baby/toddler. I believe this is a disqualifying condition. Who the hell knows if that is even true or whether it was an actual medical diagnosis. I am sure no medical records still exist. I have never had any food allergies that I can remember whatsoever at any time and Wheaties is my favorite cereal. If I were filling out a medical history I would certainly NOT list celiac or gluten intolerance because I do not believe there is any credible evidence that I ever actually had that condition. An anecdotal story from my kooky old Mom is not a diagnosis. From what I have heard, people very often grow out of allergies that had as young children.

My wife reports being allergic to phenobarbital. A lot of the young docs and nurses don’t even know what that is. Her mom told her they once had trouble waking her up after they gave it to her. That’s not an allergic reaction. It’s a kid being given a med for something other than it’s intended purpose. They gave it to her to put her to sleep at bedtime. Also known as child abuse.

 

[MullenLE]

Devil Doc - Thank you for your IDC Service! Also, I'm glad you found a dialogue partner.

 

[Korab]

Since my misinformation campaign hasn't been deleted I'd like to talk about dental care.

Military dentistry often times gets a bad rap. Our dentists are graduates of the same dental schools as your family dentist. The military has the same equipment and operatories as Dr. Jones, the family dentist. Military personnel are required to get an annual exam and cleaning. A Class 3 dental patient is classified as being not deployable. Class 3 means work is needed, much of which can be accomplished in one or two visits. With an annual exam and cleaning, there is no reason to be anything but Class 1 or 2 on the dental readiness list.

Dental readiness is usually only important to the ship's medical department until a sailor or Marine has to be flown off the ship due to a dental emergency. Dental problems are the number one cause of non-combat medical evacuations at sea. Strike group commanders and ship COs don't like changing course and running at flank speed for preventable medical or dental conditions.

Aircraft carriers and big deck amphibs have dental departments for routine care and they receive patients from other units. IDC ships, or ships without a medical or dental officer, can also do dental work. IDCs are trained to care for dental emergencies. I've taken care of cavities (dental caries), abscesses, infections, and oral trauma. I put in a filling at sea once and when we returned to port, I sent the sailor to base dental. He came back and told me the dentist said there was no reason to replace the filling because the one I put in was good.

Military Dentistry: We put the bite in the fight.

This seems inaccurate and misleading.

 

[Devil Doc]

This seems inaccurate and misleading.

I’m sure it is.

 

[justdoit19]

Since my misinformation campaign hasn't been deleted I'd like to talk about dental care.

Military dentistry often times gets a bad rap. Our dentists are graduates of the same dental schools as your family dentist. The military has the same equipment and operatories as Dr. Jones, the family dentist. Military personnel are required to get an annual exam and cleaning. A Class 3 dental patient is classified as being not deployable. Class 3 means work is needed, much of which can be accomplished in one or two visits. With an annual exam and cleaning, there is no reason to be anything but Class 1 or 2 on the dental readiness list.

Dental readiness is usually only important to the ship's medical department until a sailor or Marine has to be flown off the ship due to a dental emergency. Dental problems are the number one cause of non-combat medical evacuations at sea. Strike group commanders and ship COs don't like changing course and running at flank speed for preventable medical or dental conditions.

Aircraft carriers and big deck amphibs have dental departments for routine care and they receive patients from other units. IDC ships, or ships without a medical or dental officer, can also do dental work. IDCs are trained to care for dental emergencies. I've taken care of cavities (dental caries), abscesses, infections, and oral trauma. I put in a filling at sea once and when we returned to port, I sent the sailor to base dental. He came back and told me the dentist said there was no reason to replace the filling because the one I put in was good.

Military Dentistry: We put the bite in the fight.

You are amazing…

 

[justdoit19]

Great thread!

Both of my Mids dental care (or lack thereof on the Yard) has been more a function of them and their schedule than anything else of late. My Firstie, early on, had his regular care/exam. My youngster has not. Reduced scheduling in dental bc of COVID. In our state parent club conference LAST year (virtual), there was a presentation by Brigade Dental. She said for Mids to get regular cleaning/exam care while home on break. Bring any significant findings back to them to update files. My firstie had a cavities filled. Just brought back and submitted updates. We still have our guys on our dental insurance. So they take care of cleanings on leave. For now.

This was info provided by USNA dental, to be shared via state parent clubs. Which we did with our state parent members. In 2020.

 

[Devil Doc]

Thanks for the current info on dental.

 

[A1Janitor]

The only inaccurate information I have found with @Devil Doc is when he disagrees with me.

I wish the people who contacted Mr. Mullen shared their results. I understand that each case is individual and can’t always be applied to similar candidates.