URGENT! Should I go to the doctor for a concussion/brain damage?

[Capt MJ]

If one of your sailors came to you with a similar dilemma, and he was applying for a special program that required a medical history update, would you advise him or her to fudge the truth? Not go to the doctor? I’d like to think you would understand what’s really important here and do whatever it took to get your sailor’s brain and health the care he needed.

 

[cb7893]

I won't be as polite as the others, so you may want to stop reading now.

i really feel like I should go as I still feel bad, but don't want to **** this all up just to be told to go home and rest, but I am afraid that I have some subdural hematoma.

And you have to ask if you should see a doctor? Are you an emancipated minor and your parents know nothing of this? Or they don't care? Do your coaches not care?

Yeah but I’m worried I’m going to get dq’d from commissioning. Honesty, if I can enlist in a year then I’m fine with going, I just don’t want to completely ruin everything.

Do you have any back up plans? Or were you just going to wing it.?

My DS#2 was awarded a 4yr NROTC Scholarship to U Mich. He was kicked in the face with a ball playing indoor soccer during gym class. It did just enough trauma to his retina to DQ him. He was told to go home and rest for a year. He lost his scholarship. He had to give up skiing and missed his final season of LAX. He couldn't even go sledding with his buddies. And he lost Michigan. (You can read all about it as it happened my old posts.)

He had several back up plans. Several years later he's living his dream; being a Mechanical Engineer in the Montana Rockies...with his uncorrected eyesight. I can easily list 4 or 5 consequential experiences of his college years which he would have been impossible while pursuing a commission. On the flip side, he would have had experiences during college and as a Junior Officer which would have been unavailable to him as a civilian.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

 

[MidCakePa]

If you are the leader, you are responsible and accountable for the welfare of your people. You must hold yourself to a high standard of integrity and adherence to established guidelines for the safety of your team.

Adding to @Capt MJ: Are you one of those candidates who says “I want to be part of something bigger than myself” in your application essays, BGO/MOC interviews, and conversations with friends and family? If you are, then this is a great time to prove it. Is it all about you and your ambitions, or is it about you relative to the men and women you’ll be charged to lead, e.g. accomplish the mission, bring them back alive?

I just really want to join the military and this is looking not very good for me in the getting medically qualified part.

You know what doesn’t look good right now? Your sense of judgment and your integrity. Both are critical to being a leader — whether in the military or in civilian roles. You know the right thing to do, but you seem to be fishing for someone to tell you your desired path is OK. I doubt you’ll find that here.

 

[armyman932iu4]

I won't be as polite as the others, so you may want to stop reading now.

And you have to ask, if you should see a doctor? Are you an emancipated minor and your parents know nothing of this? Or they don't care? Do your coaches not care?

Do you have any back up plans? Or were you just going to wing it.?

My DS#2 was awarded a 4yr NROTC Scholarship to U Mich. He was kicked in the face with a ball playing indoor soccer during gym class. It did just enough trauma to his retina to DQ him. He was told to go home and rest for a year. He lost his scholarship. He had to give up skiing and missed his final season of LAX. He couldn't even go sledding with his buddies. And he lost Michigan. (You can read all about it as it happened my old posts.)

He had several back up plans. Several years later he's living his dream; being a Mechanical Engineer in the Montana Rockies...with his uncorrected eyesight. I can easily list 4 or 5 consequential experiences of his college years which he would have been impossible while pursuing a commission. On the flip side, he would have had experiences during college and as a Junior Officer which would have been unavailable to him as a civilian.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

Adding to @Capt MJ: Are you one of those candidates who says “I want to be part of something bigger than myself” in your application essays, BGO/MOC interviews, and conversations with friends and family? If you are, then this is a great time to prove it. Is it all about you and your ambitions, or is it about you relative to the men and women you’ll be charged to lead, e.g. accomplish the mission, bring them back alive?


You know what doesn’t look good right now? Your sense of judgment and your integrity. Both are critical to being a leader — whether in the military or in civilian roles. You know the right thing to do, but you seem to be fishing for someone to tell you your desired path is OK. I doubt you’ll find that here.

tbh I just wanna stack bodies and do cool **** for a bit in regards to the first part

 

[Herman_Snerd]

tbh I just wanna stack bodies and do cool **** for a bit in regards to the first part

So, reading the thread, I'm feeling a little like I'm joining the line in the movie AirPlane! (source: movie clip from youtube which is used on this board fairly often) when everyone tries to take their turn to shake some sense into someone - parts of that clip certainly didn't age well for the woken - but remember folks it's comedy from a different era.

So real talk - you need to play protective ball with the sacred thing to protect being your health, not your six and your chance of serving as a military officer.
Why? The grenade already went off. If DODMERB wants to DQ you over concussions they have more than enough to do so already but maybe they won't based on what you can show as a non-issue (or issue) and what was documented/ what they can observe. You're not prioritizing what's critical here, your health, on a POTENTIAL concern that might be a non-issue, or MIGHT be. That's not a good choice.

Look - for your well being, go get checked out and on a concussion protocol and tested as needed. You don't want to have a clot lead to a stroke or get lodged in your heart and kill ya, or have intracranial pressure lead to cognitive loss or your demise.

I try as a parent to be open to discuss many things for my young adult children - like underage drinking, skydiving, some "none of us is as dumb as all of us" group shenanigans, and other perhaps not so smart decisions - I'm glad we can be open about what's happening, birth control, choices, etc. - but on certain items - it's a simple "never-ever". Never ever hit a woman even if she hits you first - walk away. Never ever drive drunk - I'll pay for an uber at any time no questions asked. Put yourself in a timeout if an argument is escalating during a breakup or night out drinking. And never ever need to go to a doctor and not do it.

Go ensure you'll be here to fight for a waiver on the concussion thing. There are people who had concussions who now serve - it's not automatic. Find out what's in your chart already. Sincere good luck to you.

 

[justdoit19]

I've had 3 concussions my whole life (I only reported two because the third one I never went to a doctor). However, on Friday I 100% got my fourth concussion. I have yet to see a doctor as I am very afraid that I will get med dq'd because of it. I got an ROTC scholarship, and if I go to the doctor and report this conclusion as my third, will it dq me?

i really feel like I should go as I still feel bad, but don't want to **** this all up just to be told to go home and rest, but I am afraid that I have some subdural hematoma.

Are you already DODMERB qualified? You posted previously you have a DQ for Asthma, and also two broken ankles. Have you already been found medically qualified, and are now wondering about updating that medical history?

Just a little confused about if you are asking about an update, or initial medical history (ie: haven’t had your exam).

 

[armyman932iu4]

Are you already DODMERB qualified? You posted previously you have a DQ for Asthma, and also two broken ankles. Have you already been found medically qualified, and are now wondering about updating that medical history?

Just a little confused about if you are asking about an update, or initial medical history (ie: haven’t had your exam).

Haven’t gotten an appointment yet, so that why I’m debating even going

 

[Capt MJ]

Out.

 

[armyman932iu4]

Out.

?

 

[RJB1690]

?

I believe she means she's done commenting on/reading this thread.

As in over and out, peace out, I'm out, etc.

 

[IggyMom23]

Look at this way...if you die in your sleep, what are your odds looking like?

Yes, I was also going to say, you can’t graduate and commission if you’re dead. Go get checked out.

 

[RagingBull]

I've had 3 concussions my whole life (I only reported two because the third one I never went to a doctor). However, on Friday I 100% got my fourth concussion. I have yet to see a doctor as I am very afraid that I will get med dq'd because of it. I got an ROTC scholarship, and if I go to the doctor and report this conclusion as my third, will it dq me?

i really feel like I should go as I still feel bad, but don't want to **** this all up just to be told to go home and rest, but I am afraid that I have some subdural hematoma.

You should go. Concussions can get really nasty real quickly. Additionally, through all the screenings you have to go through later on, there is a 99.9 percent chance this will come up and you'll have to answer for why you withheld this info.

 

[justdoit19]

?

You said in your opening post you have an ROTC scholarship. And were speaking to loosing that.

I asked if you were DODMERB qualified.

Now you pop in USNA in there.

And we are lost. Asthma, two broken ankles and now a 4th concussion.

Hence the ‘out’ from me, too.

I hope you are not making light of all this. Many candidates are awaiting results. Trying to be patient. It’s not a joke.

Good luck to you.

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

You have a positive obligation to report injuries that may have an impact on your physical ability to meet the conditions of your potential offer of appointment. Period. That is not negotiable. You already know this. Failure to seek treatment for a possibly serious injury because of self-interest in keeping that injury out of your medical record is a violation of that obligation.

Seek diagnosis and treatment and then update your file with DODMERB. That is the only way you can satisfy your obligation.

End of story.

On a personal level, I hope you are okay physically. As others have stated repeatedly, that is the most important thing.

But even if you don't seek treatment and diagnosis and you end up with no adverse physical consequences from this self-diagnosed concussion, starting your career by ignoring your clearly defined procedural obligations does not bode well for your future as an officer.

 

[Gnarlygoat27]

tbh I just wanna stack bodies and do cool **** for a bit in regards to the first part

I say this with no sarcasm what so ever.... this is not the mission of any commissioning source of officers. Without even reading about your history of concussions my mom advice is to go get your head examined. I've sat next to my son in a hospital bed for far too long because of someone else's mistake. It is miserable. Do not ignore your health in the name of doing "cool ****."

 

[USMC8993]

The poster is trolling this forum IMO...IDK why anyone would find entertainment in do so but the story is inconsistent and obviously extreme in nature and statements. Don't feed the troll.

 

[armyman932iu4]

The poster is trolling this forum IMO...IDK why anyone would find entertainment in do so but the story is inconsistent and obviously extreme in nature and statements. Don't feed the troll.

Broski I’m in the hospital rn, I don’t see how this could possibly be trolling. Check my post history

 

[MidCakePa]

“Stack bodies…”
“Broski…”

‘Nuf said.
I too am out.

 

[moho]

tbh I just wanna stack bodies and do cool **** for a bit in regards to the first part