Hello,
I would love to share my story here to receive insight and just for future people that may go through the same thing I am currently going through. Here is my story:
When I initially joined the Air Force I had to get a waiver because of childhood asthma. I got the waiver and finally went to basic training. A little background about me:
26 A1C been in for a little over 2 years. Air traffic Controller (5 level rated). Had child hood asthma around the age of 8-9. Played sports throughout high school without any problems.
Back to basic. Ran and passed the PT test throughout basic with ease! I got held over for 3-4 months because of low iron issues. It was found out that I have some weird trait where my body just runs on low iron but I am not anemic. Interesting none the less. When going to get cleared for this the doctor heard a wheeze in my breath so wanted to also check for asthma considering my history. I was given steroids to take as well because the doctor thought that it may have been an illness.. bronchitis or something else. Steroids helped a little bit and I was scheduled for a methocholine challenge test later as well. I passed this test and was finally off to Tech School! Yay!
No problems during tech school. Got to my first passed a pt test. The 2nd one rolls around and I max out situps and pushups but fail the run by 2 seconds. Two weeks prior to this test I was traveling back home and had an instance where it was hard to breathe for a night at my mothers. Slept in her basement while visiting and maybe it triggered something.
I made my way to flight med after my PT test to see what the deal was and to try to pin the failure on the fact that I couldn't breathe throughout the run. They gave me a spirometer test and I was inhaling at a capacity of 70 when the doc said it should be around 80 or so. I was prescribed allegra and Flonase to see if maybe the reason was due to allergies. A week later I tested and it was the same so I was referred to a pulmonologist.
Got back from the pulmonologist last Friday and they did a couple of tests and deemed the following
Diagnosis: Mild Intermittent Asthma
Prognosis: Good
He prescribed me Breo (once a day) and a rescue inhaler as needed.
Brought these results back to Flight Med today where the Breo was substituted for Advair 100/50. The doc asked about my past history with asthma which was already noted prior to joining. He also stated that my chain of command is on my side including my commander which is really an awesome feeling. I have read other threads where the recommendations could really play a great deal in the decisions being made. The flight doc does not want to submit the actual Med Package until my follow up with the pulmonologist to see if my asthma will be controlled etc.
I would love to stay in the Air Force and control planes so I plan to do all I can in my power to have this work in my favor, health permitting of course. I was told that there are different scenarios that could play out. I could be on a permanent no walk or no run waiver if I was retained. Another venue would be a AFSC change possibly. Another option of course is being removed from Active Duty. I was informed that there have been many cases and he is doubtful that I would be removed from the Air Force but really who knows when it comes to these things.
My big questions were what I have to do to stay in my job and in the Air Force of course. I was told that I should ask the pulmonologist to really define and be clear with his prognosis stating that my condition will improve or is not a limiting factor (if true of course).
Thanks for reading! Here are some questions I have personally:
What are my chances of being retained?
I am guessing that my chances of going to a base will be limited now and I will stay state side?
What about deployments, how will that be effected?
What would be some other things that I should ask from my off base pulmonologist doctor that would help me?
What do you see happening with this case, what are my chances of staying in (ATC) or AF in general?
Is there anything else I should know? (For example, certain meds qualify for disability etc)
Thank you for reading my long story. Maybe it will help someone in the future! All opinions and comments are very much appreciated!
I would love to share my story here to receive insight and just for future people that may go through the same thing I am currently going through. Here is my story:
When I initially joined the Air Force I had to get a waiver because of childhood asthma. I got the waiver and finally went to basic training. A little background about me:
26 A1C been in for a little over 2 years. Air traffic Controller (5 level rated). Had child hood asthma around the age of 8-9. Played sports throughout high school without any problems.
Back to basic. Ran and passed the PT test throughout basic with ease! I got held over for 3-4 months because of low iron issues. It was found out that I have some weird trait where my body just runs on low iron but I am not anemic. Interesting none the less. When going to get cleared for this the doctor heard a wheeze in my breath so wanted to also check for asthma considering my history. I was given steroids to take as well because the doctor thought that it may have been an illness.. bronchitis or something else. Steroids helped a little bit and I was scheduled for a methocholine challenge test later as well. I passed this test and was finally off to Tech School! Yay!
No problems during tech school. Got to my first passed a pt test. The 2nd one rolls around and I max out situps and pushups but fail the run by 2 seconds. Two weeks prior to this test I was traveling back home and had an instance where it was hard to breathe for a night at my mothers. Slept in her basement while visiting and maybe it triggered something.
I made my way to flight med after my PT test to see what the deal was and to try to pin the failure on the fact that I couldn't breathe throughout the run. They gave me a spirometer test and I was inhaling at a capacity of 70 when the doc said it should be around 80 or so. I was prescribed allegra and Flonase to see if maybe the reason was due to allergies. A week later I tested and it was the same so I was referred to a pulmonologist.
Got back from the pulmonologist last Friday and they did a couple of tests and deemed the following
Diagnosis: Mild Intermittent Asthma
Prognosis: Good
He prescribed me Breo (once a day) and a rescue inhaler as needed.
Brought these results back to Flight Med today where the Breo was substituted for Advair 100/50. The doc asked about my past history with asthma which was already noted prior to joining. He also stated that my chain of command is on my side including my commander which is really an awesome feeling. I have read other threads where the recommendations could really play a great deal in the decisions being made. The flight doc does not want to submit the actual Med Package until my follow up with the pulmonologist to see if my asthma will be controlled etc.
I would love to stay in the Air Force and control planes so I plan to do all I can in my power to have this work in my favor, health permitting of course. I was told that there are different scenarios that could play out. I could be on a permanent no walk or no run waiver if I was retained. Another venue would be a AFSC change possibly. Another option of course is being removed from Active Duty. I was informed that there have been many cases and he is doubtful that I would be removed from the Air Force but really who knows when it comes to these things.
My big questions were what I have to do to stay in my job and in the Air Force of course. I was told that I should ask the pulmonologist to really define and be clear with his prognosis stating that my condition will improve or is not a limiting factor (if true of course).
Thanks for reading! Here are some questions I have personally:
What are my chances of being retained?
I am guessing that my chances of going to a base will be limited now and I will stay state side?
What about deployments, how will that be effected?
What would be some other things that I should ask from my off base pulmonologist doctor that would help me?
What do you see happening with this case, what are my chances of staying in (ATC) or AF in general?
Is there anything else I should know? (For example, certain meds qualify for disability etc)
Thank you for reading my long story. Maybe it will help someone in the future! All opinions and comments are very much appreciated!