Topic: Have any infantry got medical rejection from borden for asthma and made it in...

[Usman_Syed]

Have any infantry got medical rejection from borden for asthma and made it in after the so called " One year free of asthma precriptions...and a detailed report from doctor through out the 12 months?

I was applyin for the reserves and this is what i got..I would just like to know if anyone have ever done the year and made it in to the Infantry

I know there was a similar post prior to this but no one really awnsered. Ive already got an appoinment with a chest specialist and had a lung x-ray done.

Please post.

-Still R031 hopeful

[CanadianTire]

My medical was sent off to Borden  at the end of May and I should be hearing back from the CF any day now.  My doctor cleared me of asthma, but the letter he wrote to Borden was not exactly the same thing he had told me.

I have high hopes that Borden will reverse there decision, but I have the feeling they won't as I have heard many stories about appeals not working.  However, I am fully prepared to fight them all the way.  My doctor has cleared me of asthma, and I have not even touched my medication in over six months.

I will PM when Borden reaches a decision either way and let you know what's happened and what's worked so far.  Just keep at it.  If tests say you don't have asthma, Borden can choose to ignore that all they want.  At least you'll know you don't have it, and you can always re-apply later.

[WB]

Well, I've never had asthma. I don't know what its like and I'm not a doctor. But here's my opnion anyways which is worth about .02.

Spirit counts. If the recruiter tells you to wait 12 months, call back in 6 just to let him know you're still interested and to keep your file open. Whether or not he would ever close your file is irrelivant, the point is that you've told him he should expect your call when the doctor says you're good to go. Then 11 months into your waiting time, try schedule your aptitude test ( or whatever your first appointment would be) for the day after the full year is up. Just look for excuses spread throughout the year to give your recruiter a call so he knows that you're still interested. As soon as you can possibly call your recruiter without looking annoying, do so. And make sure he knows the significance of the fact that your calling at the first opportunity. Don't harass him, be when you call and say your name, he should remember the guy he's talking to.

You have a better chance with the recruiter if you have a "go-get'em attitdue" and the phone calls to back it up. I know the waiting game sucks, but I've been there too. I'll bet $20 my recruiter would still remember me if I called him today. Just remember that the success rate of those who don't try is ALWAYS 0%.

[mclipper]

I have seen several posts on this topic and I have one question.  Did it ever occur to you WHY the military has a problem with asthma?  For that matter, why there are medical standards?  There are reasons behind the medical standards that are in place.  Think about it for a minute.  I know that you really want this, but this isn't a job at McDonalds.  If you should have an exercise induced attack and there is no one there to assist you.......either way, you are a liability.  Sorry, but it's a fact.

[hooch]

If you should have an exercise induced attack and there is no one there to assist you.......either way, you are a liability.   Sorry, but it's a fact.

There varying degrees of severity of asthma and unless he was a severe case i doubt he`ll drop dead...besides you can have relatively poor vision and join the army, and aren`t broken glasses a liability too?

And to answer the original question posed, yes I too was initially rejected on the basis that I had used an inhaler while playing hockey many years ago...however, a letter from my doctor to the folks in Borden cleared the matter up...PM me if you want the gruesome details

[Usman_Syed]

To the guy that wrote, exercise inducive, I have a minor case of reactive airway disease, I can run all i want and nothing happens to me, thats what the god damn med staff cease to realize.

[mclipper]

Regarding your asthma, I didn't say that you wouldn't get in, I was trying to explain (maybe not all that well) why the medical staff want so much info about your situation.  As for the eye sight comment.....you do know that there are vision standards as well right?  That is why the max you can be is a V3 for inf for example.  That way if your glasses DO get broken you can still function!  You aren't left sitting there blindly fumbling around.

[Sig Joeschmo]

Here's the low down on what they will require from people who have had asthma or do have it etc... Not only would you have to be clear of relying on medication for 1 year. They will most likely want you to do a Methacolene (didn't spell it right) challenge test which partially induces asthma attacks and detects how well your lungs can work. And also a Pulmonary function test.

1.) Methacolene Challenge Test
2.) Pulmonary Functino Test

Pass those and you'll probably be accepted since those clinically prove you don't have asthma (or not at any noticable/effective rate).

I ain't no doctor but that's what I had to do to get in!

Joe

[Usman_Syed]

JOE DUDE I LOVE YOU...so you got in?

Any how it gives me hope.

Go Joe Go.

[Sig Joeschmo]

 

Glad I could help. NEVER give up unless you yourself know there is no way inside.

Give'm 

I have a very simple, not so original saying:
Never Give UP!

[CanadianTire]

This whole "free of medication" deal is a news to me.  Neither the physician at Borden nor the med staff here in Vancouver mentioned anything about that; in fact they both stated all I needed was to pass a PFT and Methacholine test and get a note from my doctor saying I have asthma.

So if they tell me now, 5 months after having passed these tests and being "officially" off my medication, that I have to wait another seven months they will have to deal with an extremely pissed off person and I will be making a complaint with someone higher up.

[Usman_Syed]

Well, I was rejected based on asthma, so my letter informed me that once i had completed 12 consecutive months asthma medication and prescription free i may be re-considered. On top of that I also have to have some orthodontic/cosmetic surgery to correct my underbite. So after I heal from the surgery and the 1 year is completed i will re-apply. So I hope BdTyre, you make it in with your current application, because if not you may have to wait a year. They should not reject you considering you have done the Meth test and the PFT.

-Hope you make it.

[combat_medic]

The CF isn't concerned if you're taking a mild medication, but they ARE concerned if you are not capable of functioning without it. The infantry are the most likely to be cut off from supply lines in a theatre of war, and have the highest chance of not having ready access to things like perscription medication, or replacement eyeglasses. If you can't function as a front line infantry soldier without regular meds and glasses, then you become a huge liability on the battlefield. They didn't set up these regulations just to punish people, but to ensure that you won't go down with an asthma attack in the middle of a section attack with no meds. They're protecting themselves as well as you.

[CanadianTire]

I understand the reasoning behind it. It seems that everyone who had asthma must have been medication free for 12 months.  My issue is not that; it is understandable.  My issue is that if this is the case, I have found it out from a third party five months after I have been "officially" off my medication.  I was not told by the physician at Borden nor by the medical officer at CFRC Vancouver that this would be required.  I was told -by both parties- that I need to pass these tests and I needed to provide a letter from my doctor stating I no longer had asthma.  The officer at Borden was particularly unhelpful and didn't seem to want to deal with me. 

Now, I haven't heard back from Borden yet so I may be making a fuss over nothing, but the way the past 14 months have gone, I don't think thins will get much better.  My question five months ago to the officer in Borden was simple: What do I need to do?  I should have been told then exactly what I needed to do.  To tell me that I have to wait another seven months because someone forgot or didn't think about it is not only dissappointing, it really reflects poorly on the individual and on the Canadian Forces.

Of course, this may all be in vain since the last time my doctor actually wrote me a perscription was November and the last time I actually had one filled was some time before that. 

I'm just trying to prepare for the worst....

[Usman_Syed]

Yeah BDtyre, i wish i was as well informed of the asthma case. But there is always hope, even if they do reject you they dont say YOU ARE NOT MEDICALLY FIT FOR THE CF,......YOU CANNOT ENTER THE CF. Thats why I thank god that they didnt just randomly slam me on like a heart murmer or flat foot. Anyways take em to the bitter end. As for combat_medic, so according to what you said people with a mild asthma can still enter the CF? But what does not make any sense is the fact that they make you wait 6 months to reject you on something that is "standard protocol" for med( Anyguy with asthma that has not been rejected yet, has not done a year without prescriptions, and not completed a meth and a PFT test should have to wait 6 months and then be told all this. Funny they think this way, what I basiclly mean is why didnt they reject me the instant i said i have asthma? and even after my doctor wrote that is asthma is not exercise inducive that they still reject.

[Sig Joeschmo]

Well folks, you have to keep everything in perspective. The military is a large organization obviously, and with many different individuals included to move your application along. It's not that the recruiters or officers or NCM's or anyone is trying to be mean or particulary evil toward you.

But generally speaking if you have asthma, it would be a bad career choice anyway. I knew that when I applied and knew I'd have a hellova time trying to get in. But you just have to stay persistent, positive and keep on top of whoever has your file at that point. But in a polite and professional manner. They deal with applicants one file at a time, one PART of a file at a time! I was originally suppose to start LAST SEPTEMBER. Yes, 2003. But I had to scheduel those tests and get the doctors notes and send it back and forth and wait for calls and mail. I called the CFRC Hamilton almost weekly when my file was in Borden over the last while. The only week I didn't call I was on vacation!

Don't worry, keep the faith, if you want it that bad, you'll get it if your fit enough and healthy enough! Don't loose focus.

Joe

[Usman_Syed]

Yeah, well i do have to say that was a "frustration flush" on my part . Its just that the CF has become something elusive to me, anyhow running and cardio exercises will help fight asthma wont they?.

[Sig Joeschmo]

Yes cardio will help but it takes steady months of workout and dedication. Asthma isn't easy to beat! If yours is still active, I'd advise caution in cardio work as that can induce an asthma attack in chronic cases! If yours is bad enough, maybe talk to your doctor first. You generally should be fine though. I had chronic asthma as a child and still participated in all sports+track and field etc...

Good luck,

Joe

[BLACKBERRY(Banned)]

A friend of mine is a corporal of hoarse in the British household calvary and he has Asama really bad. He has to carry his inhaler around everywhere he goes so there must be a way to join.

[CanadianTire]

Considering the Brits' rules on asthma, your friend was very lucky to get in.

[B.C Dude]

man....i just got rejected from the reserves because of asthma also, i got a letter like a week ago saying the same thing that i had medical limitations, now they're telling me to call the RC for a final decision on my file, I really don't want to give this up since it's a dream of mine, my familys saying just give up and go for anotehr career, but i can't. Please give me some advice what should i do next?

[Michael Dorosh]

Considering the Brits' rules on asthma, your friend was very lucky to get in.

Or else he simply lied about it.

Been known to happen.

Wouldn't recommend it here, of course.  Did I mention it's been known to happen?

[CanadianTire]

I know a guy who was in the TA for a few years; the Sergeant he was talking to when he applied encouraged him to "forget" that he had asthma.

[Usman_Syed]

thats really what it comes down to, BD Tyre, all the guys that cheat to enter are the ones that really do have asthma then they put a bad influence on the people applying who had had it in the past but do not no longer. If you truly are CF material you shouldnt be lying. And now watch everyone highlight CF material and quote on me. LOL

-Usman

[Gumby]

Well, I've had one PFT. That was about six months ago, now I'm going back in on Monday to do another one and schedule a metacholine test, I'm also heading down to CFRC Toronto tomorrow to re-open my file and book my other tests,. (P.T., Interview), does anyone know if I will need to do another CFAT?   And how long are the letters of reference good for?   Cheers..