Asthma & the CF (merged thread)

[Joel85]

Here‘s the scoop. I went for all my pre-enrolment evaluations on May 6th of this year. I passed the physical test, (26 sit-ups, 26 push-ups, 100 lbs hand grip, no problems with the step test). I passed the aptitude, and the recruiter told my I was an above average applicant. My medical went okay, I had to get a doctor‘s note to explain my asthma (very mild) and a note about a concussion i received a few years ago.

Now, I don‘t want to sound like a whiner, but should it really take this long? I applied to the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, which is always looking for people. Should I give up hope?

Any answers, or thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[AceLuttmann]

Hello everyone, To start i want to thank you all for serving your country. So God Bless all of you. Im giving some serious thought on joining the reserves in a field of communications. My main concern is with the basic training, I think this might be a concern with others before they do it, but mine is mainly with the fact that i ahve asthma.I can say its fairly bad but im hoping this wont affect me too much but i think it will.Has anyone did basic with asthma and or getting ready to?????? Im curious to see how hard it really is to get prepard for the worst. I hope to get no harsh words for asking a "Silly" question but im just looking for a few answers so i can follow my path in the Army.

 

[PTE Gruending]

Without knowing anything about medical conditions concerning the CF:

PT in basic (at least in the Reserve force) is not very strenuous (in my experience anyways). And for the most part it can be done at your own pace. I am sure the instructors will not dog you for popping out of a jog or some circuit training to take a huff of your "respirator".

 

[AceLuttmann]

Ok, well that worries me a little less. Thank you.Another concern of mnie is if you own money through bills or credit cards you will have to pay what is unpaid before you can join. Is that true???? I owe about $2000.00 in total so im a little worried about that. Sorry about the questions.

 

[Danno]

Yes, I would like to know the answer to that question as well. I still have about $10,000 in student loans to pay off!

 

[belt fed]

If you think you have debit problems that might hinder your enrollment, my suggestion is to go to a professional, not-for-profit debit consolidator. I read a post somewhere that suggested this was showing the army that you are taking control of your finances and it would certainly take some worry away regardless

 

[UlteriorAxiom]

Hello,

I‘m new to this forum... and I‘m considering joining the military myself.


As for your Asthma condition. What is not commonly not known about asthma, migraines, early stages of diabetes, arthritus, high blood pressure and many other ailments is that they are compensations or effects due to a simple problem.

You‘re Dehydrated!

Yes, your body is very low on water and it‘s trying to prevent loss of water through respiration, which consequently hinders your breathing for obvious reasons.

To solve this problem, drink water frequently... Filtered water. Bottled water is no substitute, as many of them are straight from municipal water supplies anyhow.

The other thing you should consider doing, is mixing some Unrefined Sea Salt with the water... This natural sea salt is essential for life, and you can‘t live without it. The refined salt you buy in most stores is actually a poison, and is why doctors recommend limiting salt intake. It‘s been heated, refined, and so on to remove the essential minerals in it, because they are worth more than the salt itself.

The real salt is harmless to excess. Get this from a natural foods store ... The salt helps your system store water more effectively, contains many essential minerals, and for your condition loosen the mucus in the lungs, so its easier to breathe. It does many more things as well, but I‘ll leave you up to your own research on that.

As for the ratio, I use about 1/4 teaspoon per litre of filtered water. You don‘t even taste it... And Real Unrefined Salt tastes better than the processed stuff anyhow.

It‘s part of the problem with our foods today... Like processed wheat... It‘s white, and looks good, but the real nutrition is no longer there.

Hope this helps...
UlteriorAxiom

 

[Spr.Earl]

Oh Guy‘s if you have to ask!

Yes comining in to the Force‘s your training will be tough for this day and age but not what you see in the movies i.e. U.S. crap (sorry Sherwood)or what the Force‘s used to be like.

Just make sure you can run farely well and can swim,do push up‘s,chin up‘s sit up‘s etc.

Just make sure your in farely good shape and that will be improved on during your training and further when you reach your Regiment‘s.

Good Luck!

 

[Jarnhamar]

PT in basic (at least in the Reserve force) is not very strenuous (in my experience anyways). And for the most part it can be done at your own pace.

On risk of sounding like a prick this is why our military has both the LOWEST physical fitness standards AND level in all of NATO.

 

[Sauder]

I‘m only 15 but i was just curious if they allow asthmatics in the cf any info? THNX

 

[finbar]

When you admit to the MO or Physicians Assistant that you suffer from asthma your entire application process will come to a screeching halt. You will be required to take what‘s called a "methacholine" challenge test. This test requires that you stop taking any and all asthma med‘s for one month. The test will be administered by a Respirologist at a hospital. The test is designed to measure your lung output volume while attempting to stimulate an asthmatic response. If you do have asthma, they will give some ventolin to counter the response. The CF views asthma as "a career limitation" depending upon your trade. Rule yourself out for diving and aircrew. Inf??? their crying for guys in the infantry. Good Luck

Note: do not withhold this medical information, penalties are swift and severe

 

[Sauder]

I just had to be born with asthma! owell thnx for the info.

 

[chriscalow]

Asthma is touchy, but when it is controlled it‘s not usually a problem. There are a few olympic medallists that had asthma. I‘ve seen people with asthma go very far, I guess it depends on the person.

 

[Pte. Bloggins]

Hey Ace,
I‘m in the communications reserve and just did my basic, and that PT at your own pace thing just ain‘t true (unless you‘re an MIR commando...hehe). So just do your best and even with your asthma it should be ok.

 

[combat_medic]

UlteriorAxiom: Yes, you can be short of breath when you‘re dehydrated, but you don‘t suddently develop chronic asthma from missing a drink of water. This kid has been diagnosed with asthma, I would assume by an MD, so I don‘t think the solution is to tell him to drink bottled water. Even holy water wouldn‘t make his asthma go away.

AceLuttmann: Yes, you asthma will be a concern. When you go in for your medical testing, they will test to see the extent of your asthma, and from there they will make a decision. The reason for this, is that they need to see that you can still function if supply lines are cut and you‘re without your meds for a period of time.

Danno: As you student loans, I don‘t believe they check how much debt you have, but rather how good/bad your credit is. If you have debt but are making regular payments, then it‘s not a huge issue, but if you constntly miss payments and your credit history is shyt, then they‘ll be a lot more concerned.

 

[iamcanadian3885]

Hello there,

I was wondering about if there is ANYTHING I could do to remedy my situation. When I was younger I had asthma (I‘m 18 now). Now, a year and a half ago I recieved medication to trial on whether or not I had exercise enduced asthma, which was found to be false. It all had related to a cold I was suffering. So after spending the past 10 months trying to get tests done to prove I don‘t have asthma, I finally show I don‘t, and I get rejected saying that the documentation recieved let them to believe I have excise enduced asthma/cold wheather enduced asthma. My doctor is shocked that I was refused, as in his opinion, and mine, I don‘t have these conditions. I run fine, never have asthma attacks, never would, I know for a fact. I play very active sports (Rugby, Hockey) in all weather conditons, and yet they still believe that I have these forms of asthma. Since my application cannot pass without approval from the medical staff, I am out of luck, and was wondering what I could do to show them...

I really want to get in, I have the ability no doubt...

Thanks,

 

[dano]

What you need to do is start getting doctors notes stating and explaining what happended and that it wouldn‘t effect you‘re performence, ect.

 

[shaunlin41]

Try getting your family doctor to write a medical letter, I know it can be expensive but it may help though you should First ask cfrc if it would help to get such a letter and ask if there is something else that is the reason for your rejection, the asthma may be smoke and mirrors?

 

[jutes85]

I think that the military doctors blow things out of porportion. I had a similar situation a couple of months ago when i applied. During the medical i said that i had a past hockey injury regarding my shoulder. I was not sure if i dislocated it or not, but tests done on it (my shoulder) the day after said it was just a slight torn muscle, with no dislocation evidence. Well, my medical examiner, who is a moron, IMHO, made a huge deal about how i must get some kind of putty surgery or something like that to stablize it. Although, there was ablsolutely NO EVIDENCE of a seperation. I showed him this file, but it did not convince him and he made me goto a orthipedic specialist. Luckily, my neighbor is one so i did not have to wait. Finally, he accepted it and i finished my reqruitment. He waisted 2 months of my life and made me miss Basic this fall, so i have to wait for the one this spring i believe.

So, you never know what moron might screw you over.

 

[iamcanadian3885]

Thanks for the info and ideas...

I think I‘ll go to my doctor ASAP. I‘m sure he‘ll write something up, like I said before, he was shocked to find out I was rejected.

Also, from the looks of it, the Major that looked over my medical info, must not have read into all the detail I sent. My doctor stated several times in the notes that there was nothing that could stop me from performing well.

Just wish things could get straitened out, I first applied 10 months ago, and all I‘ve done since is get test after test that SHOW I don‘t have any problems.