RAF Aircrew - Asthma?

[Jonesyboy92]

Hi,
As I understand, there are a few other posts about this, but my case is a bit different and others won't fully answer my question.
Essentially, I'm 17 and have applied to join the RAF as a pilot and I understand they are very picky about asthma in aircrew, let alone ground crew.

I'm going to have to be very vague here, and you've maybe heard it all before but basically, I think I must've stopped using an inhaler when I was round about 4 or something, can't really remember but I have memories of me asking for a drink ready for every time I took an inhale cause it tasted horrible, lol :\. I have just asked my Dad about it, and he says as he can remember he 'thinks it was just a precuation' On the other hand, my Mam has said I was 6 months when I was admitted to hospital with chestiness as by-product of chickenpox or something, and it was then I got an inhaler.
After that, I have never been affected in any way by my 'asthma' (note the inverted commas).

Around a year ago however, I was dogsitting for my Dads girlfriend (her and my dad live separetely) whilst she was away on holiday, and I during that time, I let her (the dog that is, lol ;)) sleep in my room. Then one night, the day after the dog went home, I woke in the middle of the night with a very tight chest and wheezing. I wasn't in any pain or particular discomfort, nor was I panicking and agitated, just I found the experience very annoying and just wanted to go back to sleep but couldn't really. Nontheless, eventually I did get back to sleep but the following day wondered if it could have been an asthma attack. I booked an appointment at my local surgery (a small rural surgery if it counts for anything) and was allocated a nurse. She did a few tests and gave me a blue inhaler and told me to just take them if I ever felt chesty. Hence, this is obviosuly now on my medical record.

Since that time, however I have never felt any need at all to use the inhaler that was prescribed. When I have used it occasionally (purely for the crack) I can honestly say I have never felt any difference or relief.

In short, flying is my dream and my only career prospect. The only realistic way I could achieve it is by joining the RAF, as I haven't a cat's chance in hell of affording flying lessons as I come from absolutely nothing. <-- No, thats not some sort of sob story, lol, just explaining how much it means to me.

So basically, I was wondering what the chances were of the RAF accepting me on medical terms if I got those two accounts of asthma on my medical record down as misdiagnoses? I am going to book an appointment with my GP indefinately. My only potential mistake is I'm hoping, optimistically, he will look upon my situation with empathy. Who knows, if I slip him 50 notes hell alter my records for me, no questions asked... erm, actually somehow, I don't think so, not with the enormous wage hel'll be on anyway... bugger

Thanks alot guys. Any input is much appreciated!

EDIT:
A few things I reckon I should have mentioned, those being the grounds for the two claimed misdiagnoses: for the first one as a complication of chickenpox and secondly merely as a symptom of pet allergy. Secondarily, I'm wanting to pilot larger multi-engined aircraft and not mentalistically fast, smaller jets, though whether this will have any bearing, I haven't a clue.
Also, I was at the doctors only this week about a bit of a skin condition, and mentioned that I wanted to join the RAF as a pilot. He also mentioned he wanted to be a pilot in the RAF also, but could not, in his words: 'for medical reasons'. I wonder if he would empathetical and supportive??

[Old Akro]

The UK Asthma Foundation is pretty good, you could give them a call. Your Asthma looks like it is an allergic response. Its a bit semantic, but it might be worth considering that you have an allergy rather than pure Asthma. I would be reluctant to use the Asthma tag until you know that you have it. I'd go and talk to a GP (probably your family doctor) who is not linked with the CAA or RAF and discuss it and figure out exactly what you have.

[Jonesyboy92]

Gave them a call today. They were pretty helpful and they basically said the best thing to do is to go to my GP. Hence, I have booked an appointment this morning, although I'm bricking it, lol. I'll post again to say how I got on. Cheers for the advice matey! :ok:

[Jonesyboy92]

Went to the GP today and he said there is no mention of asthma of in my medical records! So that's me chuffed to bits. :}
One thing he did say was that there was a small chance they would ask why I was prescribed an inhaler, but if they ask, they should write tohim (my GP). Despite that, unltimately the dreaded word 'asthma' does not exist in my medical records.

On a side note, my application was rejected today anyway because I didn't to put my predicted A-Level grades on, lol. Time to re-apply. But ultimtely, I'm as a happy as larry!

[ElSupremo]

I'm really sorry to rain on your parade but I think you'll be fighting a losing battle. I, like you, have been prescribed inhalers in the past. I visited my doctor who wrote a strongly worded letter to my local AFCO advising that it was very unlikely that I have, or ever had, asthma and that the inhalers prescribed were purely precautionary. I was fairly confident that the RAF would at least give me a medical but alas they did not. It seems that any mention of inhaler in your history (after the age of 4) or indeed any history of wheeze pretty much bars you from any form of entry into the service.

My only option now is to try the RN although it seems that the FAA has now been decimated. I think I'll give up trying and head for Australia to be a lawyer there instead. The RAF's/RN's loss is the legal profession's/Australia's gain!

[gingernut]

Do the RAF medics ask for your medical notes?

I've never been asked to release any.

[The Old Fat One]

In short, flying is my dream and my only career prospect.


I'm going to try and offer just a tiny bit of advice...your call as to whether you take it in or not. (Mods, technically this reply is in the wrong place but I'm just trying to help the dude.)

Assuming you get the result you want with the outcome of the medical, you have many, many hurdles to overcome before you get achieve your dream. (If the medical goes against you, it is over...move on)

Those who make the grade learn early that dedication, motivation and preparation count for everything. There are many, many excellent candidates out there...you may well be one of them, but you have to learn how to compete with everybody else.

Your post gives me a few clues that as yet you have not fully prepared. I would advise you to start finding out about the hurdles at OASC before you head off to the initial interview at the careers office, otherwise it will be over for you before you get anywhere near OASC.

What are the clues?

You don't know why the RAF don't take any people with any history of asthma. Answer. Asthma is a risk and the RAF don't need to take it. They have more than enough applicants who fit the criteria. Same deal for eyesight and other issues.

You didn't fill out your form correctly. Attention to detail is a big deal in the military (and in civil aviation)

Most important, you don't know that the RAF only selects fast jet pilots, so you don't know much about the training system. Your successful competitors will know everything about the RAF, its people, its aircraft and its structures.

You have work to do, good luck with the medical and your application.

[Jonesyboy92]

Cheers for the replies guys, I take your points and I realise how true they all are.

I am fully aware of the fact that still, despite my (good?) news today, I am certainly nowhere near out of the woods yet in terms of the medical and well, really, anything could happen, but for the moment I am over the very very first hurdle. After some prior research I've indefinately seen that shady medical histories regarding wheezing/asthma/chestiness etc etc etc are looked upon with etreme contempt, however regardless I have seen all manner of responses fomr: "I was considered permeanently unfit for service" to "My doctor wrote to them and they were fine" or "I was sent for allergy tests and got in". It is very early days for me...

All in all, I'm young (not that that is an excuse for anything, but you do often hear the words young and naive together too often). The reason I didn't put my A2 levels on the app is because I haven't finished them yet and will not have done so until July 2011. A forgiveable lapse of initiative, I think.

I admit, however, there is much research to be done, and I need to get my fitness up to scratch. I am working on both and have been since I first applied. This is a personal commitment of the utmost importance to me.
If I get turned away at the medical, naturally, I'm going to be rather dismayed but won't resort to letting out my sorrows by creating a thread like 'Who else hates the RAF and their silly asthma rules?! >=( ' although I would feel that way, I understand you've heard it all before, and not least, nobody could give a ****.

Although if there is one thing, I think they are definately being unecessarily overcautious on the matter. Some people with asthma/significant history thereof are indeed a potential risk. Sufferers of the mildest proportion, in my opinion, well, the RAF are missing out. Anyhow, this has been discussed an infinite amount of times over the net, and whatever is said will not change a thing, so it's not worth discussing again.

I seem to have a habit of unescessarily MASSIVE posts lol.

Like I said, this is a very personal commitment and I will see to it to the best of my own ability I do all I can to make it. If I get turned away, it is not my prerogative, and ultimately, out of my hands.

Cheers guys!! :ok:

I may or may not update this thread again as my application goes on, just for the sake of interest, and, for all of the people unsure as to whether or not their patchy history of a slight wheeze they had when they were two years old that lasted a day trawling the internet looking for answers. ;)

[Loose rivets]

I had terrible asthma when I was a nipper, right through to late teens. Stopped me doing any sports. Then I discovered girls and airyplanes....oh, and judo. I became highly competitive at judo, and by the time I was doing repeat medicals at Praed St, the old medical HQ, I gathered a crowd while they urged me on to see if I could finally blow the needle right off the table of the puffer machine. About ten goes, always the same, just short of the edge.

Supa-puffer, me-ee.

One of the things that stopped me being allergic to stuff was not having me cats in the bed with me. Missed them a lot, but just couldn't get them the supernumerary tickets.:} Also, I took up smoking the finest Cuban Cigars. Loved them. 30psts in Palma. Long before the Russians got the good leaves. My systems thought, "if he's going to do that, why the heck would we bother to react to dust mites and cat fur? Sod 'im." Into my 30s, and I was reasonably competitive in a very well known club.

I wouldn't take up smoking cigarettes. They're deadly. But there has to be another way to tell your inner mind you're not going to succumb to its nonsense.

[Jonesyboy92]

I had terrible asthma when I was a nipper, right through to late teens. Stopped me doing any sports. Then I discovered girls and airyplanes....oh, and judo. I became highly competitive at judo, and by the time I was doing repeat medicals at Praed St, the old medical HQ, I gathered a crowd while they urged me on to see if I could finally blow the needle right off the table of the puffer machine. About ten goes, always the same, just short of the edge.

Supa-puffer, me-ee.

One of the things that stopped me being allergic to stuff was not having me cats in the bed with me. Missed them a lot, but just couldn't get them the supernumerary tickets.:} Also, I took up smoking the finest Cuban Cigars. Loved them. 30psts in Palma. Long before the Russians got the good leaves. My systems thought, "if he's going to do that, why the heck would we bother to react to dust mites and cat fur? Sod 'im." Into my 30s, and I was reasonably competitive in a very well known club.

I wouldn't take up smoking cigarettes. They're deadly. But there has to be another way to tell your inner mind you're not going to succumb to its nonsense.

Hmm, strangely poetic

[Pontius Navigator]

shady medical histories regarding wheezing/asthma/chestiness etc etc

I don't think you would find anybody in medical profession that would agree with the description shady.

The problem is possibly a double one. Mothers who push little Johny as precious and in need of special needs and GPs who, by definition, are generalists and not ENT specialists.

If a specialist has confirmed asthma then that is of course the end of the matter. It would appear however that GPs will re-diagnose but on a 50-50 basis would a specialist believe the cure? If they got it wrong the first time why did they get it right the second?

And Jonesy, if that is anywhere near your name would suggest you pick another one. Jones from Darlington may stick in someone's memory as you go through the system.

[Jonesyboy92]

I'm certainly not a medical proffesional, so shady was the most appropriate word swimming around in my head at the time. All I meant that it was boolean. You have asthma or you do not.
I agree though, if a specialist has put it down, arguing against their diagnosis is most likely a waste of time, as who else, including other specialists would challenge it. After all, they will be among the best in their field, and seen it all.

As for GP misdiagnoses however, it seems to depend upon how empathetic the GP is, as well as how particular and specific the medical entry is e.g. 'Severe wheeze, low lung capacity' (you get the idea), then the GP may well not bother anyway, or at least do a few tests to see whether the individual really is an asthmatic or not.

One thing that does interest me however is how this whole asthma vaccine thing will pan out, though it's probably five years or more away from ever being prescribed. New asthma vaccine hope | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10318/New-asthma-vaccine-hope.html)

I think on the name front, I'm not all that bothered as I live nearly 20 miles from Darlington anyway. I'll change the location anyway not least because most people will never even have heard of it. Though having said that, I don't intend to go about the forum aggrevating the sh!t out of people or anything.

[gingernut]

Hmmm.....

Its probably fair to say that actually, the GP, is rather expert at making the diagnosis.

After all, around 1 in 10 of the 40 odd people he sees a day will be affected by this condition.

The problem here is labelling. As you say Jonesey, the diagnosis is not absolute. (As the case in a lot of things medical.)

I'm not sure if an "expert" has access to anything your GP doesn't. I'd expect them to be working to more or less the same guidance... http://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/Portals/0/Clinical%20Information/Asthma/Guidelines/qrg101%20revised%202009.pdf

as you can see, it's a matter of probabilities, more than anything else.
The civil authorities seem to concern themselves with the relevant stuff, rather than the label itself-how it affects you, is it "brittle", number and severity of exacerbations,hospital admissions etc.

The RAF seem to get twitched with any form of bronchospasm, (probably because they can be.) I suppose if you're flying over a field of rape seed at 100 foot, it could get a bit nasty.

Ever since "co-piloting" me in a Cessna, my daughter wanted to be a fighter pilot. Until the RAF allowed her to sit in one of their shiney fighter jets at Waddington Airshow and she realised that she had to shoot people down.

Now she wants to be a lawyer:ugh:

[Jonesyboy92]

Aye Ging, I suppose that's just medicine... as remarkable as it is, some things aren't very clear cut, though, why would they be? It's biology. And your daughter, lol! It does seem that glamour is struck out of certain things in life when you hear of the unappealing intricacies. A lawyer though - still not half bad :)

[Flyin'Dutch']

If you got exposed again to the right (or depending your point of view the wrong) stimulus what is the likely outcome?

I suspect that it would mean a repeat of the symptoms you experienced.

IF the RAF takes the same view then they will not take you.

As you have indicated that it is not necessarily the fast pointy things you are interested in flying you may do well preparing yourself that a flying career in the forces may not be on the cards but that an alternative in civvie street may very well be possible.

Good luck with whatever route you take.