Asthma
A guy I was in school with joined the Paras. He was in 6 years or so and had perfect health, he made corpora and was expecting a promotion to Sergeant. He was doing a Northern Ireland tour (second I recall) and half way through suddenly got asthma, whilst it was relatively mild they got him out of the army on a medical.
Three years later the asthma had cleared up and he joined the TA as an infantryman - medically cleared 100% fit and no relapses. His consultant told him that in some cases high stress levels can trigger asthma, but remove the stress and the asthma goes away.
Thinking about Bluewolfs post, the adrenalin angle makes a lot of sense - my mate always thought it was a psychosomatic condition, sort of a mental excuse not to run around the streets of Londonderry dodging IRA snipers.
Three years later the asthma had cleared up and he joined the TA as an infantryman - medically cleared 100% fit and no relapses. His consultant told him that in some cases high stress levels can trigger asthma, but remove the stress and the asthma goes away.
Thinking about Bluewolfs post, the adrenalin angle makes a lot of sense - my mate always thought it was a psychosomatic condition, sort of a mental excuse not to run around the streets of Londonderry dodging IRA snipers.
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Any more advice or experiences?
From what I gather it has happened before where someone with asthma has gotten through, then mysteriously developed asthma and been allowed to stay? Does this happen in countries aside from the UK? Is no fast jets the usual restriction? Hypothetically if someone only required a preventative thingo, every day or three would that be considered mild?
From what I gather it has happened before where someone with asthma has gotten through, then mysteriously developed asthma and been allowed to stay? Does this happen in countries aside from the UK? Is no fast jets the usual restriction? Hypothetically if someone only required a preventative thingo, every day or three would that be considered mild?
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I did suffer from asthma for years and still continue to serve using this remedy passed to me by an old chinese monk... boil the eyes of three gibbons, add the toenail cuttings of a veteran loadmaster, the worms from a datshound's pooh, boiled longingly and lovingly in maidens' water - and rectally infused daily. My asthma has got me through the last ten annual medicals; although the Dr says, "your bottom is a bit loose" - I think it's a small price to pay. I am finding it harder and harder to get the toenails. I hope this helps. Happy new year x. 
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You're playing with fire mate, sorry. The med boards check the medical records of ALL applicants via a GPs medical report. You can lie on the forms, but they will find out anyway. I've personally never had asthma, but when they checked my med records they found that I had suffered 'mild wheezing' once as a child whilst suffering from bronchitis. That was enough for them, my med cat was pulled and I had to wait to see a specialist. Fortunately the specialist quickly summarised that I didn't have asthma, never had and never would, and I will soon be starting IOT to serve a commission as a pilot. So my advice to you would be not to lie, it won't get you anywhere. The RAF have got very good reasons why they don't select aircrew with a history of asthma, they haven't just made them up!
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For someone who has the occasional sniffles on a yearly basis, can you guarantee ear / sinus pain will not stop you from safely descending and landing a single seat aircraft (worst case in terms of incapacitation) or a passenger-laden multi (worst case in terms of you endangering other people)?
For someone who has asthma, can you guarantee that in a hugely stressful situation you will be able to function normally, giving the task 100% of your concentration?
1. Will it affect your performance? If yes, be true to yourself and anyone liable to be below / behind you.
2. If no, and your medical records don't reveal the truth, can you live the lie?
For someone who has asthma, can you guarantee that in a hugely stressful situation you will be able to function normally, giving the task 100% of your concentration?
1. Will it affect your performance? If yes, be true to yourself and anyone liable to be below / behind you.
2. If no, and your medical records don't reveal the truth, can you live the lie?
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Lighten up fella`s
It was a joke(although having to explain the fact it was/is a joke is explanation enough
)
I dont have eczema and never have,what with "duty of care" these days if there is any hint of a problem, you aint coming
Please relax a little, I'm off to play with my fire and feed my gibbon and recharge my inhaler
It was a joke(although having to explain the fact it was/is a joke is explanation enough )I dont have eczema and never have,what with "duty of care" these days if there is any hint of a problem, you aint coming
Please relax a little, I'm off to play with my fire and feed my gibbon and recharge my inhaler
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As for 'Doctor-Patient confidentiality'...
I seem to remember the OASC medical form requiring a signature that the applicant agree to their records being looked at. So if it's written down, They'll know about it - and rightly so, IMHO.
I seem to remember the OASC medical form requiring a signature that the applicant agree to their records being looked at. So if it's written down, They'll know about it - and rightly so, IMHO.
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I found myself in this situation some 20 years ago. Passed the aircrew medical three times (test in advance, flying scholarship then the actual aircrew selection tests), all the while wondering if I'd be found out. I even ticked yes in the hayfever box. The RAF offer was a General Duties (ground) commission to see how the breathing went, on the basis that it often clears up post-puberty, when I could re-apply for flying training after a couple of years. Trouble was, it rested on my conscience in case I let anyone down and when the letter turned up saying" turn up at Cranwell next March" I politely declined. I've often wondered since whether I did the right thing or whether my opting out meant I lacked the right stuff anyway.
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The crux of this question is that said hypothetical friend has already passed the medical therefore the RAF must have already checked civvy medical records.
Therefore if said hypothetical friend says nothing now and no one recognises the symptons in said hypothetical friend then he or she should be ok. However said hypothetical friend should bear in mind ****'s post above which contains many wise words.
Therefore if said hypothetical friend says nothing now and no one recognises the symptons in said hypothetical friend then he or she should be ok. However said hypothetical friend should bear in mind ****'s post above which contains many wise words.
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There has been a lot of guidance on this matter, but the bottom line is if someone knowingly gives the wrong information on joining it is classed as a false attestation. Now I have not heard about someone not declaring health problems, but I have heard of personnel who have failed to declare criminal convictions and they have been discharged.
As for the Asthma, if it develops once you are in, and is only mild you get a Med Cat of G2. G2 is a medical note and does not affect your career at all. However, if it is anything other than mild you can get a Med Cat of G3 and this could lead to discharge for an airman or no promotion for an officer.
As for the Asthma, if it develops once you are in, and is only mild you get a Med Cat of G2. G2 is a medical note and does not affect your career at all. However, if it is anything other than mild you can get a Med Cat of G3 and this could lead to discharge for an airman or no promotion for an officer.
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I never said it was RAF. Situation is everything passed, including medical. People with actual experience in this would be greatly appreciated if they could provide some info, possibly by PM.
I don't know about no promotion for G3 officers. Every year if I get a cold it used to turn into bronchitis, which left me with the lung function of a long dead donkey. This was duly treated with asthma medication, therefore I'm asthmatic. Because the medication I'm given is as strong as it gets, short of lying on a hospital bed, I'm going to be permanent G3 and those lovely people are talking about discharge. No matter the fact that I have no aerobic problems on exercise, and that with the medication it doesn't matter if I do get a cold because it doesn't become bronchitis! I'm only in ATC. All I have to do is sit down, talk to people on a radio and eat doughnuts! Anyone get advice on how to fight off the dreaded medics??
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Many cases of 'asthma' and 'migraine' are misdiagnosed by overworked, careless GP's. Unfortunately these are put on permanent medical record.
My advice is to get a second opinion, in writing, by a leading expert in that field and make sure that these are kept with your medical files. I know from personal experience that this will work in your favour, if you have been given a wrong diagnosis. It will cost you a fair bit of money, but it is well worth it if you want a flying career.
BFB
My advice is to get a second opinion, in writing, by a leading expert in that field and make sure that these are kept with your medical files. I know from personal experience that this will work in your favour, if you have been given a wrong diagnosis. It will cost you a fair bit of money, but it is well worth it if you want a flying career.
BFB
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....or you could take the Chinese cure, which works, and because it works your symptoms will go away, so you don't have the condition, and because the western medical establishment doesn't accept anything it hasn't thought of, as real, it doesn't go on your record....problem solved!
(Hint to Doubters: you don't get to have 1.3 billion people and an uninterupted culture 5,000 years old by using ineffective medicine )
(Hint to Doubters: you don't get to have 1.3 billion people and an uninterupted culture 5,000 years old by using ineffective medicine
)
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I'm not a Chinese herbalist, but the treatment begins with Ma Huang, botanical name Ephedra, from which ephedrine is extracted, from which pseudoephedrine is synthesised.
It stimulates the kidneys and adrenals, flushes allergens from the body, mimics adrenalin, and in so doing, opens the airways.
After that it gets complicated, but it's to do with retraining the body to not respond to allergens.
It stimulates the kidneys and adrenals, flushes allergens from the body, mimics adrenalin, and in so doing, opens the airways.
After that it gets complicated, but it's to do with retraining the body to not respond to allergens.