Gah!!! Asthma!

T

ThatJonKid

Full Registered User
hey all, I wandered along to the army recruitment center today to apply to join the RMP.

First question at the top of the list was "Have you got asthma/breathing problems etc"

I said yeah, asthma, only ever needed to use a blue pump once or twice each winter. Last two inhalers I have been issued I didn't redeem the prescription, last one 2007, and then 2006 previously.

It has always been very mild, and the last few years I haven't even used a pump, the Sgt said I can still apply but he says 99.9% of the time the doctors at selection say no go.

I have had a 2nd opinion from another recruitment office and they said give it a go, the doctor will judge whether your fit enough.

All i want really is a third opinion from you guys, if anyone has any experience on this matter? I'm fit and strong, I don't see how VERY light asthma would be a problem in the army with the level of fitness attained? I can understand asthma and heavy asthma but...(whine, whine, more whine...)

(btw I dont suffer from any other condition on the list)

Cheers All!
 
When I was very young 'Asthma' was quite rare,
many kids had poorly chests each winter, recurring bronchitis, Bronchial problems,
Then all of a sudden everyone has asthma.
Do breathing exercises to expand lung capacity, swim till you grow scales, then give the test a go.
 
ThatJonKid said:
hey all, I wandered along to the army recruitment center today to apply to join the RMP.

First question at the top of the list was "Have you got asthma/breathing problems etc"

I said yeah, asthma, only ever needed to use a blue pump once or twice each winter. Last two inhalers I have been issued I didn't redeem the prescription, last one 2007, and then 2006 previously.

It has always been very mild, and the last few years I haven't even used a pump, the Sgt said I can still apply but he says 99.9% of the time the doctors at selection say no go.

I have had a 2nd opinion from another recruitment office and they said give it a go, the doctor will judge whether your fit enough.

All i want really is a third opinion from you guys, if anyone has any experience on this matter? I'm fit and strong, I don't see how VERY light asthma would be a problem in the army with the level of fitness attained? I can understand asthma and heavy asthma but...(whine, whine, more whine...)

(btw I dont suffer from any other condition on the list)

Cheers All!
Click to expand...



Jon,

Should have kept shtum. I did and fortunately, over the years I was in, it subsided and I ended up being one of the fittest and best runners.

Try and get a letter from your doctor to the effect that he has only prescribed the inhalers....with such date and so on and use this as evidence to the effect. Insist that you longer suffer from it and that it was only slight previously.

It is better to make amends when you're 'in' than when during trying to get 'in'.



Rich H
 
Oddjob said:
When I was very young 'Asthma' was quite rare,
many kids had poorly chests each winter, recurring bronchitis, Bronchial problems,
Then all of a sudden everyone has asthma.
Do breathing exercises to expand lung capacity, swim till you grow scales, then give the test a go.
Click to expand...

Friend of mine had quite serious asthma problems he was totally dependable on medicines prescribed to him by his doctor, but he is a fighter kind of guy started swimming a lot, and doing other sports, and now with lungs capacity about 6litres his, doctor can't believe what he sees he says LOL
It rarely happens now that he gets some chest infection during winter but we speak polish winter, snow and -25 celsius degrees over last two winters ;)
 
Rich H is quite right about keeping quiet, I had a chat with a GP about this very issue recently when a youeng lad I know insisted he wanted to join up but had been given an inhaler despite never using it. This particular doc's advice was to make an appointment to see your GP now and get him to clarify what it was issued for.

Ventolin (the blue one) is for treating an acute bronchospasm (where the airways begin to constrict), this casn be in response to anything from dust to stress to animal hair etc etc.... even hay fever allergens.

My point is, if he records it as "shortness of breath" or "reaction to dust" rather than asthma then your laughing. In any event, recruiting centre staff are not doctors and as long as you pass a medical your on the home strait.

Its not deceiptfull, its just knowing how to answer slightly differently. I wish you all the best, society needs more young lads like you who will press on regardless rather than sitting back, claiming thier ill and living off benefits they dont deserve.
 
OJ i am with you here when i was a kid barely anyone had asthma now if your kids don't have it your freakish. You shouldn't lie about having it you did the right thing, be it mild or not your DR still gave you an inhaler and it is still on your medical records. If i were you and the process doesn't go in your favour still never lie, it is a medical condition and you have done the honest thing, we cannot help the failings of our bodies it's just life, we don't ask to be the way that we are it just happens. My daughter developed a tic a few years ago, totally out of the blue but she had a few minor seizures, had a myriad of tests, it comes and goes, stress seems to make it worse, so we simply try and ensure that she doesn't get into a situation where that occurs. There are other factors but not going iinto that here..... the point is it is a mild condition, you seem to control it well, speak to your GP get a letter to say as much, get as much back up to support your claim of it being very mild indeed, and present it truthfully and honestly. Never lie, it isn't clever and in the future you could get caught out. If YOU think that you are healthy and fit enough and that your asthma isn't an issue then prepare for your medical and do it sensibly with Dr's assistance. If it doesn't go your way then it doesn't but at least you will have always been honest and above board and that makes you a better man than some. I wish you the very very best of luck
 
the last i saw of this subject was you could still join, but your last inhaler issue must be over 4 years ago, if you have a new issue each year then they will say no. the way they view it is if your still recieving inhalers (if you use them or not) you are still suffering from it.
I know its a bummer some people have gone to there Dr for a letter but like the previous person told you the Dr at the selection centre will have the last say.
 
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Cheers for all your advice guys, gna crack on the swimming, keep up the running and get that letter from the doctor.

The first thing I did when I got knocked back was head down the doctors and have a chat, in the notes it does actually say asthma symptoms bought on by dust allergies...Might be onto a winner here ;P

Again, cheers for your help and opinions!
 
ThatJonKid said:
Cheers for all your advice guys, gna crack on the swimming, keep up the running and get that letter from the doctor.

The first thing I did when I got knocked back was head down the doctors and have a chat, in the notes it does actually say asthma symptoms bought on by dust allergies...Might be onto a winner here ;P

Again, cheers for your help and opinions!
Click to expand...

Heard tell on the dust allergey front, that you must hoover your mattress and sheets minimum twice a week if not every day.
And putting your sheets in a plastic bag in the freezer, for an hour, will kill 100% of dust mites in the cotton. (I'm waiting for the sarci bastards to start)
I'm sure it's a pain in the whatsits but, you want to beat this,
exercise is part of the solution, But limit the affect of the allergy as well.
Good luck.
 
think my littlest one has mild ashtma, forced coughing, coughs a bit more after excercise, when its cold etc, basic symptoms but so far Dr's are reluctant to give her any medication as it really is so mild, and if possible i want to actually not go down the route of inhalers and the like, for one i would hate to see it affect her future prospects should she choose a career in the military or such, and secondly i think quite often Dr's simply dish out meds to get your whining arse out of the door. If her only symptoms are as mild as they are now i think i'd prefer to just wait and see.

The sheets in the freezer does work actually OJ, aunt used to do it for my cousins who had real bad asthma. Where you can take some good precautions on keeping dust down it isn't impossibe obviously. Why don't you take a look at some websites that address the problem there are loads out there with great advice from people who suffer from asthma and you never know you may just find something that helps
 
Well Fair does, flipping Hell I'm coming out with the old father time remedies on this one.
Place a damp towel flannel or similar on or near the raidiators to moisten the air in the room you are in, especially whilst sleeping.
Central heating and air conditioning has an uncanny correlation to the rise in asthma figures.
Put a cow pat on your head for baldness, and and quirt salt water up your nose to help cure sinus problems, send £5 to
Old mother hubbard.
Wookey Hole, Devon or is it somerset.
Where ever
KIL L.U2
 
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also i know for a fact that and this is a sly one, if you have asthma or kids with it you can claim for everything under the sun and i only know this as i know someone who has kids with bad asthma that gets a FREE new top of the range hoover once a year and washer and drier too..... you would NOT believe the shit that you can get if you have asthma or kids with it..... it's ridiculous. Try mattress protecters they help with keeping dust down in your bed, IKEA or even Primark do them dirt cheap these days and they do work.

I'm allergic to everything, meds wise so chemist told me that if you use a facial steamer and inhale the steam that actually helps with asthma and kills off infection in your system before it becomes bad enough for meds...... It's a cheaper option than meds AND i have used it myself for last 3 years and it does actually work on killing off the nasties... gives you nice clean pores too but being a bloke that won't bother you :0)
 
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