Help! Just refused - need advice!

[baac]

Hey everyone - just received crushing news. My application for the reserves just got turned down because of medical issues.

Let me explain - I'm over 30 and I take blood pressure medication due to a family history. I've never had any problems myself, but it was a precautionary decision on my doctor's part to make sure nothing happens. I signed off on it - I agreed that safe was better than sorry.

However, Recruiting says that because I take daily blood pressure medication, I'm not eligible for service.

I'm running 3km at least 3 times a week. I dropped almost 40 lbs in the last six months. No problems.

I've been killing myself to get accepted. This is crushing. Absolutely crushing.

I got 50/60 on my aptitude test. I have about 15 years in leadership positions. I feel like I was made for this.

Can anyone offer advice? Is there anything I can do? Who can I appeal to? I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

Thanks for any advice offered,

Brendan

 

[proudnurse]

Brendan

Maybe the others can help more with your question, I have not applied yet but I hope to do so in the future, so there is not much advice I can offer you. I just wanted to say, that it sounds like you worked hard and gave it your honest and best shot. With anything in life, doing your best is always what matters most even if it does not work out for you. Good Luck with everything in the future!

~Rebecca~

 

[geo]

baac

The only way you can get over the medical "blip" is by resolving the issue raised by the military doctors.... and the only thing that will sway them will be some sort of document from your family doctor (yeah - the one who prescribed the meds) that says that high blood pressure is not a problem for the following reasons..................

Once the two MDs talk to each other and compare notes, you might have a chance at getting that decision reversed.

Good luck

 

[Robbie]

I hear your pain. There are two "red flag" medications that recruiting medical officers look for: Blood pressure medications and insulin for diabetes. This is simply because you cannot live without them for long. Now, since your blood pressure medication is only precautionary you could discuss with your doctor about weaning you off your medication and perhaps writing you a doctors note explaining your case. However this presents two problems. One (and most importantly) your own health. You are on that medication for a valid health reason. I understand that joining the reserves is emotionally important to you. But I urge you to consider your most important assest - your health. The second problem is that now that you've started a recruiting file, if you were to apply again in say a year they would pull up that old file and see your health report from this application. I'm sorry for your predicament. This is all the advice I can give.

 

[fleeingjam]

Hey Baac, where theres a will theres a way. I was in a similar situation not too long ago, i was rejected for having asthma which i no longer had. When i was younger i had mild asthma, but since i have outgrown it. I had to go see specialists and have tests done to prove that i no longer had asthma. I too use to be prescribed inhalers just in case, and my GP filled this out on the letter i had to have signed by him to give to the army. This took me three years to clear up, and now i am finally in. Im not an medical expert by any stretch but i think you need to go either see a specialist for blood pressure or do things that will prove you do not suffer from the thing they said you could not join for. Don't give up, and I wish you luck.

- Syed

 

[geo]

Robbie....
I have been in the CF for a long time (35+)
Have been using blood pressure meds for some 8 yrs,

... see your family doctor. explain your problem with the blood pressure pills
Listen to what he has to say & get him to put to paper, his prognosis to the military docs

 

[baac]

Thanks everyone for the advice. It's much appreciated.

Being of Scottish descent, I tend to respond to problems with a certain amount of singlemindedness (and, when warranted, throat punches...), but Robbie, your warning is well taken.

I'm going to follow up with my reserve recruiter and my doctor and see what happens. I've got a 14-month-old daughter and she has to be my first concern. But if I can make this happen, it's bloody well going to happen.

Brendan