On another note, the military medical system, from my personal experience is not that great at dealing with more complex health problems; such as the one which has afflicted me over the past number of years. The sick parade/cattle herding system ensures that people with more serious medical problems are sometimes brushed over. This is not entirely the systems fault as the system, especially at the major bases, is heavily overburdened. I can't even begin to count over the past two years how many tests I have had done (urinalysis, PSA, MRI) and not once has the base hospital properly followed up with me. Any follow up has been purely on my own accord and if I was not proactive with my own health I would quickly be passed over.
Just getting a follow up with the same doctor is a challenge at times, I am now seeing the same doctor regularly but this was only after I sent an email on the DWAN to this Doctor that I did not want to see another Doctor as this would require me to begin at zero again the same old crap, telling my story over and over again. The worst part was that I was being given the run-around by the receptionists and the other staff, it was only once I emailed the Doctor directly and circumvented the usual CoC that I got the proper care. If it was this daunting for me I can only imagine how much trouble it is for the junior soldiers at my unit who don't have the advantage of rank on their side.
If this sounded like a ***** session, sorry that was not my intent, I want to tell people that your health is your OWN RESPONSIBILITY, I learned that the hard way by being too passive at first and simply falling in with the rest of the herd and now nearly two years later I am finally going to see a specialist. Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself in fighting shape, even if that means pissing someone off because you didn't follow protocol because at the end of the day it is your life and you only get one.