Originally Posted by theoriginalphantom

inhaler prescriptions only end in a deferral for asthma treatment, Mention this to your GP so that he/she will state in the consultation clearly what the prescription is for. People have been deferred in the past due to poorly written consultations by overworked/lazy GPS

Thanks very much guys,much appreciated. Will get on to the AFCO and docs tommorow RE the inhaler thanks again. :D

In a similar boat, only mine was a few years ago and I didn't know at the time it'd be an issue. I had asthma as a child but haven't suffered symptoms since I was about 7 or 8, then in my first year at Uni I caught the dreaded Freshers flu and was given an inhaler by my GP. A family member of mine checked my med records for me and there's zero mention of asthma on the prescription, simply an inhaler "prescribed for a cough". I'm very much hoping it won't be an issue later this year when I apply, especially given I never used it and the horrible ailment cleared up a day or two after -.-

Originally Posted by Rotta

In a similar boat, only mine was a few years ago and I didn't know at the time it'd be an issue. I had asthma as a child but haven't suffered symptoms since I was about 7 or 8, then in my first year at Uni I caught the dreaded Freshers flu and was given an inhaler by my GP. A family member of mine checked my med records for me and there's zero mention of asthma on the prescription, simply an inhaler "prescribed for a cough". I'm very much hoping it won't be an issue later this year when I apply, especially given I never used it and the horrible ailment cleared up a day or two after -.-

Well, saw my recruiter today and he was completedly understanding. I asked him about an inhaler and he said it was basically up to me b ut he couldn't guarantee it wouldn't affect my application. In his words its a very very grey area. Think this is something the army need to address in future as according to my doc prescribed inhalers for bronchitis, Pneumonia, Coughs and Colds are relatively commonplace. Thats a lot of potentially decent recruits marred by a week long prescription.

Alright people, not just another asthma/joining question.

I have declared my history of asthma on my medical recruitment forms and yes I've been cleared of asthma/medications/symptoms for four years. My million-dollar question though is:

What happens to serving individuals who develop (or redevelop) asthma after enlistment?

Does anyone out there with personal experience know whether developing asthma in the army is an immediate medical discharge? Or whether MO's will allow members to serve with (or prescribe) inhalers while symptoms persist?

My concern is that the unthinkable (and unlikely) should happen that I go through the entire recruitment process and sacrifice the job/life that I have now, only to be discharged from recruit training for having a slight wheeze!

Perhaps I'm being paranoid guys but there are so many stories about asthma Md's in initial training that I want to get the facts before committing to anything life-changing.

Surely the MO's couldn't be too tough considering they know of my asthma history right?

All advice appreciated

Originally Posted by mymate

Alright people, not just another asthma/joining question.

I have declared my history of asthma on my medical recruitment forms and yes I've been cleared of asthma/medications/symptoms for four years. My million-dollar question though is:

What happens to serving individuals who develop (or redevelop) asthma after enlistment?

Does anyone out there with personal experience know whether developing asthma in the army is an immediate medical discharge? Or whether MO's will allow members to serve with (or prescribe) inhalers while symptoms persist?

My concern is that the unthinkable (and unlikely) should happen that I go through the entire recruitment process and sacrifice the job/life that I have now, only to be discharged from recruit training for having a slight wheeze!

Perhaps I'm being paranoid guys but there are so many stories about asthma Md's in initial training that I want to get the facts before committing to anything life-changing.

Surely the MO's couldn't be too tough considering they know of my asthma history right?

All advice appreciated

It all depends on the level of Asthma care you are put on to mate. We've had people in and put them on Salbutomol (blue inhaler) and thats fine, even with a brown one as well it wont affect you at all.

If you get really bad you'll have to do a grading review and could be medically down graded, but I stress that would only be for high end Asthma care. We've got blokes on high end care that once they get chest infections really struggle and they're still in..... Its only if it got really bad to the point where you could do pretty much no PT that you'd be looking at a discharge.

Obviously if you were to develop symptoms in basic training they would start you on a low dose of preventative meds, I really would'nt worry too much about it mate, especially if you've been clear for so long.

Hope this helps.....

Hiya I'm hoping someone can help me, I left the army during phase 2 training about 5 years ago (regretted it every day) and I'm wanting to join back up but since leaving I have developed a hernia on my diaphram which has weakened it and it's too small to do anything with it and I now have to take 15mg lanzoprazole every day to stop me from getting heart burn all the time it doesn't effect me in any other way. Would this stop me from getting back in???

Good Morning, I just have a quick question for any one in the know. I suffered a retinal detachment playing sport, the eye has made a good recovery (visual field good, ocular mobility good ... etc.). My corrected visual acuity is within the requirements for the army and my trade.

My question is does anybody know what the current JSP 346 states about retinal detachments. I have read the copy on this forum but it was posted in 2007. I really justed wanted to ask if it current version of the document says the same or have the requirements changed (including the footnote, which is very important if I have a chance of getting in).

Thanks for any help.

Originally Posted by HaroldShand

Good Morning, I just have a quick question for any one in the know. I suffered a retinal detachment playing sport, the eye has made a good recovery (visual field good, ocular mobility good ... etc.). My corrected visual acuity is within the requirements for the army and my trade.

My question is does anybody know what the current JSP 346 states about retinal detachments. I have read the copy on this forum but it was posted in 2007. I really justed wanted to ask if it current version of the document says the same or have the requirements changed (including the footnote, which is very important if I have a chance of getting in).

Thanks for any help.

A retinal detachment is still on the list of medical conditions that make a potential recruit unsuitable for selection;

Medical conditions - British Army Website

I imagine you’ll be instructed to put that all in writing for the army’s doctors to review and make a decision about your fate.

Originally Posted by Medic88

It all depends on the level of Asthma care you are put on to mate. We've had people in and put them on Salbutomol (blue inhaler) and thats fine, even with a brown one as well it wont affect you at all.

If you get really bad you'll have to do a grading review and could be medically down graded, but I stress that would only be for high end Asthma care. We've got blokes on high end care that once they get chest infections really struggle and they're still in..... Its only if it got really bad to the point where you could do pretty much no PT that you'd be looking at a discharge.

Obviously if you were to develop symptoms in basic training they would start you on a low dose of preventative meds, I really would'nt worry too much about it mate, especially if you've been clear for so long.

Hope this helps.....

Thanks Medic88, that's as reasonable as I had hoped. I was just concerned about basic training as I've heard about all those people who had been discharged for experiencing symptoms, but perhaps that was due to fraudulent enlistment and failing to declare asthma history on the form??

So if worse comes to worse then the MO's there could prescribe an inhaler then? I'm confident I'll be fine anyway but I want to have all my bases covered (I probably haven't done anything as stressful/physical as basic since being off the meds).

I even heard stories of blokes taking inhalers in there with them, and I'm guessing that's a no-no...

Cheers and beers

Originally Posted by mymate

Thanks Medic88, that's as reasonable as I had hoped. I was just concerned about basic training as I've heard about all those people who had been discharged for experiencing symptoms, but perhaps that was due to fraudulent enlistment and failing to declare asthma history on the form??

So if worse comes to worse then the MO's there could prescribe an inhaler then? I'm confident I'll be fine anyway but I want to have all my bases covered (I probably haven't done anything as stressful/physical as basic since being off the meds).

I even heard stories of blokes taking inhalers in there with them, and I'm guessing that's a no-no...

Cheers and beers

If you're asthmatic and trying to be underhand just don't.