All medical chat and queries in here. Please don't start a new one for every single medical question.

[Bobby_Bert]

Thank you for the update. It’s good to see some are being tested. While I also understand that the system is there to protect me, I cannot move forward with my application or book a briefing until I have a blood test. So therefore I am in limbo and with the long wait for briefing dates I feel that time is passing for my application sadly.

If it's any consolation (I doubt), it took me about 11 months from submitting an application to entering Sandhurst. Granted this was a, erm, while a go.

How old are you/how close are you to the upper age limit? Focusing relentlessly on one's goal is rather admirable but so is remaining nimble of mind and adapting to circumstances. Should the wheel come off you always have the AR. You have until you are 48 years 9 months to apply to join as a reservist Officer.

 

[Southern Ron]

If it's any consolation (I doubt), it took me about 11 months from submitting an application to entering Sandhurst. Granted this was a, erm, while a go.

How old are you/how close are you to the upper age limit? Focusing relentlessly on one's goal is rather admirable but so is remaining nimble of mind and adapting to circumstances. Should the wheel come off you always have the AR. You have until you are 48 years 9 months to apply to join as a reservist Officer.

I’m not anywhere near the top end of the age limit - my concern is the amount of time that this sickle cell and pending blood test may add to my application. In my mind it takes 12-18 months to actually start at Sandhurst and that is fine - but with my current medical showing as deferred my concern is how long this is going to run for before I even get contacted re bloods let alone how far the appointment date will be..... I guess I’m just worried as the original poster had his medical beginning of Jan so he has been hanging over a month already with no word at all. Just a timeframe or appointment to count down to would be nice. Other posters have said this will run and run - this is my main concern as I have no one to contact for an update of the unknown. Really appreciate the replies though guys.

 

[amnesia]

Stick with it. Often the gears grind slowly.

Contact your Capita Careers CM/AFCO and ask directly for an update. Good luck.

Dont expect an answer.....nobody knows

 

[Drs634]

Evening all

I lived overseas for a number of years and moved back to the UK about 5 years ago. I didn't register with a GP (as I had no need to) until late last year when I submitted my application (Officer). My GP from overseas has refused to send my medical records to me, as apparently they simply don't do that there (local GP is being less than helpful and has basically told me its not their problem; they can't be bothered to request my records from overseas). I've just submitted my RGMD, which my GP signed, but wrote that as they have no medical records they cannot comment on my medical history.

I've received conflicting answers from my CSM and other people at the Capita call centre. My CSM reckons that it should go through and I'll just be subject to a more thorough medical in-person, whereas others have told me that I will likely not get through the medical stage of the application without my full medical records. I did provide my overseas GP's details, so perhaps they would be more responsive to an 'official' request for my records if needs be.

Has anyone had any similar experience to this, or know which of the two outcomes would be more likely?

 

[amnesia]

Evening all

I lived overseas for a number of years and moved back to the UK about 5 years ago. I didn't register with a GP (as I had no need to) until late last year when I submitted my application (Officer). My GP from overseas has refused to send my medical records to me, as apparently they simply don't do that there (local GP is being less than helpful and has basically told me its not their problem; they can't be bothered to request my records from overseas). I've just submitted my RGMD, which my GP signed, but wrote that as they have no medical records they cannot comment on my medical history.

I've received conflicting answers from my CSM and other people at the Capita call centre. My CSM reckons that it should go through and I'll just be subject to a more thorough medical in-person, whereas others have told me that I will likely not get through the medical stage of the application without my full medical records. I did provide my overseas GP's details, so perhaps they would be more responsive to an 'official' request for my records if needs be.

Has anyone had any similar experience to this, or know which of the two outcomes would be more likely?

If your RGMD isnt filled out completely you cant / wont be medically cleared.

If you cant provide the information that is missing then I cant see you progressing.

I'm not involved in Officer recruitment, but if you had applied as a Soldier, your application would be deferred pending additional medical information. I cant see it being any different for an Officer application.

Getting your medical records from abroad is your responsibility, not Capita's or the Army's.

 

[FormerPioneer]

Hi, first post so not sure if it should be here or in selection. So i'm rejoining and have my medical in a few weeks but after having nose bleeds when i had the flu a few weeks ago i was sent for an MRI scan on my head because at the same time i was having pain at the back of my head. Results have come back saying i have a cyst on the back of my brain and while the doctor says the radiographers report which iv'e got a copy of says its of no clinical significance my GP has asked for a neurologist appointment so they can make the final decision. My worry is now that at selection on the medical they are just going to send me home. I realise every doctor is different and although my doctor thinks its fine and wont cause any issues i understand the army's stance may be completely different. My doc reckons i was born with this cyst but i understand i cant really say well iv'e served with it before but then there was no need for an MRI before so would never know. I suppose my question is shall i let them know know and risk them saying do one without seeing me or attend selection with everything my doctor has provided me with and see how it goes.

Apologies for the long post

 

[Poliorketes]

Hi everyone, another mental health question for you.

I just had my application rejected on medical grounds (antidepressant use for 24 months) and was wondering if I should try to appeal. My reasons for appealing would be that I haven't been symptomatic or medicated in two years, and am currently a healthy weight.
I was previously bulimic and had 2 episodes of self harm with about a year to 1.5 years in between them. The eating disorder developed while I was in school (I was tired of being called fat and have a tendency to overdo things) and wavered between peaks of severity over a few years, culminating in a leave of absence from university four years ago.
However, I was never hospitalised or dangerously underweight. I took antidepressants and underwent 12 sessions of CBT, and my last prescription for any psychiatric medication was two years ago. I consider myself recovered, and my last episode of self harm was over three years ago (or thereabouts.) I've maintained a healthy weight since then and have no issues with recurring symptoms or troubling thoughts- in fact I have reason to think that the medication I was previously prescribed only worsened my mental state. Since being off the meds I feel better and more stable than I ever did before.
I read the JSP-950 Annexe L and the guidelines for Bulimia, and am wondering if I need to wait for another two years before re-applying, or if I should even bother? In the guidelines on the army website it didn't mention eating disorders and implied just a 2-year period of recovery. I'm in my early twenties so it would be possible to hold off, but obviously I would prefer to apply sooner rather than later given that I'm about to graduate university.

Thanks, and apologies for oversharing!

 

[Poliorketes]

Apply, expect to get rejected and appeal if you have relevant clinical evidence that will support. It’s unlikely enough time will of elapsed at this stage- manage your expectations.

Thanks for replying. I applied and received a rejection via the mailbox earlier today. I am a little concerned about clinical evidence- I didn't get a 'cured' diagnosis so much as I stopped taking the medication and felt better for it. I also just got a new GP who I barely know, so I worry too about the covering letter I need to get from her. I do plan on appealing, since there's nothing to lose in doing so.

 

[Bobby_Bert]

Thanks for replying. I applied and received a rejection via the mailbox earlier today. I am a little concerned about clinical evidence- I didn't get a 'cured' diagnosis so much as I stopped taking the medication and felt better for it. I also just got a new GP who I barely know, so I worry too about the covering letter I need to get from her. I do plan on appealing, since there's nothing to lose in doing so.

What are you appealing? You cannot appeal against a standard just because you feel it shouldn’t apply to you. The standards are for your protection as much as they are for the Army.

To appeal, you need supporting, qualified medical evidence to prove it is something other than diagnosed condition, an error or proof that it doesn’t effect you. Rather difficult in your case. Something much more specialist than a GP.

Don't argue the case yourself if you are advised that you can appeal. You need nothing more than a brief covering letter announcing you wish to appeal and enclose the supporting qualified medical evidence for review by the experts.

The demands of the job are such that mental health issues are thoroughly investigated. I’m sorry to read about your struggles but consider how you have reacted when under stress before. Due to the extreme physical and mental duress encountered during the rigours of military training and operational tasking someone who self harms when incredibly stressed is a risk. This is, needless to say as a duty of care to you and those you might work alongside.

Don’t get confused with how serving personnel are treated. The medical standards for entry differ significantly for serving personnel as we try to rehabilitate anyone suffering from Mental ill health, but it is a bar to re-entry and unfortunately usually results in discharge.

Best of luck and manage your expectations.

 

[mccarronm3]

Hi all

Quick question is having flat feet a reason for me to fail the army medical??

kind regards

Yes you can join

 

[CaptainCod]

Yes you can join

So I’ll be fine yeah ?

 

[Ozzy00]

Hi all

Quick question is having flat feet a reason for me to fail the army medical??

kind regards

Hi there,
DISCLAIMER I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR PART OF ARMY RECRUITMENT

So I had flat feel and was prescribed insoles for it and I was denied but after an appeal I was allowed to go to the Assessment Centre where it would be examined by the Doc there who then cleared me

So I cannot say for certain what the British Army will say but be prepared for them to Deny you at first but I highly recommend you appeal but remember you need SUPPORTING MEDICAL EVIDENCE not opinions what I did was I went to my GP who sent me to a Physiotherapist who assessed me who said there shouldnt be any problems caused by my feet and then wrote a letter to my GP who then wrote the letter saying what the physio said (The physio asked him to do this as a GP has more medical weight that than him) and I then sent that letter of to the army with a covering letter.
Good Luck.
Ozzy

 

[CaptainCod]

Hi there,
DISCLAIMER I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR PART OF ARMY RECRUITMENT

So I had flat feel and was prescribed insoles for it and I was denied but after an appeal I was allowed to go to the Assessment Centre where it would be examined by the Doc there who then cleared me

So I cannot say for certain what the British Army will say but be prepared for them to Deny you at first but I highly recommend you appeal but remember you need SUPPORTING MEDICAL EVIDENCE not opinions what I did was I went to my GP who sent me to a Physiotherapist who assessed me who said there shouldnt be any problems caused by my feet and then wrote a letter to my GP who then wrote the letter saying what the physio said (The physio asked him to do this as a GP has more medical weight that than him) and I then sent that letter of to the army with a covering letter.
Good Luck.
Ozzy

Cheers mate for the reply, how long ago was it since you joined?

 

[theoriginalphantom]

Hi all

Quick question is having flat feet a reason for me to fail the army medical??

kind regards

depends on the severity. We issued several recruits off the shelf corrective insoles as they were asymptomatic and didn't interfere with standard equipment. We, on occasion, had people sent away for bespoke orthotics.

If they cause you pain, and remember that overpronation will cause misalignment of the knees, the hips and then the spine (especially if it's uneven severity or just one foot) then this will probably be an issue

 

[CaptainCod]

depends on the severity. We issued several recruits off the shelf corrective insoles as they were asymptomatic and didn't interfere with standard equipment. We, on occasion, had people sent away for bespoke orthotics.

If they cause you pain, and remember that overpronation will cause misalignment of the knees, the hips and then the spine (especially if it's uneven severity or just one foot) then this will probably be an issue

Thanks a lot for the information
appreciate the reply

kind regards

 

[Tobyjug2810]

Hi, 3 years ago I have a clavicle separation (grade 2) played a game of rugby in Nov 2019 and had a little niggle, I'm trying to join the Army as a CMT, when i went to the docs, they said nothing was on my record for the separation and they referred me to MSK. my concern is that this will prevent me from joining as they have said something has come up in the medical triage they need to look at.

can anyone enlighten me on whether an AC separation would prevent me from joining i do not have any pain when training in the gym and it does not affect my everyday life?

 

[Ozzy00]

Cheers mate for the reply, how long ago was it since you joined?

I start end of this month

 

[CaptainCod]

I start end of this month

Ah bollocks hope I get a good doctor and don’t get defered.

good luck in the army

 

[Ozzy00]

You

Ah bollocks hope I get a good doctor and don’t get defered.

good luck in the army

You too mate
I wish you the best of luck

 

[Ramma94]

Hi, I am rejoining the army after 3 years of being out and I have had problems with sciatica in my left leg. Had to go for a MRI to confirm it was a bulging disc. Would this be something to stop me getting back in?

Thanks