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

[ArmyRugbyBeer]

I have my briefing/interview next week but want to see what people think first.

So in 2018(I was 14) i had a sucide attempt,(also self harmed at this time) took 15 pills stopped midway and told a family member the went to hospital just to check blood.I then started seeing a counsellor at my school and cahms.I am now 16(17 in april) and have had no other episodes of self harm or depressive/suixidal thoughts.I was never diagnsoed with depression and believe i did not have it.It was all due to a build up of issues in my family.Will they take into account the cause of it and that i seeked help for myself.I have massivley improved and can handle excessive stress without ever looking to self harm or suicide.

I am just wondering what i can do to fight my case however understand if its not accepted.

Very likely they would want to see you 5 years free of any mental health issues. They are really funny about mental health these days.

 

[Luke763]

So when I was born I had bad asthma. It hasn't affected me in over 8 years, however as a precaution my mum would get the steroids for holidays, this is all on record and stopped Dec 2019.

First of all, I am assuming that both the AAC and RAF would not accept pilots with asthma history.
I've read somewhere that you can prove you don't have asthma anymore to increase chances, anybody know if this is true and if there is a chance of me becoming a pilot?
I was also told this information by a Royal Navy recruiter so I just want an idea of what to expect.

P.S. I know the RAF are not recruiting pilots atm, this if for future reference for that, mainly asking about AAC.

Thanks for any replys!

 

[theoriginalphantom]

So when I was born I had bad asthma. It hasn't affected me in over 8 years, however as a precaution my mum would get the steroids for holidays, this is all on record and stopped Dec 2019.

First of all, I am assuming that both the AAC and RAF would not accept pilots with asthma history.
I've read somewhere that you can prove you don't have asthma anymore to increase chances, anybody know if this is true and if there is a chance of me becoming a pilot?
I was also told this information by a Royal Navy recruiter so I just want an idea of what to expect.

P.S. I know the RAF are not recruiting pilots atm, this if for future reference for that, mainly asking about AAC.

Thanks for any replys!

firstly

Medical - British Army Jobs

<p>The Army can be both mentally and physically challenging and medication isn't always easy to get hold of. See if your medical conditions will stop you joining.</p>

apply.army.mod.uk

I don't have access to anything more recent than 2019 but that version states

Candidates with a recorded history of asthma, with the following features, would be normally graded P8.

a. Those who have experienced symptoms or taken, or been prescribed any form of treatment within the last 4 yrs.
b. Those who have required more than one course of oral steroids 3 .
c. Those who have required more than one nebulisation since the age of 5.
. Those who have had a single admission to Intensive care or high dependency, or multiple admissions to hospital.

There maybe more recent version
you will not be alone in this and you can blame your mother and not the Army. She is the one who has (allegedly) been taking drugs from the NHS for no valid reason.

 

[Luke763]

Forgive me for not knowing, but what is P8 grading?

Thanks for your answer, and I did know my mum was doing this, I mentioned it because I wasn't the one collecting them as I was under 18, so maybe that would go in my favour.
It was also not for no reason, I have been on many trips out of country with school so it was only in case of anything happening whilst away. 2 of these trips were to the alps for skiing so we figured it would be useful to have just in case.

I am speaking to a nurse next week to see if we can prove that I don't need the medication anymore and that it does not affect me anymore. I mean it hasn't for a very long time.

Once again, thanks!

 

[theoriginalphantom]

Forgive me for not knowing, but what is P8 grading?

Thanks for your answer, and I did know my mum was doing this, I mentioned it because I wasn't the one collecting them as I was under 18, so maybe that would go in my favour.
It was also not for no reason, I have been on many trips out of country with school so it was only in case of anything happening whilst away. 2 of these trips were to the alps for skiing so we figured it would be useful to have just in case.

I am speaking to a nurse next week to see if we can prove that I don't need the medication anymore and that it does not affect me anymore. I mean it hasn't for a very long time.

Once again, thanks!

P8 is unsuitable for any form of military service.

Not being aware is not going to help. The prescriptions were issued for you. It'll be on your medical records as such, and no you'll not be able to get your records changed.
You'll be able to prove that you don't need them now, but you'll not be able to prove you didn't need them previously.

 

[Luke763]

P8 is unsuitable for any form of military service.

Not being aware is not going to help. The prescriptions were issued for you. It'll be on your medical records as such, and no you'll not be able to get your records changed.
You'll be able to prove that you don't need them now, but you'll not be able to prove you didn't need them previously.

ok, thanks for your help!

 

[Sap1901]

Morning, has anyone been deferred at AC to a medical specialist of back pain? I’m a rejoiner and was deferred passed at the AC just got to wait for this specialist decision now. Anyone been through similar?

 

[Fang_Farrier]

Hi, got my AC in a couple of weeks, only thing I’m concerned about it that around a month ago I got an infected abscess thing so was just prescribed some antibiotics and it cleared and no issues since. Obviously my medical records were sent to a while before this, so would it be a deferral because it won’t be on the notes they have ing front of them and it’ll just be from what I tell them? I have mentioned to my recruiter and they said just tell them on the day and it’ll be fine but I’m concerned that they wouldn’t be able to pass me that day without medical notes on the actual thing and that would be a nightmare!
Thanks

Depends, some abscesses are more important than others.
A pilonidal one would have an impact.
You could ask at your GP just for a wee note of exactly what it was that they diagnosed.

 

[theoriginalphantom]

Hi, got my AC in a couple of weeks, only thing I’m concerned about it that around a month ago I got an infected abscess thing so was just prescribed some antibiotics and it cleared and no issues since. Obviously my medical records were sent to a while before this, so would it be a deferral because it won’t be on the notes they have ing front of them and it’ll just be from what I tell them? I have mentioned to my recruiter and they said just tell them on the day and it’ll be fine but I’m concerned that they wouldn’t be able to pass me that day without medical notes on the actual thing and that would be a nightmare!
Thanks

we would get recruits turn up at Winchester who'd had a variety of ailments since the last medical. The first point is to be up front about it. many things would be looked at by the Doc, checked against the JSP where necessary and carry on as normal.

 

[Fang_Farrier]

Would it? I believe that’s the type I had but nothing was diagnosed to me, just where it was but after my course of antibiotics finished I had no problems?
What impact would it have do you know as I did check against the JSP and didn’t see anything?

Screen shot of the relevant section

It's whether you have active disease or not.
A recent course of antibiotics might be indicative of that.

 

[Fang_Farrier]

Oh I see.
After my course of antibiotics though, it cleared and isn’t painful or anything anymore so I assumed it had drained itself as it was only small and didn’t need further treatment or drainage, it was well over a month ago from now? Is it a deferral or P8 full stop usually?

Slightly outside my usual area!

I would suggest that it would depend if there was a sinus present or not.
From my reading of above it is not a permanent P8 as can have a couple of surgeries on it.

 

[wxlsh1]

20, Male, currently in the joining process, going for infantry, so since i first applied i started getting out running and was all going well, i was a vaper at the time, and at the time i was usually getting about 9:30 on my 2Ks, and then this one run, i got about 3/4 the way through and had to stop my chest was tight i was wheezing bad, this made me quit vaping cold turkey but ever since then, after every run (which is now down to like 8:45) my chest gets tight and i get wheezy, but even with that reaction, i can still give my self 2 minutes break then do another 2K within 9:30, i havent had any other symptoms any other time of day, only after running. Never had asthma before, not in childhood not in my teens etc, recently had my Assessment Centre, which i passed with flying colours, couldnt have gone better. So im unsure as to whether it could actually be asthma or something else i dont know.

 

[theoriginalphantom]

20, Male, currently in the joining process, going for infantry, so since i first applied i started getting out running and was all going well, i was a vaper at the time, and at the time i was usually getting about 9:30 on my 2Ks, and then this one run, i got about 3/4 the way through and had to stop my chest was tight i was wheezing bad, this made me quit vaping cold turkey but ever since then, after every run (which is now down to like 8:45) my chest gets tight and i get wheezy, but even with that reaction, i can still give my self 2 minutes break then do another 2K within 9:30, i havent had any other symptoms any other time of day, only after running. Never had asthma before, not in childhood not in my teens etc, recently had my Assessment Centre, which i passed with flying colours, couldnt have gone better. So im unsure as to whether it could actually be asthma or something else i dont know.

See a GP.

 

[DocSavage]

Morning, has anyone been deferred at AC to a medical specialist of back pain? I’m a rejoiner and was deferred passed at the AC just got to wait for this specialist decision now. Anyone been through similar?

Back pain is one of the commoner reasons for deferral. Lots of previous threads with detail. Search function may help. Can't offer advice without more info

 

[ArmyRugbyBeer]

@theoriginalphantom I got this email over the weekend... Does it mean I am no longer deferred?

 

[theoriginalphantom]

@theoriginalphantom I got this email over the weekend... Does it mean I am no longer deferred?
View attachment 553543

It looks like it as it does state you have met the current medical standard.

 

[ArmyRugbyBeer]

It looks like it as it does state you have met the current medical standard.

Thanks, I will contact my recruiter tomorrow If I havent heard anything

 

[Sap1901]

Would a GP physical examination, fitness test and or xray be of any use or will the army just stick with staring at back pain from almost two years ago.

Would a GP physical examination, fitness test and or xray be of any use or will the army just stick with staring at back pain from almost two years ago.

Did you get any further with this? I’m appealing myself regarding back pain and am just waiting on the outcome of the appeal

 

[ribelo]

So I had my selection yesterday. Couldn’t do the fitness due to the temperature being below 0c and the doctors wants more info from my gp about “sciatica” on my records in 2016. Bearing in mind it was nothing major and have had nothing since, is this anything to worry about and how do I get hold of the forms to send to my gp?

You heard back from medical yet?

 

[SteakSlicer]

Hey there I'm looking to go for my AC soon as the army have received my medical from the GP.
The army flagged me for back pains I had in 2016 which the GP told me could be the way I sit and bad posture, I corrected my posture as well as exercised which soon saw the pain go away, however never went back to my GP so the medical admin team believe it still may not have been 'resolved'.
They said as there may an element of doubt they will proceed my application to the AC. However mentioned I could find myself medically failed due to this problem.
Should I be worried?