asthma ?

[WIBecky74]

Ms Quantum (or anyone else with information),

What if you are already enlisted into the NG and are diagnosed with Asthma? Is it automatically a medical discharge or if you dont have any issues that surface because of it, can the soldier make the decision themself if they want the discharge or not? I'm asking for a friend, and he would prefer not to be discharged. He did not lie to enlist, there was no history, doctor visits, or diagnosis of asthma before enlistment. He has been told allergies (which were not medicated), pets, and smoking likely play a role in it and with the use of an inhaler for a time period and changing some of his lifestyle, it could get much better anyways and likely not need the inhaler after a period and no other meds were prescribed other than OTC for the allergies and something to stop smoking if interested.

[QuantumRN]

From what I have observed, and this is by no means written in stone, most of the asthmatic soldiers that develop it after joining go to the medical board. The soldiers fate lies within this board as they determine the severity, deployability, and/or ability to reclassify. Outcomes will be individually specific. Sorry there is no cut and dry answer on that. There is a good chance he will be med-boarded out of the service.

[WIBecky74]

I understand the reasoning, and figured as much. I know we all want to be at our best for our battle buddy. It isnt severe, but its an issue at the moment that was finally diagnosed today. I think I heard him say moderatly severe but can be controled to an extent. I know he put off the doctor for aprox a month and a half because of military service, but it came to head today. I'll let him know and he will make decisions from there. No one elses life is at stake at the moment and maybe he will see what lifestyle changes will do and take it from there. Thank you. :(

[QuantumRN]

Just remember that there is a big difference between "seasonal allergies" and "asthma" when id comes to the medical board. He needs to ensure that he was diagnosed correctly.

[WIBecky74]

Thanks. He has always had seasonal, pet, pollen, dust, and mold allergies. His discharge papers from hospital says diagonisis, adult asthma. Chest xray, EKG, blood, and urine work was done along with a nebulizer (sp?). Blood work did show that some number was up for allergies but that wasnt a big surprise for him. He has had them this time of year all of his life, but never such a hard time breathing. Short rapid breaths, feeling of no air going in or out, wheezing, chest tightness, fast heart rate, could only say one word answers. Since getting a cat about two years ago, then another kitty who didnt at first seem to have dander but as it aged has made a difference, has had worse symptoms. Smoking for a decade and a half, recently working where there is more smoke. Added stress. And allergy season, it got to be breathing attacks. The treatment doc did today cleared it up almost immediately, but only for about 30 minutes. He doesnt want it on record yet that he actually picked up an inhaler at drug store, but because of treatment given, he does know it will help. So he has alot of things he can rule out. He plans on tomororw moving in with parents for a few days to a week, into a brand new house they have, with no pets, and an **** Mom who doesnt allow a speck of dust, and not smoke. See if that clears anything up and go back to doctor to see whats going on then. All those are actually triggers for asthma though, but he is thinking if taking them out of his life makes breathing fine and not going on any meds, maybe he wont even mention it to NG or see if Doctor will say its definete if those triggers are not in life, he has no issues which might help if he does tell NG about it. I of course always say do not lie, but I cant help what he does there, and if it does clear things up, maybe he is fine anyways.

[QuantumRN]

Thanks. He has always had seasonal, pet, pollen, dust, and mold allergies. His discharge papers from hospital says diagonisis, adult asthma. Chest xray, EKG, blood, and urine work was done along with a nebulizer (sp?). Blood work did show that some number was up for allergies but that wasnt a big surprise for him. He has had them this time of year all of his life, but never such a hard time breathing. Short rapid breaths, feeling of no air going in or out, wheezing, chest tightness, fast heart rate, could only say one word answers. Since getting a cat about two years ago, then another kitty who didnt at first seem to have dander but as it aged has made a difference, has had worse symptoms. Smoking for a decade and a half, recently working where there is more smoke. Added stress. And allergy season, it got to be breathing attacks. The treatment doc did today cleared it up almost immediately, but only for about 30 minutes. He doesnt want it on record yet that he actually picked up an inhaler at drug store, but because of treatment given, he does know it will help. So he has alot of things he can rule out. He plans on tomororw moving in with parents for a few days to a week, into a brand new house they have, with no pets, and an **** Mom who doesnt allow a speck of dust, and not smoke. See if that clears anything up and go back to doctor to see whats going on then. All those are actually triggers for asthma though, but he is thinking if taking them out of his life makes breathing fine and not going on any meds, maybe he wont even mention it to NG or see if Doctor will say its definete if those triggers are not in life, he has no issues which might help if he does tell NG about it. I of course always say do not lie, but I cant help what he does there, and if it does clear things up, maybe he is fine anyways.


The Army runs a great program out of Walter Reed Army hospital for allergy treatments. If he, in fact, has allergies, and sees a specialist to determine what he is actually allergic to, Walter Reed will make antigen specific formula for injection, along with a schedule to help him increase his tolerance and become asymptomatic. I know this is available on the active duty side, as I have worked in an Army hospital doing specifically this. There may be a private sector equivalent available as well. Just a thought.

[plano2001]

There is a citizen side to this. Allergists are usually covered under your insurance plan as a "specialist", and your co-pay is paid acordingly. The allergist narrows down your list of potential allergies based on lifestyle questions, and then prepares shots to figure out what exactly you are allergic to. Once it's narrowed down, you go and get shots several times a week, every week, very slowly decreasing in how often you have to go. Eventually the shots are once a week, once a month, and then no more shots because your body's histamines have been training to stop responding to whatever it was you were allergic to.

Keep in mind though, that you will typically pay your co-pay each time you see your allergist for a shot. My co-pay for a specialist is $35. That would get very expensive several times a week. But the process has a great success rate in eventually removing allergies.