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Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Tue, 03/25/2008 - 17:45
Hello, I tried to get into the Army when I was 18 but they denied me because they couldn't guarentee that I would or could get my medication on a daily basis!  It makes sense!  Now my 17 year old son has plans of joining the Navy.  I've told him what I went through and what they told me but he's already talked to recruiters that have told him that he could get in.  Do different branches have different rules for enlistment?  I've already made my son promise me that he wouldn't enlist until after Bush is out, but Bush has created such a mess it's going to take years to clean up his mess and to get our troops out safely!  My son's grades aren't good and I've already been told that the Navy won't take him unless he has at least a C average, so that sets my mind at ease!  Does anybody have any first hand knowledge regarding getting into the armed forces with E. 

Comments

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by angelacarwile on Mon, 2010-10-11 - 08:43

Hi Alyson,

I would do as the ANG told you and get a 2nd opinion in the states, then proceed with your medical discharge. They're going to need a paper trail to forward your medical board. The longer it's drawn out, the more it will hurt you. I'm so sorry. I know how you must feel, but believe me - things will get better. The most important thing for you right now is to continue to follow up with a Neurologist, ask for additional testing in order to find out what type of Epilepsy you have and where it's originating in the brain. Once you and the Dr's have this information, it will help in the treatment process and you may be able to get your seizures under control.

I was a skeptic at first; I saw multiple Dr's, but to no avail the original diagnosis was correct. I knew at that time, I had to do what was best not only for the Navy, but myself.  The beginning stages of treatment can be scary, especially in cases such as ours where we're diagnosed as an adult. I was heartbroken - devistated! I allowed the loss of my career and independence bring me into a severe depression. Not to mention, the medication I was on had it's share of additonal side effects, including making my situational depression worse. It's ok to be sad, but don't let it consume you. Although I still miss the Navy, Epilepsy has given me a new appreciation of life and given me opportunites I could only dream of :)

Once your stabilized, you slowly gain some of what you've lost. Originally I thought E was a death sentence; I had no idea a lot of what I was initially experiencing was temporary. After a year, my seizures were controlled, I was able to drive again and live alone! Woo hoo! :) I then met my husband and we now have a precious baby boy...all of which I would have never had if I didn't have E.

If you need to vent, rant, scream, cry... you can email me directly from the website by clicking on my profile. I'm hear if you need an ear. I know what you're feeling - you're not alone! You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Angela

 

Hi Alyson,

I would do as the ANG told you and get a 2nd opinion in the states, then proceed with your medical discharge. They're going to need a paper trail to forward your medical board. The longer it's drawn out, the more it will hurt you. I'm so sorry. I know how you must feel, but believe me - things will get better. The most important thing for you right now is to continue to follow up with a Neurologist, ask for additional testing in order to find out what type of Epilepsy you have and where it's originating in the brain. Once you and the Dr's have this information, it will help in the treatment process and you may be able to get your seizures under control.

I was a skeptic at first; I saw multiple Dr's, but to no avail the original diagnosis was correct. I knew at that time, I had to do what was best not only for the Navy, but myself.  The beginning stages of treatment can be scary, especially in cases such as ours where we're diagnosed as an adult. I was heartbroken - devistated! I allowed the loss of my career and independence bring me into a severe depression. Not to mention, the medication I was on had it's share of additonal side effects, including making my situational depression worse. It's ok to be sad, but don't let it consume you. Although I still miss the Navy, Epilepsy has given me a new appreciation of life and given me opportunites I could only dream of :)

Once your stabilized, you slowly gain some of what you've lost. Originally I thought E was a death sentence; I had no idea a lot of what I was initially experiencing was temporary. After a year, my seizures were controlled, I was able to drive again and live alone! Woo hoo! :) I then met my husband and we now have a precious baby boy...all of which I would have never had if I didn't have E.

If you need to vent, rant, scream, cry... you can email me directly from the website by clicking on my profile. I'm hear if you need an ear. I know what you're feeling - you're not alone! You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Angela

 

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by rikk on Tue, 2009-01-20 - 18:53

i tried to join the navy.  told them i had Epilepsy, but had been seizure free for 5 years.  i took all of the test and qualified for anything they had.  then at the finish, the doc ask if i had any medical problems as a child.  i told him about the siezures, and they stamped me good-bye.

I then did the thing that i should not have done.  i went across the street to army and took all the same test, including the medical.  when i was asked about child illnesses.  nothing other than the normal stuff.  fevers, tonsils, that kinda of stuff.  i spent the next 6years in the army.  i had a seizure about half way through and spent the rest of the time worried that i would get someone killed.  i was lucky.  i agree with the bush thing, but that is another thing.  my time was in nam.  the rules havn't changed.  you have seizures, you don't go.  that was as of 6mts ago when i was ask a similar question.  the answer included past history or present illness with control.  sorry about the situation,  glad you ask the question.

i tried to join the navy.  told them i had Epilepsy, but had been seizure free for 5 years.  i took all of the test and qualified for anything they had.  then at the finish, the doc ask if i had any medical problems as a child.  i told him about the siezures, and they stamped me good-bye.

I then did the thing that i should not have done.  i went across the street to army and took all the same test, including the medical.  when i was asked about child illnesses.  nothing other than the normal stuff.  fevers, tonsils, that kinda of stuff.  i spent the next 6years in the army.  i had a seizure about half way through and spent the rest of the time worried that i would get someone killed.  i was lucky.  i agree with the bush thing, but that is another thing.  my time was in nam.  the rules havn't changed.  you have seizures, you don't go.  that was as of 6mts ago when i was ask a similar question.  the answer included past history or present illness with control.  sorry about the situation,  glad you ask the question.

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by whitetigrus on Thu, 2009-01-22 - 13:17

Thank you to everyone that has replied to this thread!  Currently my son has chnaged his mind and now wants to go into the Air Force and fly planes.  Now, I'm trying my best to be a person of reason but when you're talking to a brick wall and nothing penatrates my hands are basically tied!  I know that the Air Force is the toughest to get into.  As far as my son flying planes, I've asked him what he's going to do when he seizes while flying or in battle and the response that I get is "that won't happen to me!"  I have a little or should I say a big numbskull as a son.  He just doesn't understand the ramifications of his actions.  I've copied this thread and e-mailed it to him and he says that everyones against him.  Now being his mother I know that that's not true and I told him point blank that I'm just trying to save him from embarresment in front of friends "because none of his friends knows that he has E., he's to ashamed to admit it and I think that he hasn't admitted it to himself yet that he has E. 

I think that he changed his mind from the Navy because he talked to a recruiter and the recruiter told him the same thing that dear old mom did.  What's a person to do but go into another branch right.....  just yesterday He got a recruitment package in the mail from the Army; 'sounds like he's trying every branch that he can.

Now please don't get me wrong, I think that the military would do my little numbskull a world of good.  If you can't tell already from what I've written just in this, he's a persistant little buggar that doesn't want to listen to moms advice.  So from now on I'm going to keep my mouth shut and let him find out on his own what branch he can "cannot " get into!  He's off to a good start! 

Common sense is not so common!  I would definitely have to say that this comment suits my son to a T.

Proud mom of a child with E. trying to help him help himself!

Again I would like to thank everyone that has given advice and told life experiences.

Thank you to everyone that has replied to this thread!  Currently my son has chnaged his mind and now wants to go into the Air Force and fly planes.  Now, I'm trying my best to be a person of reason but when you're talking to a brick wall and nothing penatrates my hands are basically tied!  I know that the Air Force is the toughest to get into.  As far as my son flying planes, I've asked him what he's going to do when he seizes while flying or in battle and the response that I get is "that won't happen to me!"  I have a little or should I say a big numbskull as a son.  He just doesn't understand the ramifications of his actions.  I've copied this thread and e-mailed it to him and he says that everyones against him.  Now being his mother I know that that's not true and I told him point blank that I'm just trying to save him from embarresment in front of friends "because none of his friends knows that he has E., he's to ashamed to admit it and I think that he hasn't admitted it to himself yet that he has E. 

I think that he changed his mind from the Navy because he talked to a recruiter and the recruiter told him the same thing that dear old mom did.  What's a person to do but go into another branch right.....  just yesterday He got a recruitment package in the mail from the Army; 'sounds like he's trying every branch that he can.

Now please don't get me wrong, I think that the military would do my little numbskull a world of good.  If you can't tell already from what I've written just in this, he's a persistant little buggar that doesn't want to listen to moms advice.  So from now on I'm going to keep my mouth shut and let him find out on his own what branch he can "cannot " get into!  He's off to a good start! 

Common sense is not so common!  I would definitely have to say that this comment suits my son to a T.

Proud mom of a child with E. trying to help him help himself!

Again I would like to thank everyone that has given advice and told life experiences.

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