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Military Rant

Thu, 07/17/2008 - 23:02

Well I have been a member on this forum for a few months now. I have not been offically diagnosed with E yet, but now have had a second Major Seizure. I am a Active Duty E-4 (Cpl) in the Marine Corps with almost five years of service. Back in Aug 07 I had a what appeared to be a Seizure while driving with my wife in the car. After having a second incident at work I ended up going to the ER at the local Naval Hospital. After seeing the Military Docs I was sent to a Civilian Nero Office and was seen by a Nurse Practitioner. To keep a long story short, after all the test and dealing with the BS with Tricare she said she had no clue why it happened and said I was fine, and gave me one fill of Migraine Medicine. I did not feel I got the proper attention from her during our time togther. She really never seemed to listen to what I had to say, but I wanted to Reenlist, so I took the clean bill of health. Well since that date I have had a possible Grand Mal Seizure in my sleep and had another black out incident while driving. I have already seen the Navy Doc and have been refered to a Nero Office off base, which my appointment is a month away.

Right now in my mind I already know my Career is over, even before I see the new Nero. I did not want to go to medical and tell them what was happening, I was trying to hide it. But after my second time of blacking out while driving, I knew I could not keep it a secret. I am scared that if I do not get this, what ever it is thats wrong, figured out this time, I could be putting my Marines at risk. All I can vision is myself going down in Iraq when things are getting intense, when my Marines will need me the most. I still feel that maybe I should of never gone to medical and told them about my 'seizure'. I believe I could have kept it a secret from everyone. I do not know what to do anymore......

Comments

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by xgi on Sun, 2008-07-20 - 12:09

Sorry to hear your story man That really sucks but I have to tell you you just got to take this one on the chin.

Sezuires suck but like you say you can't go down when you're needed and until you know everything is 100% you just can't be at your best.

Life is not always fair but we do the best we can. Good luck to you and thank you and all the brave men and women who keep us safe. God bless......x

Sorry to hear your story man That really sucks but I have to tell you you just got to take this one on the chin.

Sezuires suck but like you say you can't go down when you're needed and until you know everything is 100% you just can't be at your best.

Life is not always fair but we do the best we can. Good luck to you and thank you and all the brave men and women who keep us safe. God bless......x

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by WMarine87 on Thu, 2008-09-04 - 14:02

Hey there ... I so know how you feel!  I served 7 years AD in the Marines!  I too was a Corporal of Marines.  I was medically retired. 

I know you are thinking "why me?" why is this all happening to me?  Well I am in the same boat.  I am 38 years old and all of a sudden - 2 months ago I was told I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.  I didn't want this to happen to me ... BUT it has .. and it is life altering .. so guess what I have to  alter my life ... you know .. improvise, adapt and overcome! 

All I have to say is remember as a Marine NCO you need to take care of your troops first and foremost.  And that means taking care of yourself too!  I know you feel like you have "shot yourself in the foot" by going to medical BUT have you thought about maybe getting a lat move to a different MOS? 

You know they are making provisions for Marines (and other service members) to go back into combat with artificial limbs ... so I don't see why they can't make provisions for you; once you have your seizures under control with the proper medications. 

Granted it is not what you want to hear .. BUT .. if you have it document before you get out of the Marines; when you go to the VA  - you will be Service Connected for a disability.  You will be covered for any and all medications.  Additionally if you get worse or have additional issues with it you will be completely covered because it is service connected. 

Also - have you suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury?  There is research stating there is a relationship being the two ... just some information to chew on there Devil Dog ...

Semper Fi ... and know you have a Sister in Arms here for you~

Micaila

Hey there ... I so know how you feel!  I served 7 years AD in the Marines!  I too was a Corporal of Marines.  I was medically retired. 

I know you are thinking "why me?" why is this all happening to me?  Well I am in the same boat.  I am 38 years old and all of a sudden - 2 months ago I was told I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.  I didn't want this to happen to me ... BUT it has .. and it is life altering .. so guess what I have to  alter my life ... you know .. improvise, adapt and overcome! 

All I have to say is remember as a Marine NCO you need to take care of your troops first and foremost.  And that means taking care of yourself too!  I know you feel like you have "shot yourself in the foot" by going to medical BUT have you thought about maybe getting a lat move to a different MOS? 

You know they are making provisions for Marines (and other service members) to go back into combat with artificial limbs ... so I don't see why they can't make provisions for you; once you have your seizures under control with the proper medications. 

Granted it is not what you want to hear .. BUT .. if you have it document before you get out of the Marines; when you go to the VA  - you will be Service Connected for a disability.  You will be covered for any and all medications.  Additionally if you get worse or have additional issues with it you will be completely covered because it is service connected. 

Also - have you suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury?  There is research stating there is a relationship being the two ... just some information to chew on there Devil Dog ...

Semper Fi ... and know you have a Sister in Arms here for you~

Micaila

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by Adz on Sun, 2008-10-12 - 09:51

Hi, just to say that you gave some good advice.  This place needs people as level headed as you.

TLBY&KY

Adz

Hi, just to say that you gave some good advice.  This place needs people as level headed as you.

TLBY&KY

Adz

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