I've been fighting my asthma for several years (7-8) using Singulair and an occasional Albuterol inhaler use. I have bad attacks, gasping and coughing up a lot of junk for 24-48 hours after running a couple of miles. I'm a crew chief (flightline) and I also have moderate attacks after being around running jet engines or after being exposed to many of the chemicals we use (de-icing fluid, methyl ethyl ketone (a serious cleaner), diesel fumes from heaters and running trucks/equipment. Recently, they had to add another med (Breo, a long term bronchidialotor) to my list of meds, and I could no longer hide my condition during my yearly physical health assessments.
I also have sleep issues, caused by restless leg, which cause me to only get about 15 minutes of deep (stage 3) sleep a night (I recently had a sleep study done for the first time and never knew, beyond just being very tired and horrible memory during the day). The doc recently added Klonopin to my Ambien in the list of "pre-bed" crap I should take, and I feel like I'm just tired, stupid, and taking way too many medicines to just keep pushing through, so I can be left alone to turn a wrench and finish my career.
My guard doc is great, she is very understanding and asks which "way I want to go" - try to fight to stay in (although be mobility restricted, which to me is pretty pathetic for a crew chief) or get out medically. Until a few days ago, I wanted to fight to stay in, but everyone I work with up to my flight chief, section chief and commander are treating me like I'm made of glass now and won't let me do anything that might "expose me to any hazards" and I feel like they want me to give up, let my slot open, and replace me with a young healthy 18-year old.
I'm 41, I have 22 years (4 active duty Air Force and 18 air guard, with about ten years total worth of points/active service total). I've been a full-time Federal WG-12 for the guard, doing the same job (crew chief) since 2003.
Should I just make way? I'm pretty freaked, I've been in uniform since I was 19 and I wanted to spend my whole life doing this until retirement. I have a family to provide for, and I just feel like if I give this up, I'm just going to be another one of those guys who couldn't hack it and let his family and unit down.
[Sorry if this double posted, seemed.to time out for edits]