Sorry this is a bit long, but I really need some input here.
11 year enlisted AD AF. 6 years after a deployment, increasing joint, shoulder, leg and ankle pain lead to 3 years of only PT testing on pushups/situps/waist. Constant pain, shoulder muscle spasms, hand tremors/shakes, headaches, bad insomnia, ect. I couldn't run due to the pain, and ground my teeth and completed pushups/situps so I wouldn't look like one of those "waist-only guys." Eventually get Fibro diagnosis from civilian rheumatologist says it's common in men after chemical exposure downrange, my PCM tells me to prepare for MEB. Finally going to the doctor for all the things I was ignoring for fear of getting MEB gets me diagnosed with sleep apnea requiring CPAP, a tarlov cyst in my spine, hearing loss and tinnitus, carpal tunnel, ADHD, Restless leg syndrome, sciatica, and lower back pain. Huge pile of meds including amphetamine, gabapentin, Cymbalta, Requip, Trazodone, Celebrex, and Flexiril, most of which have nasty interactions if you don't stay hydrated, and most of which do their best to dehydrate you. PT makes my heart feel like it's going to explode, so I just do it on my own.
A deployment is reclama'd due to code 37. I get informed that my case is going up for DAWG review, with the intent to refer up for MEB, but the review is never done. Some kind of major contract change happened at the hospital, and all but one doctor is gone, including my PCM and the old DAWG lead. New PCM is an elderly military nurse who "doesn't believe" in fibromyalgia. She refuses to reup profile, basically accuses me of having PTSD and being "scared to go deploy again," refers me to BHOP. (yikes.) I go to patient advocacy, get changed to a new PCM, put back on profile. Later a second deployment is reclama'd.
A month after that deployment is CX'd my CC calls me into his office and asks wtf is going on with my profile, since I just went from 365 day+ code 37 to no profile at all. Checking IMR shows it was removed by the unprofessional nurse, who hasn't been my PCM for about 3 months, and no one reached out to contact me, nor was there any change in care. I reach out and ask the PEBLO wtf is going on hoping they have more info, because that seems really unprofessional. The PEBLO says she's heard my name, but I'm not assigned to her since i'm not through DAWG review, and to ask my PCM. My PCM says "the DAWG review decided that fibromyalgia is not an unfitting condition, and you can run 100 yard in an emergency, so you can deploy as well. If you feel you're unfit, ask your CC for an administrative discharge." My CC is upset because medical is jerking his chain, and now I'll likely be deploying less then a month after he reclama'd a different deployment for me. Or worse, getting the deployment reclama'd in halfway through outprocessing and short-tapping the next guy. The peblo hasn't been any help at all, and I suppose that's fair since I was never assigned to her, but how the heck do I deal with a DAWG council refusing to take action? Since there's no medical record to pull from the clinic, nor response from AFPC, seems like they're simply declining to review the case entirely.
I haven't tested on the walk/run for three years, I've got a diagnosis from a rheumatologist, a 6 year care history showing frequent and unsuccessful attempts at pain management and worsening symptoms, and now suddenly these guys know better than 6 years of doctors and a specialist, and they're going to pencil-whip everything and tell me to kick rocks? I've got a PT test next month that I can't pass without an exception, likely a deployment in the pipe according to my CC, and I'm trying to figure out my next step. I know I cannot ruck with kit, or shoot worth a crap anymore, and I'm worried about getting jerked around in pre-deployment or other time-wasting crap. I love shooting and had marksman with both weapons (not that it's hard to get in the air force, just as a reference), but now I cannot fire single action without my hand shaking so bad I'm 2 feet wide of the target.
My chain is supportive but confused. Anyone dealt with the DAWG blocking progress like this before? Should I go to patient advocacy again? Does the IG have anything to do with medical, and is that an option? The PEBLO seems disinterested because I have not actually been referred up to her bally-wick yet, and I have no idea how to get there. Thanks in advance.
11 year enlisted AD AF. 6 years after a deployment, increasing joint, shoulder, leg and ankle pain lead to 3 years of only PT testing on pushups/situps/waist. Constant pain, shoulder muscle spasms, hand tremors/shakes, headaches, bad insomnia, ect. I couldn't run due to the pain, and ground my teeth and completed pushups/situps so I wouldn't look like one of those "waist-only guys." Eventually get Fibro diagnosis from civilian rheumatologist says it's common in men after chemical exposure downrange, my PCM tells me to prepare for MEB. Finally going to the doctor for all the things I was ignoring for fear of getting MEB gets me diagnosed with sleep apnea requiring CPAP, a tarlov cyst in my spine, hearing loss and tinnitus, carpal tunnel, ADHD, Restless leg syndrome, sciatica, and lower back pain. Huge pile of meds including amphetamine, gabapentin, Cymbalta, Requip, Trazodone, Celebrex, and Flexiril, most of which have nasty interactions if you don't stay hydrated, and most of which do their best to dehydrate you. PT makes my heart feel like it's going to explode, so I just do it on my own.
A deployment is reclama'd due to code 37. I get informed that my case is going up for DAWG review, with the intent to refer up for MEB, but the review is never done. Some kind of major contract change happened at the hospital, and all but one doctor is gone, including my PCM and the old DAWG lead. New PCM is an elderly military nurse who "doesn't believe" in fibromyalgia. She refuses to reup profile, basically accuses me of having PTSD and being "scared to go deploy again," refers me to BHOP. (yikes.) I go to patient advocacy, get changed to a new PCM, put back on profile. Later a second deployment is reclama'd.
A month after that deployment is CX'd my CC calls me into his office and asks wtf is going on with my profile, since I just went from 365 day+ code 37 to no profile at all. Checking IMR shows it was removed by the unprofessional nurse, who hasn't been my PCM for about 3 months, and no one reached out to contact me, nor was there any change in care. I reach out and ask the PEBLO wtf is going on hoping they have more info, because that seems really unprofessional. The PEBLO says she's heard my name, but I'm not assigned to her since i'm not through DAWG review, and to ask my PCM. My PCM says "the DAWG review decided that fibromyalgia is not an unfitting condition, and you can run 100 yard in an emergency, so you can deploy as well. If you feel you're unfit, ask your CC for an administrative discharge." My CC is upset because medical is jerking his chain, and now I'll likely be deploying less then a month after he reclama'd a different deployment for me. Or worse, getting the deployment reclama'd in halfway through outprocessing and short-tapping the next guy. The peblo hasn't been any help at all, and I suppose that's fair since I was never assigned to her, but how the heck do I deal with a DAWG council refusing to take action? Since there's no medical record to pull from the clinic, nor response from AFPC, seems like they're simply declining to review the case entirely.
I haven't tested on the walk/run for three years, I've got a diagnosis from a rheumatologist, a 6 year care history showing frequent and unsuccessful attempts at pain management and worsening symptoms, and now suddenly these guys know better than 6 years of doctors and a specialist, and they're going to pencil-whip everything and tell me to kick rocks? I've got a PT test next month that I can't pass without an exception, likely a deployment in the pipe according to my CC, and I'm trying to figure out my next step. I know I cannot ruck with kit, or shoot worth a crap anymore, and I'm worried about getting jerked around in pre-deployment or other time-wasting crap. I love shooting and had marksman with both weapons (not that it's hard to get in the air force, just as a reference), but now I cannot fire single action without my hand shaking so bad I'm 2 feet wide of the target.
My chain is supportive but confused. Anyone dealt with the DAWG blocking progress like this before? Should I go to patient advocacy again? Does the IG have anything to do with medical, and is that an option? The PEBLO seems disinterested because I have not actually been referred up to her bally-wick yet, and I have no idea how to get there. Thanks in advance.
