You know as soon as I hit submit, I thought...maybe I should've said what I was being boarded for.
I have Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). I was about to deploy last year and I was trying to get a smallpox vaccine waiver. I went in to see my PCM. A "doctor" who a year earlier basically said that I didn't have either of the two conditions.
(Here's a quick rundown)***As soon as I PCS'd to the base I had made an appointment with my PCM and I told him that my knee was in a little bit of pain. Having two previous knee surgeries from a torn miniscus, I knew what the pain was like. He pretty much blew me off on my knee pain and the psoriasis that I asked about was just dry skin. About 8-10 weeks later after countless trips to sick-call and basically saying that I'm not leaving until an X-ray or MRI was ordered on my knee, I was having surgery on my knee.
The offbase surgeon referred me to a RA specialist and within about 90 seconds of her seeing me, she was convinced that I had Psoriasis and PsA. I had no clue that they were related or even that PsA existed.
Now fast forward a year later. Like I said, I was about to deploy and needed a waiver for the vaccine. I had gone through months of training and certifications to leave and deploy and I met with my PCM. He said that he thought he remembered me but to refresh his mind. The computers in his office were down so he couldn't bring up my charts. He asked if he helped me at the time and I guess my nonverbals gave it away.
He asked what medications that I was on and currently taking. I listed Sulfasalizine, Indomethicine(sp). I had used Methotrxate and Methoprednisone earlier. He stopped me in my tracks and said that since I took Methotrexate, that an MEB had to be done on me. I was two days away from leaving for training and this happened. I was angry for a number of reasons. Somebody was going to get screwed with a last minute deployment, the stress that my family had been under, knowing that I was going back to the sandpit again, but mainly that all my medications went through his office without any discalimers or notices saying "Hey! you can't take this certain medicine or else..."
That was May of 08. I was stuck in a limbo status until Oct of 08, when my Informal Board met and offered Discharge w/severance and 20% disability. I was upset and crushed to say the least.
I met the board in Jan of 09 and it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Things that I know helped my cause were, current and former Commander's/mentors/supervisor endorsements and me winning a few Sqd, Grp, Wing and Base level awards. Also, getting my offbase provider to state in writing, that my condition has stabilized and she belived that I could do my job.
Now, I take IV's of Remicade. This medicine has improved my condition by lightyears. This was just a quick snapshot of what went on and I know as I hit submit soon, I'll remember some more things.
Please feel free to ping me and I truly hope that I can help my brothers and sisters in uniform.
-d-
