My apologies if this becomes long. I have a condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). It's a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which is charged with regulating heart rate, blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, breathing, pulse, basically every internal bodily function.
My symptoms includes, but not limited to, fainting, headaches, peptic ulcers, chronic fatigue, weakness, loss of concentration, loss of focus i.e. memory (brain fog), lightheadedness, excersise intolerance, persistant nausea, vomiting, dizzyness, insomnia, anxiety, inability to stand for short periods of time (blood will pool in my legs, blood pressure elevates, heart rate increases, then all drops thus fainting occurs - similar reation for exercise. There are many more symptoms that I get I can't remember them all.
My limitations include everything from, no exercise, no hot climates, no stressful enviornments, no prolonged standing or walking and by prolonged I believe my neurologist said 5 minutes, no body armor, no apft no alternate apft event, basically, i can breathe and blink at my own pace and distance (really).
I have been dealing with these symptoms for the past 8 + years. The mysteries of medical science could not effectively give a diagnosis until 2009. Upon the diagnosis my MEB was initiated. Included in my MEB was low back pain - bulging disc in L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 and some other stuff about my back which I can't remember offhand, also, headaches, anxiety, depression, something about my knees easily dislocating and I think there was something else but I can't recall what it was. MEB says all occured while in service but only my back found me to not meet retention standards. I appealed and the meb doc said since I have been in over 9 years and have been promoted and at some point in my career taken and passed APFT that I am not sufficiently symptomatic to affect my military duties. Say what!!
It went to PEB, I was found unfit for my back rated at 20%. I requested FPEB and currently waiting on a date for Ft Lewis. I have profiles dating back to 2002 thru current, ER records, a letter from my Neurologist stating why I cannot perform military duties due to my condition, letters from my NCOIC, personal letters from a former roommate, my landlord etc showing the decline in my health and performance both professionally and personally over the years. I even have a 30 minute DVD made about this little known condition that I have submitted in hopes someone will take the time to learn about my condition. Many people that have this can no longer work full time and most cannot work part time due to it's debilitating symptoms. Many have disabled parking permits due to the worsening of symptoms upon standing/walking.
What more can I do to help my case for the FPEB? I rarely make it to work most days and when I do make it its normally very late morning and I barely make it until 1500. I'm not in a WTU because my NCOIC thought they would not take care of me over there and he understanding and accomodating of my illness. I'm frustrated with the process and with the lack of trying to understand conditions they may not know about. Most doctors do not know/understand this condition which is why it took over 8 years to formally diagnose. There is no cure and medications are mostly to lower blood pressure and increase salt consumption.
Someone please advise, thank you. My apologies for not using spell-check
My symptoms includes, but not limited to, fainting, headaches, peptic ulcers, chronic fatigue, weakness, loss of concentration, loss of focus i.e. memory (brain fog), lightheadedness, excersise intolerance, persistant nausea, vomiting, dizzyness, insomnia, anxiety, inability to stand for short periods of time (blood will pool in my legs, blood pressure elevates, heart rate increases, then all drops thus fainting occurs - similar reation for exercise. There are many more symptoms that I get I can't remember them all.
My limitations include everything from, no exercise, no hot climates, no stressful enviornments, no prolonged standing or walking and by prolonged I believe my neurologist said 5 minutes, no body armor, no apft no alternate apft event, basically, i can breathe and blink at my own pace and distance (really).
I have been dealing with these symptoms for the past 8 + years. The mysteries of medical science could not effectively give a diagnosis until 2009. Upon the diagnosis my MEB was initiated. Included in my MEB was low back pain - bulging disc in L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 and some other stuff about my back which I can't remember offhand, also, headaches, anxiety, depression, something about my knees easily dislocating and I think there was something else but I can't recall what it was. MEB says all occured while in service but only my back found me to not meet retention standards. I appealed and the meb doc said since I have been in over 9 years and have been promoted and at some point in my career taken and passed APFT that I am not sufficiently symptomatic to affect my military duties. Say what!!
It went to PEB, I was found unfit for my back rated at 20%. I requested FPEB and currently waiting on a date for Ft Lewis. I have profiles dating back to 2002 thru current, ER records, a letter from my Neurologist stating why I cannot perform military duties due to my condition, letters from my NCOIC, personal letters from a former roommate, my landlord etc showing the decline in my health and performance both professionally and personally over the years. I even have a 30 minute DVD made about this little known condition that I have submitted in hopes someone will take the time to learn about my condition. Many people that have this can no longer work full time and most cannot work part time due to it's debilitating symptoms. Many have disabled parking permits due to the worsening of symptoms upon standing/walking.
What more can I do to help my case for the FPEB? I rarely make it to work most days and when I do make it its normally very late morning and I barely make it until 1500. I'm not in a WTU because my NCOIC thought they would not take care of me over there and he understanding and accomodating of my illness. I'm frustrated with the process and with the lack of trying to understand conditions they may not know about. Most doctors do not know/understand this condition which is why it took over 8 years to formally diagnose. There is no cure and medications are mostly to lower blood pressure and increase salt consumption.
Someone please advise, thank you. My apologies for not using spell-check
