Asthma- my only problem

[Fetter]

Hello,
My name is Brandon (19yrs old) , I've been looking around this forum for a good couple of months now and I've just about given up hope for myself, but I'm thinking about giving it one last shot.

I'm another of those guys who saw a fighter jet when they were 8 years old and has been obsessed with them ever since. I grew up preparing myself for a career as a military pilot. I got flight time in gliders, fixed wing, and helicopters. I was in the Civil Air Patrol for a while and then got into Army JROTC. I maxed out everything in JROTC, got C/Col my junior year in high school, also known as the Brigade Commander. I played varsity tennis when I wasn't doing something with the ROTC. I learned to be a leader, I got in shape with a lot of PT, learned military drill, made good grades; I was as well rounded as it gets. Sounds like a path to success doesn't it?

Asthma, I had as a child and I haven't had an asthma attack since I was in elementary school. I've always had an inhaler around, but don't use it. I figured that if I stay in shape, most people outgrow it by the time they are my age and I could be the pilot I've always wanted to be. I mean heck I can run 8 miles in North Carolina humidity in the middle of the summer and no breathing problems. I can run a mile in 6:20 and swim well. I'm a sophomore in college now, looking at the OCS option and I know my asthma has been documented, so I went to a pulmonary doc to get the methacholine challenge testing to see if I'd be able to get a waiver for my asthma history. My lung capacity dropped 27% at the fourth out of five doses. I breathe strong and full every day of the year and this friggin substance gives me a reaction that apparently stops my career right here. I could pass the NOMI waiver for everything except the methacholine test showing a reaction. I have been asymptomatic for >5yrs, my FEV1 was fine after regular PFTs.

I've heard that there are ways to improve your lung capacity to better your stance on this issue. Some kind of exercises? I haven't been as active in the past year as I was when I was in JROTC running around all the time, I could be in better shape. I just don't know what to do now. I've nearly accepted the fact that my life has become FUBAR and I'll never be what I wished.

I'd fight this as long as I have to if there is any chance that I can get into OCS like everyone else.

Any information helps!

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[thull]

Brandon, I'm not an expert on the matter, but I think lots of people come up against seemingly small obstacles that suddenly seem to jack them out of the running. But you're still young, you got time, and you got a lot of good things going for you. find a recruiter you like, someone who'd be willing to do what it takes to get you across the line, and I bet you'd figure a way around this. definitely don't let this slow the rest of your momentum down. keep up the effort, and treat this as a side issue that will eventually get resolved...good luck

Troy

 

[GMan1976]

Brandon,

Go talk to an Officer recruiter about waivers... also, does your school have an NROTC unit? Might help to pop in and talk to someone there about what they think you might try. (just out of curiosity, if you were so gung ho in h.s. rotc, how come you didn't do college rotc?).

 

[Fetter]

I didn't choose ROTC in college because it commits one to military service. I am not sure if I will be able to get that aeromedical waiver to be a pilot, so I don't want to get stuck doing something non-related in the Navy/Marines. Does that make sense? I would have no problem, but it's like I'd rather be a civilian pilot than doing something on the ground in the military and not having a shot at the whole reason I'd be there in the first place. Oh, and the college I'm in now doesn't have ROTC at all anyway.

Thanks for the encouragement Troy! You're the first person I've heard take the word ASTHMA so lightly, makes me feel good about myself, haha. Maybe there is hope, I hope... I hope...

 

[metrogirl]

Brandon,

I have asthma myself and am on my way to being a Nurse Practicioner. I have some ideas that may help you.

You might want to try to going to an Asthma & Allery specialist. That is who I always have to go to for my asthma. If you have been free and clear since you were a child, you may have grown out of it. They will be able to help you out thereand may be able help you get a waiver.

There, they will test you for asthma with a lung capacity test (breathe in and out of this thing) and a chest xray. You have to have both of these things to diagnosis asthma. There they will test you for every allergy known to man to see what triggers your asthma and how bad your asthma is.

There is a couple of exercises that you can do to increase your lung capacity. There is a device that you can get from your doctor that inceases lung capacity. It is called a pulmonary function test. If you have ever seen anyone that is in the hospital, it is that thing that they breathe in and out of to make that little blue ball go up. They are only available through doctors orders. The other thing is lots of cardio. Swimming especially helps with lung capacity.

However it is not the lung capacity that asthma effects, its the bronchi. It's where the bronchi get smaller and get clogged with phlem. If you do have asthma, the chest xray will show it.

If you have any more question, PM me. I hope that this helps.

 

[bunk22]

I'm not a doc but from the few guys I've known who had previous asthma, it's going to be tough for you. None of them got aviation because of their asthma. I don't know if they measured their breathing capacity but my good bud hadn't had an issue since he was 9 or 10 but it cost him. Good luck to you.

 

[TurnandBurn55]

I could pass the NOMI waiver for everything except the methacholine test showing a reaction. I have been asymptomatic for >5yrs, my FEV1 was fine after regular PFTs.

You're pretty much f#cked. Methacholine challenge doesn't test lung capacity so much as an inherent asthmatic reaction in your bronchioles. Yes, I've heard there are ways to beat it, and yes, I got pretty darned far in the methacholine challenge (far enough that civilian doctors said it was irrelevant), and yes, I was running a PRT under 9 minutes. I still couldn't get a Class I waiver. Had to take the Class II and go NFO.

It'll depend on your own history to some extent and the needs of the service to another... just understand that while you may be accepted into the Navy, your options are likely to be limited.

 

[Harrier Dude]

My right lung doesn't even work and I'm flying. Of course, that happened after I got winged. New ball game.

 

[Fetter]

PMed, you Metrogirl

On a side note, how is it being an NFO? Ever wish you had gone civilian and been a PIC or is it worth being in the back seat just to be strapped into that aircraft?

Thanks for all the insight guys, this is the fastest moving forum I've ever seen, holy crap!

Keep it coming!

 

[raptor10]

On a side note, how is it being an NFO? Ever wish you had gone civilian and been a PIC or is it worth being in the back seat just to be strapped into that aircraft?

...Keep it coming!

 

[Fetter]

Popcorn...I see...

 

[Crowbar]

is it worth being in the back seat just to be strapped into that aircraft?

There's just a little more to it than that. Go to the NFO forum and read the first few threads (they will say "Sticky" in front of them) that summarize the training NFOs go through.

Ever wish you had gone civilian and been a PIC

There's nothing to stop an NFO or a NA from doing that anyway. Plenty do it.

 

[MasterBates]

My right lung doesn't even work and I'm flying. Of course, that happened after I got winged. New ball game.

Harrier Dude,

Amazing what they let us get away with AFTER we wing. I broke my neck and I am still flying.

Fetter,

Talk to an Officer Recruiter like many have said, and try for the waiver.

You say you have flight time. Do you hold any certificates, even a Student Cert, if you have soloed, may help you case. Just proving that you have the ability to fly an airplane/helicopter with out killing yourself helps.

I broke my right femur in a helocopter crash when I was 19, and required hardware to fix it. Had a badly broken ankle that required hardware as well when I was in HS. Normally, this would have been a tad of a show-stopper, but having my commercial ticket seemed to make the NRD staff willing to help more than anything else I had.

Compared to others, I had a really easy time getting BDCP, and the waivers I needed. Having a license helped make the NRD take me "seriously" more than having flight time.

 

[Fetter]

Unfortunately I don't have any more than 8 total flight hours. JROTC and academics took up all my high school nights and weekends. I don't have the time or money right now to get certified. Which is another problem, I can't look impressive during my college years because I have to work 42+hrs a week to eat, go to school, and live in my apartment. No time for sports/clubs.

 

["Quality"Spread]

Asthma----Long Road----Leads to Flight School

B-

The only thing I can say is "Be persistent" I got involved in the USMC PLC program when I was a freshman in college. I had a history of child-hood asthma as well...no attacks or anything in the recent past...and I can perform just as well phisically as the next guy. Right now I past my NAMI (the feared final flight physical that all student naval aviators take) I have a class date, and I am starting my training Sept. 1. So stick with it...ask for a waiver...dont let the OSO turn you away...stay in shape...and kick ass on the PFT. Good luck Semper FI