Meniere's, anxiety & depression, and a bunch of other stuff

D

dposey717

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
Hello all,
I posted awhile ago about crippling dizziness, running into walls, and not able to concentrate at work. I took the advice of several members and went to the ER since it seemed no one was taking it seriously. It kick started a whole rash of things going on. My current ENT diagnosed me with Meniere's disease last month and confirmed his diagnosis this month. He keeps telling me its a "working diagnosis", but its very clearly falling into that category. I see my PCM on Monday and to be honest I am kind of scared. Out of all the doctors that I see, the PCM is the one that always puts me on edge. I feel like if I tell them how bad things really are, they are going to try to come at me with a "malingering" charge. There of course is a whole backstory there dealing with an ankle surgery, a retrain, and a PULHES decider who had a personal grudge against me. Anyway, it has become near impossible to focus at work. I have lived with and had a profile for anxiety and depression for years, and my new base therapist (ive seen, roughly 12 in 15 years) states that my clumsiness and running into walls and forgetfulness is due to anxiety, however I know my anxiety, and that is not what is causing it. How do I convey to my PCM Monday that I am not ok, that I have tons of stuff medically wrong with me that is all documented, and that I think its time to actually start looking at a medical discharge. I know that at 16.5 years I do not want to get a medical discharge, but honestly it is unavoidable, I am no longer an asset to the mission. I am going to post a quick synopsis of all the things I have been seen for and things that I feel warrant attention below, and any advice is helpful. Do we have a say in how our NARSUM is written?
Anxiety (all providers say GAD but only diagnose me with Unspecified anxiety disorder) and Depression since 2005
Ankle surgery 2014, ankle still randomly falls asleep
Deviated septum due to being hit in the face at work in 2016.
Gaul Bladder removed 2013
Severe stomach problems spend about 1 to 2 hours a work day in the bathroom (since at least 2010 since I got back from Kuwait)
Menieres disease, dizziness, falling into walls, falling down, slight hearing loss in the right ear
Heartburn severe enough to keep me awake several nights a week, even on medication
Asthma, use two inhalers ever since 2010 in Kuwait.

I am sure that there is more but those are the ones that are in my medical records the most. I feel like im falling apart! I have fought for years to stay in, is it just time to realize that my identity is not tied to my job?
 
Not all those will be considered unfitting whatever condition makes it impossible to continue military service it's not an add up of many different types of things. You claim you are no longer an asset to the mission does your evals and performance back this up? Does your command agree? I would not be afraid to continue seeing the PCM for referrals and profile limitations at some point if he mentions this isn't sustainable make sure you clearly state treatment is more important than continuing your military career.
 
I appreciate it! That is kind of my goal, it is going to be tough because I am a naturally "outgoing and friendly" guy. Everyone sees me smiling and talking and doesnt understand the pain that is there physically and emotionally. I keep winning awards and honestly I feel as though I havent done any work in over a year, because I cannot even focus on what I'm doing. It is literally a huge conundrum. I have started being bluntly honest with the doctors and my leadership, but it feels like they dont understand. It is a strange situation.
 
What service are you? Beg your pardon if you have mentioned it before. I ask because I am USAF and I know our MSD is posted on this site, it provides the basis for determining retainability. If your conditions are listed on the MSD in USAF those will be used for determining fitness as a base, then deployability and work safety will also come in to play.

For example I have had chronic knee problems and have had three corrective surgeries on base since incurring my initial injury at work, the chronic knee problems have regressed into making me unable to meet minimum lifting standards of my primary duties, while not a condition listed on the MSD it did effect deployability and my ability to accomplish primary responsibilities of an aircraft maintainer, the PEB deemed my knee problems as unfit for continued service since I do not have retainability to cross train or accomplish primary job responsibilities.

Excerpt from my IPEB findings: The IPEB acknowledges the commander’s recommendation for retention; however, the IPEB finds the SM’s medical conditions collectively are subject to sudden and unpredictable exacerbations, recurrences, or progression; require frequent follow-up with a medical specialist; and limit the SM from performing the duties of his AFSC, deploying, and meeting physical fitness requirements. Accordingly, the IPEB finds the SM’s conditions are incompatible with the rigors of military service and unfitting.
 
heathro1281 said:
What service are you? Beg your pardon if you have mentioned it before. I ask because I am USAF and I know our MSD is posted on this site, it provides the basis for determining retainability. If your conditions are listed on the MSD in USAF those will be used for determining fitness as a base, then deployability and work safety will also come in to play.

For example I have had chronic knee problems and have had three corrective surgeries on base since incurring my initial injury at work, the chronic knee problems have regressed into making me unable to meet minimum lifting standards of my primary duties, while not a condition listed on the MSD it did effect deployability and my ability to accomplish primary responsibilities of an aircraft maintainer, the PEB deemed my knee problems as unfit for continued service since I do not have retainability to cross train or accomplish primary job responsibilities.

Excerpt from my IPEB findings: The IPEB acknowledges the commander’s recommendation for retention; however, the IPEB finds the SM’s medical conditions collectively are subject to sudden and unpredictable exacerbations, recurrences, or progression; require frequent follow-up with a medical specialist; and limit the SM from performing the duties of his AFSC, deploying, and meeting physical fitness requirements. Accordingly, the IPEB finds the SM’s conditions are incompatible with the rigors of military service and unfitting.
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hello! i am USAF as well. I have a feeling I am going to be in the same boat as you. I think they are going to determine, even against commander recommendation, that my issues outweigh by ability to serve.
 
Hello all! Update/question. Update is that the doctor keeps wanting to wait for more and more information from the specialist. the specialist is saying its either vestibular migraines (which is absolutely is not) or Meniere's disease. I am also running into issues with the specialist saying that meniere's cannot be caused by blunt force trauma. Whenever i look up what Meniere's is, one of the causes is trauma to the head. All of this started after a concussion while i was in the field working at a nuclear facility. how do i ensure that someone recognizes that my vertigo, ear pressure, and falling into walls started after getting hit in the head at work? I keep bringing it up to every doctor i see.
 
dposey717 said:
Hello all! Update/question. Update is that the doctor keeps wanting to wait for more and more information from the specialist. the specialist is saying its either vestibular migraines (which is absolutely is not) or Meniere's disease. I am also running into issues with the specialist saying that meniere's cannot be caused by blunt force trauma. Whenever i look up what Meniere's is, one of the causes is trauma to the head. All of this started after a concussion while i was in the field working at a nuclear facility. how do i ensure that someone recognizes that my vertigo, ear pressure, and falling into walls started after getting hit in the head at work? I keep bringing it up to every doctor i see.
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I would recommend that you make separate appointments for each issue. In other words try to not to loop the symptoms all together. Once I started doing this with my PCM I have got much better results, your records will be cleaner and easier to follow for future issues as well.
 
You tell them the symptoms and let them come up with the diagnosis.
 
Update,
My doctor wrote a fairly convincing NARSUM, it is going to the PEB. PEBLO says that they will determine if the commander impact statement is required. Talked to my commander he is going to write an impact statement and use witness accounts from people who have seen me stagger into walls and doorframes. I think this is going to go well. The only worry i have is that my ENT doctor has started writing "vestibular migraines" and according to him you cannot have both Menieres and Vestibular migraines. My symptoms scream Meniers, but what do i know, its not like this is happening to me or anything (sarcasm).
 
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