Bipolar II / GAD diagnosis on Aircrew orders *Help*

AWS2Navy

AWS2Navy

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello everyone, I have searched this forum in for answers however I have came up empty handed so I decided to make an account in hopes there is someone out there who may be able to help me.

I am currently enlisted as an AWS (H-60) on DIFCREW orders and have been in for eight years.

With that being said, Yesterday I was diagnosed with Bipolar II and General anxiety disorder. I was originally told that I would be given LIMDU orders for six months, after yesterdays follow up I was told that I will no longer be given LIMDU and instead I am being referred to a medical board. All of these terms are new to me, as I have never been in this situation before so please, do not tear me apart if I am incorrect.

I was given "Lexapro" initially, after taking the Lexapro it turned me into a hyper mess, I felt so uncomfortably euphoric that I contacted the doctor who prescribed the medication and was told to discontinue and switch to a medication called "Lamictal." I have been taking the Lamictal for over a month and it seems to be helping with stabilizing my mood.

I am trying to find any bit of answers from anyone who may know what is going to happen, as I am left with absolutely no help from anyone. My primary flight surgeon transferred two days ago, and the psychiatrist has been very non-informative. All the psychiatrist told me is that I can not be "Active Duty" with a diagnosis of bipolar II.

My question to anyone who may know.
- Am I able to remain a flyer with a diagnosis of Bipolar II / GAD?
- Does skipping a LIMDU mean that they are trying to kick me out?
- Where can I find more information on any of this?

If anymore information is needed, I will glad to provide it. Thank you
 
I'm a pilot so I've got some background in this. I'm on Lexapro for anxiety issues related to pain and loss of flight status, etc. You'll more than likely be found "fit" but not for aircrew at least on the GAD side. I can't speak for the Bipolar II condition. If you go on to read the referenced section 3304 it basically says that 2 or more conditions not normally unfitting can combine to create an unfitting condition... Anyways,


For me, GAD was not an unfitting condition, apparently. The PEB cited SECNAVINST 1850.4E

3307 Standards And Criteria Not Normally To Be Used As The Sole Basis For


Determining Fitness Or Unfitness


c. Special Qualifications. The inability to perform specialized duties or loss of

special qualification, i. e., aviation, parachuting or diving qualifications, etc. (see paragraph

3304) will not be the sole basis for a finding of Unfitness.

 
Lucky for you that you found early on the fact that normal anti depressant SSRIs make bipolar exponentially worse!! I suffered for 3 years and had been on something like 12 different psych meds before depakote was tried which has remarkably helped my symptoms.

At this point you have two options, go for the fit determination or the unfit one. You'll get either one or the other, there is no in between. I cannot guess how it will go in your situation as I am Army not Navy.
 
Thank you both for your input. I checked my NAMI file, I was NPQ'd from flying unfortunately. I am not waiting to hear back from the PEB.
 
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