Hello all, like most of us on this forums, we have been in that medical limbo stage for what it seems like an eternity. However mine seems to be a permanent purgatory. To give a little background on myself, I was sexually assaulted on my first deployment back in 2012 and have struggled with the many injuries I suffered from it. Physically and emotionally. I have been in and out of mental health for a few years, merely letting the docs slap bandaids on the issues. On top of that, I have chronic back pain I never brought up out of fear of being kicked of my previous AFSC, Security Forces. I was poorly treated in that field and it eventually got to the point I filed a formal complaint against my command due to the extreme maltreatment I was experiencing. My claims were substantiated and my SVC worked to get me a forced retrain to see if I could get a fresh start in the Air Force. At first it seemed to work, then my back pain continually got worse and my mood pretty much tanked. So I started going to the clinic and started getting treatment. I started to notice overtime that things weren't getting better and I began bracing for the worst. So as an effort to mentally prepare myself, I told my doc that if he were to MEB me, I'd be ok with it. The MEB was submitted in 2015 and was denied, saying that I didn't meet the criteria. I was like ok, maybe I can make this work! So I continued to get treatment, then I noticed the pain was getting worse and it was everywhere. I mean, everywhere. On top of that, my sleep was pretty much non existent. I got a referral to a rheumatologist and he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. When I heard this, I really knew that this was a career ender, so I began informing my leadership and making plans. Being the nice guy he was, he got me a sleep study ordered to see if the CPAP would help with pain management. I really started to accept it was over. Now way this be denied.However a week later it was denied yet again. My 0-6 and I went to see the Medical Standards Flight Chief to demand an explanation on what was going on. My rheumatologist was there as well. Essentially, the doc said "Since he is not a disciplinary problem, he is functional individual. Only if he is homicidal or suicidal will we take his mental health issues seriously". Right there. In front of my 0-6. I was devastated and hurt. It felt like Security Forces all over again. My chain tried to re-engage at many angles to get me the help i needed, but to no avail. I have also approached mental health many times and have told my docs to give their input on an MEB because that is what this flight doc is looking for. They refused to help and then I went to the OIC to ask for an off base referral. I got it but had to wait 4 months. 4 months to get back in therapy. Ridiculous.The shrink and therapist both concurred with a medical discharge, but the mental health clinic has refused to talk to either of them. Now the pain has gotten so bad my doc had to cut my hours because I wasn't sleeping and it was interfering with my duty performance. He reduced my hours and leadership was ok with it, until recently. I once again approached my chain to engage with medical about my situation, but it seemed like the MDG is trying to manipulate my leaders against me. The flight doc said he would pull my profile and that's that. After hearing that, I immediately broke down into tears before my division chief and told him everything that had happened, from A-Z, that I just want to get better and move on with my life. I even told him I would file for benefits on my own, even if that means cutting my extension short. That same day I went to mental health and begged them to send me to a residential program, but they refused to help me and referred me back off base. My mental health is very fragile at this point and on top of everything else that is happening, I feel very grim where my life is heading. My current SVC is useless and it seems JAG can't do anything either. I have exhausted all my avenues. Does anyone have any advice so I can make this right? I am at wits end here and am trying to not walk away empty handed. Any advice would help.
