Hi all,
USAF AD with 17 years in and I'd like to remain on AD until retirement.
Backstory - In February 2019 I was diagnosed with Psoriasis, my case was mild. My PCM gave me topicals and referred me off base to a dermatologist. The off base derm suggested that I take Humira because it worked better than topicals. I said sure, who wouldn't? One shot every 2 weeks vs. spreading cream all over yourself everyday, no brainer.
Fast forward to July 2019, I was selected for Special Duty and requested an AF422 for retraining. The Humira flagged in my records and my case was referred to the DAWG. The DAWG saw that I take Humira and did an IRILO. CC impact letter indicates Strong RETAIN. NARSUM states that I take Humira but the Doc also stated that I was unresponsive to topicals, which is not true. While topicals didn't work as well as Humira, they did work to control my symptoms somewhat. AFPC denied the IRILO and pushed for a full MEB which canceled my Special Duty assignment.
I had my CC and the Command Chief call the DAWG chairman on my behalf to try and get this overturned. I Also got a second opinion from the on base Derm who was surprised that they prescribed me Humira to begin with. He noted that I no longer needed to take Humira and prescribed me topical creams. since then my psoriasis is under control with only topicals.
My psoriasis does not limit my duty in any way and I no longer take Humira, so the reason the MEB was started no longer exists and yet they are still pushing for it. According to the MSD Psoriasis that is controlled with topicals does not require a MEB. Now I'm at a crossroads, I can take the Legacy DES which is faster and then hopefully get a return to duty or I can take the IDES if I think that they may not return me. Given that I believe this MEB to be a mistake, I'm leaning toward the Legacy, what do you all think?
I have desperately tried to get this MEB turned off but they keep pushing for it. Once it's started it seems like it can't be stopped, "My dad already paid the caterer" kind of thing. I can only imagine that we are going to end up wasting a lot of the AF's time and money only for me to appeal and get returned to duty.
Personally I think that the AF should use some common sense here. I was prescribed a non-deployable med that I didn't actually need by an off base Dr. who didn't know the career impacts. Now that I know the implications of the med, I stopped taking it and i'm still fine. Short of writing my congressman, is there anything else I can do to stop the MEB and return to duty?
USAF AD with 17 years in and I'd like to remain on AD until retirement.
Backstory - In February 2019 I was diagnosed with Psoriasis, my case was mild. My PCM gave me topicals and referred me off base to a dermatologist. The off base derm suggested that I take Humira because it worked better than topicals. I said sure, who wouldn't? One shot every 2 weeks vs. spreading cream all over yourself everyday, no brainer.
Fast forward to July 2019, I was selected for Special Duty and requested an AF422 for retraining. The Humira flagged in my records and my case was referred to the DAWG. The DAWG saw that I take Humira and did an IRILO. CC impact letter indicates Strong RETAIN. NARSUM states that I take Humira but the Doc also stated that I was unresponsive to topicals, which is not true. While topicals didn't work as well as Humira, they did work to control my symptoms somewhat. AFPC denied the IRILO and pushed for a full MEB which canceled my Special Duty assignment.
I had my CC and the Command Chief call the DAWG chairman on my behalf to try and get this overturned. I Also got a second opinion from the on base Derm who was surprised that they prescribed me Humira to begin with. He noted that I no longer needed to take Humira and prescribed me topical creams. since then my psoriasis is under control with only topicals.
My psoriasis does not limit my duty in any way and I no longer take Humira, so the reason the MEB was started no longer exists and yet they are still pushing for it. According to the MSD Psoriasis that is controlled with topicals does not require a MEB. Now I'm at a crossroads, I can take the Legacy DES which is faster and then hopefully get a return to duty or I can take the IDES if I think that they may not return me. Given that I believe this MEB to be a mistake, I'm leaning toward the Legacy, what do you all think?
I have desperately tried to get this MEB turned off but they keep pushing for it. Once it's started it seems like it can't be stopped, "My dad already paid the caterer" kind of thing. I can only imagine that we are going to end up wasting a lot of the AF's time and money only for me to appeal and get returned to duty.
Personally I think that the AF should use some common sense here. I was prescribed a non-deployable med that I didn't actually need by an off base Dr. who didn't know the career impacts. Now that I know the implications of the med, I stopped taking it and i'm still fine. Short of writing my congressman, is there anything else I can do to stop the MEB and return to duty?