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Vent

rero360

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 30, 2008
199
4
42
South Pasadena, CA
Hey all, I thought I'd share a bit about how things are going for me as of late, hopefully it will be cathartic.

As some of you may know from previous postings, I moved out to CA back in Jan to be with my fiancee who dumped me a month later. Since then I've had difficulty finding work, I tried my hand at selling insurance, learned that I'm no salesman.

A few months ago my platoon SGT approached me about having me getting my commission so that I could be the PL for our upcoming deployment. Last week I went in for my pre commissioning physical and everything went well except for the EKG, according to it I have an additional electrical pathway on my heart that could cause arrythmia and palpatations. Because of this I have been put on a wait status for OCS, I've begun the process of getting a second opinion from a cardiologist.

My problem is I don't know if even if I get cleared medically if it will be in time to still go to OCS, I would still have BOLC afterwards to complete before mobilization. If I have this deformity, which is easy to fix, the Regs say I am unelligable to go to OCS for 2 years after getting it fixed, and I don't know if it would make me non deployable.

Additionally, I haven't been looking for work as I don't think anyone would hire me knowing that I'd be taking off within a month or two for pretty much 2 years straight provided I get cleared medically. Also, I've gone out on dates with a number of different women, some that were, and the current one is, really awsome. However, when the conversation turns to my military career and they ask about what is coming up, they tend to freak out over that chance of me being gone, not that I really blame them. Didn't help that my new Battalion Commander asked the current girl when we were going to start having kids at the company christmas party over the weekend lol.

So here I am, with a very very uncertain future, unable to look for work or have a chance at a serious relationship until I know if I will be able to go to OCS or not. Plus the not knowing if I will be able to deploy or not, the mere thought of having to sit on the sidelines and not be where I belong, leading my men, makes me sick to my stomach. Its all very depressing especially knowing that I have no real control over any of this. Add on that I'm just about broke, I have just enough money to pay the bills and keep a roof over my head until end of Feb. if I become even more frugal than I already am.

Getting back to my heart problem, I've never had any symptoms, I've taken and passed four PT tests this year, generally scoring right around 250, not great but not horrible.

This having to wait to see the cardiologists and learn the results is killing me, I know what my options are and pretty much what I'll do once the results are in. I figure if I can't go OCS or deploy then I'll request to go IRR while the unit is deployed and try to get hired by BW or some other PMC.

So there it all is, I'm ready to settle down and start a family but can't, want to become an officer and deploy but might not be able to, am pretty much broke, and it all hinges on the condition of my heart.

No need for anyone to reply really, just wanted to get it out there and off my chest. I know many others are worse off than me and that all of this is temporary, but that knowledge really doesn't lessen the feeling of suck.
 
Re: Vent

Sorry for your troubles rero. Looks like the first order of business is to get the ticker issue resolved.

As to employment, no surprise that your having trouble given the robust recovery our economy is enjoying...

I'm not clear on what it is you are looking for as you seem to be pretty occupied in your military duty; Are you looking for part time employment? As a supplement to your Military service income?

That can make it tough to schedule but there are still many employers out there looking to make any jobs that open up available first to veterans. Your networking skills need to be wide and deep.

Often, if an employer can avoid posting an ad to fill an opening, he has more discretion, and would prefer to avoid having to interview 500 people.

I haven't seen 41 on in a while but he has always been very helpful to active duty folks and veterans. His networking skills are amazing.

Good luck, thank you for your service and don't give up.
 
Re: Vent

I've been out a long time. Clinton was president and the rif was on. But I thought the hold for advancements, deployments and such were for surgical patients. My brother stayed in when I got out and was preparing for Bosnia and the deployment physical found a groin hernia. He was company Captain but that took him out of the deployment. Medical cases got back to work as soon as they were well and got a RTD from the doc. You will have an ablation procedure. You will get stuck with a big ass needle and they will destroy the aberrant pathway in heart. You will be on bed-rest a few hours. Your RTD will be immediate. The cardiologist will likely release you to full exercise within a week of the procedure.

I advise seeing the state surgeons office if you are Guard. He is usually an O-7 and has a pretty good handle on what is allowed and what a special procedure like that would need in the way of a profile or temp restriction of duty. They can issue medical waivers and usually the RA has no problem with it since the state owns you.
 
Re: Vent

Thanks guys, I'm National Guard and am going thru the VA to get treatment. The technical term for the issue I have is Wolff Parkinson White, and you are correct Crumpmd in that they would do an ablation. The problem is that the WPW is named in the regs as having a 2 year wait from ablation with no symptoms to attend OCS, hopefully I can get a waiver.

Lately the military has been filling alot of my time but if I can't go to OCS or deploy then that won't be the case and I'll need a full time job. I was applying to a number of places back a few months ago before I decided on OCS and had received a school date.
 
Re: Vent

Rero, Hang in there Man! It seems to me when we are in a stormy period in our lives, a blessing or change can be just around the corner. That’s what I’m hoping for you!

Could be worse…..you could be experiencing all that back here in NY under a few feet of snow and 16 degrees.

Hope we see you next year sometime at a Odessa or Springwater match. Be well…
 
Re: Vent

Definitely get other opinions on the Heart thing. My Wife was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and was told she needed frequent Dr visits and had to take massive doses of antibiotics whenever she went for dental work... Turns out the Dr that told her that was wrong! Her heart is fine. She went to a different Dr for something unrelated and discovered it. She thought she had MVP for a few years! Hope your Dr was wrong too so you can get on with life! Good luck and Thank You For Your Service!
 
Re: Vent

Rero
WPW is handled different than ablations for other reentrant tachyarrhythmias. RF ablation does not stop the skipped beats that can trigger the WPW episodes. After the ablation they usually continue meds awhile and may map the heart electrically periodically to make sure the area is adequately treated. Good luck with it, I hope they give you a break.