Medication

[Greg123]

Hi all

Just a quick one really.

Are there people in the Royal Marines that depend on medication at all? I say this as I have to take an indigestion tablet everyday. My indigestion does effect me at all as I take this.

Thanks

Greg

[MrC]

Totally dependant? as in you cannot function without them?


In all honesty I wouldn't know the correct answer, but i'd take a guess that it would be a 'no'...I mean, could you take a 6-12mo supply to a combat zone?


Best bet though is to speak to your AFCO, thats the only way of being sure.

[Greg123]

Well I wouldnt die if I didnt have them, I would just get quite a bit of indigestion.

I called my AFCO who said he don't think it would be a problem but he said he cant say so for sure and I would really have to wait for my medical.

I just wondered what my chances were of being of being accepted. If there are people serving now that rely on some sort of medication then that would give me a bit of a confidence boost!

My only other option is to have a half an hour operation (key hole surgery) to correct the problem, but this would be a massive blow to my body and training. especially with a 6weeks of 'doing nothing' recovery time

[ali_hire]

Only the doc at your medical will be able to give you a definate answer.

6 weeks is not that long to be honest. I don't know when you're planning to get a PRMC date or what level of fitness your at now but if the surgery is straight forward and it'll prevent you from having to take medication then I would say it worth it.

However, the Navy quack might see it differently and might want to see a large period of time after the op without any problems.

[themattmeister]

6 weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things, I imagine any fitness that is lost would be quickly regained and it would be all worth while.

[Sonne]

What is your specific condition? I know the forces are quite picky about chronic gastro-intestinal disorders.

Sonne

[markd]

Speaking from personal experience I'd take the operation option if it was available.

good luck

Mark

[Greg123]

Thanks for the replies,

Okay my condition is Barrett's oesophagus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett%27s_Esophagus

There is more about the oesophagus here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophagus



It all sounds very scary but it is a really simple, common condition. I suffered with indigestion from when I was a competitive swimmer. I started getting symptoms when I was 14. I went to see a specialist who put me on a small amount of medication and told me to come back when I was 18.

When I went back I had an endoscopy and they decided that I had this condition. I had a small operation, it is the most common operation in the US, and very common here. Basically at the bottom of the oesophagus where it meets your stomach you have a group of muscles that are tight together to stop acid coming up from your stomach. (Called the sphincter I think??) I had a problem with this and they stitched them to tighten them up, I think part of the group of muscles was defective. This would therefore stop the reflux.

However this operation was not 100% effective and after a year I started to get my symptoms back!

I had another endoscopy and it was found that I still had a very minor case of Barrett's oesophagus. I was put on half the amount of medication I was on before my op and have been on this for two years now. I am as fit as a fiddle and it does not effect me. I never get indigestion.

Here is a bit of honesty for you though! I applied for London Fire Brigade two years ago, after two years they finally rejected me at the last stage (medical) because they want me to be off of the medication for two years with no problems. (Although its also because they are worried that I may take time off sick and possibly retire early-which is B******s)

Anyway now I'm in the situation where I have another operation and then have to get my fitness back etc and have it on my medical history. Or stay on the medication and hope it wont be a problem?

The operation took it out of me last time but after 6 weeks off work I was fine, although it took me a little while to get back to my full fitness. I actually took the work related tests for the Fire Brigade 6weeks to the day after my op(Though they are piss easy) and it wouldnt surprise me if that was what caused my problems!

So to sum up, basically if I can get in the RM's staying on the medication I will. But I really don't want to have the op and have to wait years (I'm 22) before I can apply or worse still effect my chances of getting in at all!?

I've got a funny feeling that your all going to tell me to have the op, but my specialist really doesn't see it as a problem staying on medication. Is the only reason the Marines would get funny about it purely because of the difficulty in supplying the medication?

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks

Greg

[mfat_man]

Greg

I know what you are talking about I tend to get this at times and it can be annoying!

I think you need to think very carefully about the marines, everyone has issues it's part of life but if this situation comes on under more stress how are you going to deal with a combat zone?

Could this condtion affect your perfomance and mean your colleagues have to rely on you more?

Then the answer is you'll have to deal with it before you sign up if that is what you really want.

Might be best to be realistic with regards to this problem; miss a few weeks training and then go in knowing there is less of an issue.

[speedfreak]

You'll deffinatly need to get it sorted, You'll have an absolute EPIC in the first few weeks when you get minus 4 minutes for scran.

[Greg123]

Greg

I think you need to think very carefully about the marines, everyone has issues it's part of life but if this situation comes on under more stress how are you going to deal with a combat zone?

Could this condtion affect your perfomance and mean your colleagues have to rely on you more?

Hi mate,

Thanks for the reply,

This may sound quite blunt but to answer the above...

My condition is not caused by stress. The worst thing that could happen would be me getting some heartburn, we all know what heartburn is like and it would not effect my performance at all in anything I do.

When you say "I think you need to think very carefully about the marines", what do you mean?

My condition, providing the next op is successful (theres a 90% success rate) would be corrected and I would not have anything to worry about again.

I think this is the best thing to do as I will probably have this one day anyway, but I just don't want to wait years!!!

Thanks for the PM

Greg

[mfat_man]

When you say "I think you need to think very carefully about the marines", what do you mean?

It's just that it's hardcore stuff mate, if you can handle it then go fo it!!

[Greg123]

It's just that it's hardcore stuff mate, if you can handle it then go fo it!!

Really? haha

I can handle it, but can they handle me?

Thanks again mate

Greg