My genes may cost me my career.

The BBQ Pit
21

Whatever the dermatological findings/outcomes/repercussions (and I join the rest in hoping for the lightest impact on your career of choice), I’d just like to remind you that being a uniformed United States fighting man is only the least part of what makes you, you. Personally, if forced to apply labels to you, I would say that you are a loving husband and father, a patriotic individual, a critical thinker who demands intellectual honesty from himself as well as from others, and an all-round stand-up guy.

And a Doper. Hold that head high, Doper!

22

Doors, my best wishes to you, and I hope that you can find a treatment.

I have virtually no medical or military experience, so please regard this post as good intentions, and my words as more paving stones in that journey to my inevitable destination…

I have a number of friends and family in the military; they are in different branches, but they are unanimous in thinking that many military doctors are over their heads in treating much more than a broken ankle. And, in the case of my cousin’s son (a paratrooper), not even that. I believe from previous posts that you are still overseas? That may present some difficulties, but is there any way that you can consult with someone in private practice in your area? Or can you swing some leave and get home to a dermatologist?

My guess is that you have been living with this long enough to be conversant about your symptoms and medications, and have probably considered most of the remedies that are likely to be recommended here. Nevertheless, new treatments and medications are developed everyday. Is there a possibility of pursuing this long-distance with a stateside expert?

Have you discussed this with your CO? Is (s)he the sort of person with whom you have a good relationship? Your CO may be able to put your mind at ease about this; either about maintaining your current career, or (in the worst case) where you go from here.

I have a friend from high school who who joined the Navy and served for a number of years, considering himself to be a lifer. Until a routine blood test revealed HIV, and he was immediately removed from his ship. He had a strong bond with his shipmates and his CO, and I think he was more devastated by the loss of his buddies than he was by his diagnosis. He kept in contact with all of them, and they were very supportive of him. Although he was compelled to leave the Navy, he was able to continue on as a consultant in his field(Framemaker, Photoshop, desktop publishing), maintaining his relationship. Again, it is a worst case, but instead of abandoning your career and your friends, you may be able to continue it in a different way.

If that doesn’t pan out, there is always copy editing for the growing illiterati :slight_smile: Happy to provide a reference.

As far as the cruel comments, I hope that it wasn’t from your fellow Airmen. That is hardly my idea of honor or camraderie if it was. Anyway, the hell with them, they need to grow up and learn about life.

Take care,
plynck

23

Airman Doors.

I can’t tell you much about the psoriasis thing. Good luck with all of that.

I can tell you that, since I got out of the Navy in 1998, I have gone to work every day on a Navy project. For the past two years, that has meant permanent site support on a Navy base.

I’ve also spent weeks underway on various destroyers and aircraft carriers, as well as visiting other bases.

I work every single day on projects vital to the Navy, and am making a large contribution to the overall effort. It is, to be sure, a different one than I made when I was an active duty enlisted sailor. It is no less important, though, and I’m happy to still be helping out.

Even if the psoriasis doesn’t kick you out, something eventually will, and you’ll transition from active airman to honored veteran. At that point, or even before, you’ll have to decide if what you’re doing in life is a benefit to our country and your family.

I really have no doubt that what you’ll be doing will be. You just have to believe it as well.

24

yeah but they wear hats all the time, don’t they? I’d just get some creams and conceal it as long as possible.

25

You don’t wear your cover indoors, BobLibDem, unless you’re in some kind of duty status, like a guard detail.

You also don’t wear it on a flight line, as it could blow off and create a FOD hazard to aircraft engines.

26

Mine is on my face and is pretty easily controlled with a steroid cream. The thing that makes the biggest difference to me is daily shaving. If I get lazy and skip a day, I can count on having flakes the next day. I’ve never had to shave my head but if it meant keeping my career, I’d sure as hell consider it.

27

No, we don’t wear hats indoors. We also have the flight caps that are more tradition than anything else and cover very little. There’s no concealing this.

One other detail: I’m a flyer, and being a flyer comes with different requirements. More rigorous requirements, I guess you could say. So that’s at risk even if my career isn’t.

The last time I hied my butt to the medicos the doctor rejected my family history and the diagnosis of the other doctor who had seen me and told me it was sebborheic dermatitis. I’m not even a doctor and I know what psoriasis is when I see it. He gave me some prescription strength selsun, and just as I suspected it did bupkis. Needless to say, I’m not getting much help there.

Next step: I guess I’ll go see a dermatologist. Great. That’s just what I always wanted to do. :rolleyes:

28

As others have said, certain medical issues will prevent you from being able to enlist, but once you have enlisted will force you out of the service. And as before, it’s simply a matter of degree.

Oh, and if it makes you feel better I know an active duty Tech Sgt who suffers from psoriasis on his head. When its under control it’s not a problem and when it starts getting worse they send him to see a Dermatologist for new medication. Also, for the record he’s a flyer and frequently deploys.

I know it’s worrying but stay on top of it and I think you’ll be in the clear.

29

Oh, in addition he has what every Doctor he has every seen has called “textbook psoriasis” to include all the symptoms as well as a fairly bad case.

30

IANA medical doctor, I have no military experience. I do have psoriasis though.

The linked list just says “psoriasis”. There are a few varieties of psoriasis ranging from ‘minor and easily controlled with medication’ to ‘outbreak is unpredictable and extreme, leaving the patient without the top layer of their skin’. Obviously, the latter variety is nobody who should be in the military. Massive effort and resources must be used to keep them from dehydrating or becoming infected with all the germs in the area during the time they’re skinless. The more common varieties of psoriasis often produce a very small area without the top layer of skin, or an area where the condition plus scratching have caused numerous tiny open wounds. As our military is often deployed to places that are rather unhygenic, there is a risk of personel with psoriasis contracting numerous infections and possibly passing them on to others.

31

AD There’s a lot of OTC things that may help you. You might want to try T/Gel I use this as a mainstay shampoo and it does a lot better than using a non-skin special type.

Also there’s a lot of OTC Hydrocortisone creams that may keep it in check. The only thing you might be aware of is that steroid creams lose effect on Psoriasis over time and you may have to switch to a different type of steroid after a year of usage.

Still, your best bet is to go to a pro. See a dermatologist even if you have to pay for a private one.

32

Airman Doors, USAF

I hate to hear of yet another person affected by psoriasis. I’m not but my husband suffers constantly with coverage over 50% of his body. It is a horrible disease. With past family experiences I am sure you are aware.

I do agree with everyone to hie yourself off to a dermatologist but do not please do not jump for the newest and the brightest treatments - the side effects can be just as bad if not worse than the condition. Get Educated - stay educated.

As an example of this, my DH tried soriatane - a fairly new drug out that is supposed to help some psoriasis patients. Please notice I say some. One of the side effects of Soriatane is that it makes you go into a severe flare, then it thins the scales, and it slowly supposed to allieviate the psorisis symptoms. Well, it flared, thinned and stopped. It did nothing else except give my husband pain along with other side effects that he just had to “live with.” Now the scales - almost 2 years later - still “feel like knives” at the slightest bit of pressure.

I am sorry to hear the possiblity of it affecting your career. I hope it responds to the tried and true methods of control for you.
A support web site that helped my husband some is here.

I wish you the best.

Shan

33

But Curry didn’t lose his career, he was merely traded to the Knicks.

:eek:

On second thought …

34

I noticed a couple of people said, “Don’t borrow trouble.” Unless your stepfather is a military medical officer (MMO), then his comments mean exactly zero. Actually, less than zero because you’re now worrying about what he said. He’s absolutely unqualified in both respects: not a doctor and not a MMO. Also, you are not a MMO either. Taking random medications from different OTC sources may be okay for Joe Civilian; however, it may not be the best idea for a military member in a flight status as some OTC medications (offhand, the only one I recall at the moment is Robitussin) get listed on the “do not take” list or whatever it’s currently called. Your best and only option is to continue to avail yourself of the MMO and especially request a visit with a dermatologist. Until you hear from a MMO source that this is a career ender, do not worry about it.

35

Well, I’ve seen a dermatologist, bought the creams etc, but I don’t have the patience to deal with this problem on a daily basis.

I solved my own problem by not wearing shorts for several years. My condition is only apparent from the knees down with my knees exhibiting patches of the most ugly crustiness.

What I’m about to say is in no way intended to present a solution to your problem however I do wish to share my amazement to a recent experience.

Two months ago, I went through about 2 months of 3 separate antibiotic prescriptions to deal with a persistent bronchial condition. At the conclusion, I happened to notice that my psoriasis condition completely cleared up. Doesn’t make any sense, because we know the cause is genetic and not microbial and my anecdote doesn’t seem to impress my family doctor at all.

Here’s hoping it stays that way

-formerly grienspace

36

One of the patients at the derm office I work in is an Air Force pilot with psoriasis on the scalp. He tried UV light treatments but they didn’t work very well. He was told by his flight surgeon that injectables and oral meds, while they can control the psoriasis very well, would keep him from flying due to possible side effects. He’s now using Clobex shampoo (prescription) which helps some, and he’s still flying. (In fact, just got sent to Afghanistan.) So it doesn’t seem to be the psoriasis itself that would keep him from flying, only some of the treatments.

37

Sorry to hear that, Doors. I had pso on my arms for years and years. Steroid cream eased it, but if I stopped the roids it came back worse. So I stopped the roids once and for all and dealt with it for several more years. Then I went to a dermatologist and when I said I didn’t want roids, she prescribed some nonsteroidal creams that instantly zapped the pso and it never came back. Seems like there are so many different varieties. Maybe you’ll find an easy, permanent remedy.

The thread title reminded me of a science fiction movie called Gattaca — about genetics disqualifying you for a career. (And how to beat the system.)

38

Okay, I asked two of the docs at work, both of whom have done many a Med board, and both say they’ve never seen anyone boarded out because of psoriasis. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee it has never happened, but I think right now the best thing to do is to get to your derm, and get it under control, and don’t stress about your career.

39

aka Triple H. (already mentioned)

Real name, Jean Paul Levesque.

aka Mr. Stephanie McMahon

Cheers,
Vega

40

Hi. I’m Lord Vega, and I suffer from Psoriasis.

<group>Hi Lord Vega!</group>

I’m also retired Navy, ET1(SW).

They can medically discharge you if the psoriasis is bad enough to affect the job you do. My case of psoriasis wasn’t real bad, I was removed from sea duty and was told that if it didn’t clear up, I would not be allowed to re-enlist. My luck held, and after a few months of treatment (creams and the like), I got better. I rarely have an outbreak now, and was able to finish my career and retire.

Also, I’d add on to the folks saying to get to a good dermatoligist. You may have to search through a bunch on quacks, but keep looking until you do. A good doc can keep you in until you clear up and are able to return to your specialty.

Cheers,
Vega