Rookie
VBNer
Hello Everyone!
I've been perusing the board and am impressed with what I've seen so far. I'm hoping that someone out there can give me an idea of what I should be expecting, and how to avoid any problems, as I go forward with a probable med board.
Quick summary for a very long story: O-3 with 7 years AD with the Navy. For a period of 7 MONTHS last year I experienced chronic flu-like symptoms (high fever, night sweats, rigors). After 8 visits to sick call I was given a total of 4 Zithromax "Z-Pack's" and sage advice such as "wash your hands" and "drink plenty of fluids" (actual instructions from my records). When the last Z-Pack had no effect I was finally told to see a specialist. 3 days prior to my visit I awoke with a headache and about a 90 percent vision loss on my right side. An MRI showed a 2cm X 3cm black object in my brain and I was sent to Bethesda. After a follow-on MRI it was determined that I suffered a stroke from an embolic event and that my vision would never return. So much for looking for the signs of a stroke... I was asleep when it happened! Following the MRI, I was quickly diagnosed with Sub-Acute Bacterial Endocarditis (basically, bacteria was growing on my mitral valve and breaking off in clusters into my bloodstream). Thus started a 2 month stay in Bethesda. I was given just about every antibiotic available and responded reasonably well. However, the damage to my mitral valve was done and I went through an open-heart surgery to replace the valve. One day later I was opened up again to stop internal bleeding. The following week an angiogram showed that I had an anurism, and I went back into surgery. Thus ended a 9 month jouney that I hope to never repeat again in my life.
Here's the grand total:
Bacterial endocarditis, which caused the following:
Stroke with 90 percent vision loss
Mitral valve replacement (mechanical), with life-long coumadin required
Aneurysm - patched up with no known defects
Anemia
The cause of the endocarditis was never determined. The best guess offered was that a massive amount of bacteria was released from a dental visit and it decided to set up shop in my heart. I was in Iraq for an IA tour several months prior to my smptoms appearing, but Q-Fever was ruled out.
I am currently 4 months into a 6 month LIMDU period. I believe I will be sent to an MEB, but have not heard anything official from the hospital. I previously thought that I would certainly be medically retired, but I am no longer so sure. Does anyone know of any similar situation, and what the outcome was? I know that endocarditis is fairly rare, but the resulting conditions are common to several other illnesses. I have looked over the VA schedule of ratings closely, and anticipate a 30% rating (basically for the eyesight), but I know that anything is possible. My main concern is that I will be fit, not promote to O-4 (I only have one deployment under my belt) and find myself on the streets with no medical coverage. I believe my heart will be covered by the VA even if I am separated, but I have no doubt that obtaining medical insurance and life insurance in the civilian world will be prohibitively expensive. Not wanting to face this problem, I am hoping that I will be medically retired and be assured of having Tricare for life. I am wondering if the Navy drawdown will be a factor in the overall decision (my community is overmanned).
That is my story for now. I will continue to post updates as they occur so that others may learn from my experience.
I've been perusing the board and am impressed with what I've seen so far. I'm hoping that someone out there can give me an idea of what I should be expecting, and how to avoid any problems, as I go forward with a probable med board.
Quick summary for a very long story: O-3 with 7 years AD with the Navy. For a period of 7 MONTHS last year I experienced chronic flu-like symptoms (high fever, night sweats, rigors). After 8 visits to sick call I was given a total of 4 Zithromax "Z-Pack's" and sage advice such as "wash your hands" and "drink plenty of fluids" (actual instructions from my records). When the last Z-Pack had no effect I was finally told to see a specialist. 3 days prior to my visit I awoke with a headache and about a 90 percent vision loss on my right side. An MRI showed a 2cm X 3cm black object in my brain and I was sent to Bethesda. After a follow-on MRI it was determined that I suffered a stroke from an embolic event and that my vision would never return. So much for looking for the signs of a stroke... I was asleep when it happened! Following the MRI, I was quickly diagnosed with Sub-Acute Bacterial Endocarditis (basically, bacteria was growing on my mitral valve and breaking off in clusters into my bloodstream). Thus started a 2 month stay in Bethesda. I was given just about every antibiotic available and responded reasonably well. However, the damage to my mitral valve was done and I went through an open-heart surgery to replace the valve. One day later I was opened up again to stop internal bleeding. The following week an angiogram showed that I had an anurism, and I went back into surgery. Thus ended a 9 month jouney that I hope to never repeat again in my life.
Here's the grand total:
Bacterial endocarditis, which caused the following:
Stroke with 90 percent vision loss
Mitral valve replacement (mechanical), with life-long coumadin required
Aneurysm - patched up with no known defects
Anemia
The cause of the endocarditis was never determined. The best guess offered was that a massive amount of bacteria was released from a dental visit and it decided to set up shop in my heart. I was in Iraq for an IA tour several months prior to my smptoms appearing, but Q-Fever was ruled out.
I am currently 4 months into a 6 month LIMDU period. I believe I will be sent to an MEB, but have not heard anything official from the hospital. I previously thought that I would certainly be medically retired, but I am no longer so sure. Does anyone know of any similar situation, and what the outcome was? I know that endocarditis is fairly rare, but the resulting conditions are common to several other illnesses. I have looked over the VA schedule of ratings closely, and anticipate a 30% rating (basically for the eyesight), but I know that anything is possible. My main concern is that I will be fit, not promote to O-4 (I only have one deployment under my belt) and find myself on the streets with no medical coverage. I believe my heart will be covered by the VA even if I am separated, but I have no doubt that obtaining medical insurance and life insurance in the civilian world will be prohibitively expensive. Not wanting to face this problem, I am hoping that I will be medically retired and be assured of having Tricare for life. I am wondering if the Navy drawdown will be a factor in the overall decision (my community is overmanned).
That is my story for now. I will continue to post updates as they occur so that others may learn from my experience.
