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KWJR
07-26-06, 07:10 PM
I have just got word from my recruiter that I cannot get into the Marines because of a health issue, something with my kidney. So does anyone think that there is a way around it???:(

GySgtRet
07-26-06, 07:32 PM
Were you told that you had protenaria? Hopefully it is not a permenant disqualification these days. You might want to get to your family doctor and check it out. If the family doctor finds nothing then go to a specialist in the subject matter. If they don't find it then get you six o'clock back to your recruiter with the findings of the specialist and your family doctor. The DoD invests heavily in the military and when there is something found that can be a disqualifying situation they don't tkae it very lightly. Depending on what was found may depend on your chances either way go to see your doctor.

The best of wishes to you to become a Marine

KWJR
07-26-06, 08:13 PM
Thanks Gunny I will make an appointment

nostoppinme
07-26-06, 10:02 PM
no kidding eh?
i almost got disqualified but they let it slide.
i hope you get in guy.

Christansen
07-27-06, 02:23 AM
Hey Kevin, hows it going, bro? First off, my name is Jeff, I was originally set to ship out to Parris Island May 22 but oddly enough, I still find myself in the same shoes you're in right now.

I took the urine test and failed with 300 Mgs of protein as well as a small amount of blood not visible to the human eye. My recruiter told me to "just relax" and not put too much thought into it until we could return the next day. Next day, I immediately wrote up a wavier and filled in all the boring stuff about my physical activities...blah blah blah. That was denied, my paperwork was put on hold.

I was then told to go see a family doctor. There, I took another urine test and the protein level actually increased than that of which was my initial urine test at the MEPS center. The doctor didn't have a clue as to what exactly caused this or why my kidneys were allowing the protein to pass through. I was then refereed to a kidney specialist. The specialist asked me to take an additional urine test and from there he concluded that a kidney biopsy (among other things) were the ideal next steps to take for proper treatment. (yes, you can treat this.)

He actually ordered a few things from me:

- A 24 hour urine collection - (a trucker bomb that you don't throw out)

- Get some blood drawn

-Ultrasound of your kidneys - (takes about a half an hour and they actually warm up the gel these days)

- Kidney Biopsy - Basically you lay prone (on you stomach) on a bed while the doctor uses an ultrasound machine, once again, to find your kidneys. He then uses a spring loaded needle to poke through the skin and get a SMALL sample of tissue off your kidneys (about the size of a grain of rice). It was really nothing to go through, but they insisted on numbing my lower back to ensure I felt little to no pain at all. I also was forced to stay overnight for precautionary measures. Wasn't that bad, one of the younger nurses was cute and around my age but I still cant stand hospital food.

Anyway, it took a few weeks (2-3) for them to look at the kidney tissue under a scope. I had expected the best but it turned out this was something less likely to be cured than I had previously thought. In the beginning I was told about 6 months to possibly "cure me". Now over the phone, he says from what the biopsy shows, he only wishes to "treat" me for a period of 3 months. A few days later I had my official appointment since the biospy and he discussed everything in detail. He prescribed me a medication called "prednisone" (pre-ni-zone), which has a few side effects including a possibility of weight gain and a noticeably rounder face. I've been on the medication for about a month now and have not noted any unwanted weight gain. Another thing that might be a little nasty to some of the readers, but also when your excrete urine and notice a large amount of foam, that sometimes indicates a substantial amount of protein is being released.

I can't really tell whether or not I'm "getting better," but my next checkup/appointment is scheduled for the end of August. I was warned not to get my hopes up too high but there is a possibility that my kidney function could be improvement/cured enough by then for me to receive a medical release and a letter stating I am able to fulfill my duties as an enlistee in the Marine Corps. From there, I believe the next step may be to write up something similar to a wavier to be sent off somewhere and looked over. (I've heard it goes to D.C. but I've been wrong before)

All I'm trying to tell you with this little autobiography I've comprised here, is that: Hey bro, I'm running everyday and still going to my poolee functions religiously... I'm either in complete denial of my current situation or there is actually some hope here. It's like my old recruiter used to tell me about getting referrals for the Marines: "Go for broke, what's the worst that could happen!?"

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE, PRIVATE MESSAGE ME AND I WILL DEFINITELY ANSWERS THOSE THAT I KNOW.

-Jeff

Ironrider
07-27-06, 02:34 AM
"Never say Never" there Tiger...many mango seasons ago, when I was young, rocks were soft, dinosaurs ruled the face of the earth and you were bright idea your daddy had on a saturday night, the Corps made me a Staff Sergeant and the NEXT day declared me NPQ, cuz I got a cracked sinus cavity.

Fight it son, go get yourself checked...DO NOT EVER give up...you to wear My emblem...go fight for it kid.

Jim
Vegas:marine:

KWJR
07-27-06, 01:10 PM
Thanks Everyone. There is no givin up in my family. I will wear that emblem.

GySgtRet
07-27-06, 01:22 PM
I hope that you have not missed my objective here. My concern is for your health first then after that you can be a Marine. Get healthy first then the rest will fall into place.

Good luck.

KWJR
07-27-06, 11:39 PM
Thank you everyone for all your input. I will try everything.

Christansen
07-28-06, 05:24 PM
Hey bud, maybe I wasn't really clear about this in my last post ... but I'm almost certain this isn't going to go away on its own. Its going to take treatment and for that, you must go see that kidney specialist. This is serious, you should have absolutely NO protein to the level in your urine what so ever!

I'm willing to guess this was your first urine test ... or at least one of the first. This kidney condition could have been with you all your life without you knowing it. Sometimes its hereditary and parents with high cholesterol are usually the origin. It's not your fault, chit happens. Make no mistake, if this is left untreated, it probably will be progressive (get worse) and at some point down the road can sometimes lead to some serious kidney problems. That is why I say go get it check out now and maybe get this thing cured. I've played around with waivers and have been denied... nows the time to get realistic.

HONOR. COURAGE. COMMITMENT.

Lithium
07-28-06, 05:45 PM
I highly respect your drive to succeed KWJR, but like already stated, you need to worry about your health first.

Part of the reason the Marine Corps has already disqualified you is because it is an elite force. They are the first ones in, "First to Fight". It would be a bad deal for you and the Marines around you if your kidney problem decided to flare up as you are going into combat.

Keep a positive attitude though! Check with your physician and see what options there are for treatment. Maybe you need to see him/her more often and try to get this problem taken care of.

DobbinsBlythe
07-29-06, 08:41 AM
Hey it's always possible that you can fix it and maybe talk to the right people to get your waiver approved. Heck, my fiancee got in and he's got a gimp trigger finger and he's nearly deaf in one ear. Waiver approved was necessary though. THEN he almost died of pneumonia at MCRDPI. He's doing fine now, but you get the picture. Hang in there sweetheart. ;)

God Bless