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Regular Joe
 
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 10/23/2008 8:49 AM
Posts: 458,
Visits: 865
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Well today I went in for my physical, part of the DODMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) which deals with ROTC Cadets. Everything went smoothly until they had to take my blood pressure. I figured I would be fine, a couple weeks ago I donated blood and had 120. The first test was 143! The limit is 140 and the nurse said "Just take a minute too relax and we'll do it again." I layed down for a couple minutes and she tested again... 130. Better, but still not great. So she's satisfied with that and the full physical starts the doctor pulls out his stethoscope and immediately goes "Huh... You've got a heart murmur."
My blood pressure probabally spiked to around 200 as a result of this simple statement  He told me to lie down and asked "Have you ever been told you had a heart murmur?" I said "No." Then "When was your last physical?" "About 18 months ago." He scribbled down a few notes, finished the physical and said I was free to go.
I went home and googled the hell out of heart murmurs. This sort of encouraged me. Web MD said that every kid will probabally have one at one point or another. Most murmurs though, are completely innocent and will have little or no effect on service status. Though apparently, they can be a deal breaker. Some guys get disqualified from military service for them. Others are in between and require you to sign a waiver. I found instances of people overcoming the murmur and getting to join as well as instances of people getting rejected.
I'll probabally have to go in for an EKG and then they will make a decision (which is not set in stone, if it prohibits you from serving you can try to get a waiver.) Hopefully It'll turn out for the best. Just curious. Anyone on here ever have any problems/experience on the subject? I'm trying not to freak out over it cause it seems like it MIGHT not be that big of a deal. Any help would be appreciated. 
"I Know in my heart that Man is good, That right will always eventually triumph, and that there is purpose to each and every life."
-Ronald Reagan, November 4, 1991 at the Dedication of the Reagan Library
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 10/25/2008 8:48 PM
Posts: 3,380,
Visits: 1,309
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I had a heart murmer when I was like 15 or 16 but it went away and I've never had another problem...even been stress tested for my over 40 physical and it never showed back up. Good luck but you need to stay on top of that BP grasshopper!
Stand in the door!
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Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behavior
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/8/2008 3:06 PM
Posts: 1,662,
Visits: 729
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They detected a slight murmur in me in 1999 at Landstuhl RMC in 1999 when I was being treated for malaria. It went away less than a year later. No problems in any way, shape or form since then.
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HH6/Resident Beerwench
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:10 PM
Posts: 10,238,
Visits: 17,300
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I injured my collarbone at work a few years ago and I went to the WC doctor to get checked out. He told me I had a heart murmur. I was 30 at the time and at no time prior to that date had I been told I have a heart murmur. I told my husband that when he called from Astan. He checked with his on-site doc there and he said that it was pretty common thing to have. I have had physicals and other things checked up on me since then and when I was pregnant, they did a full eval and never discovered another heart murmur.
- "Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure. "
George W. Bush
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 11/7/2008 12:06 PM
Posts: 3,768,
Visits: 4,684
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I hope everything works out for you Maverick. Keep us posted.
Make The Voices Stop! - Paracowboy"Oh bother," mumbles Pooh as he chambers another round. CR6 to Cherokeekate - Another poser busted. One shot one kill should be YOUR motto. Or is it MOS?
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