Attempting to Join with Sleep Apnea

[Esim1315]

Hello all! I'm a RC DCO hopeful (really shooting for AEDO, or EDO, or hell, I'd even enjoy CEC) and I've worked with a recruiter previously but was unable to lose enough weight or fat around my waist to be in standard so I've never processed through MEPS. I took a break for a while to work on myself and work on raising my little ones a little more so they could be more independent. I'm closer this time and am thinking about reaching out to a recruiter again to attempt to join and get through MEPS but after reviewing DoDI 6130.03 I see that sleep apnea is a DQ-ing condition. I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 2021. The text as stated in the DoDI is as follows:

History of sleep-related breathing disorders, including, but not limited to, sleep apnea unless definitively treated by surgical intervention with resolution of symptoms.

So I imagine that there's no chance I'd be able to get a waiver if I'm currently using PAP equipment for treatment. And I also imagine a waiver is more likely but still slim chances if I were to lose the remaining weight and weigh-in at less than I originally did when I had my sleep test done a couple of years ago, retest, and go from a "moderate" diagnosis to a "mild" or "none". My understanding here is the only way forward is if I get surgery and test in the "none" range. Is this understanding correct?

Would Inspire technically be considered a "surgical intervention"? I've heard good things about that and I could see myself happily jumping on that if it means I can still join despite my condition.

What are the professional medical (or recruiter/former recruiter, I'm not picky) opinions on this?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hello all! I'm a RC DCO hopeful (really shooting for AEDO, or EDO, or hell, I'd even enjoy CEC) and I've worked with a recruiter previously but was unable to lose enough weight or fat around my waist to be in standard so I've never processed through MEPS. I took a break for a while to work on myself and work on raising my little ones a little more so they could be more independent. I'm closer this time and am thinking about reaching out to a recruiter again to attempt to join and get through MEPS but after reviewing DoDI 6130.03 I see that sleep apnea is a DQ-ing condition. I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 2021. The text as stated in the DoDI is as follows:

History of sleep-related breathing disorders, including, but not limited to, sleep apnea unless definitively treated by surgical intervention with resolution of symptoms.

So I imagine that there's no chance I'd be able to get a waiver if I'm currently using PAP equipment for treatment. And I also imagine a waiver is more likely but still slim chances if I were to lose the remaining weight and weigh-in at less than I originally did when I had my sleep test done a couple of years ago, retest, and go from a "moderate" diagnosis to a "mild" or "none". My understanding here is the only way forward is if I get surgery and test in the "none" range. Is this understanding correct?

Would Inspire technically be considered a "surgical intervention"? I've heard good things about that and I could see myself happily jumping on that if it means I can still join despite my condition.

What are the professional medical (or recruiter/former recruiter, I'm not picky) opinions on this?

Yeah that's probably going to be DQ, no waiver.

 

[Esim1315]

So it sounds like, according to the DoDI, surgery is the only way forward to be in adherence to this as it is written. MANMED Chapter 15 (15-55 #16) mentions OSA is a DQ as well but does not have the same "unless" as seen above in DoDI 6130.03 but does say "Current sleep disturbances (780.5), including but not limited to sleep apneas is disqualifying." (emphasis added) So there may still be hope if surgery can resolve symptoms. I guess that goes back to the question of whether or not DoD/DoN consider Inspire as a surgical measure.

Would you think that MEPS would find that acceptable if I'm in adherence to standards as written or am I SOL because I had a diagnosis and regardless of what I do, it's game over for me before it even started?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

So it sounds like, according to the DoDI, surgery is the only way forward to be in adherence to this as it is written. MANMED Chapter 15 (15-55 #16) mentions OSA is a DQ as well but does not have the same "unless" as seen above in DoDI 6130.03 but does say "Current sleep disturbances (780.5), including but not limited to sleep apneas is disqualifying." (emphasis added) So there may still be hope if surgery can resolve symptoms. I guess that goes back to the question of whether or not DoD/DoN consider Inspire as a surgical measure.

Would you think that MEPS would find that acceptable if I'm in adherence to standards as written or am I SOL because I had a diagnosis and regardless of what I do, it's game over for me before it even started?

I'm not a medical expert but I don't think sleep apnea can be cured? There are means to relieve it (i.e. a CPAP) but I don't think there's an exact cure.

 

[Esim1315]

Right, I don't think there's a cure per se, but there are methods to reduce ones AHI to below 5 events/hour which is where a diagnosis is considered none. Or between 5-15 in the mild range. Many people with a mild diagnosis are asymptomatic.

This is one of those things I find silly that initial recruits can't get past but if I were to already be in and be diagnosed after initial recruitment I could still serve. I get that standards exist for a reason but there's some that make me scratch my head wondering why the opposing viewpoints.

 

[Swanee]

I'm not a medical expert but I don't think sleep apnea can be cured? There are means to relieve it (i.e. a CPAP) but I don't think there's an exact cure.

There are certain cases of obstructive sleep apnea that can be cured through surgery.

 

[Esim1315]

Sounds like I need to talk to my sleep specialist before I talk to a recruiter again. May not be a bad thing because I'm going to start grad school next winter so maybe giving me a couple years to figure this all out may not be a bad thing. Who knows, maybe in that time there'll be a new update to the DoDI to greater increase applicant eligibility, doubtful that may be.

 

[Griz882]

I have a friend diagnosed with OSA. Before they would do any surgery they required he undergo weight loss surgery. He did a gastric bypass and…surprise…his sleep apnea was gone and no surgery was needed. The best part, the surgery was covered by his insurance because it was related to OSA.

 

[Esim1315]

That's encouraging, though I know gastric bypass surgery is a no-go for new recruits so that doesn't help in my case here but I'm glad your friend doesnt need to worry about it anymore

 

[ChuckMK23]

That's encouraging, though I know gastric bypass surgery is a no-go for new recruits so that doesn't help in my case here but I'm glad your friend doesnt need to worry about it anymore

Have you considered a less invasive approach - restricting carbohydrates, sugar, and seed oils from your diet and eating only meat and vegetables that grow above the ground? Costs nothing to try. Many people see an amazing reduction in inflammatory type chronic disease, elimination of hyperinsulinism not to mention weight loss. Many have reported reduction or elimination of sleep apnea as well. YMMV.

You have nothing to lose by trying this "proper human diet" that is proven ancestrally appropriate for humans.

Saturated fats, meats, and vegetables that grow above the ground. Full fat dairy products such as sour cream, whole milk yogurt, full fat cheese products, eggs, seafood, shellfish are part of this diet - often called "Carnivore Diet".

 

[Esim1315]

I appreciate the advice. I've done a diet like this previously with great success, it's just hard to maintain especial ly since I'm the main cook in the house and kids don't usually want what I make when I do things like this. However, I may need to just make "alternate" versions of dinner for myself.

 

[nittany03]

In our "proper ancestral" state, we also had sky-high infant mortality, a short lifespan, no modern medicine, and crushing poverty.

 

[Griz882]

In our "proper ancestral" state, we also had sky-high infant mortality, a short lifespan, no modern medicine, and crushing poverty.

Ahhhh…the good old days. Imagine if social media had been around back then!

 

[jackjack]

The good old days, before eating fat was bad for you.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

I have always been a snorer, reminded by my wife many times over the years. I had been reading about all of the severe medical consequences associated with untreated sleep apnea, like a 40% increase of a stroke or heart attack later in life, and that's what really got me looking into getting a sleep study. So, in November of 22', 3 months before starting terminal leave, I had a sleep study done. It turned out, I have severe sleep apnea (OSA). During the 6 hour study, I quit breathing for 10 seconds or longer, 315 times. In other words, I was waking up about every other minute, not getting restful sleep.
I got the CPAP ordered and have been using it every night since February 17th. My apneas went from around 50 an hour without the CPAP, to about 1-2 an hour with it. I submitted my paperwork to my AME in April when I got my last FAA First Class and he submitted it to the FAA in OKC. I just got a letter from the FAA a couple weeks ago saying my special issuance has been approved. So it only took the FAA 3 months to approve my paperwork. I'm flying for American Airlines, Sleep Apnea Special Issuance approved by the FAA no problem. For anyone getting ready to separate or retire, I highly recommend getting a sleep study done prior to your separation. If you get diagnosed with sleep apnea after you separate, the VA will not want to service connect it. I got 50% disability for my sleep apnea alone.

P.S. I'm 6'1" 205 lbs, not obese. You don't have to be overweight to have it. If you snore, it doesn't mean you have it. If you don't, it doesn't mean you don't have it. If you ever feel like you just don't get restful sleep, get a study done. I went 20 years in the Navy without knowing I had it.