Hello everyone!

I received my M.A. degree in December 2008 in International Security/Internal Safety and am currently trying to join the Guard to go through OCS.

However, 3 weeks ago, when I first visited MEPS, although I passed everything else with flying colors, they said my Blood-pressure was a bit elevated (beyond the acceptable 140/90). So, the doctor at MEPS told me to get a reading done every day for 3 days and then send it back to them. Yet, my average over 3 days was 139/89, which although technically acceptable, was deemed as being too high for someone my age (going on 25 shortly).

So, I was told to go back to my normal doctor about this again, and he believes I have "white coat hypertension." I've been fully documenting my BP readings at home (I take 2-3 readings a day if possible) and my average BP is about 125/79, whereas at the doctor's office it can be as high as 155/94!

Now, last week I got my local doctor to take some more pulse and BP readings, and finally it was about 125/86 each time he took the readings personally. In addition to these three readings, he wrote on his note for the Guard that he thinks I have "white coat hypertension," and get nervous in medical settings.

My recruiter took all of this info earlier this week and sent it off for a waiver, but we've yet to hear anything (still, I've heard it can take anywhere from a few days to over a month). Yet, my question is whether I will be able to get into the Guard with this condition, or will this waiver be unacceptable? Will the doc's opinion help here? Also, I'm hoping that since the last 3 readings were okay, it will be a no-brainer for MEPS - is this true?

Finally, I'm wondering if next time I go to MEPS, will they take my BP again and DQ me if it's high again (even if I get a waiver for it)?

Please let me know what you guys think!

I lived with a woman a few years ago who could raise and lower her BP at will. She was applying a Yoga technique. If you can't find some better way, it might work.

Shockey

I had the same problem. When I went to MEPS I had a reading that was too high. they sent me home and my recruiter sent me to my regular doctor for a letter saying i did not have high blood pressure. I went to my own doctor who told me to buy an electronic blood pressure reader and tested it every day for a couple of weeks. When I went back he signed off on it. I delivered the letter to my recruiter and in a couple of weeks I was back at MEPS taking the oath of enlistment. I don't think this should hold you back. I am in the NY Guard going on 3 years now with no problems. The waiver comes from NGHQ I believe so MEPS will have to take it.

Thanks, 789. That's pretty much what happened here. The doc at MEPS told me to go and get 3 outside readings, which I did, but it was still a little high (about 139/89), a bit high for someone in their mid-20s. So, I had to wait a little longer and then was told to get 3 more done, and this time it was much more acceptable. I also, as you said, showed the doctor about 2 weeks of at-home tests, and my at-home BP is around 125/75. So, he wrote down his personal numbers and said he thought I was okay, just that I got a bit nervous. Now I've just got to wait to see what they say, but I feel about it *crosses fingers*

UPDATE: We just got the waiver information back from HQ, and it seems they've accepted the fact that my BP is a bit elevated in clinical settings and that they are okay with it. As I will be out of town next week, my next visit to MEPS will be on Nov. 23, so I'll be glad to get this all behind me. *crosses fingers*