Rheumatoid Arthritis

[TickleMyElmo]

I'm 18 years old and have a very strong desire to become a police officer, either in New Jersey or North Carolina. I have no criminal record, no past drug use, I rarely even speed because I'm so paranoid I'm going to get pulled over and leave a mark on my record My current employer and the 4 managers I work with love me and would be an awesome reference for me.

The two worst things I've done in life are:....

-Drank alcohol 4 times when my dad was around-Would rather me try it around him then off at a party or something, which would be unlikely anyways....
-Walked out of pizza hut with a glass cup when I was 5 because I really liked the cup ( And it was chocolate milk too! :p )

There is one thing that concerns me however. I have rheumatoid arthritis in all of my joints. It stared when I was around 12 or 13 and I saw a doctor at 15 years of age and began treatment. While there is no cure, if treatment is started early there can be a medically induced remission of sorts. I'm currently on a medication ( while expensive at $250 shot/52 weeks ) that is working awesome and I am virtually unaffected by the condition so long as the shots are maintained. These effects dont often last forever, though they can last quite a while ( years ) and there are other medications for when one ceases to work effectively.

I think it would'nt be too much of a problem to get a job in LE with this condition. I've mentioned it to my rheumatologist and he said he believes I could perform the functions of the job. If I never told anybody of my condition, nobody would ever really know as I dont talk about it or complain, because theres nothing I hate more than complainers :rolleyes:

Anywho, my dad really got me discouraged with a comment he made over pizza the other night. "Do you really think they're even going to take a second look at your application as soon as they see your physical condition?!?" :( Now granted I'm not exactly Captain Fitness ( 5' 11" - 200lbs ) but I feel I could easily get into shape within the years it takes to get my degree. I would like to join a gym and finally can since I recently turned 18. :cool:

My family is'nt exactly fond of my want to become an officer, but they're not really anti-LE. My mom has the typical concerns and my dad and brother often make the usual stupid arguments about cops ( Such as quotas, got picked on, etc ) and I often find myself defending police work. They do support the general cause of LE however.

Anyways, sorry for the life novel, but am I screwed because of my "condition" and have no shot in hell of becoming an officer?

[bell4fan]

you'll have to pass a pre-employment physcial. I wouldnt try to hide it. i was asked on my polygraph if i had been truthful and listed everything on my medical questionare.

[TickleMyElmo]

you'll have to pass a pre-employment physcial. I wouldnt try to hide it. i was asked on my polygraph if i had been truthful and listed everything on my medical questionare.

Oh I wouldn't try to hide anything. I would be totally open about it but I think I could pass a physical. I always pass the regular ones and the one I had to get before my current job ( 40 hrs a week ) Although I'm sure the two physicals are way different and more strict.

[noelchabanel]

I don't really know if that would disqualify you or not.

I do know that you should do what you really think will make you happy. Even if it isn't possible for medical reasons, you are right to inquire about what it takes to achieve your dream and see where it leads.

I'm 32 and my extended family mostly doesn't know I am interested in this, because I know they would not support me. Who knows? They may be right, and I may not get hired or I may totally stink at LE. I don't think so though, and I am going to try hard to do what I want to do anyway.

YOU are the only person who you will live with all day, every day for your entire life. Even if your parents are right, and you eventually decide against it, you will certainly regret your choice if it isn't really yours. You have time to get a degree and get the background you will need, you are young. You also have the opportunity to be extra careful to avoid bad decisions that are very common in that age group and will certainly disqualify you. Do what you really think is right. Just my 2 cents.