I have an autoimmune condition that luckily had not consumed my life thus far.
There are times I thought it was heading that way and I wondered on my future ability to work. And one day it might come to it.
Aside from being under the influence on a controlled substance, the moderate to extreme health issues you have descibe would make EMS safely and logistically impossible.
We have epileptics that work in my operation, but it is controlled and they are not symptomatic. One might say it's a reasonable amount of risk.
Your condition sounds less able to be adjusted to in a similar way.
Eventually you'd find a doctor that would write a note for you probably. Maybe you didn't even have to look. And they might think you are able to do the job. But that does not guarantee an employer that you can. And if you can that doesn't mean it's a risk the company is willing to take.
Every employee is going to have a certain amount of risk associated with them. But at what point does the emoyer say no?
You'd honestly have to apply and see. It's not us you need to convince.
I don't know you personally but it sounds like these are still major health issues for you and if an employer picks up on it, they may not want to hire you.
Perhaps a specialist can help with a different treatment plan that's more compatible with EMS.
I won't tell you it's impossible or you shouldn't. You want to help, like many of us, but sometimes we are better helping in ways suited to us.
Sometimes we need to not give up and throw everything we have into achieving our goal without letting anyone hold us back from it.
I can't give you any guarantees.
Because it's not just you who is affected by poor health. Your patients, partners, anyone who you might come across could get hurt or have to carry more than their fair share of the work to make up for another team member.
At what point does helping become hindering?
Eat right, exercise, keep up with your mental health and work towards your goals. It's okay if your goals change.
As others mentioned, EMS is physically demanding.
Most folks here know I'm small and have 100% the heart and desire to help, but even so they doubt my ability to. I've said some dumb stuff, done dumber things that resulted in issues I'm still having to work through.
It's not that I don't care about the impression I give, but I weighed the benefits to me and others, what work is required, what's safe and fair, and have decided to continue.
Who wants to be the one to volunteer that ended up getting someone killed or hurt because they thought they could do something they couldn't and nobody could tell them anything or convince then not to? Nobody.
And who wants to be the one watching a train wreck in slow motion just horrified by the results of someone to bullheaded to listen, especially IRL? Nobody.
We've all had sick days or days we weren't working our best. But if that is most days or every day?
You mentioned not being able to choose if you puke. Nobody is mad at you or dissing you or anything for that.
It's not judging your heart or intentions, but I'll be curt. That's not something that any EMS agency would probably accept. It's not a matter of fault and it sounds like you had no choice in any of this, but sometimes we are dealt a bad deck of cards.
Some mentioned ADA and reasonable accommodations. Weed and uncontrolled vomiting, or controlled with a drug that no EMS agency would allow (and some places of not all, illegal), is not reasonable.
If you're sure on doing this, focus on your health first and then look at EMS. As one of my supervisor says, "Rule #1, do not become the patient"
If you are not well enough to do the job, that's okay. Work on being well, if anything is possible to be done, and if not, maybe look to help in another way. Something less physically demanding or with less strenuous requirements.
I'll salute you for having gotten this far, but I really encourage you to really think on what you want vs what you think you want (don't be the train wreck just because you thought you needed to be on the rails).
Good luck. Keep us updated.
