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Medical question???

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gringo

Registered User
Hey i just talked to my OSO on monday and he gave me all the info for ocs. i was going over the application and one of the medical forms says allergic reactoin to bee sting??? well way back about 13 years ago i got stung and had a reaction. since then ive worked landscaping every summer and get stung many times, and nothing has happened. is this something i should be concerned about? or should i just play it as no big deal?

please help me out im really excited about this opportunity and i dont want somethign as stupid as a bee when i was like 8 ruin it.
 

feddoc

Really old guy
Contributor
Medical answer

My comments/emphasis in bold...

From the waiver guide: http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Nami/WaiverGuideTopics/misconditions.htm


Hard to tell from what you posted. But, based upon that limited information, it does not appear that you will have a problem. Be honest with the attending flight doc and all should go your way. It would be wise on your part to bring any supporting paperwork from that one incident...if available.


17.1 ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO INSECTS Rev FEB 03


AEROMEDICAL CONCERNS: Local or systemic reactions to insect bites or stings may lead to incapacitation in as little as three to five minutes. This type of rapid incapacitation is incompatible with aviation duty without successful diagnosis and treatment.
WAIVER: Any history of systemic (total body) reaction is considered CD for all DIF.

If the members venom allergy is anaphylactic in nature; that is, potentially life threatening, waivers will generally not be considered. However, if Venom Specific Immunotherapy (VIT) has been completed and the member is on a stable dose of maintenance therapy, waiver may be considered following a challenge dose, with a documented reaction considerably less in severity than the initial reaction. A negative repeat skin test will also be accepted and may be preferable to a challenge dose. The decision for waiver will be made on a case by case basis after review of all the available documentation. Additionally, waiver consideration is directed by the needs of the Navy.

Applicants with a history of cutaneous or mild systemic reactions must have received VIT and be on a stable maintenance dose prior to submitting an application for a waiver. Applicants with severe allergic reactions will not be considered for waiver until they have completed a minimum of three years of VIT and have demonstrated a documented negative repeat skin test.

INFORMATION REQUIRED: A thorough summary of all allergy history and symptoms along with allergy consultation are required. Medical records of previous treatments may also be required.

TREATMENT:

Venom Specific Immunotherapy (VIT) is required for all adult individuals experiencing systemic or anaphylactic reactions. Cutaneous systemic reactions prior to the age of 16 do not require treatment with VIT and do not require a waiver. These individuals have a minimal risk of systemic reaction as an adult (approximately 10%). However, anaphylactic reactions in individuals less than 16 years of age require allergy/immunology consult and skin testing. If positive, VIT is required for a career in aviation.

Carrying an Emergency Anaphylactic kit (adrenaline) does not preclude a member from consideration for a waiver. In fact, treatment with adrenaline is paramount in reducing morbidity and mortality from allergic reactions to insect stings and bites. In some instances it may be required to carry in the performance of aviation duty. The requirement to carry an emergency anaphylactic kit will be based on the severity of the reaction and the recommendation of the Allergy/Immunology specialist.

DISCUSSION: A generalized reaction to 100 wasps is a normal response, which does not fulfill the criteria of the generalized reaction described above. Anaphylaxis from a single sting is different matter. A person who must have chronic injections so that an insect sting does not kill him is a burden to the Navy.

989.5 Insect Bite, unknown effect of venom
V15.6C Insect Bite, Hx of, not resulting in generalized reaction
V15.6F Insect Bites, Hx of, resulting in generalized reaction
 

HooverPilot

CODPilot
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
My opinion is if it was 1 time long ago and hasn't happened when stung since then, forget about it! It will just make things more painful for you. Now, If a Doctor has given an official written diagnosis of an allergy, then that is something else.
 

snow85

Come on, the FBI would have given him twins!
okay-- what type of reaction did you have? anaphylactic shock? are you carrying around a syringe/any type of epinephrine? do you have a bracelet? this is the kind of information that we're looking for.

symptoms of anaphylactic shock:

sharp drop in blood pressure, urticaria, and breathing difficulties. onset is sudden, and severe.

there are different types of bees out there, so you may be allergic to one type and not another.

did you go to the doctor, or just treat it at home?
if it didn't warrant a dr. visit, it probably doesn't need to be mentioned.
 

gringo

Registered User
Well like i said it happened in 1992 and i had to go to the hospital. it was pretty bad. but i have been stung many times since then. i mentioned i do landscaping in the summer so its pretty common to hit a nest with a lawnmower. well i will look into if i was actually diagnosed or not, they did give me epipens but they just collected dust and expired. so if i find out i was not diagnosed should i just say no on the medical form?

once again thanks everyone. ive wanted to fly military so long and it sucks that somethign so stupid might hold me back!
 

gringo

Registered User
hahah yeah thats what i figured i would do. my best friend worked with me a few summers ago and i had to take him to the hospital after he got stung and hes a green beret now somewhere in afghanistan.
 

HooverPilot

CODPilot
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Ok, before I get misunderstood and citing for an honor code violation...I am NOT advocating you to lie. If you know you have a bee sting allergy, you gotta fess up. However, If you do not KNOW that you have one, saying you do will mean that you have to come up with all the documentation from the doctors and hospital about it so the Navy (they are the docs for the Marines too) can decide if that is ok. This will delay you app. Oh and since you don't know for a fact you have it, these now required papers may not even exist, but you have to produce them for your app to go forward or go see a bunch of specialists on your own dime to prove you do not have the allergy you previously claimed. That is why I say if you don't have it in writing from a doc, you don't have it and I recommend that you don't put it down. Clear?
 

snow85

Come on, the FBI would have given him twins!
hoover--

are you sure that's on his dime? i had to see dr's for other things, and i didn't out-of-pocket anything.

gringo--

do you trust your oso? (and does he know about this?) if you do, you can honestly ask 'what about this-- i don't know if i do or not.' in my case, my recruiter kicked a$$, and gave me the skinny w/o the bs.

try to find the documents yourself, (the hospital probably has them archived), and read through them. make sure you understand what they say as far as allergy SPECIFICALLY to the bee sting, or possibly a secondary reaction.
i couldn't find documentation on my surgery, (6 years out), but my recruiter was sure able to find it-- no problem. if they want you badly enough, they'll find what they need, and do whatever it takes to get you. that also means that they'll dq you, for just about any reason, if they want to.

it doesn't really sound like you feel comfortable completely ignoring it, but then agian, logically, it was a long time ago, and you've had no issues since. this is a judgment call on your part.
 

HooverPilot

CODPilot
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Snow, No I am not certain, but I know that I had to shell out of pocket to prove that I did in fact have depth perception and the HMSN who gave me the first test was an idiot.
 

gringo

Registered User
well im going to the allergists next week to determine whether or not i am allergic.

i looked at the document feddoc posted and it seems like i could get a waiver accordign to what is says.

but yeah my oso was really cool. hes a harrier pilot. its cool talkin with someone that has the job you want. but i dont know if i should bring it up or not. i dont want to lie, but i also dont want to kill my shot.

anyway thanks everyone again for all the replies!
 

feddoc

Really old guy
Contributor
ecugringo said:
well im going to the allergists next week to determine whether or not i am allergic.

i looked at the document feddoc posted and it seems like i could get a waiver accordign to what is says.

but yeah my oso was really cool. hes a harrier pilot. its cool talkin with someone that has the job you want. but i dont know if i should bring it up or not. i dont want to lie, but i also dont want to kill my shot.

anyway thanks everyone again for all the replies!

Good to hear. If you are free and clear of the allergy thing, you should have no problems. I suspect, based upon your description of subsequent bee stings, that your body has built up a tolerance to them. Post again or pm me to let me know what the allergist says. Good luck. BTW, I would recommend against lying to your OSO. Bad karma.
 

snow85

Come on, the FBI would have given him twins!
hoover-- dude, sorry to hear that. but then again, it is the navy, and anything goes.

gringo--
glad to hear that your oso is a harrier bubba. let me know too. lying will go to your integrity as a person-- that not a mark you want against you.
 
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