illness??

[momtom1932]

My son is scheduled to leave on August 6th and has naturally been burning the candle at both ends recently.  I am the worried mom that fears he will get sick right before he is to go and I am wondering if they do a physical that day of deployment?  I hear a cough coming on and worry that they might delay him if he is sick?  Does anyone have any knowledge of this?  

[Mark]

One thing to understand is that just about everyone gets a respiratory infection within a week or two of arriving in boot camp.  They even have a name for it - "ricky crud" ("ricky" is boot camp slang for "recruit").  It's probably a combination of throwing people from all over the country into close quarters, and maybe also weakened immune systems from being short on sleep - but everyone gets through it fine.  The entry physical is already done, they don't do another one the day they ship out.  Just think of him being ahead of the game, and he'll recover sooner... :)

[momtom1932]

thanks, I guess that makes me feel better, I guess I should also stop nagging him about it!

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

He could from now till he leaves take Vitamin D and Zinc twice a day also you could have him take zicam rapid melts or airborne till he leaves. If he feels like he may be getting a cold. 

[NAVY-em's_Mom]

Last year before my son went off to boot camp, I bought a 30 day multivitamin kit (one of those boxed vitamin kits), and made him take it everyday.  I also bought both yogurt and Kefir drink, with live cultures in it.  These build up the immune system.  He chalked it up to me being a crazy mom (I'm also a RN).  Every day he would roll his eyes, and take the vitamins and drink the Kefir.  About 6 weeks into boot camp, he wrote me that most everyone in his company was either down with the flu or a stomach bug....'but hey Mom, the vitamins must have worked because I'm one of the only ones that hasn't gotten sick'. 

 

Yes, they do a physical the day of deployment, and if he's a nuke he'll have an additional physical screening after arrival in BC.

[momtom1932]

I gave my son your suggestions and he went right out and bought himself a jar of gummy immunity support vitamins.  He eats yogurt almost every day, so I guess this is all good.  He is a lifeguard who is in the sun all day so he thinks vitamin D is unnecessary.  Thanks for for the suggestions.  Why is it that Nukes get a second physical screening after arrival?

[NAVY-em's_Mom]

A few months back, I worked with a doctor who was a former Navy Nuclear Medical Officer who worked doing the screenings in the fleet.  I asked him why all the screenings.  He told me that they do a lot of blood work and physical screenings specifically looking for any evidence of cancer or leukemia. He said that even having a suspicious mole was enough to pull someone from duty, while it was examined.

[momtom1932]

wow, that is very interesting, thanks

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

My son had a mole removed while in boot camp. That is interesting. Made him nervous.

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

I do not know why that is but my son got one in BC and again at Goose Creek.  Maybe because it is a very demanding program?

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

Oh also my son took lots of vitamins prior to going in and he was only sick twice and had pink eye once. Relatively good for BC. He learned what I aways told him, "to avoid sickness do not EVER touch your face" was good advice. 

[Dan's mom]

Don't know if they'll delay his leaving if he's sick.  He'll most likely get sick when he gets there.  Most everyone does.  Just read Marks reply and he states it pretty well.