Were you ever sick while in the military?

No, I didn't say sick of the military. That's a whole other topic :)

The last two days I have taken care of my three year old who has had the stomach flu. Let's just say I have earned my Good Mommy Medal for my heroic and unspeakably gross actions on clean-up duty. But I digress.

This situation gave me a good idea for a question to you. I believe I touched on it long ago in a blog post, but let's try it again.

Were you ever sick or ill while serving in the military? If so, what did you have? Where were you? Did you get any treatment? Did it leave any lasting effects?

Can't wait to hear your responses.

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Comment by Claudia Bartow on September 4, 2012 at 4:33pm: Max, I read that wrong.....you GAINED weight. I was thinking you lost weight from being sick. Wow, you sailors eat good.

Comment by Max Eugene Amrine on September 4, 2012 at 8:35am: Hi Claudia,

Nope; had gone from 135lb to 116lb prior to being hospitalized.

Comment by Claudia Bartow on September 3, 2012 at 9:20pm: Max, you must mean 216lbs?
What a bummer to have TB.

Comment by Max Eugene Amrine on September 2, 2012 at 1:51pm: Yep; afraid I had active tuberculosis in 1970; was attached to Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego for 2 years. The first 6 months I was in isolation with nothing to do but eat, play pool, and watch daytime TV - went from 116 pounds to 160 pounds - what an experience; sure had some fellow sailors upset as they all had to get tested for TB.

Max Amrine

Comment by Claudia Bartow on June 29, 2012 at 3:37pm: Here is one of my own, I have told before as a discussion. Instead of rewriting it, I will link to it here. I entitled it, "Sick and Tired", a boot camp experience!

Comment by Claudia Bartow on June 29, 2012 at 3:33pm: Gary and Ricardo,

Great stories! Thanks for sharing. Jungle rot and that broken ankle don't sound fun, especially in the jungle!

Comment by Ricardo Jacques on June 28, 2012 at 6:32am: Jungle Rot, we knew it well.

Most got it on any open cut.

We had some Marines.

Who looked like a mummy.

No! not a mother to a child.

More like those dead bodies.

They find in the desert in Egypt.

Some like you we had to send out of Vietnam.

They had it so BAD.

Comment by Ricardo Jacques on June 28, 2012 at 6:27am: Gary, talking about hair, I think it was close to one week.

After I came back from Vietnam, in 1967.

I develop-ed a bald spot about the size of half dollar coin.

Or hair fell out leaving a bald spot that size.

Than the hair just grew back in covering that bald spot.

Never gave much thought about back than.

Years later, I started thinking 'Agent Orange'.

Or some other herbicide might have been behind.

That hair lost, besides when I got back.

And went to sleep at home after a lot traveling.

My poor mother thought I had died.

I slept almost a whole day.

As you well know, sleep, was just a few hours.

Of napping, the body never totally went to sleep.

That was in Vietnam.

Comment by Gary L Gaberdiel on June 28, 2012 at 5:20am: Sick...well when was young Marine in 1969..arrived in Viet Nam Nov69. Processed in Da Nang out to my company as I recall in couple days..arrived at company on LZ BALDY...things seemed normal for combat duty etc when in following Jan70 I started to notice my scalp was starting feel like scabs on head instead of hair growing!! Well didnt think much of for about week..after not showering for couple days at time..got to looking and feeling bad on the scalp..like what is this crap growing on me head.My GunneySgt sent me to see the compound Doc..gave me some kind of shampoo to use when could..something called Sebulux..well needless to say didnt work..so following week I was sent to Da Nang to get on medical flight to Guam..spent month in hospital with treatment daily and special shampoo everyday etc..well the ol Navy doc determined that was somehow contacted with what was called: Jungle Rot...holy crap what a term..must have been correct..treatment worked..hair starting to grow as hair again..so back to Viet Nam and my company I went. Never had problems for rest of tour. Was determined that climate change from Camp Pendelton and jungle didnt sit well with my young body at that time. I thought here am 20yrs old and going to be bald rest of life!!! Luck would have it never had any problems even after discharge in Dec70. Thats my sickness story from Marine Corps days!!!!

Comment by Ricardo Jacques on June 22, 2012 at 11:26pm: I rate a 'Good Papa' medal for doing all the dirty/nasty work.

Gross is an understatement...only those that have faced.

This danger will know the meaning of the medal.

Claudia, you might be getting more medals.

It come with the terrain of being a parent.