Bee Sting non-allergy

L

lmk

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I admit it. I was/am an overly worried mom. When my son was younger he had several instances of instect bites/bee stings that resulted in large swelling on his arms/legs depending on the bite/sting location. I took him to the doctor's several times where he was treated with benadryl (and ?; I can't read any of the other doctor notes due to doctor handwriting). I told him that he was allergic to bee stings. He was never prescribed an epi-pen and was never hospitalized.

He listed bee sting allergy on his DoDMERB forms and now has a remedial to send in copies of all records associated with bee stings. Will the doctor notes speak for themselves or should I have my son write a short cover letter stating that the visits were problably due to his mother's overreaction?

I would hate to have his SA dreams shot down because I over was quick to assume the worst and took him to see the doctor when perhaps that wasn't necessary.
 
lmk,

As a general rule, bee stings that result in localized swelling are not a disqualification. As long as you son did not have any difficulty breathing, swallowing or hives (swelling in different parts of the body away form the sting), and the medical records state the same there should be no reason for a disqualification.

DoDMERB requests copies of medical records from most applicants, and the majority of the time the issues are able to be cleared.
 
RetNavyHM - Thanks so much for the quick response.
 
Just a positive update - checked the DoDMERB site and saw that my son is now USCGA Qualified, USAFA Potential Pilot Qualified. Thanks again for the help.

By the way - is there such a thing as USCGA Potential Pilot Qualified?
 
lmk,

Great news! I'm always happy when I can help out and there is a positive outcome!

USAFA is the only academy to break down the medical process into different qualifications. So as long as he is qualified, from a medical standpoint he is good. Now all you have to do is keep him healthy for the next 10 months! Locking him in a rubber room is an option you may want to consider! :shake:

Good luck to him (and to you as well!) in the rest of the process!
 
Bee Sting - Won't approve

My Daughter is a Female, 17+ in good shape, competes in 3 sports.

She did the medical exam and mentioned a one time insect sting (we don't know if it was a bee). They requested more information so we sent it in.

Then one Sunday night in mid December she got a call from some doctor (she did not remember his name - we were not home) asking questions about the material she sent in. It was about the sting she got as a kid 12, which she does not remember much but the doctor gave her benadryl and recommended an Epipin. The Dr. asked about where she was stung and where she got swollen.

The Dr. on the phone told her that based on her comments, he would not be able to approve her medically since she had this sting.
D141.50 Allergic manifestations, history of systemic allergic reaction
She was crushed and then in 2 weeks she got a letter back indicating she was deferred.

I can't believe the board would dismiss someone for something that happened once in their life, she has been stung before but no problems. Something that is correctable with medicine.

Is there anything we can do now to improve her chances for a waiver?

Thanks for your help and experience.

Tim
 
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Any systemic anaphalactic reaction to a stinging insect, or insect bite, is a disqualification. The fact that she was given an epipen confirms for DoDMERB the disqualification. The best thing for waiver would be for your daughter to write a letter, explaining everything that happened in her words. Go into detail on the symptoms that occurred and if DoDMERB does not have the medical records regarding that episode, make sure you get a copy of them as well.

All information should be mailed to DoDMERB, they will forward it to the waiver authority.
 
Allergy at age 3 ≠ Allergy at age 23

I taught high school science for many years. I had a real bright student who was an AVIATION NUT. He ate up every book and lesson I could throw at him. I created special aeronautics independent studies for him, got him tours of helicopter flight schools and service centers... super enthusiastic. His graduation plans were to join the Coast Guard. Not necessarily planning to attend the academy but surely hoping to enlist. I assumed he did and was flaying high but he recently called me with bad news. He was denied, like the stories above, because of a bee sting allergy when he was a small child. I, a private pilot, an EMT and a PhD biologist, thought that was a little fishy. I see lots of parents freak out over bees stings that were not “Systemic” and we all know our immune system changes a lot from age 5 to age 21. His medical doctor agreed with me and said that this should not have been mentioned in his application.

1) The form he submitted was not even a numbered form and had no logo or official markings. It was an unofficial looking single page USCG application that had less than 20 medical questions in the form of check boxes. It was send attached to an email to a Coast Guard Recruiter in a land locked state. Was it likely recorded in the DoDMERB database or did it likely never pass the recruiters desk?

2) Is there a way to see if this was ever recorded in a DoDMERB Database?

3) Should he reapply heeding his medical doctor’s advice that this is not a “true allergy?” (he is now in another state near a different recruiter)
-OR-
Or is it better to appeal straight to the DoDMERB with a statement pointing out that this was a localized reaction at a very young age?

4) Would results of a Skin Prick tests from an allergist be beneficial when appealing? Or are these not considered by DoDMERB? (I assume they have a rather high false positive rate) What are the best analytical methods he should pursue to document that he not allergic to bee stings?

5) Is getting medical work and documentation overkill? He is broke and uninsured right now and I don’t want to advise him to go see specialists if it is not needed.

Thanks in advance for your time and suggestions.
He is a good kid with strong integrity and too much honesty. As a sailor I would feel very safe knowing he was one of the guys pulling me out of the soup if I ever broach. I really hope his dream becomes a reality.
 
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