As previously mentioned, upon arrival I received a Tuberculosis screen (forget what that is called) and read 2 days later. The bump was gone, so I didn’t have it 😉 At one week I received a short physical and decided to decline the blood work. A few days later I was offered a flu shot but declined it. Then in about 3 weeks I had a dental exam. They told me I could get on the schedule for cleaning in about 24 months, but I declined since I hope to be leaving around then. I have never had a cavity in my life. Just one filling to a tooth I chipped from a childhood accident involving a skateboard, which is holding very well. Apparently if you have any issues with your teeth, they just pull them. According to Patti, you can’t get an implant if it is not coordinated at the time of pulling or shortly thereafter. Let’s pray I don’t lose any teeth while I’m here. Been brushing well and flossing.
They have sick call two times a week, currently Monday and Thursday at 6:30am. Folks go then to see the physician assistant (PA) and typically are scheduled for a follow-up visit for anything big that isn’t very urgent. If it is a small cold, typically they just tell you to purchase some over the counter meds from the commissary. I have had a hernia since I arrived and hoped it would go away as I strengthened my abs, but no such luck. I went to sick call and then got a follow-up appointment with the PA the following week at the end of November. I now have an appointment offsite on February 14th, likely for a consultation with a surgeon. The PA said they will operate and put mesh in. When I’m on my feet it bulges out and aches the longer I stand up. Last night it started hurting very badly and didn’t stop when I laid down and continued to bulge out. I was worried and made the COs aware when I was at mail call. They said if it got worse to come back before 10pm, since that was when medical leaves. There is a medium prison here and there seems to be someone in medical there daily. At the camp the PA is only here part time. Luckily, after I got back from the mail call and laid down the hernia bulge went in and started getting much better. This morning as I type this, it is feeling fine.
I’ve learned to deal with the hernia, but look forward to having it addressed soon. Go figure, I barely ever get sick enough to see a doctor, but a hernia appears just days before arriving to camp. Also as previously discussed when I first arrived folks said COVID was going around and they told me if I got sick to not go to sick call. If you test positive you get sent to the secondary housing unit (SHU) which would be solitary confinement in a box for two weeks. It’s like what you see in the movies and sucks. Another chest cold is going around now and I hear folks going to sick call, but not getting meds likely because it is a virus. I started getting this cold a few days ago and it’s pretty crappy and deep in my chest. Hopefully I shake it soon, since between that and the hernia I was feeling really bad last night.
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