I'm pretty sure the last couple of months have included more visits to the doctor than the rest of my life combined. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but there were definitely a few weeks when, more often than not, my answer to "What are you doing after school today?" was "Going to the doctor."
The reason for all the medical attention was that in order to travel to Antarctica, I had to go through the NSF's Physical Qualification (PQ) process. Basically, this assures the NSF that I'm in good health and won't have any medical problems while I'm in Antarctica (where health care isn't readily accessible). In November I received a packet to fill out with my medical information, and the visits to the doctor began.
The list of tests required by the NSF goes on and on: Complete Blood Count, Lipid Panel, Total Iron, Urinalysis... So, I went to my doctor's office to have lab work done. I had my blood drawn for the first time that day, which I tried (with some success) not to be scared about. Because they had to do so many tests, they drew at least five vials of my blood: enough to leave me quite dizzy. I was also slightly out of it, which led me to say "Score!!" quite enthusiastically when the nurse offered me a juice box. Once I had recovered and drained my apple juice, I was off down the hallway for an EKG. This was also a first. It went much better than the blood testing, although I did have to lie on the table with electrodes stuck to me for ten minutes while the nurses fixed a paper jam in the EKG printer.
Physical Qualifiaction Packet
Getting my lab results the next week was exciting; I found out what my blood type is, and I spent a while looking up what the other results meant. Good news: I'm doing all right. Step one, complete!
A few days later, I returned to the doctor's office to have a full physical examination. This included a flu shot - yet another first for me. The doctor said everything looked great, but then she noticed that the NSF requires a Tuberculosis test. This test involves getting an injection in your forearm, which causes a bump in your skin if you indeed have TB. After receiving the shot, I would have to return two days later so a nurse could "read" the test on my arm. However, in two days I was going to be out of town for Thanksgiving. Know what that meant? Even more doctor's visits!
The next week, I went to the doctor two last times: the first to get the TB test injection as well as another immunization, and the second to have the TB test interpreted. Finally, the doctor gave back my PQ packet with her signature in it. I bet she's not going to know what to do with herself now that I've stopped coming in every other day.
To finish it all off, there were a couple of visits to the dentist. One was for a regular exam, and then I had to return to have x-rays taken. I felt slightly humiliated when the normal x-ray piece wouldn't fit in my mouth and I had to use the child-sized one instead. It was worth it, however; that was the last exam!
We sent the huge packet off to the University of Texas Medical Branch to be reviewed, and then we waited. A couple weeks later, I received the following email:
"This is to inform you that you have been Physically Qualified (PQ) for deployment. Your PQ status is good through 12/8/14.
Congratulations!"