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Show K3top July 1. 2031 Mysterious illness reveals adverse reaction to medicine "Wait just one second while I research your record." the doc tor said. Then this wise physician discovered the problem. "Did you realize that you were on Bactrim the last time you were sick? I think you're having an adverse reaction to the Bactrim. I'm changing you over to Amoxicillin and Augmentin. and if you're not better in two days, come back and see me. Tm treating a patient right now that I've given Bactrim, and she is experiencing sores all in her mouth, and severe pain in her by Col. William Murray Mature and Proven Aircraft director sleep experiencing the same symptoms I described, only ia "I feel just greater intensity. In fact I thought, this is awful like I did in January 1998. I can remember these feelings as plain as day. I don't want this to develop into pneumonia again and have to make a return visit to the hospital." Convincing myself that if I didn't feel any better Wednesday morning that I was returning to the flight surgeon, I attempted to go to sleep Tuesday night Well, I had the same kind of awful night tossing and turning, and felt even worse Wednesday morning. I took one more Bactrim and called the flight surgeon. As God's providence would have it he was scheduled to fly that day. Next I called a doctor friend of ours who oversaw my care the last time I was in the hospital, but she was at a medical conference in San Francisco. Then I thought about the doctor who had admitted me to the hospital nearly a year and a half ago, who was familiar with my case. Although he worked in primary care, he agreed to see me if I could make it in by 1:15 p.m. My wife zoomed me up to the hospital. When he saw me, he said, "Boy, sir, you look like death warmed over is this deja vu?" I said I wasn't sure, but he had to do something. I felt like I had been down this road before, and it wasn't a pleasant journey. I told him I had the same old symptoms as last time severe headache, chills, fever (despite taking 800mg of Motrin three times per day), and my body ached all over. It even hurt to lie down. My eyes were sensitive to the light and any kind of noise bothered me. It's hard to be thankful for being sick, but this time I was. The circumstances of this illness answered the mystery of the succession of my flu, pneumonia, pulmonary failure, staph infection and near death in January 1998. What I learned from this may be of value to you or some of your loved ones, and that's why I want to share it with you. If you're a doctor, don't this hold me accountable for the technical medical terms is told a from strictly layman's perspective. story My symptoms began very similarly to last year's flu follow- ing a plane flight back from Dayton, Ohio. I suspect I got a head cold by picking up some germ on the airplane. After a couple of days of continually blowing my nose, I tried to fight it off with a simple decongestant However, after a couple of weeks of sniffling, being on the verge of a sinus infection, and feeling about 75 percent, I went in to see the flight surgeon for some antibiotics to knock it out once and for all antibid The flight surgeon prescribed Bactrim, a otic known for its great success combating sinus infections. I took.one pill Monday morning after my visit to the doctor' s with complete confidence I would be on the mend by Tuesday. But, by Monday at noon I felt worse than ever. I had a headache, sinus painrchills, fever, joint aches, and generally felt like I had a bad case of the flu. I went home, telling my secretary that I was sure I would be back in the office the next morning. Tuesday morning I felt even worse. I had a terrible night's sulfa-base- joints." That was it! Within a day, I was feeling noticeably better. I also learned that Evelyn, my daughter, is allergic to Bactrim and breaks out into a severe rash, when she takes it I was so happy to solve the mystery of what triggered my descending series of events in January 1998 (They tested for Hepatitis A. B, and C, spinal meningitis, and several other diseases, all with negative results), and to be relieved of the pain I was in. Even though I didn't have a classic "allergic" reaction to the antibiotic, the lesson learned for me is that if the medication is not working as advertised, or if you are not making normal progress, you might suspect the medication itself! As I've told this to many people, I've heard stories of people having many side effects from medication to include death from adverse reactions to the medication itself. Most of the time medicines are great aids to the healing process; other times they can actually worsen the original condition. Be sensitive to your own body's reaction to drugs, even ones uniquely designed to combat your illness. It could save your life someday. Recognize, praise those who choose to by Chief Master Sgt Ronald G. Krlete 14th Air Force command chief VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. re-enli- st Air Force, maybe longer. Consider this: How many civilian-secto- r jobs can the entry-levemployee walk in to and have immediate health care? How many know they can count on an opportunity for advancement? How many start out with 30 days of paid vaeation per year? How many offer 75 percent tuition assistance? How many offer the recreational and family support programs we have in the Air Force? Not many! Some people talk about the good ol' days, back when we had twice as many people in the Air Force. I say, These are the good ol'days!" Instead of four people to a dorm room, like I had as an airman, rooms. Today's airmen have more we now have financial to counseling and build wealth through opportunities get investing. Even if they decide, based on logic not emotions, to leave the Air Force, we have a transition assistance program that will ease their job hunt How many employers will help you market yourself better for your next job? If our first-terairmen aren t satisfied with their jobs, encourand retrain, they can age them to retrain rather that leave the service. When they apply for a base of preference anywhere in the country they're needed. If they've already been out of the Air Force they can come back in. Not only will we welcome them, we might even pay them a bonus. My challenge to my fellow Air Force professionals is to reflect on what life in the Air Force has done for you. Look at what it will do for your family. Listen to people.who've decided to make it a career. Ask them "Why?" Share that with someone who's looking at leaving this great profession. The Air Force product is all about freedom have to be. for tomorrow, while corporate America is all about profit gain today-theThe airmen who stay with us will carry the flag Recognize and praise the choice to into the future. Your involvement today will keep a strong and viable Air Force for tomorrow. el master sergeant Every day, on any military base, there's an announcement about a retirement ceremony for Lt Col. or Master Sgt. Last year, within two months, I went to six retirement ceree civilians were monies. During the ceremonies, the presented mementos and medals to honor their distinguished Air Force careers. Rightfully so, they earned it What's-his-nam- e. soon-to-b- But this tradition caused me to ponder over something while we need to show our airmen the recently advantages of staying with the Air Force in the same fashion. We need to recognize and praise their choice to We all should have noticed by now that recruiting and retention are pretty hot topics with our top Air Force leaders. Over the past 25 years, I've seen airmen and junior NCOs leaving the Air Force for various reasons, some personal and some professional. Some airmen can get disillusioneG during their first enlistment They might not like living in the dorms, or maybe their jobs aren't satisfying enough. They might have a personality conflict with a supervisor. I'm not saying these aren't real problems for today's airmen, but in the grand scheme of things, career, these are temporary situations. If we let our people leave the service say a 20- - or without explaining the many benefits of staying with the Air Force, then we haven't upheld our " ' " end of the deal. In fact, we've done that airman a disservice. We shouldn't allow an'emotional situation to guids a person's decision to change the course of their life. When I talk to many of our first-- and getting out, I discover they're not doing enough homework. Do they really know what it's like in the civilian job market? And do they really understand how loyal the Air Force is to its members and their families? The Air Force will stay with you as long as you stay with the I was st 30-ye- . second- -termers one-plus-o- m st y DgooirairDce ds g ire attest ttfoceatt tto suurviivaD off dleinniociraicy states showed more than 50 percent of all high school seniors were unaware of the Cold War and 31 9th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs almost six of 10 didn't have a basic understanding of As one sol- how the United States became an independent nation. GRAND FORKS AFB, N.D. (AFPN) In another survey by Luntz Research, 59 percent of dier, his uniform in tatters through years of bloody teen-agecould identify the Three Stooges, but only wearman hill toward another combat, charged the 41 percent could even name the legislative, executive have could neither another fully army's colors, ing and judicial branches. imagined what was at stake that day. But the ignorance isn't restricted to young AmeriEven the name of the town held no special meaning The National Constitution Center interviewed cans. for either army it was just another meaningless adults and found 24 percent couldn't name one 1,000 . . town. Pennsylvania But Gettysburg certainly has meaning today, just as right guaranteed by the First Amendment Only 6 perBunker Hill, Iwo Jima and Normandy were special. cent could cite freedoms of speech, press, assembly What was at stake, on the hills at Gettysburg and the and religion. Why is this so disturbing? The survival of democbeaches at Normandy, was freedom. depends on an educated public, especially when racy are a of and words those Freedom couple liberty that are difficult to understand until you don't have it concerns constititional rights. The architects of our them anymore. Most Americans have known nothing independence knew this. "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free," Thomas else but freedom, although there have been constant Jefferson said, "it expects what never was and never in to the threats through the years rights guaranteed the signing of the Declaration of Independence July will be." Some argue that schools just don't teach American 4, 1776. Since the downfall of the Soviet Union, ignorance history anymore. If kids are to learn about what hapseems to be the most dangerous threat to the survival pened Dec. 7, 1941, they must do it in a theater. That's where parents must step in. If they're not of the greatest democracy the world has ever known. All you have to do to realize this is watch Jay Leno learning even a basic knowledge of American govhit the streets looking for answers to basic American ernment and history, teach them at home. Somehow, they must learn the significance of Pearl Harbor, Iwo history questions. and Gettysburg and how what happened in those Jima One contestant, when asked which country the led to the freedoms we enjoy today. places its from answered won United States independence If you didn't learn when you were in school, take the Mount didn't Rushmore Another recognize "Iraq." and said President Kennedy was the speaker of the initiative to learn now. After all, the Fourth of July is not merely a day to play with fireworks or a day off Gettysburg Address. . work. from as a off to this talk If we're write simply If that's all we see in this day or in freedom, maybe show stunt, several studies prove we could be in trouit's fortunate those soldiers at Gettysburg could not ble. A Department of Education report on the knowledge of American history of 22,000 students in all see the future. Jr 50 by Senior Airman Randy Roughton CCD rs late-nig- . "I keep thinking that in a previous life I was a colonel." ht "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air Quality Systems for America's Air Force Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. Thisrcommercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S.. mil and Space Force Global Power and Reach for America. itary services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government; the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. 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