Would this disqualify me?

[serriafox]

I have a genetically linked weak immune system, it was explained to me like this: if 70 is passing my immune system scores for the varies natural antibodies is 69, 70, 71.

Insurances have used these number to say there is no problem but doctors have used theses number to say there might be a problem. Any whenever I get a cut or a bruise or just plain sick, going to the doctor is required because the wait and see attitude never works in my case.

Would you consider this a disqualifying condition?

[Kimble]

I have a genetically linked weak immune system, it was explained to me like this: if 70 is passing my immune system scores for the varies natural antibodies is 69, 70, 71.

Insurances have used these number to say there is no problem but doctors have used theses number to say there might be a problem. Any whenever I get a cut or a bruise or just plain sick, going to the doctor is required because the wait and see attitude never works in my case.

Would you consider this a disqualifying condition?

I don't think anyone here can answer this as none of us here are medical doctors. The medical examination you will have during the process will be handled by qualified medical officials, not the police.

Sorry I can't give you a more informative answer, but you're asking something outside my knowledge and training.

[mcsap]

Will a medical doctor state in writing that you are fit to perform the duties of a police officer ?

Why do you need to go to the doctor every time you get a cut or a bruise or are just plain sick ? What symptoms do you have ?

[serriafox]

IF I get the Flu for example I go to the doctor and unlike the rest of You I need antibiotic because if I don't I will develop as second infections.

If I get a cut It almost always gets infected and take twice or longer to heal. For example I cut my finger at work about a month ago, (actually crushed into one of the stupid joints of a folding chair with a sharp edge.) It has finally closed up but I will have a scar there for probably a year. Mostly because I didn't go to the doctor.

My absentee rate form work is not bad, in the five years I worked at Radio Shack I think it only to me out of the store for a week a couple of times.

But then again the store is probably cleaner than some of the place cops has to go.

[Officer20]

I agree with Ros, none of us here (that I know of, anyawy) are doctors.

However, I will give my opinion anyway, because I like to read my own opinions. lol

I don't think they would disqualify you for this particular medical reason if a doctor said that you could work. However, you are on probation for 1 year. If you are taking unpaid (because you haven't earned enough time yet) sick leave too often, or at all, you will be terminated before your probation is up. And while you are on probation, you can be fired without cause (they don't have to give you a reason).

[Creeker]

IMHO, you may want to think about a different career, particularly if you are going to have second thoughts about performing certain jobs such as entering a house in which an EDP (emotionally disturbed person) has been barricaded for 5 years and has that amount of trash, etc. piled inside of the house.

These people use toilets in which the water has been shut off until they overflow, then begin using 5 gallon buckets to collect their feces and urine, in addition to taking in every stray cat that comes along... and they die in the piled trash.

There are also occasions in which crawling under houses, and other potetially hazardous duties may ensue.

If you have a cut on your hand and have to second guess whether you can do the job without extra prophylaxis and the stress of worrying afterwards, it may not be the job for you.

[serriafox]

Thanks for the advice.

I don't think a doctor would have much of a problem especially since my case is borderline. Because the condition is chronic not acute it would not pop up randomly during a shift and prevent me form performing duties during that specific shift. But it might lead to calling in sick the next day.

I think as long as doctor treats me aggressively I think I will be fine, Most of my problems stem from childhood when they did not treat me aggressively and I didn't get better with "normal" levels of antibiotics.

Creeker that is such a lovely image. I hope there is more to being a cop than swimming through filth

I think I can handle the stress of being a cop, with a slight immune problem. But who really know until they tried it?

The real reason I ask is because some people go crazy at the mention of an immune problem even though it is not related to HIV

[bluelightzgrl]

I think as long as doctor treats me aggressively I think I will be fine, Most of my problems stem from childhood when they did not treat me aggressively and I didn't get better with "normal" levels of antibiotics.

Creeker gave you a perfect example of how we are not always around the healthiest of society, and that could be a major problem for you. That is something you will have to consider.


The other problem is with some work schedules it’s hard to keep your body in the healthiest of conditions. My former housemate is a prime example, even with a set schedule of the 11p-7a shift the last 4 plus years in a small town with nothing open except a McDonald's. He doesn't sleep well during daylight hours and for the life of me I could not get him to workout either. This all makes for a bad combination. The stress of the job can and will wear you down as well.


I am by no way trying to discourage you, but these are factors you should take into consideration. If your doc can treat your condition and keep it under control than the other factors are up to you. Wish you the best of luck no matter which route you take.

[phantasm]

As a police officer you're routinely exposed to infectious diseases, including, but not limited to TB, Hepatitus, HIV, etc. Someone with a weakened immune system would not in my opinion be a good candidate. It would endanger your own health, and the health of your family. There are other aspects of law enforcement that would not be as high risk for infectious disease. Corrections would be another aspect to absolutely avoid too.

[magicman]

I'm in the camp of maybe you should think of another career instead of worrying if you will be dq'd. I have scars all over from this job. Whether it's a resister and you're scuffling on the ground getting cut up, or a filthy prostitute with staph or a homeless tb patient. Many things can happen in an 8 hour shift and you need to be sure you can do it. Calling off sick the next day isn't an option most of the time. Not to mention, if your immune system is deficient, think about all the sick people you will come into contact on a daily basis. Flu season would be a nightmare!
Good luck to you.

[Creeker]

...
Creeker that is such a lovely image. I hope there is more to being a cop than swimming through filth

...

I don't mean to be brutal, just honest.

There are some areas of the country in which you deal with situations like this more often than others, but I don't think there is anyone out here who's been on the job for any length of time that can't tell you a few stories that are similar from well-being checks, to search warrants, to domestics, to suicides, homicides, ....

Animal control -- which reminds me---

I went to a call one time where an old lady had taken in and "bred" Chihuahua's inside of her mobile home. Then one summer day she fell down. It took her 3 days to be able to reach a telephone and call 911, and she only called 911 because she was afraid that her "101 Chihuahua's" (yep!!) were going to eat her, since she hadn't been able to feed them. After she was transported, it took us most of a Sunday to catch all of them and in the end all but 3 of them had to be put down because they had some type of fatal disease.

The trailer floor had rotted thru in many places due to all of the continuous dog urinating, and this woman lived in this routinely...

...Homeless people, Hospital Guard duty, the list goes on.

In a country setting you may not have to deal with so many homeless, but you will still have prostitutes, Meth Houses... gawd, youd be calling in sick for a week after visiting a Meth house... :rolleyes:

[sgtbear111]

Only you can weigh the risks. Encountering filth is an everyday part of the job. After several years as a narcotics officer,I found there was always a dirtier doper house than the last one. Exposure to chemicals, rotting things, body fluids of addicts and severely ill unstable people were almost "normal" for the nature of the job. Groundfighting with paranoid meth heads, or worse a doper fired up on PCP, will involve contact with body fluids very close and personal. Dopers also bite, ever seen a "meth mouth"? Only jobs that may get closer to it, outside a medical facility, is Firefighter/EMT, and Corrections.

Sworn officers work the street and that is where the action and bio-hazards are. You may be quite suited for LE work in many other areas, consider those. We need good people in support roles.

Your writing suggests you have good writing skills and you are intelligent. Have you ever considered getting a law degree and becoming a Prosecuting Attorney? The big bucks are not there, but you will definitely make a difference. You will share our satisfaction (and low pay - lol) in a team removing some real scum from society. Cops pick on lawyers a lot, but we cannot put the scum away without effective Prosecutors. I worked several years with a full time Prosecutor assigned to a regional drug task force. He was ruthless in court, and he liked to go to trial. In trial he was creative, strategic, prepared, and most of all, he got convictions.

Think about it.