Pilot Medical Questions - Get Answers Here

buffalopilot · October 28th, 2005, 11:23

I am a Physician Assistant who has been in practice for 6 years. I am also a CFI, CFII,MEI aspiring AirLine Pilot. I know there is a forum for medical questions but I would like to set up a forum to help pilots who have medical questions. I am very interested in aviation physiology and would love to answer any questions you all have.

Bigey · October 29th, 2005, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffalopilot

I am a Physician Assistant who has been in practice for 6 years. I am also a CFI, CFII,MEI aspiring AirLine Pilot. I know there is a forum for medical questions but I would like to set up a forum to help pilots who have medical questions. I am very interested in aviation physiology and would love to answer any questions you all have.

Can i take dramamine while training with my flight instructor?

MQAAord · October 29th, 2005, 17:45

Are you a registered AME with the FAA?

buffalopilot · November 1st, 2005, 10:34

I am not a registered AME but i am very informed with medical standards for pilots.

Proballr32 · November 25th, 2005, 16:18

Buffalopilot, what are your thoughts on being a PA and also trying to focus on aviation? The reason I ask is b/c I will be graduating in May from a 4 year school with a degree in sports medicine. I am in a bit of quandry as I want to be a PA, as well as a pilot. I've never spoken with a PA who is also a pilot, so it slightly intrigues me . I go back in forth about what career path to choose......whether to focus on flying and go to flight school and build hours for a regional or whether to go ahead and head to PA school. As of right now, I'm leaning towards PA school b/c I can always fly planes on the side. If I go the PA route, I am looking at specializing in orthopedics or cardiology. I know it varies from person to person, but what are your thoughts on aviation vs. PA? I know there are plusses and minuses on both sides, but it just seems to me like being PA would be the most stable of the two, and possibly have a higher QOL b/c of the regular hours.

buffalopilot · December 1st, 2005, 11:59

Being a PA is a decent paying, stable position. I do enjoy it, I am currently doing internal medicine 4 days a week making $70,000 per year. I am home at 6 pm every night and i start the day at 9 am. Not bad. I always wanted to be a pilot. I know that I will drop down to $22000 for the first year as a pilot and then up form there, and the career is not as stable but I am a firm believer that you live once and you need to follow your dreams as long as you do it wisely. With aviation, you need a back up plan this day and age. Right now you have a sports med degree so you can get a job in that field although i am not too educated on that profession. Go for the PA degree and then start flying afterwards, and if you really want to be a pilot, do it, but keep current on medicine for a back up. I am setting myself finincially now so i can persue the dream. REMEMBER YOU LIVE ONCE! I see sick people every day who do not have the option to live healthy lives and pursue their dreams, it really makes me feel fortunate enough to be able to do it.

DE727UPS · December 1st, 2005, 13:21

How can I get ambien without a perscription?

Just kidding.

But do you know if it's over the counter outside the US?

I hear that stuff works pretty well. Coming home from my last two week Pac Rim trip was a pain in the butt. I was waking up at 2am local and tired during the day for about three days.

I don't really know what a PA does. Do you work like a doctor but have to be supervised by one? When I tore my ACL I was first seen by a PA. She did a latchmans test and said it was not torn but to do a MRI if I really wanted to know. It was torn. Just proves how much of an unexact science medicne is.

buffalopilot · December 1st, 2005, 13:51

A PA works like a Physician in practice. The supervision requirement is only that the Doc needs to be able to be reached by phone, pager etc. I work alone 80% of the time because the doc is shopping ( a woman doc). WE prescribe and do everything a doc does pretty much,

DE Mexico for Ambien - try online pharmacies.

I_WANNA_BE_ATP · December 7th, 2005, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

How can I get ambien without a perscription?

Just kidding.

But do you know if it's over the counter outside the US?

I hear that stuff works pretty well. Coming home from my last two week Pac Rim trip was a pain in the butt. I was waking up at 2am local and tired during the day for about three days.

I don't really know what a PA does. Do you work like a doctor but have to be supervised by one? When I tore my ACL I was first seen by a PA. She did a latchmans test and said it was not torn but to do a MRI if I really wanted to know. It was torn. Just proves how much of an unexact science medicne is.

Hello,
I'm an RN. A few years I had some problems with late insomnia. I took Sonata. In and out of your system in 4 hours. I didn't have any sleepyhead feeling, or medicine head.
On a side note, I prefer PA's to nurse prac's. And a few years ago, I thought about going back and getting my PA. But I didn't want to retake my chemistry, A&P and one other class to improve my GPA. yea, i'm kinda lazy.

Gizmo · December 19th, 2005, 21:37

buffalopilot,

Have you taken your recert. yet? Just took mine in November. It was tough but I passed with zero study time. You should have no problem being in medicine. I've been on the surgical side since graduation.

In a couple of months I'll be changing to aviation where I belong.

ubermich · January 6th, 2006, 14:09

About two years ago, I could get a first class medical, no problem, despite my history of asthma (I have it under control). A doctor, who is also a pilot, then prescribed me Advair, just so I would no longer have any problems with my astma. He said that advair is okay with the FAA and I looked on the internet and it didn't seem to pose any problem. For my next physical, I wrote down the Advair as being a new prescription and the physician had no idea what advair was, so he sent my medical in to the FAA and told them that I was perfectly healthy. The FAA gave me my medical and a letter saying that for my next medical, I also need a status report from my practicing doctor checking up on my asthma, the I got this letter with my next two medicals, which now all have to be sent into the FAA. Is there anyway to stop the need for Status reports since it requires extra trips to the doctor and takes the FAA about a month each time to back to me?

I don't want to have to get another status report again!

jtrain609 · January 8th, 2006, 18:00

You shouldn't need that. I'm on Advair, Singulair and Prevacid (first two for asthma, last one for acid reflux) and I don't ever have to give the FAA "status reports."

You might want to call OK City and ask them what's up.

buffalopilot · January 9th, 2006, 10:25

I agree, you do not need reports with asthma. Call OK city.

buffalopilot · January 9th, 2006, 10:25

No recert yet. I am due in 1 year.

cimepilot · January 9th, 2006, 20:29

What happens if you go to the FAA doc and your blood pressure is too high? With home readings, I have been consistently around 135-145 over 70-80. I am worried this might pose a problem the next time around.

buffalopilot · January 10th, 2006, 10:47

Max blood pressure at physical is 155/95. If over this the examiner can recheck it until under these numbers(not really supposed to), or you need to get treated and controlled, then EKG, kidney tests etc form your primary care doctor and bring it to the examiner. you also need a letter from your primary care doc that your BP is controlled with no end organ damage.

cimepilot · January 10th, 2006, 12:08

So, if you are over at the AME, are you without a medical until you get it treated with meds, EKG, etc.? Any idea how long that process takes?

buffalopilot · January 10th, 2006, 12:47

can take up to six month to clear OKL City.

cimepilot · January 10th, 2006, 13:12

That's lovely....hopefully it doesn't come down to that.

Aero_Engineer · January 20th, 2006, 15:58

One question, How do you become a PA. i was a pre-med for two years and it sounds interesting. By the way if i get a Cortizon shot for my tail bone pain that I injured in a snowboarding accident. Will that affect my medical?

buffalopilot · January 23rd, 2006, 21:31

I have 8 years of college - a BS in Biology and Masters of Science in Physician Assistant. Go to www.daemen.edu for PA program info.

buffalopilot · January 23rd, 2006, 21:32

cortisone will NOT affect medical

sky7 · January 27th, 2006, 16:27

any new news regarding SSRIs, namely Zoloft? (friend of a friend, of course)

thanks

buffalopilot · January 30th, 2006, 11:01

what kind of news?

sky7 · January 30th, 2006, 13:40

Last I heard is that they(SSRIs) are still not FAA approved, but considering that they have been popular/prescribed often for years, I assumed that the FAA would eventually reassess their initial dissapproval. Do you know of any updates regarding this. I do realize that this is the the FAA we are talkin' about and they, as many other fedaral agencies, will take their sweet time (and our money) getting the proverbial ball rolling. Thanks for the help

October 28th, 2005, 11:23	#1
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	Pilot Medical Questions - Get Answers Here I am a Physician Assistant who has been in practice for 6 years. I am also a CFI, CFII,MEI aspiring AirLine Pilot. I know there is a forum for medical questions but I would like to set up a forum to help pilots who have medical questions. I am very interested in aviation physiology and would love to answer any questions you all have.

October 29th, 2005, 17:45	#3
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,409	Are you a registered AME with the FAA? __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

January 6th, 2006, 14:09	#11
ubermich Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 4	Status Reports About two years ago, I could get a first class medical, no problem, despite my history of asthma (I have it under control). A doctor, who is also a pilot, then prescribed me Advair, just so I would no longer have any problems with my astma. He said that advair is okay with the FAA and I looked on the internet and it didn't seem to pose any problem. For my next physical, I wrote down the Advair as being a new prescription and the physician had no idea what advair was, so he sent my medical in to the FAA and told them that I was perfectly healthy. The FAA gave me my medical and a letter saying that for my next medical, I also need a status report from my practicing doctor checking up on my asthma, the I got this letter with my next two medicals, which now all have to be sent into the FAA. Is there anyway to stop the need for Status reports since it requires extra trips to the doctor and takes the FAA about a month each time to back to me? I don't want to have to get another status report again!

January 8th, 2006, 18:00	#12
jtrain609 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 12,358	You shouldn't need that. I'm on Advair, Singulair and Prevacid (first two for asthma, last one for acid reflux) and I don't ever have to give the FAA "status reports." You might want to call OK City and ask them what's up. __________________

January 27th, 2006, 16:27	#23
sky7 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: work DEN, live SEA Posts: 79	any new news regarding SSRIs, namely Zoloft? (friend of a friend, of course) thanks __________________ alright stop, colaborate and listen

November 1st, 2005, 10:34	#4
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	I am not a registered AME but i am very informed with medical standards for pilots.

November 25th, 2005, 16:18	#5
Proballr32 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 9	Buffalopilot, what are your thoughts on being a PA and also trying to focus on aviation? The reason I ask is b/c I will be graduating in May from a 4 year school with a degree in sports medicine. I am in a bit of quandry as I want to be a PA, as well as a pilot. I've never spoken with a PA who is also a pilot, so it slightly intrigues me . I go back in forth about what career path to choose......whether to focus on flying and go to flight school and build hours for a regional or whether to go ahead and head to PA school. As of right now, I'm leaning towards PA school b/c I can always fly planes on the side. If I go the PA route, I am looking at specializing in orthopedics or cardiology. I know it varies from person to person, but what are your thoughts on aviation vs. PA? I know there are plusses and minuses on both sides, but it just seems to me like being PA would be the most stable of the two, and possibly have a higher QOL b/c of the regular hours.

December 1st, 2005, 11:59	#6
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	Being a PA is a decent paying, stable position. I do enjoy it, I am currently doing internal medicine 4 days a week making $70,000 per year. I am home at 6 pm every night and i start the day at 9 am. Not bad. I always wanted to be a pilot. I know that I will drop down to $22000 for the first year as a pilot and then up form there, and the career is not as stable but I am a firm believer that you live once and you need to follow your dreams as long as you do it wisely. With aviation, you need a back up plan this day and age. Right now you have a sports med degree so you can get a job in that field although i am not too educated on that profession. Go for the PA degree and then start flying afterwards, and if you really want to be a pilot, do it, but keep current on medicine for a back up. I am setting myself finincially now so i can persue the dream. REMEMBER YOU LIVE ONCE! I see sick people every day who do not have the option to live healthy lives and pursue their dreams, it really makes me feel fortunate enough to be able to do it.

December 1st, 2005, 13:21	#7
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,547	How can I get ambien without a perscription? Just kidding. But do you know if it's over the counter outside the US? I hear that stuff works pretty well. Coming home from my last two week Pac Rim trip was a pain in the butt. I was waking up at 2am local and tired during the day for about three days. I don't really know what a PA does. Do you work like a doctor but have to be supervised by one? When I tore my ACL I was first seen by a PA. She did a latchmans test and said it was not torn but to do a MRI if I really wanted to know. It was torn. Just proves how much of an unexact science medicne is.

December 1st, 2005, 13:51	#8
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	A PA works like a Physician in practice. The supervision requirement is only that the Doc needs to be able to be reached by phone, pager etc. I work alone 80% of the time because the doc is shopping ( a woman doc). WE prescribe and do everything a doc does pretty much, DE Mexico for Ambien - try online pharmacies.

December 19th, 2005, 21:37	#10
Gizmo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 116	buffalopilot, Have you taken your recert. yet? Just took mine in November. It was tough but I passed with zero study time. You should have no problem being in medicine. I've been on the surgical side since graduation. In a couple of months I'll be changing to aviation where I belong.

January 9th, 2006, 10:25	#13
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	I agree, you do not need reports with asthma. Call OK city.

January 9th, 2006, 20:29	#15
cimepilot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 231	What happens if you go to the FAA doc and your blood pressure is too high? With home readings, I have been consistently around 135-145 over 70-80. I am worried this might pose a problem the next time around.

January 10th, 2006, 10:47	#16
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	Max blood pressure at physical is 155/95. If over this the examiner can recheck it until under these numbers(not really supposed to), or you need to get treated and controlled, then EKG, kidney tests etc form your primary care doctor and bring it to the examiner. you also need a letter from your primary care doc that your BP is controlled with no end organ damage.

January 10th, 2006, 12:08	#17
cimepilot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 231	So, if you are over at the AME, are you without a medical until you get it treated with meds, EKG, etc.? Any idea how long that process takes?

January 10th, 2006, 12:47	#18
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	can take up to six month to clear OKL City.

January 10th, 2006, 13:12	#19
cimepilot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 231	That's lovely....hopefully it doesn't come down to that.

January 20th, 2006, 15:58	#20
Aero_Engineer Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 2,045	One question, How do you become a PA. i was a pre-med for two years and it sounds interesting. By the way if i get a Cortizon shot for my tail bone pain that I injured in a snowboarding accident. Will that affect my medical?

January 23rd, 2006, 21:31	#21
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	I have 8 years of college - a BS in Biology and Masters of Science in Physician Assistant. Go to www.daemen.edu for PA program info.

January 23rd, 2006, 21:32	#22
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	cortisone will NOT affect medical

January 30th, 2006, 11:01	#24
buffalopilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 411	what kind of news?

January 30th, 2006, 13:40	#25
sky7 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: work DEN, live SEA Posts: 79	Last I heard is that they(SSRIs) are still not FAA approved, but considering that they have been popular/prescribed often for years, I assumed that the FAA would eventually reassess their initial dissapproval. Do you know of any updates regarding this. I do realize that this is the the FAA we are talkin' about and they, as many other fedaral agencies, will take their sweet time (and our money) getting the proverbial ball rolling. Thanks for the help __________________ alright stop, colaborate and listen

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