Doc visit today.....

[Airdale]

I went to my doctor today, after I've been having a sore throat for almost two weeks. I definitely needed to see the doc after training, because my body has been all screwed up.

Well, the doc looks at my ears, nose and throat. Does the usual tests, and just to be sure runs a rapid strep test. Good news - no strep throat. Bad news - doc isn't sure of the *exact* problem, but thinks its allergy related. I've been taking Claritin D - which I hear is approved by the FAA. It works well for the usual allergy symptoms, but apparently I have a nasty post nasal drip which is irritating my throat.

My doctor gave me a sample of "Singulair", and said to use it in conjuction with Claritin. Since I have a few days off here, I'm going to take it and see if any side affects are felt and see if it fixes my throat/cough problem. I researched the drug online, couldn't find anything on the FAA website regarding its use. I assume, as long as there are no side effects that the FAA talks about, its o.k. to use.

What do most people usually do about prescription drugs for these sorts of things? Contact the company flight surgeon/med doc and get approval? Or just wing it and go by the FAA website? If you get pulled for a random drug test, and you list the med on the form, can you get in trouble if you listed something the company wasn't aware of?

Sorry for all of the questions, but now that I am "officially" a 121 pilot, I do NOT want to lose my job. I told my doc I was a pilot, and he is unfamiliar with the FAA guidlines on drugs, but said he was pretty sure Singulair wouldn't be a problem drug. *sigh*

[avi8tor]

The FAA does not publish a list of medicines that are approved for flying. A list was published by pilot medical solutions in conjunction with the FAA and it is thought that this paticular list is the most complete one out there. You can find the website link below. Remember that it is not just the mediction but also the condition being treated that gets the approval.

http://www.leftseat.com/medications.htm

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by avi8tor

The FAA does not publish a list of medicines that are approved for flying. A list was published by pilot medical solutions in conjunction with the FAA and it is thought that this paticular list is the most complete one out there. You can find the website link below. Remember that it is not just the mediction but also the condition being treated that gets the approval.

http://www.leftseat.com/medications.htm

Thanks for the link. Thats a good guideline, which Singulair was one of the meds normally approved by the FAA on a case by case basis. So basically what I should do, is contact my AME whenever taking medication for something?

Seeing as how this is an allergy problem, then I'm going to have to take meds for the duration of the allergy season. As long as those meds have no side effects noticed through 2 doses, and the AME approves, then I should be o.k.?

[Airdale]

I don't know if its the med, but I've got a cough now, that wasn't really there before. Reading the patient information on the paper, a cough is one of the side effects. Not sure I like this drug. Might just stop taking it and stick with Claritin and hope the sore throat goes away soon.

[Captain_Bob]

Regarding the "Mystery Illness"... We had a rash of those during training as well. In fact... every new hire class had a high percentage of cold/flu/allergy symptoms...

Come to find out... it was the hotel we were all staying at. We all felt better when we went home on the weekends... and when we finally got out on IOE. But... man... the hotel environment wasn't the best. Mold, etc...

I had heard they (XJT) had the hotel do a deep cleansing... especially since we lease half of the hotel for all new hire training... Pilots, Flight Attendants, Gate, Ramp, Ticket agents... etc.

Maybe... just maybe... that might be your issue too. ?

Bob

[Kristie]

your sore throat may be from the post nasal drip (going down the throat vs being sneezed out). the cough may be due to the sore throat or the heaviness/thickness of the mucus (clogging things up)...do you have any flonase? that stuff works awesome for me and i know pilots can take it because doug's taken it before in the past. either that or nasonex will help. did he check to see if you have a sinus infection?

[MQAAord]

Try some Musinex (guafeinesin).

[Airdale]

Thanks for the replies. I stopped taking Singulair. First of all, it made my throat worse and my cough got much worse. Then I had like 4 really weird dreams last night and was waking up a lot. No thanks, I can do without that drug. I hate taking drugs to begin with.

This morning, my left gland is sore, a bit swollen and my throat hurts when I yawn. So in light of that, I'm getting my prescription for Amoxicillin filled. The doctor told me to take that if my throat got worse. Well since its approved and I've taken it before so I know I don't get any side effects from it, I'm just going to take that. I need to feel better already.

[I_WANNA_BE_ATP]

Whenever you get large groups of people from across the country someone will get a "head cold" or viral syndrome. It occurs because of the different "host" germs that you come in contact with from other people, so since you don't have an immunity to these germs, your body will do it's job and go through all the motions of fighting the viruses.
Those who have kids will know this as day care cough or something like that, it's been a long time since I've had pediatrics, but the concept is the same.

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!! best defense!!

On a personal note, I take Cold Ezze whenever I start feeling sick and I do believe it helps.

[My Flight Surgeon]

You can use Singulair, just report it on your next medical. The other thing that works is Flonase.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

You can use Singulair, just report it on your next medical. The other thing that works is Flonase.

I tried Singulair, made my throat and cough a lot worse, plus kept me up all night. The pain is on the left side of my throat, and is at its worse at night when trying to sleep. Weird thing is, if I yawn, I feel the pain in the lower left corner of my throat and tongue. I'm going to guess its my left tonsil thats infected. Hopefully the antibiotics kick in today.