http://forums.jetcareers.com/ en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:24:28 GMT vBulletin 250 http://forums.jetcareers.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://forums.jetcareers.com/ http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98653-aspergers-syndrome-3rd-class-medical.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:53:11 GMT Hello,

In my late teens, I earned my PPL-ASEL. I renewed my third class medical once in my early twenties and did a bit of flying. Due to time (university studies) and costs, I stopped flying for many years. I'm now 37 and would like to resume flying (adding an instrument rating along the way).

Here's the interesting part. A couple of years ago, my primary care physician referred me to a psychologist about marital problems. I was diagnosed with situational depression and anxiety due to my relationship problems and eventual divorce. Took Prozac daily and Xanax on an as-needed basis for approximately 1 year. Physician weaned me off both medications, and it's now been over a year since I've had to take these medicines. I no longer require or take any psychotropic drugs. During this time, the psychologist saw some other behaviors that led to a formal diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome; this diagnosis was interesting but not discussed much since this was of no concern to me (issues were about social interactions). This doesn't require medication. I have a letter from my physician confirming that I no longer take psychotropic medications (in preparation for my third class medical renewal).

What sorts of hoops should I expect to jump through to renew my medical? How big of a problem is a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, especially since I already have my PPL-ASEL?

Thank you. ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon jcreyes http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98653-aspergers-syndrome-3rd-class-medical.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98609-self-grounding.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:01:46 GMT hey guys, i have a quick question regarding medication and self grounding if you needed to take a muscle relaxer to be comfortable i would assume you must ground your self via the self grounding FAR but i cant seem to find it in section 91 or 61 under medical stuff in the far/aim do you happen... hey guys,

i have a quick question regarding medication and self grounding if you needed to take a muscle relaxer to be comfortable i would assume you must ground your self via the self grounding FAR but i cant seem to find it in section 91 or 61 under medical stuff in the far/aim do you happen yo know what the specific FAR for that is? ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon Ngrossman http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98609-self-grounding.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98607-flight-physical-tests.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:12:02 GMT I know the numbers in the colors is to check for color blindness, but what is the test asking the vertical and horizontal lines going through number for? I seem to be having a problem with that one.....:( Thanks I know the numbers in the colors is to check for color blindness, but what is the test asking the vertical and horizontal lines going through number for?

I seem to be having a problem with that one.....:(

Thanks ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon ComplexHiAv8r http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98607-flight-physical-tests.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98541-eye-problems.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:55:19 GMT Two questions:
For the past year or so I've had these long string type things that blur my vision, I guess like an "eye-booger" or something would be the best way to describe it. They just appear and all of a sudden my vision gets blurry and I have to touch my fingers on my eyeball to get them out of my eye, sometimes they only come once a day, some times its once every ten minutes it seems like - it gets so distracting if I'm up in the air and one of these things gets in my eye... are there any over the counter meds I can take for this or is it something more serious?
All my life for as long as I can remember I've had "floaters" (the black dots that you see in your eye. I've never had any problems with them and they've never bothered me at all, but lately I dont know if I'm getting MORE of them, but they seem to be more prominent? Sometimes it gets irritating when I'm flying and I can see them it could be easy to mistake them for a bird in the distance or something... ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon maxshuty http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98541-eye-problems.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98519-branchial-cyst.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:59:24 GMT Woo Hoo I got a cyst :(

After 6 hours of blood, throat swabs and the last one a CT scan with contrast they found out the lump in my neck is a branchial cyst. I meet with an ENT on Friday where I believe they still have to do a biopsy. I'm not totally sure though.

How long is the recovery for this type of surgery? ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon Cessnaflyer http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98519-branchial-cyst.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98294-dizziness.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:22:03 GMT Dr. Forred,

I'd appreciate your opinion. I have a class 3, expiring spring 2011. Question is whether to self-ground and report to FAA now, or report at the next flight physical. Here's the story -- as short as I can.

Aug. 2008, on a trip to Montana, I experienced a bout of dizziness (vertigo? not clear on the difference). I was walking 2 blocks to a park when my vision when swirly and I had to support myself on a railing to walk. Lasted maybe 5 minutes; when I got to the park, I sat down and drank some water and then ate and felt normal pretty quickly. I chalked it up to lack of sleep (I arrived well past midnight night before and hiked all day), dehydration and mountain sickness. This still seems the likely cause.

Aug. 2009, on another trip, to DC/VA. Was sitting down to dinner and started feeling ill -- sweating, room swimming, hyperventilating, lost appetite, upset stomach and ultimately lost my lunch. Walking I was dizzy and balance was off, staggering like I was drunk. Lasted several days. Turning my head to the side (such as looking to the back seat of the car) made the world spin. On day 2 or 3 I went to urgent care since I couldn't keep even water down. He did some blood work, blood sugar normal and normal white cells (don't know what else he checked). He thought it might be viral (which seems consistent with how I felt and how long I was sick/recovering). He gave me a motion sickness prescription to treat the symptoms, which worked to let me eat.

A couple weeks later I got in to an ENT. He did hearing tests, some pressure on the ears test and sent me for a CT scan of my ear structure. Everything normal. Since both occurred within 24 hours of a commercial flight, he thought that the pressure change might have had something to do with it. But offered no diagnosis or treatment (other than to offer suggestions to clear pressure on descent).

So not sure what to do at this point. I am fine now, and have no diagnosis of any illness. Under the circumstances, do I need to continue to self-ground? Thanks. ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon Minnesota_Flyer http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98294-dizziness.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98292-special-issuance-duration.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:38:16 GMT Hey Doc, I just put in for my special issuance for my sleep apnea and diabetes. Is this a one time thing or do I need to apply for one at every medical renewal? Hey Doc, I just put in for my special issuance for my sleep apnea and diabetes. Is this a one time thing or do I need to apply for one at every medical renewal? ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon H46Bubba http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98292-special-issuance-duration.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98229-swings-bp.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:46:09 GMT When I got my first class medical in May '08 the doctor said my BP was elevated, but within limits. For some reason I did not ask what it was. I chalked it up to me enjoying my diet. I had spent six months enjoying Portillos, Lukes and Chicago pizza while work had me spending time in downtown Chicago. About four months ago I went to the dentist and they took my BP with some sort of braclet thing. To me, it was shockingly high. Both my systolic and dystolic pressures were just below the FAA limits.

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor for a strained back and the BP was 120/85. I expected the BP to be higher at the doctor due to whitecoat hypertention. I did not want it over 155/95 and have to go through all the steps to get the medical back. My diet or exercise have not changed much in that time. With all facters really not changing what could cause such a change in the BP over a few months?

Brian ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon Brian Z http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98229-swings-bp.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98218-smashed-hand.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:28:35 GMT I know this is two posts in a row.....party foul, and I appreciate all of the insight..except don't self-diagnose...thanks. I recently broke my third metacarple and landed my first CFI job at the same time. They are waiting on me to start asap. The question that I have is.....when I graduated all I needed was a third class medical and I am looking to get my second class currently. I am in week three of getting my joint (middle finger frozen at joint(calcium build-up)) working again since the operation to screw my bone together. When should I think about heading to a flight examiner to get the second class? Is there a rule on surgeries? I just want to know what they need to clear me. ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon rnick23 http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98218-smashed-hand.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98206-pleurisy.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:32:08 GMT Hi Doc,

I'm an air traffic controller and was told from my doc that I might have pleurisy that might have been caused by a rib fracture. Is this anything I should be concerned about with my job? He did say that it is very common.

Thanks ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon chris325ci http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98206-pleurisy.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98189-depression.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:50:23 GMT I think that I may have slight depression. No suicidal thoughts or anything close, just blandness in moods, no excitement, and down on things quite a bit. Is there anything that is approved by the FAA that I can take without breaking any rules and if there isn't are there any alternative substitutes? ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon rnick23 http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98189-depression.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98158-hgh-ephedra-others.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:29:44 GMT Hey guys. A friend is having trouble with another pilot in the company. The guy is taking under the table HGH, testosterone pills, and performance enhancing drugs like ECA stacks(ephedra, cafiene, asprin). I could bet that ephedra bring banned in the US would already make it not safe for flight. My... Hey guys. A friend is having trouble with another pilot in the company. The guy is taking under the table HGH, testosterone pills, and performance enhancing drugs like ECA stacks(ephedra, cafiene, asprin). I could bet that ephedra bring banned in the US would already make it not safe for flight. My question is, legally does he have to clear this with a flight surgeon? Get a whole new medical with this stuff listed or is this completely busting FARs? The concern is of course health and safety because this is a passenger carrying operation. ]]> Ask A Flight Surgeon Inverted http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/98158-hgh-ephedra-others.html