Aviation Medicine

Has anyone had issues with blood tests before that have been approved or dq'd? I recently moved to a new base with high elevation and I'm pretty sure that it why my hemoglobin is testing barely too high. I'm a cso now and have never had any health issues. The clinic here has been running a ton of tests on me and can't find anything wrong. They keep trying to find something to explain the high level even though the doc said it's probably because I've always lived at sea level and just moved to a high elevation. Is this something I should expect a DQ from?

Good Morning! My name is Michael Velasco, I am a senior at NeoCity Academy and for my AP research class I am doing a survey to study the correlation between a pilots drinking/smoking habits and am hoping to gather participants through this forum. The information on the survey will be kept completely confidential and an email will only be used to make sure every participant only fills out the survey once. Survey

Has anyone had to do a High/low contrast test for their PRK waiver? I had a waiver through the Navy, but the Air Force wants this test for the AF waiver. I called MCAS Miramar and they dont know what this test is. Has anyone been through this process in southern CA? I am fighting a clock to get back to UPT to avoid going through t-6's again.

Any of you military pilots have any experience with having a hip replacement? Did you get back on status? Please drop me a line if you did.

Anyone have any experience with a hip replacement or hip resurfacing, and getting back on flight status? I know about the Mountain Home guy in 1998 that was the first in an ejection seat. And I've talked to the Tyndall F-22 guy that had his about 5 years ago. I'm looking for new info. Thanks.

For any military pilots with first hand knowledge on this procedure, how long were you DNIF? And are you flying in an ejection seat community?

I received my FC1 back today from AETC and I was disqualified for the hip to knee measurement (28in). I called the base that I took the original FC1 and they told me to come in and they would do it again. I went in,they did it again and I passed(25 in). I had pretty good idea that something was screwed up because I am only 5'11 and I do not have freakishly low knees. My question is this. When I send my stuff back in to AETC will they recheck the entire thing or will they look at the amendment that says I'm not a freak and stamp it passed. I'm worried because I am running out of time for the upcoming reserve board. Thanks

This is mostly aimed at the other medics, but I'd like to hear from some retrainees on the forum. The other week, a patient came to my office for a special duty clearance with a very short turnaround. The member had previously applied for an unrelated job and was medically cleared by the person I replaced. He obviously wasn't selected, so he applied for a different position. As he had been approved relatively recently for the first job, he thought it would be a pretty quick review process and relative formality for me to review his record and generate his 422. He's not wrong in that assumption; if another 4E reviewed and cleared him, I hoped the clearance process woul…

I have a hydrocele that I was DQed and waived for about 2 years or so ago. I had surgery to remove it but the doc failed to do so, stating that he couldn't find it when he went in (very painful!). I was thinking about getting surgery to remove it (again!!!). The trouble is that I can't get an answer about it DQing me on my FC1 (either by having surgery or keeping the hydrocele). I am going to Brooks in February and am torn about getting surgery (should I wait to be on AD to have the AF pay for it?). What should I do? Thanks for the help...

Hello all, Bit of an oddball question but I'm kind of desperate for answers. I've searched far and wide for some kind of official USAF policy on hydroceles without any luck. Can anybody point me in the direction of the most recent, "official" reg or is that kind of thing not publicly available? From sources whose accuracy I can not be sure of, I have heard that a "small" right hydrocele is not disqualifying. When I went to MEPS over the summer, the doctor there thumbed through a HUGE book and said that a right hydrocele smaller than the testicle is NOT a DQ, larger IS. He determined mine was much smaller and not a DQ however, I was DQ'ed for an inguinial hernia t…

What's the current regulation on hypertension meds? I am currently on Lisinopril and Amlodipine for controlled essential hypertension and was wondering how this would affect flight qualification. I know monotherapy does not require a waiver, but how about combination therapy? With a #1 nomination to the Air Force Academy, I'm looking at my chances of me showing up to Colorado already knowing I'm not even close to pilot qualified before I even take the flight physical years later.

Just wondering if anyone knows if this is disqualifying for a pilot? Long story short, don't think it is related to diabetes but I have tendency to get really shaky and break out in sweats. I have found that eating sugary foods helps quickly resolve the situation. Have not been diagnosed with it as I love what I do. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Both of my siblings were diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I'm getting tested for it next week. I was wondering in the case if I show positive for having it is it waiverable and what is the DNIF period for the synthetic thyroid medication I'll have to take? I'm a Career Enlisted Aviator i.e. Class-III. Thanks!

Hello everyone, I'm currently a Junior in highschool looking to join rotc in college, most likely navy to become a pilot, hopefully fighters, and was wondering if my hypothyroidism which is controlled with levothyroxine would dq me from the military. Some people on other forums have said you can't take any kind of daily medicine so I'm just wondering if that would be an issue or if it's something I can get a waiver for. Thank you.

I have a question concerning hypoxia; I did a search on this site and couldn't find any previous threads on this subject. I retired from the USAF in 2001 after many years of flying on the AC-130U Gunship; big fun, I still can't believe they paid me to do that job, haha, I would have paid them. Since my retirement I've been doing "contract" work flying over the friendly skies of Kosovo for the US KFOR and NATO. Lately we've been spending a lot of time around 13K MSL for up to 6+ hours unpressurized while flying over our targets. We have the wimpy civilian nasal cannula type O2 system on board. I've noticed that I'm experiencing hypoxia while climbing through 11.5 for 1…

Hello everyone. I have been trying for almost seven years to get picked up by the ANG, AFR and Active Air Force for a pilot slot. Last year, I was having a lot of problems with my employer. They owed me over 6 months of back pay and weren't paying me. I was looking for a new job, any job to get out of it and no luck. I was also in a fight with the Department of Labor, the IRS and my State's labor department to get one of them to do something and get my back pay owed to me. My employer even went as far as to try and claim I didn't work there but I had pay stubs and W-2/W-4 proof. I got into a lot of credit card debit, had to move back in with mom and dad, and did feel…

So, about a month ago I hurt my left knee at PT. I went to a local urgent care center, they x-rayed it and said no worries its a bad sprain. I just got back from an orhopeodist. Apparently I have what they call an osteochodral defect, which is basically a big (roughly marble sized?) piece of bone has chipped away from the end of my femur at the knee. I'm getting an MRI this Friday which will most likely be followed by surgery (not the orthoscopic variety) to screw said chip back in. I just got picked up for a pilot slot 2 weeks ago... give me good news doc.

Any current aviators that are in with active, but controlled IBS-C/D? I know the waiver guide considers the condition non-DQ if asymptomatic and controlled by diet, but requiring meds or symptomatic requires review and waiver. What is the likelihood of receiving this waiver based on experience? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Doc, Is IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) a DQ condition for pilots?

How long can one expect to wait for a medical waiver to be reviewed/approved once the good folks at WrightPatt send it off to AETC? Forgive me if this has been asked many times. Thank you for your help.

I just completed my IFC1 exam and was DQ'd due to cycloplegic refractive error. Everything else was fine and was approved for FC1A, flight med said they'd send up a waiver request. My cycloplegic refractive error is -4.00 in both eyes and my vision correctable to 20/15 in both eyes. Does anyone think my waiver has a possibility of getting approved?

In regards to being selected as a military pilot and starting IFS, is it a required to have a FAA Medical certificate to fly there? Or is the military flying class 1 med certificate they issue you sufficient? The reason I ask is I am very confident I can pass the Air Force's requirements to fly, however I've had some issues with a DWI a few years ago and the FAA is wanting me to jump through tons of hoops and drop a ton of cash. I have my private pilot license, however the FAA wants me to do there stuff to get the 3rd class medical back. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

This is my first post, so hopefully I'm in the right place. I've had non-progressive IgA Nephropathy for the past eight years that I know of. The IgA Nephropathy has caused asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria in my urine and my protein/creatnine ratio was initially at 0.9 and it has fallen since, partly due to the ACE inhibitor I take once daily. From what I've read, the symptoms produced by my condition deem me disqualified for military service, however, a waiver can be obtainable. I've been weighing the decision of going into the Air Force for the past ten years or so. I'm 26, college grad, and I've earned my Private Pilot's License and Instrument rating sinc…

Question for the "Docs" on here: When you find out that someone has an IgA deficiency what first comes to mind? Is this something that is really bad and makes you go "oh no" or just kind of mild and not that big of a deal from a medical professionals standpoint? Also, is this something that is disqualifying? Thanks!

Hi everyone, I've searched on this board and online but haven't been able to find an answer. What is the policy on ICL's for Class I flight physicals across all the branches? Are they automatically disqualifying? Are they even detectable? Thanks.