Aviation Medicine

Quick question, I am trying to get back into the guard after a 4 year break in service, meaning I will have to go to MEPS again, My unit (recruiter)is saying after submitting my info to MEPS that it could take up to 5 Surgeon General Waivers to get back in. He says he could see one get approved but not up to 5. Is he right or just not willing to put in the work? His tone indicates he does not want to submit the waivers. Still waiting to hear from the OG though. Am I screwed? Do the SG waivers get any special consideration due to being previous active duty for 10 years opposed to a newbie off the street?

Hello, In the near future, I will have to take my DODMERB exam for AFROTC. I am almost positive I will get a DQ. I want to prepare for the worst (not getting a waiver.) A detachment commander told me that he once had a student who was DQ'ed without a waiver for a head injury. He successfully lobbied his congressman and got a waiver. Anyone here ever done this before? Is it possible for an individual like me to meet my congressman in person, or can I only do this over the phone/email? Also, what would be best to show my congressman. I'm assuming he doesn't have much experience with medical conditions so I do not see how he could possibly accurately decide i…

I recently received my 1042 to return to fly after a year and a half on the ground. I wanted to pass along my experience in case some poor bastard has to go through any of this. The issues I had included vertigo, an unrelated brain cyst, meningitis as a side effect from the brain surgery, and headaches as a result of the meningitis and surgery healing process. I'll also throw in my experiences at ACS. I am (now was) a fighter guy and after a BFM sortie experienced some dizziness and vertigo. The vertigo was diagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). The big take away from this for me was that there are only a handful of issues that lead to vertigo a…

Anyone have experience or know anyone that successfully contacted a Senator, Congressman or a Surgeon General and revered a decision after getting disqualified medically? I have H2 hearing (35db @ 500hz) in one ear, rest frequencies are perfect and mild chondromalacia in my shoulder which my surgeon said was caused by her doing my labrum repair surgery back from 07. Both of these conditions would not be a problem if I was already trained and still not an issue with FAA. I'm not expecting much, just wanted to make sure I exhausted all resources. Also would anyone know the best way to contact a surgeon general, specifically AFRC?

Hello all, I’m set to retire next year and I was curious about disability claims, and how to properly document any ailments. Is there such a thing as a retirement physical? Is it different from my annual PHA? Hopefully I can get a more in depth physical so I can get my health issues on paper. If this is a thing, how far ahead of my retirement date should I schedule said physical? If it makes any difference, I am in the reserves. thanks for your input!

Any flyers have experience with repeat rhabdo? I'm pending an MEB for it unfortunately with a Do Not Retain recommendation because the flight doc is saying I have the potential to be nondeployable to the sandbox because it's too hot. Does anyone have MEB success story related to rhabdo? Is it waiverable for a FC1/A physical should I be retained? 'Preciate it.

I would like a serious answer on this because it will define my career from here on out. I wish to fly in the AF and need a no bullshit answer on whether or not this will disqualify me from flying in the AF. About four years ago, I was having trouble dealing with some issues. the doc had put me on meds, which actually made me feel worse. Finally, it got bad and I attempted to commit suicide. (I tried to hit a semi head on) After this failed, i realized I need help and ON MY OWN ACCORD, went to life skills and got the help i needed. They sent me to a hospital for behavioral health for a week and when I came back i was 110 percent better. This was four years ago, and I h…

The recruiter I'm working with submitted our SG Prescreen Waiver for a PDQ Relook about 60 days ago (this is for a guard slot). The PDQ was for minimal mitral valve prolapse in an echo I had done. I saw a cardiologist more recently, and there was no prolapse or leakage indicated in any of the valves. This report, a supporting letter from the cardiologist, and my entire medical history in the past 5 years were submitted in this waiver. My question isn't so much about the medical issue, but about how patient I should be, and how much I should or shouldn't pester my recruiter. If I were 24, this wouldn't be stressing me out so much, but I'm freshly 28, and feel the …

I recently found out I have esotropia in my left eye. Now it sounds like I have to go in for 3 different depth perception tests, the red lens test, and something else. I did a search for this topic and didn't get any hits. I know the reg has lots of references to diplopia, but my optometrist said it isn't the same and there are no references to esotropia in the reg. I've passed the five horizontal dot depth perception test (after a few tries), and am concerned about taking all these tests. Should I be terribly concerned? Please advise... What [ 09. August 2006, 21:28: Message edited by: JLoweCSU ]

All, I am pursuing an interservice transfer into the Air Force to fly the KC-135. I was required to complete a FC1 exam and just received my DD-2808 stamped approved from AETC. On the form it states "FC1 pending successful completion of MFS-N". What exactly is the MFS-N? I can find info on the MFS but nothing on the "-N" part. What is it, and where do I do this exam at? Lastly, is the MFS-N basically done enroute to the FTU? As I'm a rated pilot in the Navy, I will bypass UPT and proceed directly to flying the -135. Anyone have any idea if I need to finish it prior to switching to the Air Force or can I finish it after I switch? Thanks.

Regarding how to read a perscription... Yes, I have already "searched" - my specific question has not been dealt with. Okay, I have (cyclo) +2.75 -1.50 by 097 OD. I simply want to know: a.) would I need a "excessive refraction" waiver? To my understanding, I would not because +2.75 (+) -1.50 = +1.25 which is under the +2.00 cutoff. Is that correct? Do you add the hyperopia (2.75) to the astig (-1.50) to get the "meridian" total?? b.) my manifest refraction was under the standards both individually, and added together. As I am aware, I have not been looked at for a waiver. Thus, I am assuming that the above is how it is done-I also got some of my info fr…

This week I finally got something back about the FC1/MFS I did at Brooks in April. It looks like I have to do some follow up work and was hoping F16PilotMD could shed some light on the problem I may have. From the Report of Medical Examination: "Request current consultation from: Orthopedics for finding noted on chest X-ray. There is evidence for a mildly increased thoracic kyphosis with moderate loss of height of the T8 vertebra and mild loss of height of T7. The findings are compatible with prior trauma." The report says to include examinee's personal and family history related to the condition, past and current signs and symptoms, treatment rendered, and da…

Dudes/Chicks, Background: July 2010 diagnosed with CHONDROSARCOMA in left upper jaw/lower cheek bone. Has not metastisized. After 5 surgeries, clear margins/cancer free. Except for 3 molars (right side) entire alveolar ridge (including all other teeth) removed. Nov 2010, upper jaw reconstructed via "fibula free flap" surgery. Currently waiting to start the process for dental implants. No complications to this point. Able to valsalva(sp?) normally after initial reconstructive surgery. Full function/mobility of left leg (donor). Follow up MRI/CT's scheduled every 3 months to look for re-occurrence. No Chemotherapy. I know this type of cancer does have a h…

Good afterrnoon gentlemen, I have an optic neuritis disorder only on my left eye. I can see well, I'm just a little sensitive to light on my left eye and can't see the color red as I can with my right eye (about 10% greyer). I've done some researching and can't find if waivers exist for this condition. Can anyone shed some light based on experience?

I've been jogging for the past 13 years of my 14 year career in the AF. When I was enlisted in the AF, we took the bike test. But I decided to switch over to the officer side and I jogged about 6 days a week in college. Just so I could get a pilot slot and be the fastest guy in my AFROTC detachment. Jogging 6 days a week made me unstoppable on the track. I don't even say running, I call it jogging because my dog is normally by my side. I say jog so I get out there and do it at a leisurely pace. You think you are going at a leisurely pace but its pretty fast to everyone else. I developed Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) so I listened to the doctors and I've been t…

I know this topic is in the “Aviation Medicine” category but I don’t really know where else to post. So I have been picked up for a guard unit and I am going to go to MEPS in the next few weeks. I am pretty healthy overall but when I took a look at my weight on a scale, I am about 3 lbs under the max for my height (max weight for my height is 180). I understand the AF says that you need to be at least 5 lbs under to join. I am not sure what my BMI is but I am relatively muscular, so I am guessing that is a contribution to my overall weight. In the scenario that you are either slightly under the max or over the max weight when you process through MEPS (say +\- 2l…

Will the AF fix a broken nose that has healed crooked? Could I just make an appointment w/ a Flt Doc to re-break it and straighten it? I've heard rumors of one free cosmetic surgery done by the AF for personnel, is that true?

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!

There is a new procedure for flat-feet where a small titanium bolt is placed in between the ankles. Would this DQ someone through MEPS or FC1 ? https://hyprocure.com/the-hyprocure-solution/

Hi all, I did a deep dive on this forum and couldn’t find a solid answer to this question. I’m headed to Wright-Patt at the end of February for my FC1, will I have any issues with urinalysis, blood work, etc. if I am taking supplemental creatine? Thanks in advance.

Yea, not the most fun topic, but this is what caused the C5 squadron in Newburgh to not seek a medical waiver. The details are what hurt me. November 2003. Had a slight case of bright red blood only when wiping, and only in small amounts. I contributed this later to food from the dining center, but I get checked out several times anyways. It was intermittent for a month, then in December, no more bleeding, and still none to this day. They (military docs) decide in December to send me to a civilian doc for a colonoscopy in January '04 depite my insistence that I've had no bleeding. The colonoscopy day rolls around and I get to see the butt doc and am prepped for the pr…

Well I had PRK 2 yrs ago and when they were doing the corneal topography for the surgery they said that from what they say that I might be at risk for keratoconus. My Dad does have it so I guess I would be at risk. They said I've got about 20% chance of it developing. Now my question is I'm pretty much DQ'd from pilot right? I cant see the Air Force risking it with this eye condition. I just wanted to hear it from the doctors in this section to be sure.

BLUF: Can anyone suggest a good remedy/sinus decongestant for sinus barotrauma? I've experienced mild sinus barotrauma a couple of times and, what I'll call a severe occurrence once (felt as though someone was stabbing me in the forehead with an ice pick), over the past three years. All times have been on commercial airliners only on descent from over an hour long flight. The most severe occurrence was on an overnight flight from the States to Europe; the entire descent was downright debilitating. I've probably taken about 150 commercial flights over the last three years and only noticed it on about three of them. I've also piloted Cessnas below 8,000ft reg…

I am curious if anybody has gone through NAMI in pensacola for UPT at whiting field. I have already passed the fc1/mfs and wonder why I have to do the Navy's screening now. Seems unfair to have to go through two medical screenings just because I am joint training. Not really worried, but anytime you have to do ANOTHER screening you never know what a doc can find. Have hardware waiver as is and dont want to have to go through another test.....sigh..

Just wondering what the normal pulse rate range is and if they check at the flight physical. My blood pressure is fine, but the trainer at the gym told me my resting pulse is 90 and that it is high for someone who works out. I maintain a healthy lifestyle overall, so it doesn't make sense to me - have worked out regularly for years and haven't eaten red meat in 10+ yrs. Anyone know the range they are looking for?? Thank you. (90 is when I am relaxed - I imagine at the physical I will be nervous, so I am concerned it will be even higher) -Lauren