Aviation Medicine

Question about allergies. I have seasonal allergies (ragweed,pollen etc.) but they are easily controlled bt OTC meds. I am not worried about that but when I was very little (I don't remember it, but was told by my mother), I had a mild skin reaction to penicillin/amoxicillin. I have been told my parents for my entire life that I am allegic to these, and have told all my doctors etc that I am. I am not sure if it has been actually tested and/or documented that I am allergic to these but either way. If I am allergic to these, is this disqualifying? Should I be worried? I was just hired by an F-16 Unit and am naturally, frantically going through anything that could go …

Was looking through the forum and only found passing mention to it. was wondering what exactly was waiver-able about it, if anything at all? im going in for a eye test before i start my journey, in the past i have been border line for depth perception issue but i also have slight myopia that may have contributed to it. im going in for a retest to make sure even with the correction there is no issues with depth perception/diplopia . if i do have confirmed diplopia, am i pretty much screwed when it comes to flying?

I went through my FC1 physical at Wright Pat a few months ago. They determined that I have an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). They said that this is disqualifying until I can determine its cause. Since then I've had 4 rounds of blood work, ultrasound, CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, and a bone marrow biopsy. Besides a slightly enlarged spleen (17 cm), I'm completely healthy. My blood, CT scans, and bone marrow are perfect. Is this waiverable and if so what can I do to help prove my case? Thanks!

I’m currently a 20 year old Sra in the reserves at Charleston I am a crew chief on the C-17. I have five months left for I receive my bachelors in professional aeronautics. I hold a private pilot’s license with around 90 hours. I am going for my commission to become a pilot in the air force, air force reserve, or air guard whichever accepts me flying anything I can obtain I’m not trying to be picky just trying to get my foot in the door and I am fine flying anything that flies. I have great health with no problems but I do have the trait of sickle cell it is a trait and not the disease and it does not and has not ever affected me. This is common amongst African Americans.…

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.

Is there any precedent for flyers taking Naltrexone? AFI 148-123 gets no hits.

Hello, I am looking for information on spinal cysts or tumors. I have had a small bump just under the skin on my spine since I was a child. I have read the Air Force waiver guide on this subject but still have questions. Does anyone know the likelihood of receiving a waiver for this. Also, can one candidate receive multiple waivers? I recently had PRK, so I would need two. 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.

Search only brought up questions about supplements. At age 29 I'm pretty much (well am) no longer eligible to go for pilot, however I am still interested in pursuing service. I was just given a prescription for low testosterone form the doc, just wondering if having a medical history of that will ever raise any issues down the line.Google wasn't very helpful either on this one. Thank you!

3rd year of AFROTC, admin staff decided to surprise all FA13 commissionees with the news that medical waivers need to be in by Dec. 31 for the rated board. I realize it's unrealistic to expect a waiver by that time, so what are my options? I've already asked the SSgt in admin who's supposed to be knowledgeable about medical issues a year ago and she didn't give me any useful information. If I have to push my commissioning date back, I might be able to.

Alright, first off I used TFSF and no hits, with that being said... I have a family member (said individual) that talked to the AF Enlistment recruiter today and the recruiter had to do some digging in his regs because said individual took Xanax for a while for depression. Any medical types know where I could find (or a have a link to) the document that MEPS or the AF would reference regarding this topic. I would like to know if it disqualifying or not. Thanks in advance. Planephlyer

Any docs perusing this board (or anyone experienced), a keg to you (I mean it) for any help you can provide. I'm getting out of AD for family reasons and have been hired at a non-flying reserve unit that needs rated folks. I’m also on the short list for two IMA positions so at the unit level the Reserves want me and my experience. I had absolutely counted on getting into the Reserves to continue my service, work towards retirement and still get to feel kind of cool. While on AD I had several bouts of kidney stones that ended up with an MEB and an ALC (C-2). I have been symptom free for over a year and as long as I take my medication (urocit-k) it looks like I ha…

Goducks, I tried getting something in the Valsalva thread, and have searched far and wide and read all the other pertinent threads, but I'm still not getting what I want so I'll try in a new thread... I was recently on a chamber ride (ROTC) when I ran into some problems clearing my ears. Before the flight, the briefer was making sure we could all hear a "pop"when we performed the valsalva. I said I didn't, but I could feel some sort of pressure in my ears which was good enough for them (no sounds though). On the final descent I was having trouble clearing them, and the VS definitely didn't seem to be helping. Swallowing would relieve the pressure for a second, but …

I am a Cadet at the Air Force Academy and I recently had my vision tested for pilot qualification. I passed all my tests with flying colors except the Red Lens Test which I failed. The docs told me to come back for in-depth testing of my depth perception (which is a more thorough examination then the Red Lens Test) since I failed the Red Lens Test. The depth perception test was the one with the circles etc. I passed that one with flying colors as well. The docs then retested me on the Red Lens Test at the end of the depth perception test and I failed it again. The docs said they are going to try and get a waiver for the Red Lens Test and my myopia. The docs said that I pa…

Question from another site. Anybody have an answer?? "Anybody know if permanent retainers (metal bar cemented to the back of your teeth) are an issue with the flight physicals?"

A few years ago while pulling G's I felt a pop and compression in my lower spine. It really scared me and I felt immediate pain. I could hardly get out of the jet after this happened due to my lower back muscles tightening and cramping up and once I got home, which was very difficult, I could hardly get into bed let alone get out of bed. I went into the flight doc the next day because of the extreme pain that I was in and he didn't seem too concerned after I answered his questions, and he said that he was going to treat it acutely. Basically I took ibuprofen for a while. After about one week I could function normally again but still experienced pain and have always h…

So I went to WPAFB for my FC1 physical earlier this summer. I did not do well on the depth perception tests. I passed everything else. Once I failed the OVT, they had me go through the other battery of depth tests, and again, I was spotty - getting things right but not consistently enough. I left there being told I was DQ'd. I started doing a lot of research on depth perception - mainly on the mil forums - and started doing eye exercises everyday. Last week I was on TDY at Maxwell. At the advise of some of the ROTC officers there, I went over to the base clinic and asked them to test me on Depth Perception. I explained my situation to the technician, who said that som…

Back in May, I commissioned as a CSO candidate and was supposed to start my training next week. This came following a roller coaster of medical testing and having to get approval. To make a long story short, I had a siezure following a head injury when I was a child which intitially DQ'ed me; however my Colonel contacted the SG who determined that due to the amount of time since the injury and the fact that I have had no problems since, I should be able to take the FC-1 physical. I took the physical and they told me I passed. Then last week I get a call saying that the SG wanted some more testing to be done before the physical was approved, which rendered my commission…

I'm submitting a package for UFT (currently a C-130 Nav, trying to go RPA), and I'm trying to wrap my head around why my current FC1A does not fulfill the requirements of an FC2. Can anyone explain the differences between the two physicals? Common sense would suggest that a FC1A would be more restrictive than the FC2, but apparently not. Also, when I go in for my PHA, why is it so crazy to suggest they do a FC2 during the same visit?

Does anyone have any experience with nerve injuries? I got my funny bone pretty good about a month ago and am now feeling some significant pain from that nerve during any maneuvering about 7 g's. The docs are hoping it's just inflamed and have me on some steroids.

I received some terrible news from my ANG recruiter today: "The doctor at MEPS has Permanently Disqualified you for military service, reason: Acute Pericarditis" What does this mean exactly? Is this a deathblow to a career in military aviation? I'm really in a state of shock right now and am looking for some answers... Some background: I was picked up for a pilot slot with an ANG unit last year and have been in the process of trying to get clearance to get my MEPS physical (a physical I've passed no problem in the past) so that my Brooks physical can be scheduled. Unfortunately, I saw a doctor last fall for chest pain, and they diagnosed it is an acute pericardi…

Along with two other chronic medical conditions, I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. It's the central nervous system version, as opposed to the obstructive type that gets most people. Everyone I've spoken with that has started using a CPAP machine says that it helped them immediately. I've used it for three weeks now, and if anything, I feel worse when I get up in the morning. The mask is also knawing a sore on the bridge of my nose. Is there anyone out there that has had the same trouble?

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…

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've been scheduled to do my FC1 at Wright-Patterson this coming Monday. I hadn't been to a dentist in awhile so I figured I needed to get into one. I wasn't expecting to be scheduled so soon so I only went today.... needless to say I have some work that needs to be done. This dentist can only get me in next Thursday after I come back. Is it better to find a dentist that can do the work ASAP or will I be alright going to WP with the paperwork showing them I'm getting the work done? Any help appreciated. Thanks