Aviation Medicine

I was doing my IFC 1 at an MTF (really wished I'd gone to MFS for both IFC1 and MFS portion), when they pulled an old record and saw I was hospitalized in 2008. My blood alcohol at the time was 1.5 times the legal driving limit (0.115 IIRC). I was not driving, so I wasn't doing anything illegal. I don't recall any figures for C02, ALT, or AST. The flight doc was saying my BAC was "really, really high" and that she was worried about me having to sign some type of abstinence statement. I'm 27 now, and I've never had any issues or history of anything related to alcohol. The proximal hospitalizing event in 2008 required I stop by in ADAPT since the AF considered it, "an alcoh…

Anyone have any experience with deploying with an epi-pen due to severe allergies?

Back in 2018, I was medically DQ'd for a cornea thinning issue for RPA. Long story short, I've since started working towards my PPL and as of current, in the final stages of getting a loan so I am committed to civilian flying however, maybe years later down the line, would I be able to reapply for Pilot in the USAF through OTS? Part of me still longs to fly for the USAF which is partly why I'm getting biannual checkups on my condition to establish some level of recorded medical history but I understand the odds are still stacked against me. I just want to know if I should just leave the dream of flying for the USAF and wholly commit to flying on the civilian …

I am looking to get a PPL to be more competitive for guard/reserve units but have came across a strange medical issue involving 0g/.5g pushovers and rapid descents. Whenever the descent begins, my lower abdomen and legs immediately tense up and I'm almost paralyzed. For example, we did a performance takeoff and I was completely fine on the climb, but the second he went to level out my quads and lower abdomen locked up and I felt like I was leaning back in the seat with those muscles entirely tense. I am completely fine doing 2G banked turns, steep climbs, and dealing with turbulence and other normal flying maneuvers. However, for whatever reason, these steep descent…

I commission on August 10th and in April I was upgraded to a CSO slot. Naturally I had to go get a FCIA physical at the local base. Did that and there were some minor dental issues I needed to get fixed and I did that and handed in the paperwork. I get a phone call yesterday and I'm told (less than two weeks before commissioning) that I need to get glasses to 'prove' my 20/30 vision in my right eye is correctable to 20/20. This is a bit confusing because in May, the Optometrist on base told me I don't need to get glasses until training starts and my physical should be fine because he 'proved' my eye was correctable in the eye exam with the mechanism they use that has …

When going for your FC1 prior to UPT, I'm sure they request all medical records. Do they pretty much leave it to you to bring everything? Or do they take your insurance information and obtain the medical insurance history, then request records based on that? Just wondering if insurance history is involved in the process at all. Thanks!

I'm currently assembling my package so I can submit it to the boards for a rated slot after I wrap up my final year in college. I currently DO need Lasik/PRK procedure done to be qualified for a pilot slot. Should I get the operation 6 months before I graduate or is it possible to get into OTS first and then have one of the Air Force doctors conduct the procedure? I been snooping around the web but found outdated information and answers regarding this topic. Best regards, Ryan

All, Please welcome a new moderator to the forum. Deaddebate has been hanging out for a while and providing advice, so I've given him the official title. I'm sure he will continue to give the same quality of contributions that he has previously, the only difference is that he now has the ability to bitch-slap the profile of anybody who feels the need to act like a prick to him.

Hey everyone, so I fractured two bones in my hand today and the doctor said it'll probably take 6-8 weeks to heal and my flight physical is on March 9th. I'm pretty sure I have to move it to a later date, or can I go with a cast? I'm just a little worried this might affect me more than I would like. I tried searching, but couldn't find anything on this.

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.

Hey all, I have just been diagnosed with vasculitis and was wondering if it was disqualifying. Only my skin has been affected and none of my internal organs so I got lucky. My skin is healing nicely and the doc's think it may be HS Purpura i'll find out in a few days. If it is disqualifying is there any chance for a waiver? I tried a search with no luck.

When I was 8, I had something called a Testicular Torsion,its where the testicle twists and cuts off circulation. By the time I got to the hospital it had untwisted and I was fine so the doctor sent me home. 7 years past with no problems until a few months ago it happened again when i was upnorth camping, It thought it would go away like the previouse time but it didnt, with no hospitals around I had to wait about 5 days till i got home. I finally got home and we rushed to the hospital for about a two week period i was in the hospital every two days, the doctors had no clue what was wrong. The hospital doctors finally sent me to the Urologist after 3 weeks of pain. I…

Has anyone read the updated 48-123. I am a RPA pilot select, according the AFI I am only required a IFCIII and MFS (phycological). All IFCIII items can be processed as all FOMC and BOMC locations. I have completed all IFCIII requirements and they are packaging my stuff to send to Wright Patt for a 2808 to get signed. Wright Patts response is that the Regulation is wrong and RPA pilots need an IFCII and that everything will need to be done at location Wright-Patt. DAFMAN date 8 December 2020, so anyones educated thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Is sleep walking,and having to take medication for it a qualifier for joining the Air Force ?

Is it possible to stay on flying status after donating a kidney?

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!

Hey there yall, I used to be a 300lb lard. Decided to clean myself up and join the military. I just got back from field training and I'm thinking about going for a pilot slot. But I'm also going to be having a abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery here soon to remove all the lose skin around my waist. Anyways, I've talked to some NCOs at our det and they tell me it should be fine, but I would like to double check with what you guys think. Will that have any impact on me going up for a pilot slot? Will I be automatically DQd? Thanks alot

can you get DQ at brooks if you have a scar on your retina?

Greetings, I was passed my FC1 physical last April. I will commission this May and will be doing the Gold Bar program for a year then off to UPT. I was cleared for my eyes in the FC1, with the exception I have to wear glasses. However, its either in my head that I now realize I can't see perfect, or my eyesight is getting worst. Will I be able to request PRK/LASIK once AD? Or, am I in the clear if I passed the FC1 and they just waive something? -Thanks

Hello all, I searched the PRK/LASIK thread and was unable to find an answer to this question as the reference I have is only 2 years old, but sorry if it has been asked before. I'm an Army guy and got LASIK in my right eye almost 5 years ago to get in standard for my Army flight physical. I am in the process of submitting applications to ANG/AFR units. I've seen the LASIK checklist with the required pre and post-op exams. I had post-op exams after I got my eye done, but the timeline was different the the Air Force's (if I remember it was 1, 2, and 3 months then I got the waiver, not 1, 3, 6, and 12 months). I can probably get a copy of all of the paperwork, but while…

I am trying to find out how serious a varicocele is when pulling high g-forces. I recently overheard someone talking about his friend who had surgery to fix this same problem before going on to high g force aircraft because of the possibility of it rupturing. Somehow I have made it through all of my physicals without the doctors noticing that I do in fact have a varicocele (have had it since I was an adolescent). I am very hesitant to go in to the Flt Docs now. How much should I worry about this, and if I go back to a high g force aircraft do I need to get this fixed before going back to the centrifuge? Is it threatening to my career as a pilot.. ie could I lose …

Situation: I am an HC-130J CSO who has been flying for 8 years. Recently I went to get corneal topography done as part of the workup for LASIK/PRK. During this they found abnormal corneal topography in my left eye. The optometrist said it shouldn’t affect my vision but it is DQ for surgery, no big deal, but the flight doc called me the next day saying I am now DNIF pending a waiver. Vision details: my current RX is Left (S -1.50, C -1.00, A 170) right (S -1.25, C -1.25, A 013) I see 20/15 corrected in both eyes, perfect depth perception and color vision. I show no symptoms of any other eye issues. Question: how good are my odds at a waiver here? The flight doc sent th…

Hello everyone, I received a secondary (explanations below) FC1-eye exam on April 4th of this year. The information was eventually submitted to Texas for review on July 27th and I've been waiting patiently ever since which seems to be a longer than normal time from my research. A little backstory: I'm a civilian that began the OTS route close to, or over 2 years ago. I was selected pilot after my second round of selection / interviews and DQ'd after my left eye did not fall within waiver-able limits (I had a -3.5 correction when the limit is -3 if I remember correctly). I pushed for a re-test and both eyes fell well within the waiver-able limits. The rec…

MEB

Has anybody been an FFDO and then try and go to MEPS? I am having some trouble and wondering if anybody has been through this and can help me.