Aviation Medicine

I was in an accident and given a run/walk waver which extends for about a year. shortly after I was given the waiver I was selected for promotion (6 months from now). the waiver covers through the period of the promotion date. my question is, can the promotion be held up until I am able to perform the PT test without any waivers or restrictions? I read through the fitness reg and could not find anything that is a clear go/no go. this is for the Air Force BTW and any help sure would be appreciated.

Hey guys. So here's the deal. I passed my FC1 with flying colors back in March and felt great. Started experiencing a chronic fatigue situation maybe around June and enlisted in August with the expectation that with some rest and a healthy lifestyle I could shake the fatigue situation off before heading to OTS in January. Well that hasn't happened so I've had to bump my OTS date back a couple months and now I'm under pressure to get it resolved. I've had some additional testing done and doctors can't find anything wrong with me but I feel like I got hit by a truck. Doctors have stated that it isn't really uncommon but often times it is not a diagnosable condition, and it …

I have seen that sleep apnea is a DQ but does anyone know if it is waiverable. An instructor at my school wants to apply for a flight slot but has had sleep apnea. He says it has been cured and that he has the paperwork on it. Any help would be great. Thanks.

This might be a very stupid question (as I hope it is). Would being born premature (7 weeks in my case, no health issues from it) be an issue for an FC1? The only reason I ask is because it's listed as part of my health history on a medical report. Hopefully I'm not about to open up a can of worms. Thanks in advance.

Hello! I'm a former Navy pilot who left active duty about 9 years ago, but I'd like to fly for the Air Force Reserves. 8 years ago I was (wrongly) prescribed antidepressants for less than 5 months and am now wondering if I will be disqualified. I have this letter (below) from my physician that states I did not have a mental disorder. Any thoughts on whether or not I'm screwed? No recurring symptoms or medical conditions. Many thanks!!! GoGoJuice "To Whom it May Concern: Approximately eight years ago, patient was prescribed an antidepressant (Effexor) for less than five months. At the time he was suffering from mild depression and anxiety, and was havin…

Searched around and couldn't find a clear answer on this. What's the process like after completing the FC1/MFS? Does it still need to go to the GB for approval? If you leave Dayton with no waivers is it just waiting on signatures or is there still a chance to be DQ'd?

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

I have been getting my push ups in and I developed a ganglion cyst (diagnosed) which has caused me pain in the pushup position. I've been able to continue doing a lower pushup count on my knuckles, but anytime my wrist is extended a certain way, I get pain. After the cortisone shot worked and faded, my PA recommended removal and said she does this all the time on military guys. The only healing is two weeks after for the incision. I'd like to do it, it's not urgent but I can't see a better time to do it than now before I go to OTS. Will this jeopardize my UPT pilot slot if I opt for removal? I've already passed the FC1 and MEPS, who would I go to to a…

My flight doctor told me I am the only flyer in the AF with my type of autoimmune disorder. Actually, my autoimmune disorder has become so widespread that Congress was lobbied by an organization in California to fund research for a cure. Congress granted the request for funding. There is a medical center in San Francisco who can help. I was scheduled to go there but I had a TDY, training, and a subsequent PCS out of California prevent me from going. I am going to retire in 3 years and I wanted to know if I could request a PCS back to that area for treatment once I've been on station for 2 years minimum? I will not die without treatment. On a scale of 1 to 10 my …

Doc, I have never had a cavity in my life, but because I grind my teeth in my sleep I have had to get 3 gold grounds on my mollars. In addition I bashed in another tooth and had to get that fixed with a porcelan crown. Now I have four crowns and no cavities. Kinda weird! Will this be a problem when I get to Brooks? Is there a limit on the number of crowns and even what types that you can have? Any help would be appreciated!

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this, or if it's been covered elsewhere (I did search), but I've been having loads of trouble simply getting my MEPS physical completed and was wondering if anyone had any advice. I went to MEPS initially in mid-November, and during my talk with the doc he said that since they were missing documents for my Lasik (they'd been sent, but not received, apparently), I'd need to return for a workup with a MEPS eye doc. I wasn't really looking forward to more time off work, long drives, and time spent at MEPS, but no big deal. Since then, however, my recruiter's requests for me to return to MEPS have been cancelled something like five ti…

I had an accident which required a fusion of my vertebrae. I know this is FC2 waiverable but the waiver guide says its 6 mos DNIF. My docs say I should be healed in 2 months and good to go. Anyone know if there is a way to appeal to get the time reduced if all tests/x-rays come back normal?

Alright I'm going insane here... My mom just sent me a file with my medical records and going through them, I found a doctors report from about 7 years ago that I had completely forgot about and made no mention of at MEPS. What happened: I was extremely dehydrated (nothing to drink for >12 hours), had not eaten anything for nearly 24 hours, and was laying in bed for around 8+ hours watching movies... My mom knocked on the door and I jumped up and got dizzy and fell over into a table and chairs. My mom made me go to the doctor just to make sure nothing was wrong. My doctor incorrectly labeled it a loss of consciousness (I remember hitting the table and chairs) and was "…

Hey all, I am about a couple weeks away from a flight physical and I got some paperwork with an interesting question. The question was "Have you ever or do you now have an undescended testicle". I haven't said anything yet because I had an undescended testicle but it was fixed when I was much younger. I was wondering a few things in this situation. 1. Would this condition disqualify me from flight? 2. Is this condition waiverable/ what are my chances for a waiver? 3. Worst case, there is about an inch long scar on my pubis, how in depth are the medical screens/ do you think they will find it under pubic hair if I don't say anything to the question. Th…

Hey, Does anyone know if having excessive cupping of the optic disc is grounds for DQ or if it is possible to get a waiver (if necessary)? So far the pressure tests were within the limits but the cup to disc ratio was 0.4 and I think it is suppose to be below 0.3. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks

When I fly (private, commercial, military transport) and especially on descent I will get a very sharp pain behind one or both of my eyes. Something dealing with air pressure and sinuses? What can I do to relieve/prevent this? I consider my self in excellent physical condition otherwise. Had ear trouble as a kid but that's it. Thanks for the help.

Dudes, more of my story to come, but if you are an ANG part timer and get sick or injured, know the regs. The leadership doesn't know them, and there is a lot of help out there for you. My story cannot be told for a bit, some of you know it, but I ended up doing pretty good. Your peers and your subordinates probably don't know this info, most of the pilots at my base don't know it. See attached if you are sick or injured while on duty status or your illness can be tracked back to duty status. Sorry, it was made in pages on a mac. This should be posted in every ANG/AFRC units CC's office. Outline2.pages

Anybody ever tried this? I'm at the Deid til Jan and am planning on hitting submit on my apps in the next two months. I separate next October. My current Class 1 expired in March. I'm 38. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

If a rated fellow were to have an undiagnosed pre-patella bursa (bursitis with retinaculum damage and potential arthritis) what would this member be looking at in terms of medical restrictions? Is this a permanently DNIF situation?

Has anyone on here had any experience dealing with PVCs or PACs (heart rhythm ectopy) either from the flyer or flight medicine side of things?

I recently went on PDT with AFROTC and was disqualified for my Jet Orientation ride because of a "heart murmur" that was heard by the flight doc using a stethoscope. I had never heard anything from any of my other doctors about it both before and after his finding and the ones after looked very hard to find it. They heard nothing, but to be sure they sent to me get an echocardiogram done. I had already taken 2 electrocardiograms too be sure nothing was wrong and they both came back normal, even though they do not diagnos heart murmurs. The echocardiogram results were just given to me and it said the following: Description Of Procedure: Technical quality of study is g…

Hey guys, first post here. Non-prior, selected by a guard fighter unit last month. Haven't even gotten to MEPS yet as my prescreen was denied "history of ITP" and now my waiver request was denied by the SG also (ironically for the same reason which doesn't say much). 10 yrs ago I was diagnosed with ITP (a blood disorder which causes blood clotting problems). A couple months later I had a laparoscopic splenectomy which is the typical way to treat this. Almost immediately my blood labs returned to normal and have been there ever since. No sicknesses or infections, health as a horse ever since. A history of ITP is disqualifying per the DODI 6130.03, but it is waiv…

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

I am just wondering if I have the vision standards needed for an initial Class 1 flight physical so I can go to UPT. I currently hold a USAF class 3 due to my AFSC (1c5x1d). I am currently an AGR so getting lasik/prk is something I am considering if I don't have the mins to get into a UPT slot. Below is my medical info. Also, are any of these standards waiverable??? Uncorrected Far Vision OD: 20/100, OS: 20/100 Uncorrected Near Vision OD 20/20, OS: 20/25 Corrected Near & Far Vision OS: 20/20, OD: 20/20 OD: -2.75 -0.25 x 110 OS: -3.50 DS If anyone has any answers I would really appreciate it.

I am a member or AFROTC Det. 159 and have just been selected as a pilot candidate. I am worried that my pectus excavatum surgery will DQ me when I go to Brooks AFB next month for my Flying Class I. I was curious to know if anyone can give me advice on what I could do to be able to pass this. I have made contact with the doctor that did the surgery for a consult, but not sure if there is other documents that I can bring to help myself out. I would appreciate any help that anyone can give me, maybe even someone that has been through this situation before. P.S. I like the board and think that this is a great resource. I will advertise to the other members of my detachment…