Aviation Medicine

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

Help,I went for a 6 mile trail run during winter break and wound up with a stress fracture of the second/third metatarsal of the left foot.Our Det. normally runs indoors all winter and I guess I`m not used to the harder surface outdoors,anyhow will this mess up my chances for a field training slot?I`m told everyone has to qualify at PFT before Feb. ,the Doc says it can be up to 12 weeks to heal a stress fracture.I`m on scholarship,in my second year,will I lose that too?I did a search ,couldn`t find anything about this.I passed the PFT no problem before break ,don`t know if that helps.I couldn`t of done this at a worse time.

My son is a firstie at Camp USAFA and learned yesterday that his waiver for drusen, submitted his third degree year, was denied. At the time the wavier was submitted, he was lead to believe the condition was wave-able. In fact, he received his pilot slot last year. The news yesterday was quite a blow. I've reviewed the Waiver Guide updated Nov 07, and have learned that for FC I/IA individuals, the condition is not eligible for waiver. Two questions: Is there any sort of appeal process or other avenues available to "fight" the denial? Would drusen prevent him from cross-commissioning and flying with another branch? He's taking things in stride and is scrambli…

I searched quite a bit and didn't come up with anything. I just was diagnosed with mono, and wanted to know if in the next few years it will be any problem with my flight physical to be a AF pilot. Thanks.

During my preparation for OTS Class 0804 I've developed a bad pain in my legs. I went to the doctor today and it looks like I may have "exercise induced" compartment syndrome. I have a few tests scheduled for Wednesday for a final diagnosis. It seems the only cure for this syndrome is surgery that has a 6-12 week recovery timeframe. The bad part is, OTS is only 12 weeks away. Is it possible to get my class date moved back if necessary? I'm sure I would need a waiver as well. Is this waiverable? Thoughts?

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…

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.

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?

Had a kid ask me a question about dental req'ts. Recent OTS rated board select for RPA pilot. He has four lower back teeth broken off to the roots, non-restorable, but not painful or any observed decay. Will he pass the dental exam, or will they require him to have them pulled to eliminate the roots? I know cavities require fixing before they'll pass you, but I don't know about teeth that are simply broken to the gum line.

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!

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…

Hello, My current flight physical is only cleared for FCII. I was DQ'd for FCI due to refractive error. When Flight Med submited my stuff for a waiver, they said everything looked good and shouldn't be a problem getting a waiver. After it came back I only got a FCII and no waiver. Is there any way to get a waiver after a physical has been put in the "system"? Thanks.

This may be more or a procedural question than an medical question, but it has a couple of facets. Background: I'm a 34 year current and qualified USMC tactical jet aviator with no USN waivers. I have 20/17 vision and am currently in a flying status. I'm in the process of ending my current contract and switching to either the an AFRC unit or an ANG unit. I've been offered a job with an AFRC unit, so they are running my flight physical up through AFRC(as far as I understand it). When I completed my flight physical the optometrist identified that I demonstrate a topographical pattern suggestive of keratoconus in one eye. Considering that I'm already a "trained" avi…

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…

Hey everyone. I am a newbie to this forum. Based off of what i've read so far you guys seem like an informative bunch. So, perhaps one of you may have some insight to contribute to my question. Here's my situation. I have had a life long ambition to fly for the Air Force. In one year I will graduate college with a BS in physics. I have a good GPA, no felonies, in great shape, etc. In a recruiters eyes I check all the right boxes for a Pilot hopeful. However, back in 2009 doctors found a small tumor in my shoulder. Long story short, the tumor was removed via minimally invasive surgery. Once out of me, the tumor tested positive for cancer. Good news is, since t…

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.

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…

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 "…

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.

Hey all, couldn't really find anything much on this. Is any amount of cauliflower ear DQ for pilots? Does it matter at all unless it affects hearing? Been training jiu-jitsu and wondering if i need to start using ear protection for this reason. Thanks!

I am a traditional reservist and coming up on my annual PHA. The med group did a search for my previous Tricare authorizations/referrals and based on that, it sounds like they want me to sign release forms so they can access those medical records from my civilian doctors. I have seen several different types of doctors for varying issues over the past year, but not diagnosed with anything, so I don't have anything to hide; however, it concerns me to just sign blanket waivers for these records. One reason is I know how ridiculously long it takes for them to request the records, receive them, look them over, send to HQ to look them over, realize there is a required test t…

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.

I don't want to get DQ'd for bad hearing, but with little ones running around the house screaming in my ears I'm getting a little worried. I'm starting to wear earplugs more around the house and especially during diaper changes when they start screaming like banshees. Has anyone had any significant hearing loss from kids screaming?

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.

Hello all, I was recently picked up ANG and haven’t been able to consult with the base Flight Surgeon yet to discuss my waver chances. My dependent Tri-Care Medical Record show a 4 year history of Asthma, classified “Mild to Intermittent”. I was on albuterol and Advair. I stopped taking medication at age 11 years and 7 months. Haven’t taken asthma medication since. Fast Forward to age 19 ( after realizing my dream to kick ISIS ass via sky), I wanted to be prepared for the upcoming asthma waver challenge. I scheduled a pulmonologist visit and PASSED a MCT, indicating no longer handicapped via asthma. 1. Going forward what are my chances to get a wave…