Aviation Medicine

My son is 17 and talks daily about signing up for the service (he's leaning Air Force...yeah!). The reality hit me the other day that he was diagnosed with Protein S Deficiency as a child. We had him tested ten years ago after I had multiple blood clots and was found to have the disorder. He has never had a clot and is NOT on anticoagulants. In fact, the hematologist always told us to not alter his lifestyle or restrict his activities because the probability of him getting a clot is less than 3%. The course of action is to do nothing different until he actually gets a clot, which will likely be never. Will this 11 year old diagnosis make him medically disqualified? If so,…

Doc, Thanks for looking in on this thread. Long story short(ish): Current rated senior pilot, ~3000 hrs My father had 2-3 blood clots when I was a little kid and has been on blood thinners ever since. When it happened, my parents got blood tests for my sister and I and they found that we had protein S deficiency. That was pretty much that and I had basically forgotten about it. That is until my sister got pregnant, got retested, and just reminded me that I have it too. Her retest showed that her level is 17 (I think normal is 60-150?) and her protein C was normal. She 'thinks' my level was lower than hers when we were kids (she was a bit older and appare…

Just curious if anyone has had any problems with drinking protein shakes. My PAS and COC both told me to stop taking protein due to increased levels of iron. I guess the increased iron may cause a delay in the commissioning medical (even though I successfully completed a FC 1 medical) resulting in a delay in commissioning. However, I know of several people who take protein and are fine. Plus, one of the flight docs at Brooks and one of our Captains at my det has assured me that it is fine.

Flight Doc I am currently on flight status (pilot) and have a skin condition called psoriasis. I have not mentioned this condition to the flight docs and it has not turned up on any of my flight physicals. My dad has told me that psoriasis is the reason he did not pass his draft physical during the 60's. My questions are, if I mention this on my next PHA will I get DQ'd? Is there any medicine I can use (other than the several over-the-counter medicated shampoo's avaliable)? [ 18 November 2002, 08:15: Message edited by: Flight Doc ]

Gentlemen, I've spent 3 1/2 years in the military; 3 years in Europe, including a one-year stint on active duty as an infantry officer, and six months in the USMCR after I immigrated. Just before shipping off to Parris Island, I had some hemorrhoids removed, and this triggered childhood memories I'd been unaware of. I made it through boot camp, but when I spoke to a chaplain on Lejeune about increasing nightmares, he referred to me to the wizard, who told me I had PTSD. Long story short, I was discharged honorable/RE-3P. No suicidal tendencies, no disciplinary problems, no PD or similar, excellent write-ups from my chain of command recommending that I re-enlist once he…

Plan to claim ptsd on my va claim when i separate but trying to go guard. I know you can have a disability rating and be in the guard but how do you know which ratings would be disqualifying. None of them impact my ability to do my job. The guard unit is concerned with me being disqualified/needing a waiver planned to claim: ptsd knee lower back edit: mq-9 guy with no plans of flying outside of the air force

recently took a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) at FCI because I was born a few weeks early. didn't pass - apparently my bronchial tubes are somewhat obstructed and all my measurables were 'below normal.' I've got no asthma history, no history of inhaler use, never smoked, have played sports all my life (including college football), recently ran a half marathon at a pretty good clip, and have never had any difficulty breathing. despite all of this, flight surgeon at FCI said the chances of my waiver getting approved for a below-normal PFT are 'iffy at best.' does anyone else have any history with poor PFT results? I'm getting a second PFT test in the…

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

History -> I had PRK back in April of 2007, everything went well and I passed my FC1 in January of this year. My FC1 states "pending completion of MFS" as I expected it to, and I know that there will be add'l PRK testing done there since it had not been quite a year since surgery at the time of my flight physical. In anticipation of MFS (and since it has been 11 months since my FC1), I scheduled an eye exam with a local ophthalmologist who also happens to be a recently retired AF flight surgeon. I had the full exam done to include corneal topographies, etc.. Everything looked fantastic. His only comment was that my right eye seemed dry under the microscope (a commo…

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 am currently an Air Force reservist thinking of going blue to green to be a pilot. I have one problem though. I was born premature and had to have surgery for necrotising inter colitis when I was 6 months old. I'm almost 25 now and have never had any problems with it. Will this disqualify me on an IFC1A physical, and if so, is it possible to get a waiver? Any flight docs who can answer this question? Thanks in advance.

Hello all I have a pilot slot with an AF Reserve unit, and I am currently processing a waiver with the Air Force Reserve Surgeon General. I have been told it is a waiverable issue, although sometimes doesn’t go through unfortunately, and this may be the case this time. My question is, do Air National Guard and AF Reserve both use different waiver approving authorities at the Surgeon General level? I was told, that both Reserve and Air National Guard use different waiver approving authorities (AF Reserve uses AF Reserve Surgeon General, and ANG uses State Air Surgeon) I am looking at the worst case scenario, in case it doesn’t go through, …

I have questions about a mild thoracic scoliosis c-curve that I have. It formed when I was a preteen but it's never affected me in any way. I've been cleared by a doctor to play hockey, baseball, race BMX and skateboard. I have no pain. I've seen a Chiropractor who has given civilian clearance to many who enlist but she's never worked with a pilot candidate before. I've also been seen by an Army doctor and was told my curve is fine to enlist. It's under 30 degrees but in the low 20s. My Chiropractor recommends I see her and a physical therapist and we can work to reduce it (will be doing so either way). Can this effect me getting a pilot slot and not passing the flying ph…

I'm headed to Brooks in a couple weeks and have a question about the Pre-exam report (where you are asked about 70 questions about your medical history). One question asks for broken bones, dates, explanations etc.. My question is, what differences does the AF make between "Broken bones", "Stress fractures", and "Hairline fractures"? Here's my situation: 1985 - Broken right wrist 1995 - Broken right arm 1997 - Broken left arm (hairline fracture) 2002 - Stress fracture in left ankle All healed completley with no pins or surgury, so my next question is.. are these disqualifying? Any help would be great, thanks!

Does a Cyst on my head make me ineligible to apply/being selected to UPT?? If not, does having it removed have any type of consequences on my chances of being selected??

All, I’m an USMC F/A-18 IP on terminal leave with the desire to TX to the AFRES/ANG. I was offered a position with a fighter unit but need a medical waiver. Does anyone have some guidance on who I should speak to about the process ahead? Much thanks for any assistance.

Hey everyone! I am currently filling out my Civilian LO application, and the last thing I need to do is decide my top rated AFSCs. I am super worried about not passing the flight physcial due to a microdestomy I had. As much as I want to be the one behind the stick, serving as an officer means so much more to me. Between Pilot, RPA, CSO, and ABM, do any require flight physicals that are going to give me the best odds of getting around the microdestomy? Thank you so much for yall's help, and if you have any experience with getting a microdestomy, I would love to hear it.

Hi, long time lurker with the usual story-freshman in college, doing ROTC in fall, want to be an AF pilot, PPL, you know the rest. I have read the multiple threads on asthma multiple times, but I have kind of a specific situation, and I figured you guys might be able to help me out. When I was 6 I was diagnosed with Reactive Airway disease, and I was only on prescription inhalers until the end of elementary school, when I essentially outgrew it. Unfortunately, two months after my thirteenth birthday, I had a wicked cold so my parents (both pharmaceutical scientists) figured, "hey, he's got asthma on his record, why not get him an inhaler." So, I kinda have a history…

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…

I am looking for some information about the waiver process. I was hired by an Air Force Reserve unit and DQ and was DQ at MEPS for a history of chondromalacia. Passed everything at MEPS and all the info was sent on for the flight physical which was denied. Is there a way to see why I was denied the flight physical beyond the basic "Because of MEPS Chondromalacia DQ" that I am hearing from my recruiter? I would like to know what the specific concern is or if there is a piece of information they want to see or if it's just a hard no. Any recruiters know if such info exists or can be requested?

I just wanted to pass on some information so that if anyone ever has this happen to them they will have a road map. I was diagnosed back in August with 4th nerve palsy (vertical phoria) in my right eye. I was immediately DNIF'd. Got to visit Brooke's again and even the Chief Ophthalmologist at Willford Hall. Needless to say I didn't get great news from either. Brooke's told me the chances of fixing my eyes were pretty small but if the double vision that I got in the left gaze could be corrected without glasses then they would recommend the waiver. Willford Hall just kind of laughed and said I had three options. 1. surgery (didn't recommend it because it was very inv…

Hello, I am applying for a reserve flight engineer job and was required to get a waiver for my history of ADHD. I was recommended qualified by the flight doc and they will be submitting my waiver and flight physical up to the AFRC HQ. Does anyone know if my chances of getting the waiver approved are good if I was recommended qualified by the doc? Thanks.

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…

Hey guys looking for some info on this peculiar situation. I was fortunate enough to be picked up for a UPT position by an ANG C-130J unit back in February of 2022. Today at MEPS I was deemed disqualified due to my Refraction Error in my left eye being a 3.25 (3.0 Refraction Error limit). This came as a surprise to me because in April of 2022 at my civilian Optometrist, my vision prescription was a 2.75 Refraction Error astigmatism in each eye (please see attached photo). My astigmatism has also never been above a 3.0 Refraction Error for 10 years have worn contacts. I was told by the Optometrist Technician at MEPS that this drastic deviation is because t…

while looking over i saw that you must meet the standards for both Refractive Error x.xx and Visual Acuity 20/xx. My plan is to become an officer and a pilot in the Air Force, but for now I am enlisting because i need the direction and motivation. Right now my contact prescription says 3.5 which would put me within limits of the pre-prk refraction error of 5.5.My question is what is the difference between the two test, and why are both needed? Also, Since i will work Mx on the flightline does this give me a better chance at receiving the surgery?