Aviation Medicine

Hey guys, long time viewer, first time poster. I am a pretty small guy around 5'3", and I'm just worried this will affect me when I go for a pilot slot. I'm about to be enrolled in ROTC so I know a have a couple years, but I really don't think I'm going to grow that much b/t now and then. I am just curious if any of you know anyone this short and if they have had any problems. Thanks guys

F16PilotMD, Had my FC1a done today. The examiner said that I had a "borderline" EKG and the flight doc reiterated it. Does "borderline" terminology indicate a specific abnormality or just that one of the electrical returns came close to regulation max/mins? The way they used the term "borderline" made it sound like it was medical lingo for a specific EKG abnormality. If the term indicates a specific problem, what are the chances, if any, that it will be a disqualifying condition? Thanks for the help. [ 15. February 2005, 22:45: Message edited by: Critical Mass ]

any one know where I can find the Air Force regs on uvietis and or iritis for pilot candidates?? thanks for all your help

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

Will taking Lamisil tabs DNIF you? Also, does the Air Force prescribe Lamisil to flyers? Thanks

Hey Docs or anyone else who can help, I was awarded a pilot slot for the active duty, but just found out from the the people who gave me my F1C down at Edwards that I have exoporia which is supposed to be a divergence of my eyes at near vision. Now I'm not at all knowlegable in areas of vision problems because I've never had any, but I just don't want to give up on my dream without a fight. Is there anything at all that I can do or do just have to accept the inevitable. Your responses will be greatly appreciated. :confused:

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.

I read back a way and I see that pilots are not allowed to use Propecia. Is Rogaine allowed? Are hair transplants allowed? P.S. Why is Propecia not permitted?

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!

Was at Brooks last week and found out I have a DQ condition known as Fleck dystrophy...basically little opaque spots on my cornea. They don't effect my vision at all, and they took a whole extra day to put me through every eye test I think ever invented, so I'm hoping the waiver process won't be too difficult. I also need a waiver for near acuity, but they were able to correct both my eyes down to 20/10. Also, the eye doc said the spots will not likely progress and get worse, so combined with that and the fact that my vision is correctable to 20/10, do you think I'll get the waiver pretty easily?

When I was 12 I was diagnosed with a Slipped Epiphysis. The doctor put a five inch steel pin in my hip to correct the problem. I spoke with the NCO's at the Det about it, and they told me that it was a disqualifying condition. They said that I might be able to get a waiver, but that they had never worked with the condition before (it happens to 3 in every 100,000). I just want to know if anybody has ever worked with this condition before, or what the flight docs know about it. The hip is fully healed, and I can do anything I want to without restrictions. They can remove the pin, but it makes no difference if they leave it in. I always thought that the condition wou…

I have had 2 pneumothoraxes 3 years apart. Will this be a problem down the road?

MD, I'm an active flyer. I've been suffering from pretty bad heart burn at night, especially lying down. Usually I end up vomitting. The pain seems to go away when I sit up. It seems when I am TDY the heartburn is more common. Is this acid-reflux? Is there anything over the counter I can take which is legal? I usually take tums or rolaids with no luck. Can I expect treatment for this to DNIF me for a while? Regards Magicrat

I have in the past had surgury to repair a broken right elbow. I now have 4 titanium screws in that elbow. They are not needed now and I could get them taken out if need be. Is this something that could disqualify me from UPT. Should I have them removed before my FC1. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

I don't fully understand tuberculosis but I know that when I was 8 I tested positive and it was visible in my left lung. I had to take medication for a year and my lung went from abnormal to normal. A year after ending medication I was re-examinde and was found normal. All of this documentation has been submitted at MEPS and DODMERB. I am PPQ but fear that this will hinder me at Brooks. What do I need to know about Tb and it's effects on my Class 1 physical. Am I going to lose my pilot slot?

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…

I broke the scaphoid bone in my right wrist at the beginning of the summer requiring a permanent screw to be inserted to bring the bone back together. I am expected to make a full recovery and regain all motion in my wrist. Subsequently, I have an ANG UPT slot for FY06 (hopefully). I have been told that I will be needing a waiver, but I have no idea what to expect. Has anyone dealt with this type of injury before and how does the waiver process work for it? Thanks for any help you can give.

I was just told I have a herniated disc in my back that may require surgery. What kind of problems can this create for me in passing my class 1 physical?

1. Is Contact Dermatitis (in this case caused by nickel) considered an allergic reaction, and does it have any effect on flying status? 2. In regards to the boxes on all those medical forms, does nickel-induced contact dermatitis require that the "Have been diagnosed with allergy" box be checked? (P.S. Already have FC1 approved, commissioned, and in IFT). [ 08. September 2004, 20:39: Message edited by: NimitsTexan ]

When I was active duty, I had an etoh waiver. Foolishly, I embellished the dsm-iv test hoping that would get me out of trouble--wrong!!! I was seperated more than 4 years ago and thought I was completely out of the service, until I received a letter of promotion just recently. I found out I am in the inactive reserves now. I want to fly but have had some drinks socially since I thought I was never going to fly again. My old waiver expired 2 yrs ago, but since then I've been reevaluated and only had 1 out of the 7 for dsm-iv. What are my options for flying now? Should I show the reeval or just say nothing?

So, I have been absent for quite a while, I might be needing jaw surgery, its not required but its a good idea to fix my overbite, the official name of the surgery is Bi-Sagital Split Osteotomy Is this gonna cause trouble later when attempting to get a pilot or Nav slot? Thanks

This week I finally got something back about the FC1/MFS I did at Brooks in April. It looks like I have to do some follow up work and was hoping F16PilotMD could shed some light on the problem I may have. From the Report of Medical Examination: "Request current consultation from: Orthopedics for finding noted on chest X-ray. There is evidence for a mildly increased thoracic kyphosis with moderate loss of height of the T8 vertebra and mild loss of height of T7. The findings are compatible with prior trauma." The report says to include examinee's personal and family history related to the condition, past and current signs and symptoms, treatment rendered, and da…

Is a slight spinal curve DQin? I forget what it is called, but in middle school they said I had a slight curve. Scoliosis I think it is called. Anyways, It never gave me any problems. [ 05. July 2004, 15:07: Message edited by: Swigs ]

What happens to a military pilot who becomes pregnant? Is she immediately off flight status? How long is she at home after the baby is born?

Dear Flight Doc, I have a question, I think when I was little I had an inner ear infection (I was told by my parents that some sort of fluid leaked from my left ear) When I was going thru the medical exams for the flight school (that was in Turkey), the doctor saw something in my left ear and instructed me to do some valsalva maneuvers. He examined a little bit more and then told me that I previously had my eardrum had a perforation but it healed itself and the perforation was gone... That explains the click sound in my left ear when I do the valsalva... I flew for 233 hours in Turkey (under ICAO rules) and 45 hours in US with a FAA Class I medical. Didn't hav…