Aviation Medicine

Can anyone give any insight into whether carpal tunnel makes you DNIF and if so, how long? What is the process to get it fixed?

I was recently seen for a duodenal ulcer and the GI doc placed a few clips over a visible vessel that was a potential bleed. Do any flight docs on here know if that's an issue at your MFS/FC1? Clip is potentially visible on Chest X Ray. Thanks

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.

Throwaway account for obvious reasons. I'm a pilot not too long out of my B-course and have been operational for less than a year. I recently developed some respiratory issues that I noticed during regular exercise. I went offline to see a civilian doctor who thinks that it's either some sort of Vocal Cord Dysfunction (not what it sounds like...similar to asthma in concept but symptoms present differently) OR some sort of laryngospasm issue. All of it is exercise induced. It's by no means life threatening but something that is very uncomfortable and I'd like to get treated without paying cash and avoiding the whole permanent DNIF thing. I'm wondering if I do go the s…

Anyone know anyone that had an intercostal strain when they passed through the centrifuge? I passed no issues but curious regarding timelines and if they went DNIF. I don't hit the flight line again for 5 weeks so I'm just currently taking it easy thinking it'll heal itself.

I have had two episodes of a spontaneous pneumothorax, one in each lung. After each episode I underwent Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery which was a mechanical abrasion pleurodesis. I understand these will require a waiver and lots of patience, but are there any flight doc’s that could tell me what the chances are that I’ll actually get a waiver? After both these episodes I have still maintained my FAA class 1 medical and have completed hundreds of flight hours and gained my commercial pilots license as well as multi-engine and instrument ratings. *currently applying to the new CPW program for the USAF. I should also note that I haven’t had any issues in rel…

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?

I work in the healthcare field and my last TB skin test was positive, I went through all of the appropriate xrays and I am completely clear. I have never had any signs or symptoms. Is this going to be an issue at a physical? And do I need to do the Prophylactic treatment regimen? Thanks in advance for anyone that can help out. Taylor

Good Morning! My name is Michael Velasco, I am a senior at NeoCity Academy and for my AP research class I am doing a survey to study the correlation between a pilots drinking/smoking habits and am hoping to gather participants through this forum. The information on the survey will be kept completely confidential and an email will only be used to make sure every participant only fills out the survey once. Survey

Obviously asking for a friend…anybody have experience with a CSF aka brain/spinal fluid leak? Specifically, if surgery is required what are the implications for continued aviation service?

Will I be able to get a waiver and keep my flying job with the Air Force with a protein s deficiency? I'm a loadmaster. After developing a DVT in January 2022 I was referred to a hematologist. I was diagnosed with a hereditary protein s deficiency. I've only ever had the one DVT in my leg. I was also on birth control at the time, which was said to definitely have been a contributing factor to developing the DVT. I was on a blood thinner for about 7 months. After seeing 3 different hematologists, one being a blood clotting specialist, it was determined that it was safe for me to discontinue the blood thinner even with being a flyer. My flight doctor is saying wi…

Hello all, Currently a Rated Pilot flying for the ANG. I recently discovered a small mass along my jawline that I had originally believed to be an inflamed lymph node. Not an area I would usually inspect on my person, so it was a bit surprising to notice something that seems to have been there for a while. To my ignorance I thought it was something that would go away. Several weeks later, and after no change, I decided to bring it up to my Flight Doc. Flight Doc suggested it was an irregular mass and issued a referral to an ENT of my choice. After my consultation with my ENT he described the mass as a tumorous growth on the parotid gland. I am curr…

Hi Everyone, I am looking for advice or others experiences if they have ever been DQ'd from WP for their IFC1. And I'm not talking about trying to get a waiver for unwaiverable conditions (ie. you don't like that you truly have it but you still want to fly) ie. a technician or doctor didn't do the test correctly or didn't follow the procedures that they have. I've been told by numerous FS that I shouldn't be trying for an ETP because I don't have the condition that I was DQ'd for but shooting to appeal WP. Anything is appreciated.

Good Evening! This week I received the unfortunate news that I got DQ’d for Hearing Loss, History of Cholesteatoma (rare ear disease for those interested) and History of Chronic Back Pain. Now I’m not one to give up that quickly so for those of you interested or willing to help out I’ll give a quick background on my situation. Last October I was picked up for a pilot slot in a heavy unit flying KC-135’s. After submitting a lot of paper work for the known medical issues above, I was finally accepted to MEPs. While at MEP’s I was unable to pass the hearing test (barely) and was DQ’d for the same 3 things, but with the option for a waiver. So I Immediately scheduled an ap…

I let my Flying Class II physical lapse (I'm in a non-flying/no fly pay job, currently). How many years can I go without a Class II exam before I have to do a Class I or initial to get back to flight status? IOW how many years beyond expiration before I have to jump thru hoops?

My daughter is a Loadmaster and was previously on flying status. She had an issue where she passed out due to poor nutrition/dehydration, etc. she went to WPAFB and did the standard tests there to try and get her back to flying. During the tilt-table she passed out again. A total of 2 times in her life, last one was 18 months ago. She has an FAA 1st class medical and has been working on her commercial/CFI over the last 8 months with no issues. Has anyone heard of a waiver being approved for POTS, or how long the process typically takes. We haven’t seen anything related to POTS in the waiver guide TIA

I'm considering entering AFROTC but I wanted to hear advice on the chances of me getting a waiver for my allergies, specifically for a pilot slot. I have mild allergies to most fruits except berries but I can still eat them, I just get a little itchy and a stomach ache. I'm also allergic to must tree nuts, which if I eat I get a bad stomach ache--but I don't think I'm anaphylactic. I've had allergies all my life but they have gotten better. Does anyone know if pilots are often able to get waivers for allergies?

Hey all. I was picked up by a guard unit pre-covid. I am MEPS complete no waivers or anything needed and scheduled for FC1 next month. In my glorious stupidity I was playing basketball with a couple friends and messed up my ankle pretty bad. Had an MRI and doc said I need surgery... Torn ligaments, but he says he can have me back running and cutting in 4 months fully cleared. Yes I am communicating with my unit, but just wanted to get some advice from ya'll. Anyone have any knowledge or experience if I will require a re-check at MEPS or once I'm healed go to wright patt and get the sign off there? Second if I do have to go back to MEPS is the wait time 6 months or can I g…

Question for those of you retiring soon, is there a difference between getting any health medical paperwork while deployed vs. home station, in regards to later getting out and making your case for disability? Does it carry more weight since it’s in the AOR? Thanks

Need a class 2 for potential job. AME initially said I was good to go but then FAA said I'll need waiver (SI) for my eye issue. Had waiver for it in the AF for last 8 years flying. Documentation showing its stable not progressing and not requiring any treatment or meds. I've seen anywhere from a couple weeks to many months. Anyone have experience with the process lately? Currently waiting on a LETTER from FAA to start the process. Also, the new color vision test is a bitch.

I currently am a O-3 and DNIF from an injury I just encountered on a deployment 2 months ago. I had to get surgery last month and I am currently recovering. The doc says I should be able to come off DNIF status in the next 3 months. I am still on my deployment orders, but they expire in the next 3 weeks. I already submitted a LOD, but now I am debating whether to do MEDCON orders or use my airline pilot disability program instead. The airline pilot disability program pays me more than what I make in the Air Force when on AD orders. I normally am a TR and my family and I live 800 miles away from my reserve unit. My only issue with MEDCON is that if I co…

Hi I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but I have the opportunity to become part of a flight crew but I need to pass a class 3 flight physical but I don’t know if I can since I do have amblyopia but this is something I really want to do but I don’t want to waste my leaderships time by going through the process just to be told I can’t pass. Thank you all for listening

Gentlemen, is there a USAF flight doc that could DM me? I have a couple questions I need to run by you. Current flyer

I have always dreamed of being a fighter pilot in the navy or Air Force. I was going to try to get into one of the academies, but I was diagnosed with a fish allergy when I was 13 that I needed an EpiPen for so I just gave up, knowing that the allergy was disqualifying (I finally got tested for the allergy after a bad reaction, but had a history of reactions to fish when I was little). Fast forward a few years now, I just had an appointment with my allergist and we did bloodwork to see where my allergy was at. I tested negative for every type of fish except still slightly positive for cod. We then did a cod food challenge where I ate a whole cod fillet and I had no reacti…