Aviation Medicine

Please only respond the baseops way, straight and to the point Passed MEPS physical but my right ear was borderline on the max decibel level. Scheduled for fc1 in December. My question is if I am 'slightly' over on the decibel level is that a waiverable scenario or auto DQ? Any previous experience or flight doc knowledge would be more than appreciated.

I went through my FC1 physical at Wright Pat a few months ago. They determined that I have an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). They said that this is disqualifying until I can determine its cause. Since then I've had 4 rounds of blood work, ultrasound, CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, and a bone marrow biopsy. Besides a slightly enlarged spleen (17 cm), I'm completely healthy. My blood, CT scans, and bone marrow are perfect. Is this waiverable and if so what can I do to help prove my case? Thanks!

I’m currently a 20 year old Sra in the reserves at Charleston I am a crew chief on the C-17. I have five months left for I receive my bachelors in professional aeronautics. I hold a private pilot’s license with around 90 hours. I am going for my commission to become a pilot in the air force, air force reserve, or air guard whichever accepts me flying anything I can obtain I’m not trying to be picky just trying to get my foot in the door and I am fine flying anything that flies. I have great health with no problems but I do have the trait of sickle cell it is a trait and not the disease and it does not and has not ever affected me. This is common amongst African Americans.…

This is pretty embarassing: I just got entered into the Commander's Review board process due to flight doc recommending admin removal for manifestation of apprehension. I'm not afraid of flying, in fact I love it, it's just when I'm flying that I have problems. Anyway, I'm hoping that they'll let me enter SUNT but have no idea if I'm already DQ'd for that due to this MOA issue. I can't find anything specific in the regs regarding UPT/SUPT...that I'm aware exist anyway. Can someone please help me out with some info? More info about my situation: It was recommended to me by my flt cmdr that I go to life skills, since I thought it was maybe just a pressure/stress issue.…

Anyone have any info on the physical that happens right before starting UPT or during the first week? Are these the same standards as the IFC1 and MFS down at brooks?

Hello - I have a religious requirement about what I put into my body (at least when it comes to psychotropics and other substances including caffeine, etc). I was told that I have to ground test no-go pills before my UPT class starts next week. Flight doc indicated that if I wouldn't proceed with the ground-test, the air force would show me where the door was. Are there any waivers or known ETP's that, AFI's, etc. that might let me skip this? Please note, I fully understand why we are ground-testing, I just can't reconcile it for the religious reason I mentioned before. Thanks for any advice.

From the time I’ve contacted my AFR recruiter to submitting all my medical records for Meps, it’s been a solid 6 months and I have yet to be scheduled for a physical. Every response from Meps took over two weeks, sometimes 20+ days. Long story short my medical records weren’t in order and I had sent duplicates. Everything has been corrected since then and that was almost a month ago. I am contacting my recruiter weekly and I’m getting the same response from him, waiting on guidance from Meps. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? When I was going for the Navy they cleared me for a physical in about a month. Where do I go from here? I’m so eager to serve my country as an…

I just comissioned and am suppose to be going to IFS in a few months. I just found out i have a rare condition that requires back surgery. Basically i have a hole in my vertabre and i have to have them stick some pieces of bone graph in there to stimulate bone growth and fill in the hole. The doctor said that i should be able to be doing physical activity in a month and that it should heal up to be 100% but that will take a while. Is there anyway this would be waiverable. If i have to push back dates will I automatically lose my slot? (I'm suppose to start UPT in Jan.)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm also wondering if there's anyway i could keep t…

My doctor believes that I have Cholinergic urticaria. He wont know for sure untill I go for some tests. This is freaking me out. Is Cholinergic urticaria a dq for a flying slot? Thank You.

I received my FC1 back today from AETC and I was disqualified for the hip to knee measurement (28in). I called the base that I took the original FC1 and they told me to come in and they would do it again. I went in,they did it again and I passed(25 in). I had pretty good idea that something was screwed up because I am only 5'11 and I do not have freakishly low knees. My question is this. When I send my stuff back in to AETC will they recheck the entire thing or will they look at the amendment that says I'm not a freak and stamp it passed. I'm worried because I am running out of time for the upcoming reserve board. Thanks

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 ]

I'm asking this for a female friend ;) ; Can a chick get a boob job and fly? Fighters? Take Gs?

My coworkers and I were celebrating after a successful month at work. On a empty stomach, I had one to many drinks and got kicked out the club for falling asleep. When my co-workers found me outside sitting down against the wall, they tried to wake me up. I murmured a few words and was unresponsive after that. They ended up calling the ambulance for precautionary reasons and took me to the hospital. I woke up 4 hours later and went home. Now the question is, on my medical/hospital record its states "Acute Intoxication". I wanted to know if that is disqualifying for a USAF Pilot slot? I'm currently assembling my package for the next civilian rated board. -No Medical H…

About ten years ago when I was a young teenager I had low blood pressure which lead to dizziness and occasional fainting when standing up too fast. I never had any periods of unconsciousness, nor did I suffer any head injuries (I'd typically just land on a couch or sit down on the floor if I felt one coming on). I refuse to lie to a direct question, like those about blood pressure and fainting spells, so I plan on disclosing this info. I have had totally normal blood pressure ever since. Should this be a problem trying to get a UPT or CSO training slot through OTS? Ditto for Navy pilot/NFO.

Does anyone know if there are any authorized ED medications you can be taking while you are on a rated flying status? Hoping to start a general discussion about this 'hush' 'hush' topic, so any info regarding this would be appreciated...

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.

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've been told that I have shin splints, which are tiny stress fractures in your shins. I run almost everyday, and take ibuprofen when my legs are sore. It's not a problem on most days, but sometimes it can be painful after a hard workout. I have my FC1 in September. Does anyone know if this will be a problem?

When DODMERB requests all medical records from birth to present, what happens if records are unavailable? For example, I recieved my physicals through my High School and they discard them after the student leaves. So from 14-18 there are no medical records except for one physical which I happen to have. Would a signed statement from the athletic director saying just that be ok? Is it not a big deal? Is my Air Force career over? Secondly, do I have to get my dermatologist records from when I was 14 and got treated for acne? I would assume yes, it is just taking a long time and really how important is it? Finally, how long does it take to process the medical records once…

I saw a policy memo from AFPC of an upcoming guidance memorandum for AFI 36-2110, Assignments, expected to publish on 30 June. Post-pregnancy deferments for Deployment and PCS (aka Assignment Limitation Code "A") will increase from 6 months to a full year. This action will be retro-active for any child-births from March 2015 to present. Note that para 2.39.5. allows for members to voluntarily request removal of this deferment, which certainly will be a very important option as a year is a very LONG time and assignment possibilities will arise in that time. The change was also supposedly spear-headed by SECAF James. It's also very important that this deferment is not pushe…

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…

FYI for the general Air Force population: The new AFI 10-203 published the other month switched the PT restrictions on an AF 422 from the Exercise Physiologist back to the PCM (your normal doc) and everything is documented on the AF 469. So the AF 469 generated at your appointment for whatever condition you have can include, all on one form, the Duty Restriction (what you can't do at work), Mobility Restrictions (whether you can deploy), Fitness Restrictions (what PT activities you shouldn't perform), and Fitness Assessment Exemptions (self-explanatory). This is essentially switching back to the procedures in 2006. The reason this may not have been announced or impleme…

I used to have Osgood Schlatter Disease in my left knee when I was younger. However, it's been around 5 or 6 years since the pain has gone away. As of now, there is no pain whatsoever and I can move my knee around freely just like before I had OSD. My question is, will I still be able to pass the medical in the Air Force if I wanted to become a pilot? The doctors wouldn't even know I had OSD, unless they saw my left knee which has a very slight bump to it. I don't think they'd even notice the bump unless I told them. Any help would be great! Thanks! Jon C.

Hi, I am a USAFA cadet, but I have taken the OVT depth perception test many times for solo flight considerations. The results were failures, so I am wondering if one needs to pass the OVT to be CSO medically qualified?

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 …