Aviation Medicine

Hey everyone, I did a search on this and couldn't find what I was looking for in the way of advice. Basically I'm a T-1 student, only about a month from graduation, navigation and transition checks complete with good scores. Recently I was at the gym and seemed to injure myself on the bench press. No severe pain but some tightness in my shoulder and chest that made it uncomfortable to lift anymore. I took some time off of it (about a week) and tried to do some pushups and the pain came back. I layed off of any exercise for a couple more days and tried pushups again, and experienced the same pain again. So my situation is whether or not to go to the flight doc about someth…

I'm scheduled for an annual dental exam in a few days and just in time because i'm having pain in a back tooth, this tooth is however in an awkward spot on the roof of my mouth, and ive been told by a civilian dentist prior to service that to have it removed would leave a hole requiring some kind of surgery to heal, my question is that knowing this, is that kind of dental work something that can permanantely dnif you? ive read that you may need to apply for an exception to policy letter to continue flying, if no further treatment is necessary.

Doc, I just got some lab results for an upcoming deployment...I'm a civilian now and don't have a PCP so I went to a clinic my company set me up with. Apparently I have abnormal blood work b/c of high Creatinine Serum (1.28H mg/dL) and LDL Cholesterol (121 H mg/dL). I know about the cholesterol, it's high, and it's the bad cholesterol. I'm more concerned about the Creatinine b/c I know nothing about it other than what I read online. The limits the lab set for me are between 0.76 - 1.27...so I'm just above the "normal" range. Is it something I should worry about and go talk to a doc over? They said I'm still deployable so I imagine it's really not that big of a conc…

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…

MOD NOTE This is a merge of all the topics dealing with Medical Flight Screening (MFS), consisting of multiple threads discussing MFS information and prcedures. The Baseops merge feature had issues merging topics posted prior to the Baseops conversion, so the first page and a half of dates are not chronological but the original topics are consolidated. This thread is only for issues that are handles at Brooks during MFS and those procedures. It is not for general questions on those symptoms. For example, "How do they check for blood pressure at MFS?" is fine. "What happens if I have high blood pressure in the AF?" goes elsewhere. Below are links to other thread…

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.

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

Hello all, Bit of an oddball question but I'm kind of desperate for answers. I've searched far and wide for some kind of official USAF policy on hydroceles without any luck. Can anybody point me in the direction of the most recent, "official" reg or is that kind of thing not publicly available? From sources whose accuracy I can not be sure of, I have heard that a "small" right hydrocele is not disqualifying. When I went to MEPS over the summer, the doctor there thumbed through a HUGE book and said that a right hydrocele smaller than the testicle is NOT a DQ, larger IS. He determined mine was much smaller and not a DQ however, I was DQ'ed for an inguinial hernia t…

Hello, In the near future, I will have to take my DODMERB exam for AFROTC. I am almost positive I will get a DQ. I want to prepare for the worst (not getting a waiver.) A detachment commander told me that he once had a student who was DQ'ed without a waiver for a head injury. He successfully lobbied his congressman and got a waiver. Anyone here ever done this before? Is it possible for an individual like me to meet my congressman in person, or can I only do this over the phone/email? Also, what would be best to show my congressman. I'm assuming he doesn't have much experience with medical conditions so I do not see how he could possibly accurately decide i…

I received some terrible news from my ANG recruiter today: "The doctor at MEPS has Permanently Disqualified you for military service, reason: Acute Pericarditis" What does this mean exactly? Is this a deathblow to a career in military aviation? I'm really in a state of shock right now and am looking for some answers... Some background: I was picked up for a pilot slot with an ANG unit last year and have been in the process of trying to get clearance to get my MEPS physical (a physical I've passed no problem in the past) so that my Brooks physical can be scheduled. Unfortunately, I saw a doctor last fall for chest pain, and they diagnosed it is an acute pericardi…

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…

Along with two other chronic medical conditions, I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. It's the central nervous system version, as opposed to the obstructive type that gets most people. Everyone I've spoken with that has started using a CPAP machine says that it helped them immediately. I've used it for three weeks now, and if anything, I feel worse when I get up in the morning. The mask is also knawing a sore on the bridge of my nose. Is there anyone out there that has had the same trouble?

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.

What if you are correctable to 20/20 (within refraction limits), pass MEPS.. But then you goto your FC1 Physical, and under Cycloplegic tests, they see your refraction is more than +2. like +2.5, which is beyond limits. Is there some sort of discretion there? Reason is that my eye muscles are juiced up beyond belief, so good, that they make up for one of my eyes being an actual +2.5 in cycloplegic tests.

I'm submitting a package for UFT (currently a C-130 Nav, trying to go RPA), and I'm trying to wrap my head around why my current FC1A does not fulfill the requirements of an FC2. Can anyone explain the differences between the two physicals? Common sense would suggest that a FC1A would be more restrictive than the FC2, but apparently not. Also, when I go in for my PHA, why is it so crazy to suggest they do a FC2 during the same visit?

Back in May, I commissioned as a CSO candidate and was supposed to start my training next week. This came following a roller coaster of medical testing and having to get approval. To make a long story short, I had a siezure following a head injury when I was a child which intitially DQ'ed me; however my Colonel contacted the SG who determined that due to the amount of time since the injury and the fact that I have had no problems since, I should be able to take the FC-1 physical. I took the physical and they told me I passed. Then last week I get a call saying that the SG wanted some more testing to be done before the physical was approved, which rendered my commission…

I've been scheduled to do my FC1 at Wright-Patterson this coming Monday. I hadn't been to a dentist in awhile so I figured I needed to get into one. I wasn't expecting to be scheduled so soon so I only went today.... needless to say I have some work that needs to be done. This dentist can only get me in next Thursday after I come back. Is it better to find a dentist that can do the work ASAP or will I be alright going to WP with the paperwork showing them I'm getting the work done? Any help appreciated. Thanks

A few years ago while pulling G's I felt a pop and compression in my lower spine. It really scared me and I felt immediate pain. I could hardly get out of the jet after this happened due to my lower back muscles tightening and cramping up and once I got home, which was very difficult, I could hardly get into bed let alone get out of bed. I went into the flight doc the next day because of the extreme pain that I was in and he didn't seem too concerned after I answered his questions, and he said that he was going to treat it acutely. Basically I took ibuprofen for a while. After about one week I could function normally again but still experienced pain and have always h…

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…

Question from another site. Anybody have an answer?? "Anybody know if permanent retainers (metal bar cemented to the back of your teeth) are an issue with the flight physicals?"

Flight Doc: When I went through the physical at MEPS prior to enlisting the doc had us all do the valsalva (sp?) while he look in our ears. I was'nt able to do it in one of my ears and he said that it was okay as long as I wasn't going to have a flying position. Now that I'm aiming to get a pilot slot I'm thinking I need to be able to do this. I've heard that it can be mastered with practice but I haven't been too successful. Any help is appreciated.

Goducks, I tried getting something in the Valsalva thread, and have searched far and wide and read all the other pertinent threads, but I'm still not getting what I want so I'll try in a new thread... I was recently on a chamber ride (ROTC) when I ran into some problems clearing my ears. Before the flight, the briefer was making sure we could all hear a "pop"when we performed the valsalva. I said I didn't, but I could feel some sort of pressure in my ears which was good enough for them (no sounds though). On the final descent I was having trouble clearing them, and the VS definitely didn't seem to be helping. Swallowing would relieve the pressure for a second, but …

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Alright, first off I used TFSF and no hits, with that being said... I have a family member (said individual) that talked to the AF Enlistment recruiter today and the recruiter had to do some digging in his regs because said individual took Xanax for a while for depression. Any medical types know where I could find (or a have a link to) the document that MEPS or the AF would reference regarding this topic. I would like to know if it disqualifying or not. Thanks in advance. Planephlyer

3rd year of AFROTC, admin staff decided to surprise all FA13 commissionees with the news that medical waivers need to be in by Dec. 31 for the rated board. I realize it's unrealistic to expect a waiver by that time, so what are my options? I've already asked the SSgt in admin who's supposed to be knowledgeable about medical issues a year ago and she didn't give me any useful information. If I have to push my commissioning date back, I might be able to.