Aviation Medicine

BLUF: Can anyone suggest a good remedy/sinus decongestant for sinus barotrauma? I've experienced mild sinus barotrauma a couple of times and, what I'll call a severe occurrence once (felt as though someone was stabbing me in the forehead with an ice pick), over the past three years. All times have been on commercial airliners only on descent from over an hour long flight. The most severe occurrence was on an overnight flight from the States to Europe; the entire descent was downright debilitating. I've probably taken about 150 commercial flights over the last three years and only noticed it on about three of them. I've also piloted Cessnas below 8,000ft reg…

Hey everyone. I am a newbie to this forum. Based off of what i've read so far you guys seem like an informative bunch. So, perhaps one of you may have some insight to contribute to my question. Here's my situation. I have had a life long ambition to fly for the Air Force. In one year I will graduate college with a BS in physics. I have a good GPA, no felonies, in great shape, etc. In a recruiters eyes I check all the right boxes for a Pilot hopeful. However, back in 2009 doctors found a small tumor in my shoulder. Long story short, the tumor was removed via minimally invasive surgery. Once out of me, the tumor tested positive for cancer. Good news is, since t…

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.

Has anyone taken this stuff? Was on leave in Central America and experienced "travelers diarrhea". Cause unknown, most likely local water. In an effort to curtail my symptoms I took this stuff on a local doctors recommendation. You can get this at the local pharmacy and all it is is a set of probiotic vials w/ a set of pills. BL, do you think I am required to tell the flight doc I took it upon my return or no? It did work and I feel fine now. Thanks

I saw the flight physical counts for flying general aviation now. Is it the initial class 1 or the yearly PHA that counts for it? Also, does the CSO PHA count for flying GA? I'm trying to figure out what exact piece of paper I need to carry with me and if I need to do a civilian medical or not.

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…

I just got notified today that I was Permanently DQ'd for a pilot slot from Unsponsored AFRC. My recruiter sent up my documents with passing MEPS physical besides hearing and 4 outside audiograms showing 35db @500hz and MRI showing normal. Rest of my hearing is normal 5-10db across all frequencies. ENTs cant figure out why I have hearing loss. Anyways recruiter says that Surgeon General denied my waiver and that this is end of the road. The thing is, I don't remember signing any waiver documents like I have in the past for a shoulder surgery, also it was a really short turn around than before. Can it really go straight to Surgeon General without a waiver? Maybe I am…

Active Duty question here. I was referred to an allergist over 2 hours away due to the town the base is in having none. Is there something about getting milage reimbursed for my weekly shot appointments? Thanks Bros.

I've been told I need to get the SG to sign off on a knee scope I had almost 10 years ago for mild chondromalacia of the patella before I can go to MEPS. Does anyone know why this is a big deal? The only thing I can think of is my medical file is missing a sheet with post-surgery/therapy evaluation. I have an appointment with my doctor slated for next week to take care of that, but any advice on what is needed to get the SG to sign off on it would really be appreciated.

Anyone have any experience with deploying with an epi-pen due to severe allergies?

Couldn't find anything via search. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Polycystic Kidney Disease earlier this week. My kidney function is normal and my blood pressure is good, but I have over a dozen cysts in and on both kidneys. I discovered it during a BFM flight (pain) and it got worse a few days later, which led to the CT Scan and ultimate diagnosis. I'm also in the middle of a transfer from the Navy Reserve to AF. 1) Assuming the MRI/MRA is good and I have no signs of aneurysm or neural cysts, what are my odds of continuing to fly fighters? Has anyone gone through that waiver process here? How long does it take? 2) WRT the transfer - assuming NAMI approves a waiver, would A…

Hello everyone, So recently I was selected by a AF reserve unit as a candidate for their upcoming pilot board. After a few months of talking to a recruiter I took the MEPS physical. I was told I passed by my recruiter and the MEPS doctors, and that he would go ahead and start the process with getting my FC1 scheduled. About a month later my recruiter called me and told me that the AF surgeon generals office disqualified me from even taking the FC1 due to my hearing being out of H1 limits at the 6000hz frequency in my left ear. Besides that I have no medical issues and my vision is 20/40 in both eyes. I just can't believe that I would be denied from even taking the p…

The recruiter I'm working with submitted our SG Prescreen Waiver for a PDQ Relook about 60 days ago (this is for a guard slot). The PDQ was for minimal mitral valve prolapse in an echo I had done. I saw a cardiologist more recently, and there was no prolapse or leakage indicated in any of the valves. This report, a supporting letter from the cardiologist, and my entire medical history in the past 5 years were submitted in this waiver. My question isn't so much about the medical issue, but about how patient I should be, and how much I should or shouldn't pester my recruiter. If I were 24, this wouldn't be stressing me out so much, but I'm freshly 28, and feel the …

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…

Edited for CYA. Good advice though, read and heeded.

(please bear with the lingo and "perspective"...ROTC cadets like myself are more than an amateur in the processes and lingo of active duty) Current status: - ROTC cadet (3rd year, approaching senior year) with a rated categorization, specifically CSO 12XXX - In process of getting my flight physical scheduled...filling out the self reported inventory of what's "wrong with me" - have a current knee injury (or so i believe an injury) waiting for official doctor diagnosis of whats wrong with it, MRI has been done, waiting for results Problem: - I do not want to lose my CSO slot for something as minor as a knee injury. - possibility of going on MRS when …

I wore contacts for a couple years as part of the program for aviators, but now I'm in a non-flying billet and wish to continue wearing contacts. I'm perfectly content to purchase them myself if I have to, but does anyone know if pilots in non-flying billets can still receive contacts for free under the program? Thanks in advance for the help.

The recent Germanwings crash has stirred a lot of discussion on several topics: 1. Importance of having more than one person in cockpit at all times 2. Reporting mechanisms for mental and medical health from all sources of medical care 3. How to address depression and mental health disorders in pilots I have read quite a few blogs and editorials suggesting there is no room for depression or mental health issues in anyone allowed in a cockpit. My personal opinion is that this is the wrong direction to go. There needs to be a way for pilots who are depressed to get back in the cockpit, a pragmatic rational approach is preferred to a 'zero tolerance' on…

I had an accident which required a fusion of my vertebrae. I know this is FC2 waiverable but the waiver guide says its 6 mos DNIF. My docs say I should be healed in 2 months and good to go. Anyone know if there is a way to appeal to get the time reduced if all tests/x-rays come back normal?

Good afternoon all, I'm an Air Force OTS Rated applicant with my package currently before the 15OT01 Review Board. We're expecting results within the next 2 weeks, and due to my age, I'm a priority for the next May BOT class. If selected, I would have to go to the May BOT class, or else I would be age disqualified. During my medical screening paperwork I filled out last year, I admitted to having dislocated my left knee in 2005 when I was 19 years old. My recruiter told me this would require a waiver, so this summer I visited an orthopedic surgeon and had a full consult with X-Rays. He filed a report with my recruiter stating that there is no long-term damage from…

I've been jogging for the past 13 years of my 14 year career in the AF. When I was enlisted in the AF, we took the bike test. But I decided to switch over to the officer side and I jogged about 6 days a week in college. Just so I could get a pilot slot and be the fastest guy in my AFROTC detachment. Jogging 6 days a week made me unstoppable on the track. I don't even say running, I call it jogging because my dog is normally by my side. I say jog so I get out there and do it at a leisurely pace. You think you are going at a leisurely pace but its pretty fast to everyone else. I developed Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) so I listened to the doctors and I've been t…

Hello all, I have been doing research for a few months now, and I am now adamant about joining the ANG. I would like to apply as a civilian to a fighter squadron when they have a position available. I am currently a civilian flight instructor with 400 hours flight time and I hold a First Class FAA Medical Certificate. While conducting research, I have found that the military medical standards, especially for flight, are high. Back in 2008, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease after suffering from mild abdominal pain. I was put on Remicade treatment, and I still receive that every 2 months to keep the disease in remission. I consider myself fortunate, as the only side …

This may be more or a procedural question than an medical question, but it has a couple of facets. Background: I'm a 34 year current and qualified USMC tactical jet aviator with no USN waivers. I have 20/17 vision and am currently in a flying status. I'm in the process of ending my current contract and switching to either the an AFRC unit or an ANG unit. I've been offered a job with an AFRC unit, so they are running my flight physical up through AFRC(as far as I understand it). When I completed my flight physical the optometrist identified that I demonstrate a topographical pattern suggestive of keratoconus in one eye. Considering that I'm already a "trained" avi…

A new DD Form 2992, "Medical Recommendation for Flying or Special Duty," has been published. This form will shortly replace the AF Form 1042 (and the DA 4186 and NAVMED 6410 for the other services) which are now "obsolete" (so sayeth the form). Ideally it will allow electronic signatures so folks don't need to deal with physical routing and filing anymore. No news yet from the programmers that manage the medical system (ASIMS) on a timeline for the switch. I expect it will be fairly soon. It is available at: https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd2992.pdf

Quick question, I am trying to get back into the guard after a 4 year break in service, meaning I will have to go to MEPS again, My unit (recruiter)is saying after submitting my info to MEPS that it could take up to 5 Surgeon General Waivers to get back in. He says he could see one get approved but not up to 5. Is he right or just not willing to put in the work? His tone indicates he does not want to submit the waivers. Still waiting to hear from the OG though. Am I screwed? Do the SG waivers get any special consideration due to being previous active duty for 10 years opposed to a newbie off the street?