Aviation Medicine

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?"

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

Question about allergies. I have seasonal allergies (ragweed,pollen etc.) but they are easily controlled bt OTC meds. I am not worried about that but when I was very little (I don't remember it, but was told by my mother), I had a mild skin reaction to penicillin/amoxicillin. I have been told my parents for my entire life that I am allegic to these, and have told all my doctors etc that I am. I am not sure if it has been actually tested and/or documented that I am allergic to these but either way. If I am allergic to these, is this disqualifying? Should I be worried? I was just hired by an F-16 Unit and am naturally, frantically going through anything that could go …

When going for your FC1 prior to UPT, I'm sure they request all medical records. Do they pretty much leave it to you to bring everything? Or do they take your insurance information and obtain the medical insurance history, then request records based on that? Just wondering if insurance history is involved in the process at all. Thanks!

I wasn't sure if this should go under the General Discussion or Aviation Medicine forum, so I just figured I'd toss it here. I got my FC1 completed back in January of this year. At the time, my recruiter told me everything looked good and I would probably have it approved and receive an OTS class start date by mid-march. It's now the beginning of may and I'm not even sure if the FC1 has left the base I originally took it at to go to Randolph. My recruiter seems a little reluctant to return phone calls and I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do to find out where the physical is right now and how long things are going to take. Always ready to hurry up and …

Going for my FC1 in a couple weeks, medical office requested hospital records from a concussion I got in 2002, and another in 2004. Both were mild, loss of conciseness for a minute or two, hospital did the MRIs said there was no damage, rest for two weeks and I was good to go. Never have had any problems since the incidents. Anything to be worried about or just standard procedure for all head injuries? I searched for the regs online, all I found on head injuries is regs if you are already have had a flying physical. Any help is appreciated.

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?

I am a civilian OTS applicant for Fy19ot3. I have a flight physical schedule for early next month. The other day after my annual dental exam my X-ray found that a root canal I had done a few years ago has failed and I was referred to an endodonist, with which I now have a consult set up for next week. The tooth has not bothered me at all. Since getting the root canal repair is a two step month long process, I will be going to my flight physical prior to the root canal repair, but after the initial consult. What affect will this have on my physical? Will it just not get certified until the repair has been completed, or will it be more extensive? I may not have the repair p…

Had a kid ask me a question about dental req'ts. Recent OTS rated board select for RPA pilot. He has four lower back teeth broken off to the roots, non-restorable, but not painful or any observed decay. Will he pass the dental exam, or will they require him to have them pulled to eliminate the roots? I know cavities require fixing before they'll pass you, but I don't know about teeth that are simply broken to the gum line.

I have a different kind of question that the ones I've already seen posted. I'm not currently in the military and was on a med school route. I had planned to join and be a doctor in the air force until a recent visit to the base caused to me to reconsider a childhood fantasy of mine to fly a jet. I haven't taken any tests but am confident I can do well in anything written placed before me. My problem is that I have a small fear of heights (or more specifically falling from high places). I can sit on high building with now problem but the thought of jumping out of a plane to skydive scares me. But I also haven't had much exposure to those kinds of things. I've never even b…

Has anybody been an FFDO and then try and go to MEPS? I am having some trouble and wondering if anybody has been through this and can help me.

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…

There is a new procedure for flat-feet where a small titanium bolt is placed in between the ankles. Would this DQ someone through MEPS or FC1 ? https://hyprocure.com/the-hyprocure-solution/

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 recently had the opportunity to hear some some folks from AFMSA and AFMOA speak, plus Lt Gen Robb. He was really good at talking without actually saying anything. https://www.health.mil/About-MHS/Leadership-Biographies/Lt-Gen-Douglas-J-Robb A common sentiment was that if one service has an existing medical program or solution that does 95+% of what that service wants, but one or two of the other services has a program or solution that can perform 80+% for the whole DOD, the DOD MHS will push to adopt that 80% solution in the belief of interoperability and work to make it a 95% solution at a later date. The logic is that division and stovepiping capabilities, th…

I know this topic has been brought up in the past and I am wondering if anyone has updated information on the matter. I had two ACL and Meniscus surgeries after which I gained full functionality. What would be the impact of this when having the flight physical ? Cheers in advance for any help !

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?

I love medicine and aviation. Naturally I am pursuing med school and the flight surgeon path. I've read throughout the internet that Navy flight surgeons attend a portion of their UPT and spend a lot of time back seating jets, whereas neither of these roles are as common for AF flight surgeons. Can anyone on here chime in about this? Is any portion of a flight surgeon's flight time actually logged training? I am aware of the pilot physician program, but unfortunately that sounds like it's all but exclusively for pilots to transition to medicine rather than the other way around.

Will being a left handed person affect my chances? If so, should I tell the Air Force that I'm mostly left handed (I'm actually moderately ambidexterous)? Also, will it be a problem in flight school? Thanks.

I realize this is a huge shot in the dark, but I wanted to at least talk with some folks. I am 23, currently an Engineer (Mechanical Engineering degree) for a large Aerospace/Defense contractor. I love flying and currently have my PPL, working on my Instrument Rating as we speak. I am really considering making flying a career at this point. I have already confirmed I can get a first class medical (for civilian flying of course) I flew with a fella who flew F-100s in Vietnam and F-105s in ANG. He really recommended I look into ANG. The catch is I have asthma. I do take a preventative inhaler every day. I haven't had an "asthma attack" since I was 3 years old. I r…

What's the word on ulcers? I heard once that it was DQ. Any guidance?

Help,I went for a 6 mile trail run during winter break and wound up with a stress fracture of the second/third metatarsal of the left foot.Our Det. normally runs indoors all winter and I guess I`m not used to the harder surface outdoors,anyhow will this mess up my chances for a field training slot?I`m told everyone has to qualify at PFT before Feb. ,the Doc says it can be up to 12 weeks to heal a stress fracture.I`m on scholarship,in my second year,will I lose that too?I did a search ,couldn`t find anything about this.I passed the PFT no problem before break ,don`t know if that helps.I couldn`t of done this at a worse time.

https://alert5.com/2024/12/09/are-elite-u-s-navy-pilots-suffering-brain-injuries/#more-100974 So in addition to the higher cancer rates, pulling lots of Gs can also give you TBI? Was a B-1 bubba so not an issue for me but just curious how many fighter types have seen this.

Hey Flight docs, I'm an active duty cross-trainee with a class III medical, currently awaiting ABM training. A few months ago, I started experiencing some pretty intense GI issues to include constant indigestion/ & reflux w/associated chest pain (stress test ruled out cardiac), nausea, stomach pain, and back pain (right shoulder and between the shoulder blades). I was placed on medical hold after I arrived to Tyndall. Of primary concern was the reflux, which has been resistant to every medication in the book (I'm currently on protonix), and which was discovered to have caused some moderate gastritis and esophagitis upon endoscopy (although the esophagitis has cle…

I have been getting my push ups in and I developed a ganglion cyst (diagnosed) which has caused me pain in the pushup position. I've been able to continue doing a lower pushup count on my knuckles, but anytime my wrist is extended a certain way, I get pain. After the cortisone shot worked and faded, my PA recommended removal and said she does this all the time on military guys. The only healing is two weeks after for the incision. I'd like to do it, it's not urgent but I can't see a better time to do it than now before I go to OTS. Will this jeopardize my UPT pilot slot if I opt for removal? I've already passed the FC1 and MEPS, who would I go to to a…