Aviation Medicine

So when talking to an AD Air Force Officer recruiter over the phone I found out I had a medical DQ and was not eligible to apply. However, my AFRes recruiter recently told me that I was indeed eligible if I were to fill out a waiver. I then called my AD recruiter back and he simply stated that "The Active Duty is ran completely different than the Reserves/Guard." So do all requirements vary (AFRes/ANG/AD)? Or did the AD recruiter just not want to go through the hassle of going through the waiver process? I'm guessing my best bet to find out about the ANG would be to call my local unit. Thanks, Hawk

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…

im a freshman in college n im looking at doing rotc next yr. iv been reading stuff about "32 inch waste" im 6'3 200lbs.My waste is a 34 or 36 depending on the pants. i can meet the meet the fitness test requirments n i go to my local gym several times a week. i donnt have the 6 pack but my stomach is flat. just wondering if this could be a problem when it comes time for pilot selection? btw hope im in the right area of the forum.

Hello everyone, I recently went to Wright Patt and when I was up there they didn't know what was on my cornea. They wanted to make sure it wasn't something that would get bigger. They told me to go to a specialist, which I did the Monday after getting back home. The specialist said that it is just a scar on my eye. So I faxed the paperwork up there saying that it's just a scar on my eye and I think nothing more of it because the specialist was 100% positive it was just a scar. Then I get called in by my commander and I'm told that I'm still DQed and now I'm reclassified into a different job. When I was up there the optometrist said that it wouldn't be a big deal and at a …

(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 …

So I'm headed to Brooks this summer and was curious if bunions are anything to be worried about? For my DODMERB I had to get a letter from a podiatrist saying I had no problems with any type of miliary footwear. This was just a letter, and not a waiver. Also, do you know if you can get DQ'd for having a bunionectomy? My bunion is moderate, but I'd prefer just to get it fixed and not have to worry aobut it. I have no pain or complications from it, other than it being an eyesore. Thanks.

Hello, My current flight physical is only cleared for FCII. I was DQ'd for FCI due to refractive error. When Flight Med submited my stuff for a waiver, they said everything looked good and shouldn't be a problem getting a waiver. After it came back I only got a FCII and no waiver. Is there any way to get a waiver after a physical has been put in the "system"? Thanks.

I am currently in UPT an had my appendix removed via the laroscopic method this past weekend. Everything went fine and now I am home resting. I was wondering if anyone has heard of how long this side lines pilots especially those that are in airframes the pull G's on a regular basis. At this point my return is based on when I can demonstrate a proper G strain and not be in pain. I am just looking for any insight from anyone that might have been on a similar situation or knows anyone that was. Thanks.

Okay, so I am an ROTC cadet, have my slot, and have already passed medical at Brooks, just waiting to graduate. I have a question however. I have had a family friend who is a general practice doctor identify something on my arm known as a lipoma. its kind of a fatty cyst that is apparently not a big deal. I however, would like to get it removed because it's just annoying to me. Its like the size of a small grape and is slightly noticeable just looking at it. Question is, does this DQ me? I didn't mention it at my physical because I was told it's not a big deal. Any input on what I should do would be greatly appreciated, and if anyone knows the regs for waivers on some…

Hello! I'm a former Navy pilot who left active duty about 9 years ago, but I'd like to fly for the Air Force Reserves. 8 years ago I was (wrongly) prescribed antidepressants for less than 5 months and am now wondering if I will be disqualified. I have this letter (below) from my physician that states I did not have a mental disorder. Any thoughts on whether or not I'm screwed? No recurring symptoms or medical conditions. Many thanks!!! GoGoJuice "To Whom it May Concern: Approximately eight years ago, patient was prescribed an antidepressant (Effexor) for less than five months. At the time he was suffering from mild depression and anxiety, and was havin…

Hi all, A few days ago I was contacted by the National Bone Marrow Registry. I had registered with them in 2003 and now it appears that I am a possible donor. I don't think it would be a problem, but does the USAF or Brooks give any grief to guys going for their flight physicals who have gone through this process? The lady at the Registry who I spoke to was very nice and said they work with DOD a lot because they have a lot of military donors. She didn't think it would be a problem, and neither did I, but I just want to make sure. I really want to go through with the process and help someone out. Thanks...

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.

During my preparation for OTS Class 0804 I've developed a bad pain in my legs. I went to the doctor today and it looks like I may have "exercise induced" compartment syndrome. I have a few tests scheduled for Wednesday for a final diagnosis. It seems the only cure for this syndrome is surgery that has a 6-12 week recovery timeframe. The bad part is, OTS is only 12 weeks away. Is it possible to get my class date moved back if necessary? I'm sure I would need a waiver as well. Is this waiverable? Thoughts?

Hey all, couldn't really find anything much on this. Is any amount of cauliflower ear DQ for pilots? Does it matter at all unless it affects hearing? Been training jiu-jitsu and wondering if i need to start using ear protection for this reason. Thanks!

Anyone received it? I am getting two stories, it is up to the max of your military pay or straight up replaces lost civilian pay, regardless of mil pay. Example: milpay is 7k a month. Civilian pay, 8K a month... incap is 8K Make sense?

I have a hydrocele that I was DQed and waived for about 2 years or so ago. I had surgery to remove it but the doc failed to do so, stating that he couldn't find it when he went in (very painful!). I was thinking about getting surgery to remove it (again!!!). The trouble is that I can't get an answer about it DQing me on my FC1 (either by having surgery or keeping the hydrocele). I am going to Brooks in February and am torn about getting surgery (should I wait to be on AD to have the AF pay for it?). What should I do? Thanks for the help...

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this, or if it's been covered elsewhere (I did search), but I've been having loads of trouble simply getting my MEPS physical completed and was wondering if anyone had any advice. I went to MEPS initially in mid-November, and during my talk with the doc he said that since they were missing documents for my Lasik (they'd been sent, but not received, apparently), I'd need to return for a workup with a MEPS eye doc. I wasn't really looking forward to more time off work, long drives, and time spent at MEPS, but no big deal. Since then, however, my recruiter's requests for me to return to MEPS have been cancelled something like five ti…

Does the Air Force care if pilots chew tobacco?

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…

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?

Hello all, Wanted to share my MEPs experience for anyone who might be going soon or in the future - for you "off the street" folks like me. I had some nerves about it because of the horror stories I've heard (some of my friend's got DQ'd for stuff that would make you cringe - pilot slot gone forever) but I definitely would say personally that my day got better as it went on. A couple of key points: Dress professionally - you are going for a pilot slot aren't you? I wore khaki's and a button down tucked in with dress shoes. There were some kids who looked like scrubs - and I noticed they got treated very differently. Sit up str…

Will the flight doc let me fly if I am getting Botox injections?

Does the FAA have access to a pilot's Air Force medical records? I know the database for waivers and such is computerized now...does the FAA have access to that database without the member's consent?

Has anyone had issues with blood tests before that have been approved or dq'd? I recently moved to a new base with high elevation and I'm pretty sure that it why my hemoglobin is testing barely too high. I'm a cso now and have never had any health issues. The clinic here has been running a ton of tests on me and can't find anything wrong. They keep trying to find something to explain the high level even though the doc said it's probably because I've always lived at sea level and just moved to a high elevation. Is this something I should expect a DQ from?

Anyone have any thoughts on the recent articles that have been coming out of the NYT hammering military medicine? Although military medicine has its unique challenges, I found the articles unjust. Here are the links to the articles: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/us/in-military-care-a-pattern-of-errors-but-not-scrutiny.html https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/02/us/smaller-military-hospitals-said-to-put-patients-at-risk.html?_r=0 1. Fat on tragic anecdote, sparse on scientific rigor. 2. Who are they comparing us to?! It seems like all the comparisons are to 'leading civilian hospitals'. Is it really fair to compare Winn Army Hospital to Johns Hopkins a…