The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

I think you mean GERD.

Just be glad you are already commissioned, I have had several people over the past few years that marked GERD and only one was given a waiver, the others were PDQ since they were taking meds given by a doc.

I've read that Sleep Apnea (obstructive) is waiverable. How common is this for deployable folks, and what is the process like?

Thanks for the info. Yes, GERD. I have another follow-up on Tuesday, so we'll see how it goes after getting off the medd.

Question for FEDDOC...

Sir, I wanted to ask your opinion on what a typical series of events would be for winged aviators who present cases of sciatica to the flight docs? I've been dealing with sciatic nerve pain running down my leg for about two months now. It's not constant, and really only occurs when I stand up after sitting for a long period and then goes away shortly after but the pain is sharp when it does occur. Is this something that could potentially sideline me indefinitely?

Thank you very much.

I saw the Doc two months ago and he thought it was piriformis syndrome (didn't take x-rays or anything) and told me to take ibuprofen, stretch, walk, avoid running, etc and said it should get better on it's own. He put me on 20 days LLD and said I was safe to fly, etc... It's only when I go to stand up after sitting for a long time that I experience pain (butt to foot) and after I take about 3-4 steps the pain goes away. I haven't been able to run and also can't sit and touch my toes because that aggravates it but upper body workouts, squats, etc are all fine. No problems laying on my back and raising my leg up to a 90 degree position (which I read was an indicator of a slipped disk, etc?) I'm going to track the Doc down next week and see what he thinks. Ideally I don't want to get put med down or have to get a waiver if it's something that will get better with time. Where it's been two months without any change I'm wondering if it's maybe something else? Curious what you think. Thank you very much for your time / help.

Just had my follow up appointment regarding my eyes at Naval Health Clinic New England and the waiver needed for LASIK. The opthamologist said he thinks I should get the waiver but doesn't know what NAMI is going to say. He sent all of their reports and a picture of the scar. Originally he said to stand by in the waiting room and he would hear back one way or the other, but after an hour and a half told me to take off and wait to hear back.

My post op reports from my surgeon say my eyes are perfect (go figure), but during the Navy evaluations they saw "a little" haze and one scar on my left eye. So I'm a little surprised by this, and nervous to say the least. The reason he thinks I should get the waiver is because I passed all of the follow up tests (there were like 2-3 new ones) and am within the limits. Corrected I was 20/20 or better on the GoodLite.

As I said, a bit nervous here they might come back and DQ me from flight. I don't know enough about the other designators and if this might happen, I better start taking a look. That said, have you seen cases with minor amounts of haze and a scar coming back DQ'd despite passing all of the follow up tests? Should I start bracing myself for some bad news?

Thanks for any and all help.

I just had PRK surgery done. My pre-op vision was -3.50 in both eyes spherical equivalent refractive error. No astigmatism, 20/100 uncorrected vision, everything else was totally fine. I was told I'd be fine for the waiver to go SNA, but now 3 weeks post-op my OSO office just called me to tell me that the flight surgeon is telling them I'm outside of the pre-op limits. According to them the maximum pre-op refractive error is 3.0...their words not mine. I'm seriously confused here because everything on NAMI's website indicates that I qualify for SNA however they're telling me I need to switch to NFO after I just spent 4,000 dollars on a surgery so I wouldn't have to make that switch. Any idea what could be causing this confusion? Or who to call about this? I'm hitting a brick wall here because no one seems to want to look at the Aeromedical waiver information I have.

Question for a Doc:

I am an SNA-select heading to OCS in July. I have been told by a civilian doc that I have Mitral Valve Prolapse based on a "click" he could hear, but I had no murmur. He also told me he couldn't detect any regurgitation or any other issues when he listened to my heart, and said it is a non-issue. I have not had an echocardiogram.

I reviewed the NAMI waiver guidelines and found that the Navy requires click, murmur, and Echo indication of prolapse for a diagnosis of MVP. I'm concerned about the part that says that some "Echo only" indications may be sufficient to disqualify from flight duties.

My question is (unless I've misinterpreted the NAMI guide), since I don't have the murmur and thus can't be diagnosed with MVP, what other considerations will be taken into account to determine if I'm go/ no-go to be a pilot? Is my issue one that would likely be waiverable/ a non-issue?

My lifelong dream is to be a Naval Aviator, so I greatly appreciate any help/ insight on the issue. Thank you!

FEDDOC: Kind of a serious question. Now that I'm in my "dotage", I have a desire to pursue my FAA Private quals. But I'm torn between going the "Light Sport" route or the conventional private route. What disturbs me is that if I stand for a Class 3 medical, and get turned down, I'm "ipso facto" screwed from going the LSA route, having been "turned down" for an FAA medical. How does one "quietly discern" if the aches and conditions of aging, and their requisite meds, would "preclude" a Class 3? Seems if you ask the question of an AME...you gotta take the answer, which you may not like. I'm sure I'm not the only one with this question...

Get into flying sailplanes- no medical required- you just self certify that you're good to go every time you fly.

Not sure that would get me and my golf clubs to my intended destination with the requisite level of accuracy. But thanks...

Question for a Doc:
I am a SNA Pro Rec, waiting to screen Medical at MEPS inorder to receive a final select. I was prior service, did a tour in Iraq, and upon return was awarded 20% disability from the VA. 10% for Tinnitus, (The Social Worker asked me if after any of the IED Explosions did my ears ever ring, even for short while, of coarse they did it was an explosion) however I have not had any recurring problems at all. Ears haven't had any ringing since those IED's in 2008. I currently hold an FAA 1st class medical certificate, no restrictions, and American Eagle Airlines gave me a hearing test in OCT when I was hired so I know my hearing is fine. The other 10% was for a varicoele that was removed via out patient same day surgery. My ears are fine, my varicocele is gone, however the VA is still sending me the cash. What will it take to get past a flight physical? Will either of these items be a show stopper? I am happy to call the VA and get the disability to stop ASAP if that makes or brakes passing a flight physical. I appreciate the help!

I'm not FEDDOC or an AME, but I'm a physician (general surgeon) and a civilian pilot & I've had lots of FAA medicals. FAA medicals are less rigorous than military equivalents - Where the military is concerned with longevity over a potential military career, military duties, deployability, etc the FAA physical really is only concerned with making sure you don't have something that has a "greater than the general public" risk of sudden incapacitation while flying. The running joke is that if you can get into the AME's office under your own power you can leave with a Class 3 medical - that's not really true but many things that are problems in the military aren't problems for the FAA for civilian flying. Examples - controlled hypertension, diabetes (most cases), vision (if correctable to 20/40 for 3rd class) even lots of serious stuff (heart attacks) after a suitable waiting period and reevaluation with good results. The absolute deal-killers for the FAA include things like seizures, unexplained loss of consciousness, certain very serious abnormal heart rhythms, angina pectoris and serious psychiatric disorders. Although there is a demonstration project in process, use of antidepressants is generally disqualifying regardless of the reason prescribed (so disqualifying even if prescribed for smoking cessation, weight loss)

Membership in AOPA is well worth the membership just for access to their aeromedical information & consult services. It's probably the best information you can get without engaging a serious high $ consult service on your behalf. Another option is go to a doc who you know is an AME for an office visit/annual physical (not a flight physical) and just ask "I'm thinking about some civilian flying, if this was an FAA physical would I have been OK?" Most docs won't mind at all answering that question, if he/she does you should get another doctor.

Many of us like to keep our AME for FAA medical exams and our personal physician as separate docs so we can talk frankly with our doc about potential problems before we go the AME.

In general if you are getting 20% or less getting a waiver isn't a problem, this is strictly from what NRC has said and done in the past.

Thanks, JCJ...most cogent advice I've ever received. Much appreciated!

Just wanted to follow up on this in case someone finds it in a search later regarding post surgery haze. I'm at OCS (commissioning Friday) and I am happy to say that my NAMI letter arrived last week. Now I realize this isnt the end of the road for me, but at least I wasn't NPQd from Newport.

It's also worth mentioning that while here I was called back in for an extra blood pull, 2 blood pressure screenings (even though every time my BP was spot on), as well as a 2 hour eye exam which included tests you've never even heard of. Despite that, my letter came in before many of the other SNAs with perfect histories and never called back in. Theirs are still coming obviously but its funny how it works - so if you're a wannabe or FS waiting for OCS, don't get too worried.

Thanks again Doc for answering my questions!

Is varicocele disqualifying for flight school?

As long as you wear an oxygen mask and don't sneeze. You should be fine.

This one isn't supposed to be a stupid question...