Flying with gout

[Sluggo_63]

Does anyone have any experience being diagnosed with gout and what hoops have to be jumped through for the FAA?

Sluggo 63

 

[bizicmo]

Okay, what's gout? I'm sure plenty of people know but I don't.

 

[Way2Broke]

http://www.webmd.com/hw/arthritis/hw69013.asp

I'd call Virtual Flight Surgeons and ask them BEFORE getting your next medical.

 

[myq2u]

My best friend has been flying with gout for years; he was at United and then went to a LCC. He's never had any problems with the FAA or during the United's pre-employment medical. He’s taking medication for it every day and sometimes when he forgets the pill, or has had too many beers his joints swell up really bad. I remember one time he had to go to the emergency room and had his knee “drained!” Sounds petty nasty but he said it helped. Good luck to you.

 

[aerobaticspilot]

what you dont tell the feds will not hurt you remember that

 

[OPECJet]

what you dont tell the feds will not hurt you remember that

Amen to that. I've had a recurring problem with a foot that has me near tears some days. I've had to fly with it a couple of times. Holding the brakes, and punching the right rudder pedal can be a tear jerker. It's worried me enough once to call out for it (i.e. engine failure and not being able to use the rudder properly). Blood tests for uric acid came back negative, so back to the drawing board.

 

[FN FAL]

Amen to that. I've had a recurring problem with a foot that has me near tears some days. I've had to fly with it a couple of times. Holding the brakes, and punching the right rudder pedal can be a tear jerker. It's worried me enough once to call out for it (i.e. engine failure and not being able to use the rudder properly). Blood tests for uric acid came back negative, so back to the drawing board.

Dude, you'd be a perfect candidate for acupuncture...don't take pharmaceuticals to fix that problem, they'll just make a drug addict out of you.

Same with you Sluggo. You might want to check it out...acupuncture will reroute/repair your inner 911 system and get you back on track.

 

[Metro752]

Dude, you'd be a perfect candidate for acupuncture...don't take pharmaceuticals to fix that problem, they'll just make a drug addict out of you.

Same with you Sluggo. You might want to check it out...acupuncture will reroute/repair your inner 911 system and get you back on track.

It fixes everything.

 

[bell47]

I used to get gout until I found out about a home remedy that is worth a try. It's so simple that you won't believe it. Alka-seltzer. no joke. I was told to take a packet of alka-seltzer(two tablets mixed with a cup of water) three times a day. Once in the morning, once in the middle of the day, and once before bed. My gout was gone the next day. It has worked for me three times and has also worked for my father. Let us know if you try it. The old commercial, " plop plop fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is" never meant so much.

 

[bell47]

Did anyone try the Alka-Seltzer for gout? I think I made it look like a one day remedy in the first post but it can take a couple of days of drinking the alka seltzer. It just so happened to work for me in a day.Bell47

 

[bell47]

bump....

 

[JCJ]

Gout

Gout is an inhereted disease where the blood uric acid level (a protein waste product) is high. Some patients make too much uric acid, others make a normal amount but don't eliminate it well. It is not contagious and the only way to have avoided it would have been to select different parents, as it is inherited.

If the diagnosis reallly is gout, the usual treatment is a very benign drug called allopurinol - which reduces your production of uric acid and prevents gout "arthritis" attacks. The overall health effects of gout, if properly treated with daily medication, are very small.

Allopurinol is not a drug for acute attacks of gout - it is maintenance therapy to prevent attacks. Allopurinol is generic, very cheap and usually has no side effects. It is not mood altering or addicting and the FAA has no problem with it.

Properly treated, you are eligible for any class medical. The AME can issue the certificate at the time of your exam, assuming you are otherwise eligible. Your AME may require some simple blood work (uric acid, BUN, creatinine). As has been previously discussed, your AME usually should not also be your personal physician.

You probably should temporarily self-disqualify if you are having an acute attack of gouty arthritis. When it's under control you're good to go.

Proper medical treatment makes acute attacks extremely rare. The other potential complication of high uric acid is uric acid kidney stones - again easily prevented by proper treatment (i.e. allopurinol).

Screw around with "Alka-Seltzer", acupuncture or other folk remedies and you are likely to end up with a uric acid kidney stone, which is a big deal for your medical. You'll spend some time, hassle and $ trying to get (or keep) your medical if you have recurrent kidney stones - usually a consultation from a urologist and a CT scan or IVP - all at your expense.

Summary - see your personal physician and get on the right medicine. If you do, you'll be fine with your medical.

(semi-related plug: The aeromedical information available to AOPA members is itself probably worth the membership dues)

 

[JCJ]

Amen to that. I've had a recurring problem with a foot that has me near tears some days. I've had to fly with it a couple of times. Holding the brakes, and punching the right rudder pedal can be a tear jerker. It's worried me enough once to call out for it (i.e. engine failure and not being able to use the rudder properly). Blood tests for uric acid came back negative, so back to the drawing board.

If your uric acid level is normal, it is unlikely to be gout. I bet your doctor already told you that.