Had my medical today...had problems and need advice.(warning...long)

[Doug]

***For those who don't want to read the whole thing...I have a heart murmur, and I THINK white coat induced Hypertension(only bottom number was over limit, and I was nervous as anything)...what should I do, he said I need to see a cardiologist, I need advice***

Here is a long rambling of my experience getting my medical.

We'll right from the start things went bad. I got there, and had to pee in a cup...not just any cup, but in a paper mickey mouse cup that was in the bathroom. I bring that out, and the doctor keeps saying "where are my glasses", even though I was wearing them(WTF!!!), I guess he was just trying to be funny. Then he came out with a box of various power reading glasses. Kind of a strange guy, and office, but whatever, I just wanted my medical. It was a very old house, out in a part of town I have never been to.

I am sitting there and waiting around...I fill out all of the paper work, take it up to the receptionist, and she asks how I am going to pay, and gives me two options..."check or cash". I had neither, so I asked if they took credit card...she said no. [Im sorry but I haven't been to a doctors office in a long time that didn't take a card of some sort.] So the receptionist says, "lets see what he says". I figured I could send them a check, or swing by with the cash, or something. Anyhow I wait and wait, and then the doc comes out. She tells him that I had no money, and he asked if I had a bank card, and that I should go to the local convenience store and get the cash. So he says while I do that, he will take the next patient. At this point I have been at the office for an hour. I don't exactly have time to crap around...my wife is out of town on business, so all household responsibilities are on me, I have a lot to do, and haven't had dinner yet. I head out to my car, and in the back of my head am feeling like just driving away, not coming back, and finding another doc. I felt that would be rude, so I got the cash and came back. Sit around for another 1/2 hour, and then the doc comes out.

I go in, and the guy is asking all sorts of questions, and talking really fast. He has me running through the test, and says stuff like "you have major astigmatism, you should get that checked out", then on some other test I screwed up, "can't you follow directions!", he just had me so frickin frazzled. I understand this may have been a "haze the student pilot" moment for him, but it was totally inappropriate, as my medical was at stake.

He asks me to pull my shirt up, and checks all the vitals, then pronounces "you have a raging heart murmur"...I start getting a bit nervous. Granted I have known I had a heart murmur since childhood, and have had it checked many times, but no one ever referred to it as "raging".

Then the fun starts. I get not only the "cup the balls and cough" test, I also get to turn around and spread my cheeks...yeah I guess I got "that guy".

So by this point my heart is racing like crazy...he takes my pulse, of course it's high. He takes my BP, and the top number was within limits, but the bottom number was I believe 94. It didn't suprise me at all, I was so high strung at this point. Also I ate chili and a bunch of tortilla chips..very salty before the exam, so I doubt that helped.

He does a couple more tests, and then prints out copies of the AME guide that I need to get resolved, and says I need to see a cardiologist. Apparently he sends in his paperwork, and then I need to contact the FAA with the appropriate info.

I guess now the quest begins...I need to see my fam doctor, which is not a biggie, since the office is in the same building as I work. I should be able to get a referral tomorrow, and be into a cardiologist pretty quickly(hopefully I can get some strings pulled). Given that, who knows if I will get cleared.

The AME I went to today said I am looking at 8-10 weeks till the FAA would clear me, if everything goes well with the cardiologist.

So now I am at a point where I guess I should hold off on lessons until I get this straightened out. The part that sucks is my wife got me a hefty sum of a gift certificate to the flight school, which is of course non-refundable, but I guess the balance I could use as my fairwell to flying time if I can never get passed on the medical. I guess it is good advice to get your medical BEFORE you start lessons.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

dude relax.

No wonder your BP was high, mine was after trying to read this story!!

First off, you can take all the lessons you want, certainly enough to use your gift...you simply need the medical before you solo.

Next, see a different MD. Your guy sounded like a complete freak. There really is no reason not to be able to get a 3rd class medical if you can walk and breath.....Im really not kidding here.

Whats your BP normally? 94 is a bit high yes....but you can bet your a$$ there are pro pilots flying with higher #s than that. And YES, most pilots BPs are higher at the Docs office, heck, your livlihood depends on these stupid #s and your body knows it...and most Docs know this also...

I would see the cardiologist anyways, see what he says. But really, you are most likely getting yourself worked up over NOTHING...

PS - ask around a bit before seeing an FAA Doc next time...

 

[Doug]

Thanks for the advice.

Thing is, can I tell him not to send in the FAA paperwork, and then go somewhere else. I just feel like it's too late now, and my head is spinning. I really feel like if I went somewhere else they would have passed me, but I got "the freak who checks your anus".

I am generally in good health, and have never had a physician tell me otherwise, including recent blood pressure readings. As far as the heart murmur they keep an eye on it, but everyone has said it is very minor, and many people have them.

So can I tell them not to send in the medical and go somewhere else?

 

[jimpilot]

AOPA has great medical advise on their web site for members. You can also call in for advise.

I have a current class one and take BP med. No problem, all you have to do is bring in a letter each year from your GP saying you're taking such and such medication, two readings from the last year and a statement of no adverse effects. The first time you have to have him do a few other tests (basic stuff from a blood test, no stress test or anything like that required).

Again check the AOPA site and talk with them for full advise, but don't sweat the BP, it is no big deal. And if it is high, much better than ignoring it.

 

[qmaster3]

i've never had the nut, or cheek check for an FAA exam

 

[GogglesPisano]

Nor a pee cup. My medical lasts about 3 minutes. I've been going to the same Doc for 13 years.

Find someone less nosy!

 

[JB74]

I would certainly join AOPA. Like jimpilot said, their website has a bunch of stuff on arrhythmias and murmurs (along with a whole bunch of other medical issues).

So can I tell them not to send in the medical and go somewhere else?

I am 99% sure that is out of the question.

And I too have never come across Dr. Coldfinger, and I certainly have never had my sac rolled around during a medical.

Good Luck.

 

[cfi on the fly]

You may want to check out the limits for the Blood Presssure Test. I believe its 155/95...if your bottom number was 94, you passed buddy. I have white coat hypertension too. I actually went to a doctor before my medical and had this diagnosed and written down on paper. When I showed up at the AME, sure enough it was high and he was just about to start the red ink, when I pulled out that note. He took my blood pressure a couple more times and it started to go down. Its really wierd, just by putting that cuff on my arm, blood pressure goes through the roof. I went out and bought a blood pressure tester and now practice calming myself twice a day and its working. Its really mind over matter. Anyhow, check out those numbers again, probably nothing you can do now that the paper work is started, but you never know.

 

[Doug]

Now that I think about it, I believe it was 195 on the nose. I wanted to ask him to take it again, but I was not getting any calmer, and figured it was useless.

Also, I am a member of AOPA.

Lastly, if I go to the cardiologist and my BP shows normal, is that enough for the FAA...I really don't want to go on BP meds, if I don't truly have high BP

 

[cfi on the fly]

If it was 195 over something, that is pretty high...but doctors are not going to do anything rash. If you suspect white coat hyper., then they will definately take several readings over the course of days to determine this. I have no idea what all the paper work with the FAA will entail, even if the doctors say everthing is ok.


Were you planning on career in aviation or was this just to get a license and have some fun? Hope it all works out.