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

[Goose Egg]

Ahh medicals. I seem to remember my initial 3rd class being a lot tougher than my subsequent 1sts and 2nds.

I don't get white coat syndrome stuff, at least BP wise anyway. Last time I had it checked was at the AMEs, and it was something like 120/70 (Exercising regularly will help that BP and heart rate stay down in pressure situations.)
-Goose

 

[JAFI]

Doug, In your search for answers sometimes it is not so easy to find info on the FAA web site, so I have copied some sites that may assist you. Relax, don’t let the process get you too stressed. I am not a doctor so I can’t comment on your medical condition. Many times AME’s file their report to OK City and OK City issues the medical. Hang in there.



JAFI



FAA web site:

http://www.faa.gov/

Flight Standards web site (the aircraft part of the FAA):

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/

FSDO Phone numbers and addresses:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/fsdo/index.cfm

AME Locator:

http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov/

Civil Aeromedical Institute

http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/

 

[Doug]

Ok, just went to see the doc

Got two blood pressure readings

120/70
120/72

I will get a few more done as proof.

I also have an appointment with the for an echocardiogram/doppler to get the murmur thing straightened out.(it is on this coming wednesday)

My doc said that unless he knew what he was listening for, and listened for a while he would have never been able to hear the murmur. He said it is very slight, but now I need to get the test to satisfy the FAA.

So it looks like hopefully I will have all the paperwork done, and to this AME before he sends out the paperwork.

I called him twice, but got answering machine, and told him to hold the paperwork. I understand I have 10 business days to get this straightened out. If he ignores my message /calls and sends it in anyway...do I have some recourse? I understand it will take much longer to get my medical if I do not send in the paperwork with the AME's stuff.

It's at times like this I am really glad I work in the healthcare industry. If I didn't know people it would take me forever to get all this done. And I have been on the other side...it stinks.

 

[darkvw]

Are you sure it was a physical for flying? This sounds like the CDL test, think it's a little more restrictive than a Class 3.

 

[Doug]

Yes it was a physical for flying...the guy even has a news clipping of the plane he crashed back in '73 prominently displayed in the waiting room to show what a great pilot he is. And he kept talking about flying, so I assume he knew what I was there for.

 

[rnobson]

Hey Doug I had just about the same prob for my first class 3 medical. The Doc thot just about every light plane would eventually "come down on a school !! Just going to THAT doc caused my BP to be really high


However after all the specialist stuff which held me up for a month or so I was cleared to fly Now many years later I still have the "white coat" BP problems but I now have an ATP and manage a Class 1 every 6 months

 

[Doug]

As an update, I called the AME about times today and left messages. I even went to the AME's office after work to see if my paperwork was being held or was sent. There was no one there.

I will be sending a letter of complaint to the FAA...i got all the info on where to send it from AOPA.

 

[dmspilot00]

The FAA's medical certificate standards are available in Part 67 of the regulations. You can read them here:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=f25132e7a55a90c037d384f768a8a2b8&rgn=div6&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.5.4&idno=14

A urine sample is required to check for diabetes. However, there is no excuse for having to lower or remove the pants for any reason. That is rediculous. And from everything else you said, the doctor sounds like a crazed psycho lunatic.

 

[Doug]

The FAA's medical certificate standards are available in Part 67 of the regulations. You can read them here:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=f25132e7a55a90c037d384f768a8a2b8&rgn=div6&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.5.4&idno=14

A urine sample is required to check for diabetes. However, there is no excuse for having to lower or remove the pants for any reason. That is rediculous. The doctor sounds like a crazed psycho lunatic.

Yeah, I guess he is what you would call "old school"

 

[Snoopy58]

If a flt doc wants to do the prostate exam, you can tell him "no" and that your family doc does that for you each year. The FAA may require it after some age, but I doubt it. (If they do, it's older than I am.) Last time I went to a new AME that's what I said and he said no problem. If it isn't a mandatory part of the exam, no reason to have it done there.

 

[darkvw]

Or you can have the blood test for it done, a lot easier on you and the doc. It finds it sooner than the "finger" method. I have iyt done for the Cdl exam.

 

[Mike Eggen]

Doug,
Here's what I did when I lost my 3rd class a few years ago. My bp was higher It was 200/180 ( mostly white coat because I'd been monitering it) and my heartbeat skips (AME called a murmur my doc and cariologist don't think it's a big deal). I had to do a stess test,EKG and echo cardiogram plus have several
acceptable bp readings from my doc. It helps to have your doc write a letter.
I used left seat and they say they will handle all the paperwork but I found out if you're dealing with a hmo get copies of eveything yourself and make sure stess test are the complete tracings and not a sample. Make copies of everthing for youself. I dont have the FARs here but I think you have to wait
6 months to reapply, maybe not in you're case if were under 155/95. Took me 9 months to get my piece of paper back. alot of that was waiting on left seat trying to my records before I decided I neede to do some of they're leg work if your dealing with a personal doc you should'nt have that problem. It took a month after the faa gave me my med back to get it after several phone calls to Ok city,should be any day now, one very nice lady expained to me in all seriousnus "that it has to be typed and then it has to be signed then it has to be folded and taken to the post office" one month! left seat is about $1500-2000 don,t remember exactly. Give them a call and good luck. It's worth it
MIke

 

[Mike Eggen]

ps. I have a friend who just lost his at 82 because of blocked arties and he just called th faa and sent in everything himself. It was denied but you don't nesecarily have to give money to left seat. I did because i was itimidated by the faa. But my friend (who's a DPE) found the people he talked to to be very helpful. Hope this helps.Again good luck
Mike

 

[350DRIVER]

Nerves as well as the high blood pressure are one thing given the circumstances. The heart issue may or may not be a serious concern and if I was the ame I would have done the same thing that he did. Seek the help of a cardiologist as soon as possible and go from there. All else should take a back seat until he checks you and clears you. Flying would be the furthest thing from my mind if I were in your position.

I will be sending a letter of complaint to the FAA...i got all the info on where to send it from AOPA.

A complaint is not going to accomplish much if anything at all. You are required to meet certain criteria in order to be issued a medical certificate. Whether the Dr. was an a$$hole or not he saw issue(s) and upon finding them he denied you a medical, pretty simple. Take the appropriate steps, see a cardiologist, etc, and go from there.

Your health should take priority over anything else, especially flying.

I see many get p!ssed off at AMEs', they are merely following the rules that the FAA has put into place for good reason.

 

[tsky]

Doug,


I had exactly the same problem that you did, although my AME was much nicer about it. I went in one time, and he said that I had a heart murmer-I guess that it comes and goes, cause sometimes they can hear it and sometimes they can't. So he had me see my regular doctor, who determined that my was innocent(not a problem) The AME can hold the paperwork for 10 working days while the cardio eval is done, but after 10 days he has to send it off the the FAA. Trust me, you don't want the paperwork to go to the FAA unfinalized if you can help it, as it will take a while for them to approve your medical.

I also have white coat syndrome. As long as your B.P. is 155/95 or less, it's passing regardless of your age or class of physical, as long as you don't have any heart problems. If any AME tells you different, he obviously doesn't know what he is talking about.

Anyway, best wishes and I am sure that you'll get you medical.

 

[RSixer]

Sounds like you just went to a bad AME, some of those guys actually want to fail you, they get some kind of satisfaction from it, they feel as if they are doing their job by doing it, unfortuntally it is to late and you have to deal with it now. When you get this problem solved choose your Doctor carefully, ask around. If you have a heart issue more than likely you will have to do a 24 hour Holter monitor when you go for a medical.

 

[Doug]

two things.

1) I am not filing a complaint because the guy said I have a murmur. I am filing a complaint because this AME is the most unprofessional physician I have ever dealt with, and has no business giving FAA medicals.

2) My BP measured I believe was 132/95 (120/70-72 normally) at the AME. Does that mean I actaully passed the BP test? is 95 over or right at the limit?

 

[tsky]

All that I know is that once my b.p. was 155/95 and I passed my first class. It sounds like your B.P is not an issue anyway. He should have just taken it again and it probably would have been lower. Although I am not an AME, I think that 95 is the lower limit. I have had AMEs before who incorrectly think that the limit is 140/90. I think that you probably actually passed the B.P. test, but maybe your AME is misinformed.

 

[DaveJ]

tsky is correct. The maximum is 155/95, so you passed. By the way, this value is not in 14 CFR part 67 but can be found on the FAA web site at:
http://www.faa.gov/avr/aam/game/version_2/03amemanual/WEB/Medical Standards.htm

 

[Doug]

Ok, so if the doc marked 136/95 and said "deferred", will the FAA see it as a pass, or will I still need to provide the documentation.

Also, I called and left the office a message again today. STILL no call back. I am not going to contact the FAA about this AME until the I know the paperwork is out of his hands, but I do still plan to file a complaint. Not that it will help me, but if I can do anything to prevent someone else from going through what I went through, I will.

 

[tsky]

Since you have a heart murmur, you will probably need to provide documentation from your doctor that it is innocent. I had a murmer as well, and I had an EKG as well as a heart echo done. However, I only needed to do this once and not on subsequent medcials. If your AME has not sent your paperwork to the feds, and if you have your cardio eval done, he can issue you your medical, but if it's been more than 10 working days since your examination and he has sent your paperwork to the FAA, then you will probably need to provide your cardic eval to the FAA directly. I had a student once who had a heart attack in the past-he had to go through a bunch of hoops to get his medical but he finally did via a special issuance. The key with dealing with the FAA is to be pursistant and not give up, because they really don't want to deny anyone a medical, but they are just slow at processing it.

 

[qmaster3]

DOUG,

Always shop around for:

Flight Schools
CFI's
AME's
DE's

 

[Doug]

Finally got in touch with the AME office. They have NOT sent my paperwork to the FAA. I told them that I will have all the necessary paperwork this week.

 

[tsky]

That's definately good news that they have not sent your paper work of to the FAA. Try to get them to hold if for you as long as possible, and try to get your stuff to them soon.

 

[Doug]

As an update.

I got 3 BP readings documented, all well within limits. I also got my echocardiogram results which showed that I am in excellent health, Everything looks good, I dropped off the info at the AME, and will see what happens from here.