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

[falcon20driver]

It's to late now, but you should have checked out the new sport pilot certificate, I know a J3 Cub is in this catagory and you don't need a medical to get a sport pilot certificate, your driver license can be used as a medical.

 

[Flyin Tony]

For my 2nd class she had to take my BP like 3 times and im only 18

 

[Lead Sled]

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

Doug,
No, the AME is obligated to send in the paperwork and you're going to have to jump through a few hoops to get a medical certificate. If I were in your position, I would contact the folks at AOPA, if you're a member, or www.leftseat.com for one of their consultations. Be assured that you're not alone - there are a lot of guys who psyike themselves out when it comes time to take a flight physical.

Along these same lines, there were some very good articles in some of the business aviation magazines a few years back that made the point that it's probably not wise to hold a medical certificate any higher than what you actually need. In other words, if you only need a 2nd class don't go after a 1st. If you are a private pilot and you're not planning on getting any advanced ratings you probably shouldn't be going for a 1st or 2nd class.

The reason is simple. If you apply for a higher rating than you need and for whatever reason you are disqualified you can not simply amend the application to a lower class or ask the AME not to submit the paperwork then go "doctor shopping". A medical won't be issued and you've ended up opening a whole can of worms for yourself with the FAA unnecessarily. It's happened to more than one pilot, including one of my close friends.

I'm not saying that you guys who are planning on an airline career shouldn't get that initial 1st class medical and EKG, you do need to know if there's anything disqualifying. What I'm saying is that as long as you only need a 2nd or 3rd class certificate you're not doing yourself any favors by holding the higher class physical.

'Sled

 

[Doug]

Sorry, I am getting things all messed up now

The upper number was normal, it was my lower number that came up high...it was actually 95, not 195...oops.

Also, this is purely for recreation, I do not plan to do this professionally.

 

[Doug]

The more I think about this, I am getting a little pissed off. The heart murmur, fine, it's there, it's been there since child hood. Would another AME even made an issue, I don't know. But the BP thing is what irks me. Especially since it was within faa limits on the upper, and 95 on the bottom(right on the dot for the FAA failure). You would have thought the guy would have checked it twice. He was using the cuff that does not contain a digital readout...you would think he would want to double check at the very least.

I just feel like now I have this "mark" with the FAA for the rest of my life, simply because I chose an AME that makes things difficult. From what it seems like this one stupid physical is going to nag me for the rest of my life. In some ways I just want to say screw it and hang up my headset, or whatever a pilot does when they retire.

Guess I am moving on from the shock phase into the anger phase...lol

 

[9GClub]

Consistency between docs seems to be an issue.... I've applied for (and received with no problem) a 3rd-class twice..... had to drop the pants for the first one but not the second. Dunno about the cheek dexterity inspection though man, that's weird. I usually handle the yoke with my knee when I'm eating the $100 hamburger, not my rear end.

BP was noteworthy too on the most recent one (130/90 maybe?), but I think that was just "white coat syndrome" as others have suggested. It is sort of a pain, though, when you're 18 (or 21 like me) and evidently dealing with BP issues.

 

[cfi on the fly]

Yeah, picking the right AME is a big deal. Whenever I move, I always find out the scoop on doctors in the area first. As for the class of medical issue...I don't think it really matters what class you are going for. On paper, there is no real difference between qualifying for a third as opposed to a first, except for the vision requirements. The real difference might be the doctors thoroughness, if he knows you are a captain flying 300 people around and you need this 1st class, he might go a little deeper into things, even though the requirements are the same for a 3rd class.

 

[JetBlast2000]

Sorry, I am getting things all messed up now

Also, this is purely for recreation, I do not plan to do this professionally.

Sounds like your stressing out a bit too much. In your situation it does not matter too much what’s on your record. Go through the steps, take care of the paperwork and keep flying. If your doing this for fun, it will sort itself out. If that was your BP for a medical, I wonder what it will be on a check ride… Fly safe

JB2k

 

[Vector4fun]

Doug,

Chill out..

This will take a bit to sort out, but should be OK. You've got two issues. One the murmur. The FAA will probably require a few tests and a Cardiologist's evaluation before ruling on this. I'm no heart expert, but if it's truly something hamless, a cardiologist should be able to verify that. AOPA or the other group can provide you and the cardiologist with info on what the FAA will want to see to pass on the murmur. If it's nothing potentially progressive, then you may only have to sort it out this one time and be done with it.

Issue #2, your BP. I believe the BP limits are on a sliding scale. The younger you are, the lower the limits, so the 95 may well be disqualifying for your age. Nevertheless, if your regular Doc can document 3-4 normal blood pressure readings in a row, then you should be able to send that to the FAA as proof your BP is OK. As the others have said, White Coat disease is pretty common.

If your description of the exam was accurate, then never, repeat, never go see this Doc again. A good Doc will spend a little time with you, chat with you and calm you down so as to give you every chance to pass the BP check.

The form letters you'll receive from the FAA regarding this medical stuff will seem pretty stern and severe. Don't let that get to you either. I've had to jump through dozens of hoops to keep my medical because of several common problems. But I've also talked to the folks at Aeromedical in person several times, and they do understand. What they need is documentation to cross every T and dot every I so as to cover their butts should you sieze up and crash into a school or some such. (Not that that would ever happen of course.) It's just a paperwork exercise for the most part, unless you really do have a serious medical condition.

 

[qmaster3]

OK

The nut check I can understand MAYBE. The BP would be the least of my concerns.

Has anyone else had to pull down the pants, bend over and grab the ankles??????????
If this is not required then I would be asking some questions. Probably calling the FAA, state medical board, etc.