AlbieF15
F15 Ret/FDX/InterviewPrep
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2001
- Posts
- 1,764
I have recently gone through an experience I thought I’d share with some of my real and virtual friends out here on flightinfo. It’s a long post, and moderators—if I’m too far off track or wasting too much space you can just trash the post or move it as you see fit….
Like a lot of fighter pilots (and pilots in general) as I moved from my late 30’s into 40 I noticed a pattern of more and more back pain. I could never isolate it to a particular stimulus, and it would come and go for several days at a time. Last December I finally broke down and confessed the issue to an F15 flight doc, hoping not for a cure (assuming it was just age and worn discs) but rather strategies to minimize future damage. He ordered some X-rays which proved negative and showed a normal lower back.
When I had to get my Air Force flight physical in January, another Flight Doc reviewed my history and suggested that if I still had intermittent back pain, perhaps an MRI might “benchmark” my back and we could track any further problems as I got older comparing them to my current status. Although it took about 2 months to get the appointment scheduled, I had the MRI in March. Imagine my surprise when I got a call when out on a trip saying “…the radiologist has found some kind of tumor in your lower back and wants to investigate further…” During the first MRI, I was completely relaxed and dozed off listening to music on the headset they provided. I have to admit the second MRI was not nearly as much fun, and listening to the beast make all its noises while I “what if’d…” 1000 different things in my head made for one looooong afternoon.
Eventually, the diagnoses was a non-malignant tumor in my spinal column was putting pressure on my nerves and would eventually lead to extreme pain and/or paralysis. Even though the tumor was “benign”, it still had to be removed.
After a lot of phone calls to physician friends and several different neurosurgeon appointments, I eventually found a doctor I trusted out of town in Mobile, Alabama. At 0530 today I went in for surgery, and I am now in the hospital recovering for most of the rest of the week. Surgery was a complete success, and as I told a buddy, my hierarchy of goals post surgery were A) wake up B) wiggle my toes C) get an erection and D) get my flight status back. D may take a few months, but so far everything seems to be working very well. (I know, I know…for some of you C is number 1!)
So…what have I learned from this whole experience?
1.God is good and prayer works. I’ve survived combat, financial turmoil and setbacks, the loss of a parent, and now a major health crisis. I have turned to God in every situation and always seem to come out better and stronger than I started the process. I had a lot of great people out there praying for me, and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of them.
2. Good Health insurance is worth going to the mat over during negotiations. I was willing to pay out of network costs to locate a physician I liked and trusted with surgery this important. Getting back to the cockpit to support my family was extremely important, and I wanted to be confident in my doctor. My CIGNA plan allowed the out of network option, but when the company reviewed my case they realized there were no “in network” neurosurgeons near my home and elected to treat this as “in network”, potentially saving me tens of thousands of dollars. (See lesson learned # 1 above!) I have heard guys on some threads complain about poor service and/or few options with their health insurance at their carriers…but I was glad I had mine. I also think I can pay my premiums for the next 20 years and still come out ahead over what this operation would have cost me.
3. Having a little sick and disability credit in the bank turned out to be a good thing. I’ll be out 2-3 months, but won’t miss a paycheck.
4. When faced with a crisis like this, you will be amazed at who your “real” friends are. I hope you don’t every have to test them like this, but seeing who does (and doesn’t) reach out to you when the chips are down is a very insightful experience.
5. Your wife loves you, not a “pilot”. Your kids could really care less if you fly airplanes. They just want their daddy. They may like to be spoiled, but in a pinch they’ll live in a cardboard box to stay with you. Remember that as you try to figure out if you want to pick up the extra trip or spend that day with family…
6. Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying…” is on a LOT whenever you are about to have a major operation
7. Most of the day to day stuff that irritates us really is little $hit. Don’t let little $hit ruin your day.
8. You know your body better than anyone. If something doesn’t feel “right”….investigate. My persistence and a good flight doc’s curiosity may have saved me from paralysis.
9. It was a great comfort to have other non-flying sources of income as I faced the possibility of not flying again. I encourage all of you to look at things you could do “…if….”
10. My sick bank, insurance, and ability to bid and work around this setback are funded by my great company but were the product of a contract negotiated by my Union and modeled after similar industry contracts created by pilots banding together and negotiating good coverage. My union dues for the rest of my career have already been worth it after this experience. I was (and hopefully will be again) a fighter pilot in good health who lifts weights, waterskis, runs, doesn’t smoke or use tobacco, and is a very light drinker. Yet out of the blue I had a medical condition that could have ended my career or killed me, and bankrupted our family along the way. Instead—I’m bouncing back, optimistic, and although the billing isn’t settled yet it appears with major financial hardship to my family. God certainly has blessed my family and me, but my union and my contract were part of those blessings.
If I can be of help to anyone down the road on similar issues please don’t hesitate to PM me. God bless and “play nice!”
Like a lot of fighter pilots (and pilots in general) as I moved from my late 30’s into 40 I noticed a pattern of more and more back pain. I could never isolate it to a particular stimulus, and it would come and go for several days at a time. Last December I finally broke down and confessed the issue to an F15 flight doc, hoping not for a cure (assuming it was just age and worn discs) but rather strategies to minimize future damage. He ordered some X-rays which proved negative and showed a normal lower back.
When I had to get my Air Force flight physical in January, another Flight Doc reviewed my history and suggested that if I still had intermittent back pain, perhaps an MRI might “benchmark” my back and we could track any further problems as I got older comparing them to my current status. Although it took about 2 months to get the appointment scheduled, I had the MRI in March. Imagine my surprise when I got a call when out on a trip saying “…the radiologist has found some kind of tumor in your lower back and wants to investigate further…” During the first MRI, I was completely relaxed and dozed off listening to music on the headset they provided. I have to admit the second MRI was not nearly as much fun, and listening to the beast make all its noises while I “what if’d…” 1000 different things in my head made for one looooong afternoon.
Eventually, the diagnoses was a non-malignant tumor in my spinal column was putting pressure on my nerves and would eventually lead to extreme pain and/or paralysis. Even though the tumor was “benign”, it still had to be removed.
After a lot of phone calls to physician friends and several different neurosurgeon appointments, I eventually found a doctor I trusted out of town in Mobile, Alabama. At 0530 today I went in for surgery, and I am now in the hospital recovering for most of the rest of the week. Surgery was a complete success, and as I told a buddy, my hierarchy of goals post surgery were A) wake up B) wiggle my toes C) get an erection and D) get my flight status back. D may take a few months, but so far everything seems to be working very well. (I know, I know…for some of you C is number 1!)
So…what have I learned from this whole experience?
1.God is good and prayer works. I’ve survived combat, financial turmoil and setbacks, the loss of a parent, and now a major health crisis. I have turned to God in every situation and always seem to come out better and stronger than I started the process. I had a lot of great people out there praying for me, and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of them.
2. Good Health insurance is worth going to the mat over during negotiations. I was willing to pay out of network costs to locate a physician I liked and trusted with surgery this important. Getting back to the cockpit to support my family was extremely important, and I wanted to be confident in my doctor. My CIGNA plan allowed the out of network option, but when the company reviewed my case they realized there were no “in network” neurosurgeons near my home and elected to treat this as “in network”, potentially saving me tens of thousands of dollars. (See lesson learned # 1 above!) I have heard guys on some threads complain about poor service and/or few options with their health insurance at their carriers…but I was glad I had mine. I also think I can pay my premiums for the next 20 years and still come out ahead over what this operation would have cost me.
3. Having a little sick and disability credit in the bank turned out to be a good thing. I’ll be out 2-3 months, but won’t miss a paycheck.
4. When faced with a crisis like this, you will be amazed at who your “real” friends are. I hope you don’t every have to test them like this, but seeing who does (and doesn’t) reach out to you when the chips are down is a very insightful experience.
5. Your wife loves you, not a “pilot”. Your kids could really care less if you fly airplanes. They just want their daddy. They may like to be spoiled, but in a pinch they’ll live in a cardboard box to stay with you. Remember that as you try to figure out if you want to pick up the extra trip or spend that day with family…
6. Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying…” is on a LOT whenever you are about to have a major operation
7. Most of the day to day stuff that irritates us really is little $hit. Don’t let little $hit ruin your day.
8. You know your body better than anyone. If something doesn’t feel “right”….investigate. My persistence and a good flight doc’s curiosity may have saved me from paralysis.
9. It was a great comfort to have other non-flying sources of income as I faced the possibility of not flying again. I encourage all of you to look at things you could do “…if….”
10. My sick bank, insurance, and ability to bid and work around this setback are funded by my great company but were the product of a contract negotiated by my Union and modeled after similar industry contracts created by pilots banding together and negotiating good coverage. My union dues for the rest of my career have already been worth it after this experience. I was (and hopefully will be again) a fighter pilot in good health who lifts weights, waterskis, runs, doesn’t smoke or use tobacco, and is a very light drinker. Yet out of the blue I had a medical condition that could have ended my career or killed me, and bankrupted our family along the way. Instead—I’m bouncing back, optimistic, and although the billing isn’t settled yet it appears with major financial hardship to my family. God certainly has blessed my family and me, but my union and my contract were part of those blessings.
If I can be of help to anyone down the road on similar issues please don’t hesitate to PM me. God bless and “play nice!”
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Good luck with your recovery and I hope you get to pull some more G's soon!
