Medical certificate and droping the pants....

[gear goes down]

Ok, so I went to get my medical certificate renewed the other day. I went to a new doctor, because I just recently moved to this area. Everything was the usual, until he told me to drop my pants and shorts. I was kind of stunned as asked him to repeat what he just said and I herd correctly. So I drop my pants and the Dr wants me to take off my underwear. So I did. Next he tells my to lay down on the table with my legs dangling off of the end…..He’s the doc, so I did. After that he starts rubbing my testacies for little while…..He told me he was checking for tumors. Then does the coughing thing.

Anyways my question is, has anyone ever had that done to them? I have never had to drop my paints for a medical certificate. It all sounds kind of strange.

 

[pilotyip]

It has been normal as long as I have been taking physicals. cough, figure wave, etc.

 

[GogglesPisano]

I'ne never had to bend over and cough for an AME. I'm in and out in 5 minutes or less with the all-important piece of paper.

Find another AME.

 

[pilotyip]

One of the guys I fly with had Prostate Cancer discovered during the finger wave by the AME.

 

[Dustin H]

I can't say how "normal" that is, but in my 15 times to get a medical (15 years) I've never once had to drop my pants.

 

[atlcrashpad]

I drop my pants in the doc's waiting room. Just to impress the nurses.... Bouy....

 

[Doozer]

It depends on the doctor.

My first flight physical was in 1980 as a Corporal in the Marine Corps; I was on my way to Officer Candidate School. The doctor was a quite stunning female Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. I had to do the fondle (I wish) and cough thing with her. Talk about embarrassing!

Since then, every flight physical entailed at least the drop trow and cough maneuver.

After 45, my AME started doing the digital prostate checks. He's a Colonel in the TN National Guard. He says he didn't used to perform that check on people less than 50; he changed his tune after a thirty-something pilot in his unit died from aggressive bout of prostate cancer.

Uncomfortable as it is, I'd rather have his finger up there once a year than risk dying from a cancer that would have been diagnosed early if my homophobia wasn't elevated.

 

[minitour]

Just re-newed my 1st class day before yesterday.

Total time in the office - 20 minutes.
Total time in the "exam" - 5 minutes...including typing up the certificate.

Can't say I've had the "cough" or "poke" tests...from an AME.

That's what I pay my family physician the big bucks for.

-mini

 

[pilotyip]

Dooizer, I guess it is a military thing. There is no such thing as privacy, and such things as the doc asking you to drop your drawers is not a big deal.

 

[Metro752]

what if you have a huge turd in there? What does the doctor do then?

 

[Capt. Kramer]

That's how they do medicals -- IN PRISON!!

 

[SPilot]

Sure I got a finger or two up there. But I didnt have to bend over. I was just standing straight up & forward while the AME respectfully put his finger in place and commanded a cough.
The AME was careful to explain the reason and make me feel okay about it. (First time).

 

[Way2Broke]

For some reason I see this thread going down hill with time. I have dropped the pants everytime, however I have never had a doc put anything "up there." I did, however, have a doc ask if I would like it checked once. I said no. I agree with what the previous poster said about paying your family doc good money to tell you if your really healthy. Treat the AMEs just like you would a FAA inspector, and you will be just fine. They are "here to help" in exactly the same way.

 

[icefr8dawg]

you guys have it all wrong. Let your GP do the finger and drop pants thing and get the hell out of the AME's office in less than 10 minutes with $100 less in your pocket and your job intact. I want my AME to be the last one to EVER find anything.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

Funny stuff. I had an AME ask me to drop my pants and then look for what seemed to me to be an uncomfotable amount of time...that was the last time I used him. The next AME didn't even have me take my shoes off.

Gear Goes Down...your not located in CO by any chance?