Mood Disorder NOS

[Heisenberg27]

So i have had some troubles in my life and took some FMLA for 3 months. I paid cash to see a psychiatrist and he said his diagnosis would be Mood disorder NOS. He recommended lamictal and seroquel however I declined and asked not to be prescribed anything. I went to a 2nd shrink, paid cash again same opinion. I have not taken any meds but i don’t even know what mood disorder nos even means.It doesn’t sound good for my medical. FMLA is good for about 2 more months. What should i do and is this disqualifying? Flying is the only way to provide for my family as i only have a worthless degree in aviation. Any advice/help would be much appreciated. Long term disability looks tricky when it comes to mental illness

 

[benyflyguy]

What’s going on, how you feeling? Just looking for some insight as to why they came up with that dx? That dx is used for a wide variety of different possibilities, it is often used at the begnining of a dx workup when there isn’t enough evidence or length of time to specify a more specific dx

 

[Half Fast]

So i have had some troubles in my life and took some FMLA for 3 months. I paid cash to see a psychiatrist and he said his diagnosis would be Mood disorder NOS. He recommended lamictal and seroquel however I declined and asked not to be prescribed anything. I went to a 2nd shrink, paid cash again same opinion. I have not taken any meds but i don’t even know what mood disorder nos even means.It doesn’t sound good for my medical. FMLA is good for about 2 more months. What should i do and is this disqualifying? Flying is the only way to provide for my family as i only have a worthless degree in aviation. Any advice/help would be much appreciated. Long term disability looks tricky when it comes to mental illness

You have concurring opinions from two professionals who had the opportunity to see and examine you. Yet you seek advice from strangers on the internet who, even were they qualified, have not had an opportunity to meet you face to face? Frankly, and with no intent to seem harsh or insulting, that seems like very poor judgment.

Please take care of your health as your first priority. I understand your career concerns, but first of all you owe it to your loved ones to address the medical issue.

All I can suggest, if you want another opinion, is to find a psychiatrist who understands aviation and works with pilots.

 

[AggieMike88]

To count the "worthless degree" issue, read Dan Miller's "No More Dreaded Monday's" and "48 Days To The Work You Love" to find out what other passions you have that can generate income and then create a plan to position yourself to take advantage of that passion. If education is needed, there are many, many online resources to make that happen, including self paced ones. Or it might just be you need the appropriate swift kick in the pants to figure out how to generate good income that is t aviation and for the moment is a solid supplement to aviation.


For the psychiatrists, did they provide information on what the cause of the disorder? Or just a "thanks for the cash, here is believable guess and a script for pills? Is this a long term chronic thing or a short term recent thing?

Would any typical mood improving activities (exercise, fun and slightly challenging hobby, or fun social action) help?

And Half Fast is right... seeking help from an aviation and FAA knowledgeable doc is the better course than us SG'sOTI

 

[Heisenberg27]

What’s going on, how you feeling? Just looking for some insight as to why they came up with that dx? That dx is used for a wide variety of different possibilities, it is often used at the begnining of a dx workup when there isn’t enough evidence or length of time to specify a more specific dx

My mood has been all over the place as a person i loved tried to commit suicide and it gave me flashbacks of when i found my former love dead. i recognize my behavior has been erratic. I came here because i want to know if i need to see a HIMS psychiatrist and if this condition is even eligible. I know the meds aren’t but talking with a therapist has helped.

Thank you and i am not feeling great at all therefore i took FMLA

 

[Half Fast]

Please, please stop worrying about what may be disqualifying and deal with your health as your first priority, if not for your own sake then for your family’s sake. There will be time to address FAA issues and most issues can be solved once you’re healthy.

Aviate, navigate, communicate - in that order, right? First keep yourself alive, then navigate a path back to mental health, then communicate with the FAA.

 

[vman]

And Half Fast is right... seeking help from an aviation and FAA knowledgeable doc is the better course than us SG'sOTI

very important +1

expert info will come shortly from others on this site, including 'known' go to docs

 

[Rushie]

My mood has been all over the place as a person i loved tried to commit suicide and it gave me flashbacks of when i found my former love dead. i recognize my behavior has been erratic. I came here because i want to know if i need to see a HIMS psychiatrist and if this condition is even eligible. I know the meds aren’t but talking with a therapist has helped.

Thank you and i am not feeling great at all therefore i took FMLA

I'm not a doc and not trying to diagnose you, just want to make a suggestion. Get a complete physical exam, ask for hormone panel, thyroid including free T3, sex hormones for whatever gender you are, liver enzymes, inflammation markers, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, iron, as a minimum. Correct any deficiencies and get them mid range, not just grazing the lower border.

Next, if the discovery of your former love was recent (within two years) and that was the first beginning of your mood symptoms there is a chance you are suffering a situational trauma. You've had two psychiatrists diagnose you with a non specific mood disorder, this is not good for medical certification and if you don't report this on you next medical you will have lied. Paying cash to avoid having to report MIGHT be okay if you're getting marriage counseling or other life adjustment therapy from a counselor, but not if you have been getting treatment for a mood disorder. Even if you don't have one there is a diagnosis in the record, even if it didn't make it as far as insurance databases.

I'm saying that it would be wise to take Mike's advice and begin considering an alternative career.

Having said all this, I cannot, nor can anyone here except Dr. Lou or Dr. Chien tell you whether this can be dealt with and keep your medical with the FAA. Yes possibly HIMS testing would be required but right now you are in a crisis point. The good news is you recognized it and took leave to deal with it. You also have identified that talk therapy is helpful. But you are still in the crisis and the important thing as the others have said is to get the help you need and take care of yourself first.

You are not wrong to come here to ask SGOTI because this is actually one of the best places to answer the question of the medical certification with the FAA. The answer is that one of the qualified AMEs here would need to look at the entirety of your history. I understand your anxiety about your career is a concern and you are wanting to address it simultaneously with the emotional issues because it all interrelates. Not to mention keeping the money coming to pay for whatever help you get. But in active crisis a person has limited energy and must focus on healing first.

One step at a time. You will get through this.

 

[lbfjrmd]

Interesting that this question occurs as I was going to post this letter as an example of what happens when an airman has a vague past history of mental health encounters that are likely not problematic.

In your case to be issued a medical, the encounters you had with the two psychiatrists will need to be evaluated, by your AME and then by the FAA. The letter you see is for an airman that I 'navigated' to this situation with the FAA. Having seen his records, I am confident that once said documents are provided, he/she will get a medical.

For your case, your condition needs to be stable, with a diagnosis the FAA will accept, and either on FAA approved meds or on no meds. See your family doctor for a complete physical. Get you mental health condition treated and stable! Then begin the process to seek a medical certificate.

 

[bbchien]

When the brain is under stress, everything seems to be a huge mountain. Recovery from a huge adjustment requires time.

Revisit this when the waters are a tad less deep. Get to a Ph.D. Psychologist counselor. After recovery FAA becomes much less of an "obstacle" and more of what it really is: "they want you well".

 

[Half Fast]

OP, you've just received advice from two outstanding AMEs. My advice is to heed theirs.

 

[Rushie]

OP, you've just received advice from two outstanding AMEs. My advice is to heed theirs.

^^^^ This! lbfjrmd and bbchien rock. Ignore what I said about another career, their answers are much more optimistic and unlike me they are the experts!