M
Mancil
Guest
Currently on a 3rd with another 3.5 years of validity. I'm 36. In the midst of training for Commercial and CFI. Obviously, I would like to get the 1st class out of the way before I get too far down the road. I'd also prefer not to get a deferral and halt my current training. A few questions:
1) hypertension. Been checking my BP daily and the big number bounces around from 125-145. And the lower from 80-95. I know anything below 155/95 is a pass, correct? I'd prefer to stay away from the blood work/BP meds if at all possible. But should be workable if I'm "high." I also know they can test 2x during the checkup and I can even come back in later on to show my BP is below the threshold. My reading this morning was 125/78. Seems to go up later in the day and if I eat a lot of salt or my wife is talking to me. I also have higher blood pressure in the office than outside. Let me know if any of that is incorrect.
2) Meds - looked these up on leftseat.com, scary language around them.
a) had a root canal, got a script for oxy. filled the script, never took any, but I do carry a few around in my mountaineering bag in case of broken bones etc. I read about how you shouldn't fly 5x the half life of the med. I don't plan on taking any unless I'm stuck in the back country with a snapped tib/fib. I assume this is ok.
b) diamox (acetazolamide) - when climbing in some high altitudes, one time script. also bought over the counter in south america. I try to avoid using it as I dislike the tinglies and peeing all the time. Will skip on this year's trip as we're not going too high.
c) famciclovir. I get a cold sore once every 2-4 years. finally got a script to make the little booger go away. leftseat says "case-by-case," but everything I can find in the FAA literature says it should be ok as long as there are no side effects (which there aren't)?
All-in-all, It seems like the 1st vs 3rd doesn't really require much different outside of tighter tolerances on vision and an EKG?
1) hypertension. Been checking my BP daily and the big number bounces around from 125-145. And the lower from 80-95. I know anything below 155/95 is a pass, correct? I'd prefer to stay away from the blood work/BP meds if at all possible. But should be workable if I'm "high." I also know they can test 2x during the checkup and I can even come back in later on to show my BP is below the threshold. My reading this morning was 125/78. Seems to go up later in the day and if I eat a lot of salt or my wife is talking to me. I also have higher blood pressure in the office than outside. Let me know if any of that is incorrect.
2) Meds - looked these up on leftseat.com, scary language around them.
a) had a root canal, got a script for oxy. filled the script, never took any, but I do carry a few around in my mountaineering bag in case of broken bones etc. I read about how you shouldn't fly 5x the half life of the med. I don't plan on taking any unless I'm stuck in the back country with a snapped tib/fib. I assume this is ok.
b) diamox (acetazolamide) - when climbing in some high altitudes, one time script. also bought over the counter in south america. I try to avoid using it as I dislike the tinglies and peeing all the time. Will skip on this year's trip as we're not going too high.
c) famciclovir. I get a cold sore once every 2-4 years. finally got a script to make the little booger go away. leftseat says "case-by-case," but everything I can find in the FAA literature says it should be ok as long as there are no side effects (which there aren't)?
All-in-all, It seems like the 1st vs 3rd doesn't really require much different outside of tighter tolerances on vision and an EKG?