Asthma

[FlightFollowing]

Well It just came up this year and my doctor told me i have asthma becasue of my allergies... sucks. I have to renew my medical pretty soon Will this effect anything? I hope not.... please let me know.. I am begining to freak out.

 

[BillG]

I've had very low level asthma for many years. It comes and goes, but I have a prescription to albuteral that I fill every year or two. When I mentioned it to my AME he said not to worry about it. I'm sure Dr. Bruce will chime in with more complete information, too...

 

[mmthomas]

I've had asthma for almost as long as I've had my pilot's license, more than 20 years. I never had a problem getting my medical, although you will probably have to provide some additional information from your doctor.

 

[mmthomas]

The AOPA has lots of information on its web site about procedures for dealing with various medical problems. You should probably check it out.

 

[grattonja]

I am another one with asthma from allergies. It does not affect my flying and was no problem with my first medical. My second medical is coming up, and I am more worried about my borderline BP than asthma.

You should have no problem. Worst case, a doc's note or something to indicate that it is controlled with meds.

Jim G

 

[bbchien]

I am another one with asthma from allergies. It does not affect my flying and was no problem with my first medical. My second medical is coming up, and I am more worried about my borderline BP than asthma.

You should have no problem. Worst case, a doc's note or something to indicate that it is controlled with meds.

Jim G

What FAA looks at is (1) Have you required any emergency room visits (2) have you got, day to day, an exertion limitation because of this. If none, get doc's letter that says so and go directly to certification.

If yes, then you need to go see the pulmonary specialist, and get the big long letter and the OKC docs review it. Anything can happen in that case.

Bruce

 

[FlightFollowing]

sweet thanks guys... You are putting me at ease... I am gonig to talk to my doctor about this tommrow.. Thanks alot.

 

[mmthomas]

I have high blood pressure (controlled by medication) in addition to asthma. For my first medical after being diagnosed with HBP, the ME referred my file to Oklahoma without issuing a certificate. It took about 3 months, but I got the certificate from Oklahoma and have had no problems since (except for my prostate surgery, which is a different story, but that had a happy outcome too).

 

[grattonja]

I have high blood pressure (controlled by medication) in addition to asthma. For my first medical after being diagnosed with HBP, the ME referred my file to Oklahoma without issuing a certificate. It took about 3 months, but I got the certificate from Oklahoma and have had no problems since (except for my prostate surgery, which is a different story, but that had a happy outcome too).

Ouch on the three months. My family doc seems to think the low dose diuretic is working well, so I appear to be stable. Spoke to my AME a couple of days ago. He says, basically, a CDC, Chem 7, Lipid panel and an EKG within 60 days, bring it to the physical, no problem.

So we shall see.

Jim G

 

[grattonja]

What FAA looks at is (1) Have you required any emergency room visits (2) have you got, day to day, an exertion limitation because of this. If none, get doc's letter that says so and go directly to certification.

If yes, then you need to go see the pulmonary specialist, and get the big long letter and the OKC docs review it. Anything can happen in that case.

Bruce

And I defer to the expert...

genuflect, genuflect, genuflect...

Jim G

 

[bbchien]

Jim, Hypertension is an OFFICE immediate ISSUEANCE. If you come with a fasting HDL, LDL, Chol, Glucose, Normal EKG and a statement that your BP is under good control with no side effects, and an assessment of your cardiovascular health. Any AME armed with the above is able to do this on the spot, unless he failed Aviation Medicine 101.

 

[Carol]

Jim, Hypertension is an OFFICE immediate ISSUEANCE. If you come with a fasting HDL, LDL, Chol, Glucose, Normal EKG and a statement that your BP is under good control with no side effects, and an assessment of your cardiovascular health. Any AME armed with the above is able to do this on the spot, unless he failed Aviation Medicine 101.

Yep. Zactly the way it happened for me. In fact, mine didn't mention lab work until I offered it, he just asked how I was doing on the meds. Thanks again for the help, Bruce.

Here's the form I used:
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/medical/hyper_eval.pdf
From the AOPA website.

 

[grattonja]

Jim, Hypertension is an OFFICE immediate ISSUEANCE. If you come with a fasting HDL, LDL, Chol, Glucose, Normal EKG and a statement that your BP is under good control with no side effects, and an assessment of your cardiovascular health. Any AME armed with the above is able to do this on the spot, unless he failed Aviation Medicine 101.

Thanks Bruce. That is a more comprehensive way of saying it than my AME said, but he basically said the same thing. I was wondering why the poor fella above had to wait 3 months. Does it depend on how well controlled the BP is?

Jim G

 

[mmthomas]

Jim, Hypertension is an OFFICE immediate ISSUEANCE. If you come with a fasting HDL, LDL, Chol, Glucose, Normal EKG and a statement that your BP is under good control with no side effects, and an assessment of your cardiovascular health. Any AME armed with the above is able to do this on the spot, unless he failed Aviation Medicine 101.

This is not the way it happened for me, even though I had all of this information. It may well be my AME failed Aviation Medicine 101, because he did immediately issue my certificate after my prostate was removed for prostate cancer, when that clearly should have been referrred to the FAA. That mistake (when the FAA finally discovered it) cost me another three months!