S
Stressed Aviator
Guest
Hello,
I really need some help because I am a little lost with the new guidelines. I was diagnosed last August with Adjustment Disorder w/ depressed mood by a Psychiatrist that I sought help with dealing with issues stemming from the FAA. I am an Airline Pilot that essentially went through the wringer for a year over a malpractice level diagnosis that resulted in $11,000 in fees between my AME, Neurology, and the full HIMS Cogscreen Battery.
(Had to get Seizure Disorder and Cognitive Impairment Cleared) from a provider that mixed my paperwork with another patient and couldn’t remember if I had these problems or not.
Luckily I was issued a normal unrestricted medial after a year of waiting, testing, and hope. Downside is I became depressed as I was falsely diagnosed with these conditions and held out of work for 12 months without pay. (My companies STD and LTD wouldn’t pay since there wasn’t anything “wrong” with me).
During that time I lost all my savings, had to move back in with family, and I am trying not to be homeless. I became depressed as my airline’s AME told me they knew I was lying about not having these problems and it took a good AME to go to bat for me and clear this all.
Sadly the stress and not knowing how the FAA would view this got to me. I thought everything would go away once my medical was issued but the stress and sadness persisted as I still was dealing with the fallout of everything.
I sought the help of a Ph.D psychologist as no one close to me knew what it was like dealing with a career ending misdiagnosis. They diagnosed me with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety relating to all of this. After 6 months of treatment I’m in a much better place and ready to get back to flying.
My question is would this be another deferral or would I be able to be issued under the new guidelines. I have never been on SSRIs (Have pharmacy records of 24 months), don’t have a mental health history, and no other rule outs. The psychologist has determined that I am recovered (still meet in person weekly) and has all of my treatment notes ready to go as well as their impression of me as recovered with their 37 years of experience.
I would ask the AME I worked with this question, but they want another $500 just to look at this and I don’t even have that much money at the moment to give them + they already charged me $6,000 just to get the misdiagnosis sorted out before any other testing.
Ideally I need to get back to work and flying but I’m not sure what I need. I’m scared I’ll be deferred again for a year or longer by a new AME and out more money. (I understand AMEs can’t make the rules) Is this something that can even be issued in the office given I am recovered and the stressor was clear as documented by the Psychologist or would it be a deferral and hope for the best? Thank you everyone!
I really need some help because I am a little lost with the new guidelines. I was diagnosed last August with Adjustment Disorder w/ depressed mood by a Psychiatrist that I sought help with dealing with issues stemming from the FAA. I am an Airline Pilot that essentially went through the wringer for a year over a malpractice level diagnosis that resulted in $11,000 in fees between my AME, Neurology, and the full HIMS Cogscreen Battery.
(Had to get Seizure Disorder and Cognitive Impairment Cleared) from a provider that mixed my paperwork with another patient and couldn’t remember if I had these problems or not.
Luckily I was issued a normal unrestricted medial after a year of waiting, testing, and hope. Downside is I became depressed as I was falsely diagnosed with these conditions and held out of work for 12 months without pay. (My companies STD and LTD wouldn’t pay since there wasn’t anything “wrong” with me).
During that time I lost all my savings, had to move back in with family, and I am trying not to be homeless. I became depressed as my airline’s AME told me they knew I was lying about not having these problems and it took a good AME to go to bat for me and clear this all.
Sadly the stress and not knowing how the FAA would view this got to me. I thought everything would go away once my medical was issued but the stress and sadness persisted as I still was dealing with the fallout of everything.
I sought the help of a Ph.D psychologist as no one close to me knew what it was like dealing with a career ending misdiagnosis. They diagnosed me with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety relating to all of this. After 6 months of treatment I’m in a much better place and ready to get back to flying.
My question is would this be another deferral or would I be able to be issued under the new guidelines. I have never been on SSRIs (Have pharmacy records of 24 months), don’t have a mental health history, and no other rule outs. The psychologist has determined that I am recovered (still meet in person weekly) and has all of my treatment notes ready to go as well as their impression of me as recovered with their 37 years of experience.
I would ask the AME I worked with this question, but they want another $500 just to look at this and I don’t even have that much money at the moment to give them + they already charged me $6,000 just to get the misdiagnosis sorted out before any other testing.
Ideally I need to get back to work and flying but I’m not sure what I need. I’m scared I’ll be deferred again for a year or longer by a new AME and out more money. (I understand AMEs can’t make the rules) Is this something that can even be issued in the office given I am recovered and the stressor was clear as documented by the Psychologist or would it be a deferral and hope for the best? Thank you everyone!
