Some questions for the Doctors on this forum. @bbchien @lbfjrmd @WingmanMed Background: 1. Was admitted to the Mental Health ward for a week while in the military, this was right before Operation Desert Storm. 2. Was on Prozac during the 1990s. 3. Have high blood pressure. Taking 50mg of Atenolol daily. 4. Tried requesting records from a Psychologist, I saw in the early 2000s. Was told the records are not available anymore. Questions: 1. Would the FAA accept an evaluation report from a “Forensic Psychiatrist” or should I wait for an FAA letter requesting more information, and see a HIMS Psychiatrist? 2. Should I just stick with a Sport Pilot license, or are the odds in my favor to get a 3rd Class Medical? 3. Would I need to take a CogScreen? It was suggested by some people that I spoke to that I shouldn’t report the issues above since the records are not available, the FAA wouldn’t know unless I told them. I would rather be extra cautious and cover my butt.
I don't really disagree with @lbfjrmd, but you don't need a HIMS AME. It is really hard to give good answers with such limited information though.
Does that mean it’s possible to get a special issuance for something like substance dependence/abuse with any Senior AME that isn’t HIMS?
Would I still be able to get referred to a HIMS Psychiatrist thru a Non-HIMS AME? Also, can I see a HIMS Psychiatrist, before I get a deferral letter from the FAA? I tried requesting my military records about 2 years ago. Unfortunately, my records were not digitized.
No. HIMS AMEs are absolutely required for substance abuse history and current SSRI use. HIMS AMEs are generally more experienced so sometimes they get recommended for more complicated cases, but that doesn't mean they are required. We frequently recommend a client use HIMS Psychiatrists without using a HIMS AME simply because those psychiatrists tend to know how to write the kind of notes the FAA wants vs trying to explain it to a regular psychiatrist.
Generally no, but you don't necessarily need a HIMS Psychiatrist either. You need to be doing well and have good documentation of that. As I mentioned above, for mental health things that frequently does mean a HIMS Psychiatrist. If you do want a HIMS Psychiatrist then you either need a HIMS AME or a consulting service that has access to the HIMS lists. The HIMS Psychiatrist list is the only one that is not publicly available.
Question (answer needed to address the quex): How many yrs on the meds? Was there more than one period on them? Have you been off all meds >10 yrs, with no events and continued steady employ? O/W unable to be any more specific than LBF or Wingman…..
I was on the meds probably for a year or two at most, I'm not really sure. The only time that I remember being on them was in the early 90's. I'm guessing between 91-93. Yes, I have been off all meds (except for Attenol, take for high BP), since before 2000's. No events, (did see a Licensed Therapist around 2001-2003, just three meetings that I recall, he found nothing wrong). Other than that no events. Been working for the same job for last 30 years.
