Testosterone Replacement Therapy

[EvilEagle]

I took a 60+% pay cut for QOL, and it wasn't even affecting my health yet. But it's amazing how much improving your situation can improve your health and happiness. And it's worth every dollar in trade IMO.

Again, it's NOT about the money. The QOL (for me) is several orders of magnitude better flying widebody long haul - even if I was making less money I would do this flying. That doesn't mean there aren't challenges of course.

The guys that are bidding widebody for the first time have nearly universally told me they are less tired at the end of a 4 day intl trip than a 4 day domestic. It's just not possible to bid a "good QOL" schedule on a narrow body for all but the top 10% (guessing) - at least that's the case at Widget air works.

 

[EvilEagle]

Please, bouncing between continents in a self-flying pringles can hardly poses a problem set beyond the understanding of others. I've managed thousands of pilots on multiple continents, and somehow we've all made it through without pills or hormones. Similarly, many ATC personnel are constantly faced with a rotating schedule that is terrible for circadian rhythm. This isn't a new issue and it is well understood. Hell, I'm involved in some fatigue and performance management groups right now, looking at novel non-pharmacological interventions to help.

That first sentence is enough to preclude further question as to your credentials, bedside manner or desire to help people in the OP's situation. Opening with an outright insult to the career and an offhand disregard for any difficulties in that career seals the case; I would never allow anyone I cared about or wanted a career in aviation to be berated like that. How's the view from that incredibly high horse?

Former Navy doc eh? Yeah, that checks.

 

[AvNavCom]

That first sentence is enough to preclude further question as to your credentials, bedside manner or desire to help people in the OP's situation. Opening with an outright insult to the career and an offhand disregard for any difficulties in that career seals the case; I would never allow anyone I cared about or wanted a career in aviation to be berated like that. How's the view from that incredibly high horse?

Former Navy doc eh? Yeah, that checks.

Sorry man, that was meant to be good natured teasing, not a personal attack. Once again, text fails to convey tone. Apologies. But still...you have to admit that 98% of your airline flying involves twisting the speed and altitude knobs, and hitting a few buttons.

For the medical stuff, I stand my ground. There's a lot of crappy advertising and information out there, and testosterone supplementation in someone who is 29yo should be viewed with great suspicion and distrust.

 

[kayoh190]

But still...you have to admit that 98% of your airline flying involves twisting the speed and altitude knobs, and hitting a few buttons.

Any job can be reduced in such a way. When I was a software engineer, all I did is type on a keyboard. And hell, I probably spent only 5% of any given time at work actually typing code. When my wife's using the da Vinci, she's not even doing the cutting. What a lazy ass job that is, just sitting there at that console only having to move her fingertips.

Anyway, I know it's tongue and cheeck, but comments like this (which are seen all the time on PoA) simply weaken any argument because it shows that there's an inherent bias behind it.

 

[AvNavCom]

Any job can be reduced in such a way. When I was a software engineer, all I did is type on a keyboard. And hell, I probably spent only 5% of any given time at work actually typing code. When my wife's using the da Vinci, she's not even doing the cutting. What a lazy ass job that is, just sitting there at that console only having to move her fingertips.

Anyway, I know it's tongue and cheeck, but comments like this (which are seen all the time on PoA) simply weaken any argument because it shows that there's an inherent bias behind it.

Now I'm imagining a da Vinci where the surgeon manually performs the opening, hits NAV->REMOVE(organ)->EXECUTE and then carefully monitors until it's time to manually perform the closing. Actually, now I'm thinking about that, I wonder how far we away we are from fully-automated surgeries, and to what extent we'll see the resolution of surgical errors (and likely the introduction of new, exciting surgical errors). But your point is well-taken. If she really was just showing up, doing a bit of work at the beginning, and then watching without further interaction...she'd be an anesthesiologist! Okay, I really am done playing around now.

More seriously, the type and manner of work here is irrelevant and a distraction. Irrespective of whether one is a long-haul pilot, ATC, or snowplow driver, the principles of circadian rhythm disruption and its associated mental and physical challenges remain the same. Truthfully, it's probably worst of all in medical training, where somehow it is considered reasonable to have someone be awake for 24+ hours and participate in medical care on the theory that you need to see as many patients as possible and you might not have a choice but to do it fatigued one day. Madness. But there it is. You'd think the people talking about the value of sleep would actually follow their own advice.

 

[Mikey52]

There is no such thing as an airline's medical staff (Thank goodness!).

Pan Am had one. Damn good too.

 

[kayoh190]

Pan Am had one. Damn good too.

The various unions have medical committees that are designed to help their pilots navigate these sorts of issues. I've (knock on wood) haven't needed ours yet, but I hear they're pretty exceptional at what they do.

 

[Hengelo]

OP I hope you can find your way to see through the chaff in this thread.

Get a second opinion. Maybe a third.

Forums are poor sources of medical advice.

 

[bbchien]

But your point is well-taken. If she really was just showing up, doing a bit of work at the beginning, and then watching without further interaction...she'd be an anesthesiologist!

Not withstanding this personal insult, Av Nav might be right.....but FAA doesn't really care so long as your Hb remains normal. A lotta bad neuro stuff happens if your hemoglobin gets high: like stuff that will ground you for at last two years.

 

[AvNavCom]

Not withstanding this personal insult, Av Nav might be right.....but FAA doesn't really care so long as your Hb remains normal. A lotta bad neuro stuff happens if your hemoglobin gets high: like stuff that will ground you for at last two years.

Again, just having fun. Most anesthesiologists of my acquaintance are quite proud of having chosen to be on the correct side of the blood-brain barrier.