murphey
Touchdown! Greaser!
Here's one that baffles me. Early this year I had a minor vision problem - did not cause any difficulty driving, reading or flying, but in the interest of safety, until all the medical tests were completed, I did not fly unless there was another pilot along with me. After 3 weeks when no one, and I mean not one of the 7 physicians involved, could find a reason for the vision problem, I went back to flying solo.
FAA medical last week and I went in with every bit of documentation from all the opthamologists and physicians. Every time my AME (for 12 years, so I consider him *mine*) said "you'll need...." I pulled out the paperwork/form/report and handed it to him. This included an echocardiogram (my GP is a former USAF flight surgeon and knew exactly what I was going to need), and 3 horrendous hours at the specialist optho being blinded (36 photos of my eye)....
The worry is that this may have been a tiny stroke, or an indication that one may happen. However, as my AME pointed out, it's not only been stable for almost a year, but the vision is improving and no other indications have surfaced.
So now I have a 3rd class for 12 months, not 24, until I get one more test. That's the "Thyroid Uptake Scan" which, when I start doing research online, makes no sense to me at all. (American Radiology Assoc, etc) But the AME Boss in Seattle wants it (I haven't gotten the written request yet, but I know it's coming after the first of the year).
I email a friend of mine who's a Prof of Opthamology at Harvard Med with the symptoms - his response? "Welcome to getting older...we see this in aging patients and don't know why it happens...."
Swell.
So - anyone out there have any insight what the scan will reveal? Or is this the FAA deciding to toss in a new exam because I had already covered all the bases?
FAA medical last week and I went in with every bit of documentation from all the opthamologists and physicians. Every time my AME (for 12 years, so I consider him *mine*) said "you'll need...." I pulled out the paperwork/form/report and handed it to him. This included an echocardiogram (my GP is a former USAF flight surgeon and knew exactly what I was going to need), and 3 horrendous hours at the specialist optho being blinded (36 photos of my eye)....
The worry is that this may have been a tiny stroke, or an indication that one may happen. However, as my AME pointed out, it's not only been stable for almost a year, but the vision is improving and no other indications have surfaced.
So now I have a 3rd class for 12 months, not 24, until I get one more test. That's the "Thyroid Uptake Scan" which, when I start doing research online, makes no sense to me at all. (American Radiology Assoc, etc) But the AME Boss in Seattle wants it (I haven't gotten the written request yet, but I know it's coming after the first of the year).
I email a friend of mine who's a Prof of Opthamology at Harvard Med with the symptoms - his response? "Welcome to getting older...we see this in aging patients and don't know why it happens...."
Swell.
So - anyone out there have any insight what the scan will reveal? Or is this the FAA deciding to toss in a new exam because I had already covered all the bases?
