Have my medical tomorrow š°
Posted by Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 61 comments
Iām so nervous but so excited. I feel fine and feel thereās nothing wrong with me but Iām just scared something will pop up. Iām in my early early 20s should I be worrying much?
blacknessofthevoid@reddit
Just as long as your middle finger is OK, you are all right. It is very important for open communications in the cockpit and crew resource management.
PayCautious1243@reddit
Was about to put the doc gonna poke your butthole but i guess you found out
IgnatiusTheRam@reddit
Iāve got mine tomorrow as well, got 5.83 threshold on my CAD vision test, only other thing is I have exercise induced asthma/wheezing. Anything I need to know? Would greatly appreciate any advice or info
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Honestly from my experience today all I can tell is donāt stress. I was stressing so much beforehand but when youāre actually with the doctor, optometrist etc itās all smooth. Thereās not really any advice I can give as itās just kind of your ability, but what I can say is for the vision is to make sure to bring your glasses if you need some, I was told today if I didnāt maybe bring them my left eye could possibly have failed me but glasses were 100% okay. Another thing was when doing the colourblind test read the numbers carefully, make sure you read exactly what number it is before just saying it. Also when doing the hearing test make sure you have full concentration with the frequencies given to you, one little lack of concentration can throw you off, but this is from my own experience which I hope will help you too! Also itās actually a very enjoyable and exciting experience, knowing that this will be your next chapter to an office in the skies, Iām excited for you man please update me āŗļø
IgnatiusTheRam@reddit
I already got an alternative test because I canāt pass the Waggoner number test. Thanks for the reply though, I will let you know tomorrow! Hopefully I pass this and then just have to worry about check rides
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
You got this bro trust me, just think once you pass this everything starts from here š
IgnatiusTheRam@reddit
Hell yeah thanks man, hoping Iāll be back with good news tomorrow
walleyednj@reddit
If the doc puts both hands on your shoulders, thatās not his finger doing the rectal exam.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
My face dropped
RaiseTheDed@reddit
No. They really only check for diabetes, reflexes, eyesight, and hearing. Everything else is self reported.
qwerty-phish@reddit
Is it serious/untreated diabetes? Iām pre-diabetic but my A1C is good. Would I be ok?
Last_Koala9340@reddit
If youāre taking Jardiance your urine will be hot for sugar. Talk to your PCP about a different treatment and switch about a week before your test š
RaiseTheDed@reddit
They just do a strip test in your urine. So if that's fine, you're good. My cholesterol is pretty high too, so I've been working on fiber to reduce it
qwerty-phish@reddit
Got it. Thanks!!
TxAggieMike@reddit
Strip test of iron is to see if your blood sugar is elevated enough that your kidneys are spilling sugar into your urine.
To avoid āringing the bellā, avoid high sugar and carbohydrate meals and snacks 2-3 days before your exam and be well hydrated.
As pre-diabetic, ask your treating physician about obtaining and using a Constant Glucose Monitor (CGM) such as Dexcom or Libre.
Having something always reporting your blood sugar is much easier than remembering to stick your finger. And you can catch highs and lows much faster.
mustardgas_roses451@reddit
Iām pretty sure this is incorrect. What they test for is protein in your urine. Correct me if Iām wrong but testing for quantitative urine glucose would require a more sensitive test than just a simple urine dip.
TxAggieMike@reddit
The urine dip is for diabetes. It is not sensitive enough to tell you your A1C (that requires a blood draw and laboratory analysis), but it can detect presence of too much sugar.
This article can explain more: Glucose in Urine Test
I have Tyoe 2 diabetes but my A1C is well controlled and within FAA limits. But I still spill some sugar through my kidneys and it shows up the UA strip.
qwerty-phish@reddit
Good tip!
I used one of those glucose monitors before and know which foods give me a large spike!
swedishlightning@reddit
Part of the āself-reportingā is providing documentation for any medical visits youāve had over the last couple years. So they will know about whatever conditions your doctor has documented.
Before you go the FAA appointment, youāll want to be sure that you know exactly whether youāve checked all the FAAās boxes for each of those conditions. If you donāt have your ducks in a (FAA specified) row, then youāll get deferred and everything gets much harder.
The FAA has a very specific process for prediabetes summarized in this worksheet. Other common conditions (eg high blood pressure, asthma, etc.) all have their own worksheets.
Itās key to know that you and your doctor have met the requirements of the given worksheet before going to the appointment. Beyond just having an A1C in the right range at your last visit, the FAA might specifically want one from within the last X months (even if your regular doc did one x+1 months ago and thinks repeating now is silly), for example. Donāt get tripped up by little gotchas like this. Always go into a FAA medical appointment 100% confident that you will pass.
C_C6215@reddit
All they did for me was an eye test, colorblind and blood pressure. No piss in cup or blood draw or anything. First class too i was completely shocked
Rush_1_1@reddit
As long as your other fingers don't take SSRIs, you should be good!
devonwillis21@reddit
Please no coffee or caffeine or sugar drinks few days before exam.
Latter-Ad5490@reddit
how come?
devonwillis21@reddit
Idk how it affects everyone but it fs spikes my blood pressure into the concerned range. A few days without caffeine and unhealthy food overall helps my labs and everything else as an overweight guy.
Latter-Ad5490@reddit
makes sense
RunAgreeable7576@reddit
Literally the simplest medical exam youāve ever had. Should take 10 minutes. Hopefully you donāt get a doc that does things the old way and plays around the nether regions for a severely uncomfortable amount of time
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Really? On the email it says it takes around 3-4 hours possibly š
RunAgreeable7576@reddit
Iāve gone to two different AMEās, first guy I was with for maybe 25 minutes? Now I moved and my new AME Iām maybe there for 15 minutes including paperwork. Check vision, heart/lungs, review medical history, piss in a cup, goodbye. Iām in my 20ās as well, if youāre like me with a clean medical history, youāve got nothing to worry about at all man
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the advice man ā¤ļø
RunAgreeable7576@reddit
No problem at all. Enjoy the grind and embrace the suck. Itās worth it
Meisooni1@reddit
Nashville?Ā lol.Ā Ā
Civil_Guava2803@reddit
Well make sure to add āfirst class medicalā to your flair once you get it!
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
ā¤ļø definitely
Secure_Crazy_9447@reddit
Just did mine on Thursday. Itās basically a physical, colorblind test, vision test and a little chat with the AME.
Bluevette1437@reddit
If you have to bring in any paperwork (I needed one for a CACI), always ALWAYS, triple check your paperwork. My doctors office gave me paperwork that had a list of around a dozen medications I have never taken, many of which were disqualifying. Didnāt notice until after giving the AME my paperwork, had to put off the medical and only had 10 days to get everything sorted and corrected before my medical would be deferred.
Thankfully my AME worked with the FAA and got approval to issue my new medical, but by god was that a stressful week.
dpetngl@reddit
Just be 100% honest when responding to questions and make sure you get an accurate visit history. Also donāt volunteer any info that isnāt requested. If youāre getting a third class it should be painless and a breeze. Piss test is just for blood sugar as well - take that how you will.
TxAggieMike@reddit
My AME is a kidderā¦ As he hands me the collection cup, he reminds me that there are not any bonus points for distance and accuracy.
dpetngl@reddit
Mine holds it and walks across the room, making me distance piss into it while he plays show tunes. Even free medicals have a cost
Da_hoodest_hoodrat@reddit
Why would you leave out initially that you have an amputated finger lmao. You might have to do a SODA waiver for that. It wonāt be a problem since itās really not any effect on how you can manipulate controls, but itās something notable.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Itās because I didnāt think it was much of a deal but then I thought u guys are probably more knowledgeable šš.
caelum52@reddit
let me give you a tip, don't over volunteer information
cptnpiccard@reddit
Came here to say this. Every answer is Yes or No, there's nothing they need to know about anything that they don't specifically ask for.
Had a buddy of mine get absolutely f***ed by volunteering that he is sleepy sometimes because he doesn't sleep well at night.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Yhh Iāve heard about that thanks for the reminder š
Buzz407@reddit
It goes for conversations with examiners too once you get to the other end. Answer their question, do not over-answer or attempt to impress them with your vast newly minted knowledge. So many guys paint themselves into unrecoverable corners in the oral that way.
mrb13676@reddit
Remember. Youāve NEVER been sad. Ever.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Whatās this supposed to mean? šš. It sounds positive so Iāll take it!
vyqz@reddit
good work paying attention, make sure you have ALWAYS paid attention and have no problem doing it
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Bro not you too šššš
jimcarroll_cfi@reddit
The only thing Iāll warn about is adhd. If youāve ever taken adhd medications, scrub the medical now.
I only mention this because a significant number of my you clients have run into this. Itās not a ānoā, but there are complications, better dealt with BEFORE receiving a denial.
Recent-Day3062@reddit
At your age youāll be totally fine to
Agent62@reddit
Sounds like you have some undiagnosed anxiety. š Better report that tomorrow.
Jk. Really, it's out of your hands so nothing to worry about.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Yo chill u got me nervous rn š¤£ā¤ļø
people_r_us@reddit
Just got mine last week. As long as your healthy and don't do anything like overdrink, smoke, do drugs, etc. you should be fine. Do be warned that they may ask for a urine sample, but with mine that was just to make sure I look healthy.
So it's really nothing to worry about, especially if you've done all the forms and everything
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
Yh luckily I donāt drink or smoke etc, ig itās just more the cholesterol side etc that Iām a bit nervous about.
Old-Dependent-4029@reddit
Your good man. If you have no known conditions and are healthy you should be fine.
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
I would say Iām healthy but sometimes I eat out often š
thereal-evilmouse@reddit
I normally stop eating about for a month before my medical to get my cholesterol back into the good range
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
I mean I did fast for like 10 days a week ago but then recently Iāve had quite a few unhealthy foods, hopefully it balances it out š
emfell@reddit
Iām 37, a bit pudgy, and have asthma. I got my first class with no problem. Youāre good.Ā
Trick-Tomatillo649@reddit (OP)
This is a bit reassuring for me thank you, also congratulations on passing man!
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Iām so nervous but so excited. I feel fine and feel thereās nothing wrong with me but Iām just scared something will pop up. Iām in my early early 20s should I be worrying much?
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