11 years Epileptic Free - FAA Medical Exam

AggieMike88 said:
And while your working to get your medical sorted, go find some the PoA members in the greater NYC area and get some right seat time.
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Why not left seat time with an instructor? He just needs his medical to solo, right? He could still be flying if he's willing to spend the money knowing it might be awhile before he can solo.
 
BrianNC said:
Why not left seat time with an instructor? He just needs his medical to solo, right? He could still be flying if he's willing to spend the money knowing it might be awhile before he can solo.
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Referencing what I bolded.

Yes, but my suggestion was a "no cost" one. While it won't be time for his logbook, he can still gaine useful insight and information. And make some friends too.

So if the OP can not obtain a third class medical, he still has an adventure without emptying his wallet
 
Fustyflyer said:
Hi TV Producer,

First of all congratulations on being seizure free for over ten years. That alone is a blessing.
According to the (NIH) seems like you might fit the criteria for being considered medically cured from Epilepsy. I have been through very similar circumstances like you have. The FAA process is possible through SI, however its a touchy process. If you would like to chat a little more in private feel free to reach out to me fustyflyer protonmail dot com

Cheers
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Hello! I have an appointment with my neurologist Wednesday. Besides a letter from him, will the FAA want a copy of my most recent EEG?
 
TVProducer said:
Hello! I have an appointment with my neurologist Wednesday. Besides a letter from him, will the FAA want a copy of my most recent EEG?
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TVProducer, you need to get offline with an AME who is knowledgeable in this and will help you through this, preferably before you meet your neurologist so you don't have to go back again to gather information. Otherwise you will be disappointed in your progress and may jeopardize your ability to get a medical. Don't fool around with this, you need help with it and doing it on a forum is really not appropriate for what you need, which is your medical record assessed by an AME willing to do it via a consult and not an official flight medical exam. You want your answers as to what the FAA will want BEFORE you undergo your medical exam. Get cracking.
 
PaulS said:
TVProducer, you need to get offline with an AME who is knowledgeable in this and will help you through this, preferably before you meet your neurologist so you don't have to go back again to gather information. Otherwise you will be disappointed in your progress and may jeopardize your ability to get a medical. Don't fool around with this, you need help with it and doing it on a forum is really not appropriate for what you need, which is your medical record assessed by an AME willing to do it via a consult and not an official flight medical exam. You want your answers as to what the FAA will want BEFORE you undergo your medical exam. Get cracking.
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Paul, if you read earlier in the thread I have already met with An AME who actually called OKC to see what they will need. So I know the FAA answer and what they will most certainly need, along with what my Senior AME advises I get to help my case. I was more curious what the other user went through when he had to do it.
 
Fustyflyer said:
Yes the Manager of AMCD will require a recent EEG (within 90 days), where are you going for the EEG ? Make sure you can request the raw data
EEG Interpretation varies quiet a bit, Focal Waves with certain rhythms scares them off. Have you ever had a head injury ? Have you ever had brain surgery ?
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Never had a brain injury never had surgery. I will probably have it in the next month. It’s been awhile since my last EEG so hopefully it works out. I have high hopes!
 
TVProducer said:
Paul, if you read earlier in the thread I have already met with An AME who actually called OKC to see what they will need. So I know the FAA answer and what they will most certainly need, along with what my Senior AME advises I get to help my case. I was more curious what the other user went through when he had to do it.
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Sorry TVProducer, I haven't read all the posts in the thread and from the question it sounded to me like you hadn't spoken to anyone, I assumed this would be a basic necessity on the AME's list from the FAA. In any case, I hope you are successful with this!
 
TVProducer said:
Hello! I have an appointment with my neurologist Wednesday. Besides a letter from him, will the FAA want a copy of my most recent EEG?
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What did AME tell you? I thought you had already consulted with him.
 
Fustyflyer said:
One other thing TV Producer, an AME or an Expert AME or an FAA medical assistance business outfit, can do nothing. Safe your money. The FAA does not get pushed by anyone.
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OP did make contact with an expert AME. That particular AME does not "push" the FAA. He has extensive knowledge and experience in what the FAA wants, and so can give guidance in exactly what to prepare before submission which can save a lot of time and money in the long run but most importantly avoid any possibility of a denial, thus preserving your sport pilot option. The cost to consult such an AME prior to making any contact with the FAA is well worth it.

Although you may be right about other "medical assistance business outfits".

Hopefully OP's case will be simple and straightforward but with seizure disorder and the FAA you might step on a land mine depending on what exactly is in your medical records; a prior consult with an expert AME to review your records and guide your actions is highly advised.
 
Rushie said:
OP did make contact with an expert AME. That particular AME does not "push" the FAA. He has extensive knowledge and experience in what the FAA wants, and so can give guidance in exactly what to prepare before submission which can save a lot of time and money in the long run but most importantly avoid any possibility of a denial, thus preserving your sport pilot option. The cost to consult such an AME prior to making any contact with the FAA is well worth it.
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It worked for me. Consulting with Dr. Chien three years ago enabled me to preserve both sport pilot and now BasicMed as options, and that's why I'm still able to fly today without the expense, uncertainty, and ridiculous delays of deferrals or special issuances.
 
Hello All,

An update - Met with my Neurologist today. Luckily enough, he has also dealt with the FAA many times in his career and he knows exactly what they will be looking for. He said according to my charts and the fact I have been off medicine for 5 years and seizure free I qualify for the SI. However, he knows the FAA will want an EEG with HV (Hypervenilation) and Photic Stimulation as well(PV). I think I am lucky that my Neurologist is already skilled in communication with the FAA, and he even said, being that he has my charts from 10 years ago still he will be able to prove to the FAA exactly what they need to know. He has said in the past there has been back and forth with him and the FAA Neurologist but he is used to doing this and can see no issue why I would not qualify for SI. Next step is getting my EEG. This was a big step and I'm very excited. I know I still have a long road, but its good news on all fronts! My EEG is scheduled for next week and hopefully all results will be to my doctor by end of that week so I'll be able to get my letter and EEG Results to my AME for submission to the FAA

Thanks All for your input!
 
Good luck to you. It sounds like you've found some great people to get you all sorted out.
 
Update for Everyone:

Took my EEG About 2 weeks ago and just got the results today because they had to transfer to my Neurologist.......EVERYTHING IS NORMAL!!! My Neurologist believes the seizures will not return and my EEG was that of a healthy person who has no sign of epilepsy. He is writing the letter to the FAA explaining his treatment of me from when I was young to now, how I have been seizure free for 11 years and off meds for 5 years. He is reccommending the FAA clear me for a class 3 medical because from his standpoint he sees no reason or indication that the seizures will return! I have reached out to the testing office to get the full report of my EEG to submit to FAA via my AME when i get my Physical conducted.

I was very nervous about the EEG but that was truly the make or break moment and it seems as though everything is still clear skies from here! I'll tell you when I have the letter and my records and when I get my Physical done.

TVProducer
 
Before submittting that letter to the FAA, you might hire Dr. Bruce to review it to ensure all of the required boxes are checked and your doc hasn't unwittingly opened a bad can of worms.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Before submittting that letter to the FAA, you might hire Dr. Bruce to review it to ensure all of the required boxes are checked and your doc hasn't unwittingly opened a bad can of worms.
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My Neurologist has written these letters to the FAA Countless times with much success for his patients. He has spoken with OKC many times on the phone and via written correspondence. He has explained he knows what he can and cannot say.

But thank you for your input - I will consider it.
 
Update:
Spoke with Dr. Bruce - He advised I run all my documentation past my AME who i have a professional relationship with already. So I did. Everything looks good to him so i have my physical scheduled for Monday Morning.... and then we wait.
 
TVProducer said:
I spoke with my AME. He has dealt with much harder cases than mine. He said as long as my neurologist signs off he has seen people seizure free for 5 years get an SI. I have been seizure free for 10. The Sport would not meet my needs as I already looked into it. I have a neurologist appointment next month so I’ll update the thread once I go in for my physical
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Careful, that sounds like the standard for after a post traumatic single seizure with blood on the brain....
 
My physical is submitted. My AME said to reach out to the testing facility and play hard ball to get the Raw EEG trace results, which I asked for prior and they couldn’t give me. Called again and they said their EEG tech would export out of the computer system into a printable document with the actual test and I can submit to the FAA Medical clearance division. My AME gave me the address to send those documents to as well. So now we wait. I am optimistic and even if I hit troublesome times I thank everyone on this forum for the help and support. Wish me luck!
 
TVProducer said:
My AME gave me the address to send those documents to as well.
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When you mail things to the FAA
  1. Have your legal name, birthdate, and other identifying numbers in the upper right hand corner of each page.
  2. Always send with a tracking number and signature required.
    1. For US Postal Service, this means certified mail with return receipt requested (the green postcard)
    2. For UPS or FedEx, this means their overnight or 2 night services with the "get signature" option chosen.

#1 is so that if the papers got scattered, it's easy for the minion to put all of them back in the same pile. And after scanning, helps the review minion verify who that information belongs to

#2 is so you will have a record of when the mail room gets the packet. Usually takes 5-7 days for it to be scanned
 
Aggie,

Absolutely. My AME told me the exact same thing to include all that plus applicant ID and MID#. Let’s hope it goes well!
 
Ditto on Mike's advice. I did the same and made exact copy, including with reference number and my full legal name on each page. FedEx'd with signature required... Funny how those documents with good tracking get handled without losing anything.

Being the OCD type, I also provided a cover sheet with a listing of enclosures/attachments which were tabbed and highlighted. The easier you make it, is the better the reviewer's mood was my thought process.
 
N3368K said:
The easier you make it, is the better the reviewer's mood was my thought process.
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And the higher likelihood that the application remains amongst the lower tier reviewers (which are many) and not get kicked up to the doctors (which are very few).
 
AggieMike88 said:
And the higher likelihood that the application remains amongst the lower tier reviewers (which are many) and not get kicked up to the doctors (which are very few).
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Yeah - I'm thinking even if I am nice and thorough - A FAA Neurologist will be looking at my EEG. I just got the EEG today. The office had to give it to me on a Disc because the actual test is hundreds of pages long. Reached out to my AME to ask if I should print out the hundreds of pages or just send the disc to the FAA. All I hope is that the reviewer places me into the pool of part 67 14 CFR 67.401 which reads:

** Infrequently, the FAA has granted an Authorization under the special issuance section of part 67 14 CFR 67.401 when a seizure disorder was present in childhood but the individual has been seizure-free for a number of years. Factors that would be considered in determining eligibility in such cases would be age at onset, nature and frequency of seizures, precipitating causes, and duration of stability without medication. Followup evaluations are usually necessary to confirm continued stability of an individual's condition if an Authorization is granted under the special issuance section of part 67 14 CFR 67.401.

I'm thinking with the letter from my Neurologist who has seen me since 2003 - the fact he stated that i have been off meds for 5 years, and seizure free for 11 years, along with an EEG that returned results of completely normal will qualify me. Fingers crossed
 
Good luck! Are you planning to go Basic Med after getting your medical or sticking with the class 3?
 
DFH65 said:
Good luck! Are you planning to go Basic Med after getting your medical or sticking with the class 3?
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I am not familiar with Basic Med yet. I am just hoping that i can get the SI first. I know it is my biggest barrier. My AME says I have a good shot however, it still is nerve wracking. However, all i can do is wait at this point.
 
TVProducer said:
I just got the EEG today. The office had to give it to me on a Disc because the actual test is hundreds of pages long. Reached out to my AME to ask if I should print out the hundreds of pages or just send the disc to the FAA.
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If you are planning to send the disc, make sure you make a good copy of the information to your hard drive, and flash drive, and cloud storage, and finally, another disc. Then make sure all copies are intact and not corrupted by a bad sector on the storage media.

Remember, this is a bureaucracy filled with minions who don't know you. Though the chances are small, there is still a chance that physical items you are submitting can get lost in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard." Then it's back on you to provide another copy.

Sending in your ownly copy would mean once again doing battle with the folks who gave you the first disc
 
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@AggieMike88 Absolutely. I plan on getting these records and backing them up everywhere I can. Getting an EEG is not easy as I have learned as not many patients care about it. Then again, most patients have no need for it. The average person cannot read an EEG and it just looks like a bunch of lines.
 
Update: MY AME said If I send the Disc I must send by Fedex or UPS, NEVER USPS because USPS X-Rays all of their shipments and it destroys data on the disc.
 
TVProducer said:
Update: MY AME said If I send the Disc I must send by Fedex or UPS, NEVER USPS because USPS X-Rays all of their shipments and it destroys data on the disc.
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Sending by a method that requires a signature on delivery is good. Sending by USPS and CMRRR gets you a signature and an official date of delivery.

But I call shenanigans on X-Rays damaging CD-Roms.

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X-rays destroy sensitive film (ISO400 or above usually with short exposure), but does absolutely zilch to optical discs. That's where the misunderstanding comes from.
 
That's what I thought. Overnighted the CD to OKC 2 Days ago so they now have my EEG actual test to review. There is nothing more I can do but wait.
 
Update for Everyone:

Called FAA AeroMed for a status update. They have all my materials, its currently in a physician's hands and under review. The representative said, usually with these Seizure cases they like to take a good look at it before making a decision which is why it has been a few months, certainly more so for a SI Cert. They said to call back in 1 week to get an update on where my application is. Looking like we will be coming to the end of the road soon with a decision.
 
Called FAA Back per their instruction - They said they have reviewed all of my materials and at this point will be making a decision soon. I should expect a response from them within the next 1 to 2 weeks about if I did get a Special Issuance. I'm feeling pretty good about it because I doubt they would have been looking at it this long if they were not considering my childhood seizure disorder to be cured. I'm sure they called my Neurologist as well..... so we wait - Fingers crossed!
 
Picking a nit..... Likely you're getting positive points for "Lack of Symptoms" versus "cured"
 
AggieMike88 said:
Picking a nit..... Likely you're getting positive points for "Lack of Symptoms" versus "cured"
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Lack of Symptoms - Cured - Either way if I get the SI the FAA Can call it what they would like :)
 
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