Another new guy- and another med question

crawdaddyjc

crawdaddyjc

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North Ga up in the blue ridge mountains
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crawdaddyjc
i am preparing for my class 3 med. i have a physical scheduled with my primary care physician. I have printed off the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist to take with me. I have no adverse medical conditions, no alcohol/ drug issues and am currently taking no meds. I have had ACL surgery and tonsillectomy. No other surgeries. I do go to chiropractor for “cracking and alignment” not due to existing conditions- but for wellbeing.

I have looked for any additional documents to provide my primary care physician to make sure i am good to go for when i schedule my appointment with an AME. Is there anything else i should take to be checked/verified prior to AME appointment? (Not counting the Comprehensive Checklist).

I plan to schedule my AME appointment for the same day i meet with the RI to certify and submit student pilot certification.

Thanks for any additional information!
 
Currently taking no meds.... as long as you haven't had any psych problems or been on meds for anxiety or adhd then you sound like you are good to go.
 
Where’s Mike’s sticky at? Read AggieMike’s sticky on your first AME visit.
 
Despite many of the horror stories you read in this medical topics forum, a huge majority of medical exams go easy as can be. Like a physical... but easier. If you don't have any issues then you'll breeze right on through and I wouldn't worry about it.

Now go fly!
 
TCABM said:
Where’s Mike’s sticky at? Read AggieMike’s sticky on your first AME visit.
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You mean this one?

BA06AE16-BC1A-4456-AE0C-26BCC90347C1.jpeg
 
If you're really concerned about it I would skip the physical with your PCP as they likely aren't familiar with the FAA Medical Standards or process. Your best course of action would be to schedule a consultation with an AME and explain that you would like a physical and at the conclusion a determination if you are medically fit to pass a Third Class medical. This is likely a more expensive approach but if you're concerned about it probably a better one... Good Luck!
 
Mikes sticky...lol. And to answer your question- no and no.

Idahoflier- i am doing my pcp physical because im due plus i want to make sure my numbers are ok. But i plan to schedule a consult with AME; but i do like your phrasing.

lbfjrmd- why a consult first? Well, thats why im here. To learn and make sure i have all the info necessary to successfully acheive my medical so i can get my ppl.
 
Just some feedback:

Went to pcp and got complete physical and blood labwork done.
All bloodwork was a-ok!
Blood pressure was ok. 125/89. I expressed concerns about the diastolic being high since gotta make sure pressure stays below 155/95. Was prescibed hydrochlorothiazide and in just the past week im am solid 118-125/78-83. Resting heart rate 68-73bpm.

Been on diet and treadmill/walking since jan1st and have dropped 10lbs not even worried about weight/bmi. Been doing the bruce protocol stress test “for fun” and after i complete 9 minutes i usually run another 10 minutes then do a cooldown.

I believe that i am in good health but still plan on getting the ame consult just to make sure. Maybe the ame can approve on site.

I can easily get the script letter from my doc, and a letter from the chiropractor as well.

Anything else that i should do prior to scheduling consult?

Ps: thanks for all the assistance!
 
Just wanted to provide update: issued 3rd class this morning! Total non-event! I think i had myself worked up more than i should have- but i wanted to be sure i would get issued with no chances of deferral or denial.
Not only did i get my med checked off- family flew down for the day! Me and pops got took his v35b for a spin and i got some right seat time and had a blast. All in all- its been a great birthday!
Now to hit the training hard and get the next few items checked off and get my ppl asap!
 
crawdaddyjc said:
. I do go to chiropractor for “cracking and alignment” not due to existing conditions- but for wellbeing.
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Well, you’re contributing to the DC’s well being.....yours, I doubt it.
Sorry, but I tend to believe in real scientific based medical practice.

But, more to the point: congrats on starting your training w your new Medical. Have fun.
 
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wrbix said:
Well, you’re contributing to the DC’s well being.....yours, I doubt it.
Sorry, but I tend to believe in real scientific based medical practice.

But, more to the point: congrats on starting your training w your new Medical. Have fun.
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I really am sorry if i sound like a loony to you after this but I thought it needed to be said. A few years ago I had some pretty severe symptoms that went completely undiagnosed. Severe memory loss(would frequently forget hours of my day at a time), chronic fatigue(slept 18 hours a day for months), dizziness, headaches, ect. I live in baltimore next to Johns Hopkins, one of the best hospitals in the world and saw a total of 23 doctors. The Johns Hopkins neurologist (along with dozens of other specialists) told me they had no idea, as every single test and scan came back as perfectly healthy. Literally months went by and the nations top doctors could not find a single thing wrong with me or diagnose me with anything. Eventually i went to a chiropractor who took xrays and saw my neck was very out of alignment. I **** you not after my very first adjustment my memory loss went away. Over the next few weeks of seeing him, the rest of my symptoms slowly faded away. I was also a huge skeptic of chiropractors before this, and was actually forced to go the first time because i didn't think it would do anything.

Also, there is increasing science coming out on the benefits of chiropractic care, but it is still pretty recent.

TLDR: a chiropractor did for me what dozens of respected doctors could not.
 
Michael A said:
I really am sorry if i sound like a loony to you after this but I thought it needed to be said. A few years ago I had some pretty severe symptoms that went completely undiagnosed. Severe memory loss(would frequently forget hours of my day at a time), chronic fatigue(slept 18 hours a day for months), dizziness, headaches, ect. I live in baltimore next to Johns Hopkins, one of the best hospitals in the world and saw a total of 23 doctors. The Johns Hopkins neurologist (along with dozens of other specialists) told me they had no idea, as every single test and scan came back as perfectly healthy. Literally months went by and the nations top doctors could not find a single thing wrong with me or diagnose me with anything. Eventually i went to a chiropractor who took xrays and saw my neck was very out of alignment. I **** you not after my very first adjustment my memory loss went away. Over the next few weeks of seeing him, the rest of my symptoms slowly faded away. I was also a huge skeptic of chiropractors before this, and was actually forced to go the first time because i didn't think it would do anything.

Also, there is increasing science coming out on the benefits of chiropractic care, but it is still pretty recent.

TLDR: a chiropractor did for me what dozens of respected doctors could not.
Click to expand...

.....you report all these visits and symptoms on your Medical Checklist? Something here not adding up.
.....but, no I never implied you were a “loony” - many people have positive placebo responses to physical contact of any kind, particularly from health care providers.
 
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Michael A said:
I really am sorry if i sound like a loony to you after this but I thought it needed to be said. A few years ago I had some pretty severe symptoms that went completely undiagnosed. Severe memory loss(would frequently forget hours of my day at a time), chronic fatigue(slept 18 hours a day for months), dizziness, headaches, ect. I live in baltimore next to Johns Hopkins, one of the best hospitals in the world and saw a total of 23 doctors. The Johns Hopkins neurologist (along with dozens of other specialists) told me they had no idea, as every single test and scan came back as perfectly healthy. Literally months went by and the nations top doctors could not find a single thing wrong with me or diagnose me with anything. Eventually i went to a chiropractor who took xrays and saw my neck was very out of alignment. I **** you not after my very first adjustment my memory loss went away. Over the next few weeks of seeing him, the rest of my symptoms slowly faded away. I was also a huge skeptic of chiropractors before this, and was actually forced to go the first time because i didn't think it would do anything.

Also, there is increasing science coming out on the benefits of chiropractic care, but it is still pretty recent.

TLDR: a chiropractor did for me what dozens of respected doctors could not.
Click to expand...
I don't doubt that what you say happened. But what condition did the chiropractor diagnose, and by what mechanism did the adjustment cure it?
 
wrbix said:
.....you report all these visits and symptoms on your Medical Checklist? Something here not adding up.
.....but, no I never implied you were a “loony” - many people have positive placebo responses to physical contact of any kind, particularly from health care providers.
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Actually yes i reported all of that for my medical. It all went away just over 2 years before i got my medical, and what reason would they have to deny me a medical? I was never diagnosed, and i had literally every test under the sun done from blood work to a 24 hour long EEG all of which said i was healthy. Also got medically cleared for the air-force having reported all of that.
Also this is an actual question because I am not sure but if i didnt believe it would do anything myself would the placebo effect apply? I genuinely left saying it was a waste of time until i realized i had gone almost 24 hours with no memory loss for the first time in months. Also i know that placebos are capable of some pretty impressive things but you agree this case seems too extreme right?
 
Lindberg said:
I don't doubt that what you say happened. But what condition did the chiropractor diagnose, and by what mechanism did the adjustment cure it?
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His theory (based off one of my xrays in particular) was that one of my vertebrae was twisted and making contact with my spinal cord.
 
crawdaddyjc said:
Just wanted to provide update: issued 3rd class this morning! Total non-event! I think i had myself worked up more than i should have- but i wanted to be sure i would get issued with no chances of deferral or denial.
Not only did i get my med checked off- family flew down for the day! Me and pops got took his v35b for a spin and i got some right seat time and had a blast. All in all- its been a great birthday!
Now to hit the training hard and get the next few items checked off and get my ppl asap!
Click to expand...

Well done! Gotterdid!
 
crawdaddyjc said:
Just wanted to provide update: issued 3rd class this morning! Total non-event! I think i had myself worked up more than i should have- but i wanted to be sure i would get issued with no chances of deferral or denial.
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I am curious - what happened between January and now in terms of the medical - if you don’t mind sharing.
 
Michael A said:
Also this is an actual question because I am not sure but if i didnt believe it would do anything myself would the placebo effect apply? I genuinely left saying it was a waste of time until i realized i had gone almost 24 hours with no memory loss for the first time in months. Also i know that placebos are capable of some pretty impressive things but you agree this case seems too extreme right?
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I agree that it sounds like placebo effect of some form. Patient’s belief or disbelief is not a primary determining factor - it can work either way. Or just spontaneous remission.
 
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Michael A said:
His theory (based off one of my xrays in particular) was that one of my vertebrae was twisted and making contact with my spinal cord.
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If we each had a nickel for every time a DC made that diagnosis, we’d each be flying new Cirruses. That is the basis of their need to do “adjustments”.
Jenkins HJ, Downie AS, Moore CS, French SD. Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2018;26:48. Published 2018 Nov 21. doi:10.1186/s12998-018-0217-8
 
PeterNSteinmetz said:
Ok, but why the 6 month wait?
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Well- listed my house: packed up and moved. Sold that house.
Moved into a mountain cabin and have spent time and money remodeling and fixing stuff. Plus working 45-60 hrs a week.
Took a week off for my birthday and scheduled the medical. Time flies when you are having fun....and busy.
~~~~~~~~~
As for the chiropractor discussion: you know that feeling when you pop your knuckles and how good that feels? Imagine that in your neck, shoulders, back, elbows, and hips. It works better than an inversion table and whether you agree or not- being in better alignment does make you feel better and reduces the pinch points that cause aches and pains. If you like going to the chiropractor: go/ if you dont: dont go.
 
crawdaddyjc said:
As for the chiropractor discussion: you know that feeling when you pop your knuckles and how good that feels? Imagine that in your neck, shoulders, back, elbows, and hips. It works better than an inversion table and whether you agree or not- being in better alignment does make you feel better and reduces the pinch points that cause aches and pains. If you like going to the chiropractor: go/ if you dont: dont go.
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A good chiropractor is good for things like that. I was actually referred to a DC by an MD for a neck problem. But I am pretty sure they are NOT qualified to diagnose - or treat - neurological problems caused by spinal cord issues. And I would stay 100 miles from any DC who claimed he was.
 
azure said:
A good chiropractor is good for things like that. I was actually referred to a DC by an MD for a neck problem. But I am pretty sure they are NOT qualified to diagnose - or treat - neurological problems caused by spinal cord issues. And I would stay 100 miles from any DC who claimed he was.
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Yeah, that. And acne (I've heard it claimed by a DC) and all sorts of other things. But basic back pain (with enough diagnostics to rule out nasty stuff like cancer or neuro disorders) a good one can do wonders. I go to one regularly now. And my back pain has diminished greatly. (And yes, I report it on my 8500.)
 
azure said:
A good chiropractor is good for things like that. I was actually referred to a DC by an MD for a neck problem. But I am pretty sure they are NOT qualified to diagnose - or treat - neurological problems caused by spinal cord issues. And I would stay 100 miles from any DC who claimed he was.
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Just saying, he helped me more with my neurological problem than the head of johns hopkins neurology did‍♂️
Also he never claimed to know it was this, just that he saw something wrong and worked to fix it which was more than any of the medical doctors i had seen were able to do. Dont get me wrong western medicine has done more for the world than all other forms of medicine combined, but the body is a complicated thing that its hard to explain why some things happen and why some things make it better
 
.....but please realize that a DC will almost always diagnose “misalignment” on roentgenograms as a reason to proceed with “adjustments”. It’s their business model.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I doubt it really had anything to do with your adjustments.
 
wrbix said:
.....but please realize that a DC will almost always diagnose “misalignment” on roentgenograms as a reason to proceed with “adjustments”. It’s their business model.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I doubt it really had anything to do with your adjustments.
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This. Also to add: if you (Michael A) really had/have a twisted vertebra impinging on your spinal cord, I would look for confirmation from an MD or DO and urgent treatment with conventional medicine. From what I've read, aggressive chiropractic has actually CAUSED neurological complications in people who have vascular or skeletal deformities affecting the spinal cord. I'm glad your symptoms have improved, but like wrbix, I seriously doubt it was due to anything the DC did.
 
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