L
LookingtoFly
Guest
Looking for input from any medical certification experts, aviation lawyers, or HIMS psychiatrists/psychologists on this one.
I’m generally healthy - but have had mild anxiety I have been seeing a psychologist for at weekly therapy sessions. Nothing serious - I’m a practicing trial lawyer and scuba diver so I’m not a stranger to the stresses of life and can clearly function. At one point in time 9+ months ago, work was especially unforgiving with 14 hour days, my relationship was on some serious rocks, and my elderly cat had nighttime dementia which prevented me from sleeping more than 2-3 hours a night on top of all I was going through, so I sought and was prescribed klonopin and trazodone to “assist” as needed. I ended up not needing it much of either - the trazodone was too powerful, and I was able to manage my anxiety mostly without use of the medication (1 pill weekly at the most at it’s peak, then becoming maybe one a month). Through regular therapy and couples therapy, and the cat’s eventual passing, my situation drastically improved, such that I discontinued the medication voluntarily. Because the last time I ever took a was barely within 90 days before my AME, I disclosed it on MedXpress. The AME said the FAA would defer, which of course they did, asking for a current clinical progress note from the prescribing physician and the psychologist. My GP, who prescribed the klonopin, sent a stellar letter stating I was doing great without medication, stating I hadn’t refilled the script at all, and said he had no objections to me pursuing and obtaining a airman’s medical certificate, as did my psychologist, who wrote a glowing recommendation. The FAA has now asked for the entire file from both providers along with prescription records for 4 years. Their tone was a bit harsh, and the request seems broad and excessive. I’ll of course provide them what they want - but what are the chances they will flat out deny me? Or send me to a super expensive HIMS psychiatrist for what was essentially a relatively minor case, all things considered. Has anyone seen a case like this get a medical granted? What are the chances they send me to a HIMS psychiatrist?
I’m generally healthy - but have had mild anxiety I have been seeing a psychologist for at weekly therapy sessions. Nothing serious - I’m a practicing trial lawyer and scuba diver so I’m not a stranger to the stresses of life and can clearly function. At one point in time 9+ months ago, work was especially unforgiving with 14 hour days, my relationship was on some serious rocks, and my elderly cat had nighttime dementia which prevented me from sleeping more than 2-3 hours a night on top of all I was going through, so I sought and was prescribed klonopin and trazodone to “assist” as needed. I ended up not needing it much of either - the trazodone was too powerful, and I was able to manage my anxiety mostly without use of the medication (1 pill weekly at the most at it’s peak, then becoming maybe one a month). Through regular therapy and couples therapy, and the cat’s eventual passing, my situation drastically improved, such that I discontinued the medication voluntarily. Because the last time I ever took a was barely within 90 days before my AME, I disclosed it on MedXpress. The AME said the FAA would defer, which of course they did, asking for a current clinical progress note from the prescribing physician and the psychologist. My GP, who prescribed the klonopin, sent a stellar letter stating I was doing great without medication, stating I hadn’t refilled the script at all, and said he had no objections to me pursuing and obtaining a airman’s medical certificate, as did my psychologist, who wrote a glowing recommendation. The FAA has now asked for the entire file from both providers along with prescription records for 4 years. Their tone was a bit harsh, and the request seems broad and excessive. I’ll of course provide them what they want - but what are the chances they will flat out deny me? Or send me to a super expensive HIMS psychiatrist for what was essentially a relatively minor case, all things considered. Has anyone seen a case like this get a medical granted? What are the chances they send me to a HIMS psychiatrist?
