Disappointed

[mscard88]

I have no qualms with Dr. B, so if your response to to defend him, o.k.?

I think the tone of your posts encouraged Dr Bruce to respond to your posts. You do come across a bit as a "why me" and concerned about the costs of the required tests the FAA may want you to undergo. Hey, I would be too, and the vast majority on POA would also. The way I interpreted some of your posts about Dr Bruce (again the tone) was that you didn't fully agree with him, and almost attacking him. Many have responded in this thread telling you that Dr Bruce is an expert in handling complicated flight physicals and to work with him. You say you are, good.

I've written that there's not enough out there warning an unsuspecting new student about the online medical form and the control number you provide to the Doctor's office personnel, allowing them to "open" your medical with no way to reverse it. Something that flight schools and CFIs need to do a better job of educating prospective student pilots.

Look, I think you need to take a breather from posting and just wait for the FAA's response. Then if you still wish to pursue it, comply with the tests they require. Whether you want to work with Dr Bruce is your decision. I do wish you success and hope you'll start flying.

 

[Vance Breese]

In my opinion my AME doesn’t charge enough to cover her costs and exposure and this is the first time I used her because the AME I had been using closed up shop.

I don’t expect her to take care of me and please understand I am not saying you do.

I feel the low fee does not give her a lot of resources to work with.

Recently I failed the second class medical requirement for corrected to 20/20 vision in her office.

She is not an ophthalmologist so she told me to get a note from an ophthalmologist and she would hold my form for 48 hours.

I went to my ophthalmologist the same day, had an eye examination, received the note and returned to the AME and received my second class medical.

I feel the AME is trying to deal with a difficult federal agency and stay out of trouble with very limited resources.

I was grateful for the help she gave me and appreciate her limitations.

I feel it is a privilege to fly and feel fortunate to maintain a second class medical at 69.

As a side note I am blind in one eye and had a traumatic brain injury and fly with a statement of demonstrated ability. The process of getting the SODA was challenging and expensive with very little real guidance from the FAA as to what exactly a neurological exam was.

My advice is to work through the process understanding that everyone involved is working with limited resources.

I had to provide the impetus and resources (time and money) to make it happen.

I am grateful to all those who helped me to realize my dreams.

 

[PaulS]

{Snipped}


I did not ask for a fee but i pointed out that i would write him after reviewing your record but that required a fee.. your call.

freenrgy2, DOCTOR Bruce charges for his services.

He comes to these boards and helps many people, answers questions and makes his vast knowledge available for free. He stopped posting here for a while because...... well frankly because of people like you, who want to get into a ****ing contest about how this and that should be done or why it is unfair or because of some slight imagined or real, rather than knuckle down and solve their problems with the advice given.

You are dealing with a vast bureaucracy, you have the ear of one of the best in dealing with that bureaucracy, stop trying to argue with him and do what he says and pat yourself on the back, you saved a hundred something bucks getting it on the internet.

I saw you just posted the email chain..... not very nice, Bruce respected your private communication, you should respect his. If you had his permission apologies in advance, otherwise dick move.

Oh, I reread his posts here, he never called you a liar.

 

[mscard88]

Please man, you're just embarrassing yourself. Give it a rest. For good.

 

[SaltH2OHokie]

I think something that would help in future situations... If Dr. Bruce would like to be compensated for his guidance in situations like this (rightfully so), he should broach the subject directly, and early.

I've read a couple of situations where I think a new-to-the-medical-game airman is looking for advice, gets pointed to Dr. Bruce over and over, and reaches out.

Given there's no clear delineation for when "this email/forum response is free, the next one needs us to enter into an agreement for payment", airman keeps asking questions as Dr. Bruce keeps answering.

It leaves Dr. Bruce feeling put upon (or assuming an airman is unwilling to pay) when it may be as simple as the airman is unaware he should be paying.

It gets fuzzy online. Plenty of experts offer free advice within their field of expertise online... Plenty of people charge for advice. Usually the situation is a little clearer on when it's free vs payment expected.

Just my $0.02 from outside looking in.

 

[mscard88]

I think something that would help in future situations... If Dr. Bruce would like to be compensated for his guidance in situations like this (rightfully so), he should broach the subject directly, and early.

I've read a couple of situations where I think a new-to-the-medical-game airman is looking for advice, gets pointed to Dr. Bruce over and over, and reaches out.

Given there's no clear delineation for when "this email/forum response is free, the next one needs us to enter into an agreement for payment", airman keeps asking questions as Dr. Bruce keeps answering.

It leaves Dr. Bruce feeling put upon (or assuming an airman is unwilling to pay) when it may be as simple as the airman is unaware he should be paying.

It gets fuzzy online. Plenty of experts offer free advice within their field of expertise online... Plenty of people charge for advice. Usually the situation is a little clearer on when it's free vs payment expected.

Just my $0.02 from outside looking in.

Good point.

 

[steingar]

I live in dread of kidney stones, they run in my family. In addition to my normally spartan vegetarian diet I drink massive quantities of liquids daily.

Sorry the OP got caught in this. I don’t blame the FAA for being anal about it, kidney stones can come on fast and can be utterly debilitating. Bruce is the man for this stuff, just do as he says. If you think the docs charge too much? Just wait until your first annual.

 

[mscard88]

C'mon man, you really, if you're honest with yourself, you started the whole deal. Why do you continue with this when the "community" isn't seeing your side of the story? Again, let it go, stop posting about it, and comply with what the FAA requires. I sincerely hope you have success in that and get airborne.

 

[denverpilot]

Yes, but you didn't really have any way of knowing that. Lots of people make it sound like it's no big deal, because it wasn't for them. I was given the impression by my instructor and others that it's "easy" to get a medical certificate, "practically anyone" can get one etc. etc. Yes, it's super easy if you don't have anything in your history that the FAA cares about! If you do it can be a pain. It ended up taking me months and I was never completely sure that it was even going to happen until I got it. All over stuff that happened years ago. Luckily for me I tend to research things on the internet all the time anyway so I was prepared, but I feel sorry for anyone who trusts what they hear from people who were lucky and had no issues.

Good luck - you're in good hands with Dr. Chien anyway and I would take his advice over anything you read elsewhere.

Your instructors did you a disservice. Many do. It’s an area where instructors need pre-written information to hand to potential airmen and are left hanging out to dry so we write our own.

Hopefully it all works out for you. My dad’s been out on medical leave at Delta for 8 months now due to high blood pressure. He’s just waiting on the FAA to clear him. Of course they’re working at snail pace.

Yowza. How high did it have to go for a grounding?

Tell him not to mess with that. It’s what killed my dad. So treatable and it wasn’t. Massive stroke. Game over.

 

[mtuomi]

Yowza. How high did it have to go for a grounding?

Tell him not to mess with that. It’s what killed my dad. So treatable and it wasn’t. Massive stroke. Game over.

Guideline is 155/95.
I suffer from white jacket hypertension, I had 2 weeks of daily home measurements that I showed to my AME and he was happy with that for my 1C even though their measurement was above the guideline.

 

[jordane93]

Yowza. How high did it have to go for a grounding?

Tell him not to mess with that. It’s what killed my dad. So treatable and it wasn’t. Massive stroke. Game over.

Not sure the exact number but it had to be really bad because our AMEbasically hands us a medical everytime we go in. For the first few months it was fine for him. He was still getting 100%. Now he’s on short term disability so he’s making around 90% of pay. He can’t use his travel benefits so I had to add him on mine!

 

[mscard88]

Not sure the exact number but it had to be really bad because our AMEbasically hands us a medical everytime we go in. For the first few months it was fine for him. He was still getting 100%. Now he’s on short term disability so he’s making around 90% of pay. He can’t use his travel benefits so I had to add him on mine!

Is he retired from DAL or still flying? Why can't he use DAL travel benefits? Just because he's grounded? I could at ASA when I was grounded I think, although I didn't travel as it was only a couple of days.

 

[murphey]

Guideline is 155/95.
I suffer from white jacket hypertension, I had 2 weeks of daily home measurements that I showed to my AME and he was happy with that for my 1C even though their measurement was above the guideline.

I'm the same - blood pressure is taken before I leave the office, not when I come in.

 

[Lachlan]

Posts removed as Dr. B is allowed write whatever he wants, the community will defend him but I am not allowed to refute anything he says with facts.

Sucks being the new guy.

There’s that defiance we always end up seeing in these posts. PoA *NEVER* disappoints!

 

[Salty]

FAA is not dimb.

Do you have proof of this?

 

[jordane93]

Is he retired from DAL or still flying? Why can't he use DAL travel benefits? Just because he's grounded? I could at ASA when I was grounded I think, although I didn't travel as it was only a couple of days.

He’s got 10 more years until retirement. When you’re out on medical leave, you can’t use the travel benefits. Maybe that’s something new. You can jumpseat but you have to get a letter from the chief pilot every time. He called ALPA and asked if he could travel on my benefits and they said it’s not problem.

 

[mscard88]

He’s got 10 more years until retirement. When you’re out on medical leave, you can’t use the travel benefits. Maybe that’s something new. You can jumpseat but you have to get a letter from the chief pilot every time. He called ALPA and asked if he could travel on my benefits and they said it’s not problem.

Surprised at that. Maybe we weren't permitted either as we were granted DAL travel benefits. Probably the case.

 

[jordane93]

Surprised at that. Maybe we weren't permitted either as we were granted DAL travel benefits. Probably the case.

Yea I’m pretty sure you can’t. I flew with a captain a few months ago and she broke her arm and was out for a few months. She couldn’t use the travel benefits either.

 

[bbchien]

I've dealt with many physicians and this wouldn't be the first time that they don't accept that they are culpable as well in this situation

Ya think that has something to do with why I won't review a record or write your urologist for free?
Sigh.

You published out correspondence? my advice? Well I hope you published yours emails, too. Nothing there other than advice...but you never asked fir permission. That’s an ultimate Assh_le act.

Mike K_ys, you're a good reason for me to NEVER try to help anyone out. Please don't darken my doorway ever again.

 

[FastEddieB]

The ENTIRE (both sides) of the emails were published to refute your false accusations, not to impugn your character as you did mine.

Irrelevant that you posted your side of the email exchange.

To post someone else’s private communications without their permission is very poor form. It may also violate certain Terms of Service. One should always ask for permission, and to post that said permission was granted, before posting private communications to a public forum.

 

[Salty]

*sigh* You don't get it and I believe you never did. If you actually read my posts you would have seen it had nothing to do with that. Again, you're making assumptions, just like most of the community and just like you did in your responses in this thread.



The ENTIRE (both sides) of the emails were published to refute your false accusations, not to impugn your character as you did mine.



And you will be the sole reason I don't continue my dream of getting my PPL. You and the rest of the community win!

P.S. I asked the admins/mods a couple of days ago that the ENTIRE thread be removed, as I felt that it was not helpful to the community. That request was denied although I was told I could remove my posts, so I did. Maybe they had plenty of popcorn and wanted to see you and the community work yourselves into a frenzy and make me out to be some basket case. Again, this thread was not moving in a negative direction until you made your comments.

You seem to think others have responsibility for your actions. IE: not continuing your dream, and making yourself out to be a basket case.

 

[FastEddieB]

Not at all. If GA is made of folks who suspend critical thinking and pick sides just because so-and-so says something, then do I want to be a part of that?

One can always find reasons not to do things.

 

[Vance Breese]

I have learned a lot on POA and found a lot of support.

My experience here has helped me to get more out of my aviation adventure.

I have found value in the information provided on POA.

I had not occurred to me to chastise someone for not giving me more free advice or giving me counsel I didn’t want to read.

Please understand I am writing about my experience and not your actions; in other words I am not taking sides.

 

[PaulS]

I read the emails before you pulled them, they supported the doc, and he never called you a liar, he did repeat himself over and over trying to make you understand and he told you he could review your records if you wanted him to, but he charges for that (he probably would have called the urologist for you too to make sure everything was covered). He never said you had to pay for the info he provided in the emails. Really all you had to do was say, once you realized that you hadn't been getting it was: "Sorry doc, confused KUB for ultrasound will follow your advice, thanks for the help." Instead you go into this bizarre thread where you effectively say how you are right even though you were wrong. I don't believe for a second that you are not going to pursue your ppl AND I shudder to think that you will pull this crap the first time you misunderstand your cfi, which happens to everyone. That could kill you.

Stop being such a drama queen and stop crapping on the doc. You don't need to leave this forum, just stop and move on.

 

[steingar]

Ya think that has something to do with why I won't review a record or write your urologist for free?
Sigh.

You published out correspondence? my advice? Well I hope you published yours emails, too. Nothing there other than advice...but you never asked fir permission. That’s an ultimate Assh_le act.

Mike K_ys, you're a good reason for me to NEVER try to help anyone out. Please don't darken my doorway ever again.

Sorry Bruce, they're out there.

 

[exncsurfer]

o.k. guys...

YOU WIN

I'm leaving. That's what you want right? Why else you treat someone new in the manner you all have?

Remember what this thread was about initially, trying to clarify some things, and document my journey through the process. Somewhere along the way, I became the poster child for the new member that the community feels entitled to pile on.

I fully accepted my not getting more information before going in to the AME, but how could I really know? I admitted my misunderstanding about KUB = ultrasound. I admitted quite a bit and took a few punches along the way. But then Dr. B opens the can of worms by coming into this thread and posting his recollection of our email conversation, which was way off base.

As soon as that happened, it was game on for all of you. It was like he lifted the floodgates and I was doomed. Maybe I should have just let you guys have your fun, Dr. B could believe whatever he wants and this thread could spiral out of control for page after page of accusations, misconceptions, off-topic posts and just sheer nastiness about someone none of you really know.

What I saw was a bunch of posts trying to help you, you just need to learn to ignore more(if a post bothers you) and argue less, to enjoy the forum. Don't get so wound up. Think of a thread as casting a net, you pull back in a bunch of crap and maybe get a few nuggets of something useful, or if you're lucky, a bunch of nuggets and a little crap. haha.

 

[freenrgy2]

To the POA community:

I sincerely apologize if ANY of my posts or actions have caused any of you unnecessary harm, stress, anger, etc. And I apologize that this thread could not have been what I originally intended it to be.

It is not my intention nor desire to make enemies with any individual members here.

And I sincerely apologize to Doctor Bruce Chien. It was never my intention nor desire to give you the impression that I wanted something for nothing, or that I did not want your help. I truly do not wish to burn any bridges with you.

Again, I sincerely apologize if anything I posted led any of you to believe that I am someone that I am not. Life is too short to get upset over every little thing. So, to those that posted in this thread, thank you. No matter if I read something that helped or something that I disagreed with, I appreciate the feedback regardless.

 

[Ravioli]

Kumbaya.

May I suggest you report your original post and request the thread be locked and/or deleted.

Everyone needs a "do over" now and again.

<-- that guy more than others!

 

[Ted]

This thread is locked as it is in violation of the RoC.

Threads in Medical Topics are required to be specifically medical questions looking for support, not rants.