A
Ace_of_Piper
Guest
Hey Everyone,
I'm not sure how to proceed in my situation and was looking for further thoughts or advice.
Back Story:
I was deferred for being on an approved SSRI (Seteriline). I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety in 2017 and started taking medication in 2019. The doctor is a Board Certified Physiatrist, so I'm in the clear with the FAA there. I know I have to take a cog screen and get an eval from a HIMS doctor. Enough reading through these posts would give you plenty of information on that. None of that is an issue for me though, I don't mind doing whatever I need to take the burden off the FAA to get my SI. However, here is where I'm a little chopped up.
Issue:
In my deferral letter, the FAA asked for " All medical records regarding my treatment from the treating physician." Seems straightforward, I just need to get that initial diagnosis eval and the records from my treating doctor who I see every 3 months. But, I also see a therapist. The therapist is a physiologist, but my meetings with him have nothing to do with my "anxiety" diagnosis nor does he provide me any "treatment" in regards to the medication. I started seeing him before my eval due to work-related stress. The nature of our meetings is me, telling him how life has been, and him asking me open questions about my life. He doesn't have any "real" treatment or medical records. It's just noted that I say, "I feel this way that day, and this way 2 months later." Furthermore, a lot of the conversations I have with him involve my wife and our relationship. Relationships with my father and family and their typical drama.
The FAAs guidance to AME states the following:
*The applicant should list all visits in the last 3 years to a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical social worker, or substance abuse specialist for treatment, examination, or medical/mental evaluation. The applicant should list visits for counseling only if related to personal substance abuse or psychiatric condition.*
The key here is, "The application should list visits for counseling only if related to a personal substance abuse or psychiatric condition"
So I do have a "condition" according to the FAA. I have treatment through a BCP who I see every 3 months and who has prescribed me an approved SSRI. I also have a therapist who I see every other month just for general peace of mind. My physiologist feels that if he were to submit my records that the FAA would come back asking for clarification, considering it's all in short-hand and has nothing to do with my "condition" or "treatment." He said he'd be happy to write a letter explaining this to them, which my AME feels wouldn't hurt. My AME also said that they may still want the records and to be prepared to hand them over. I'm just not sure what would be the best action here, as I don't really feel comfortable with the government digging through my counseling sessions, with some of that information being highly sensitive to my life.
In the end, I'll do what they ask as there isn't anything damning to my health or life in those documents. But I can definitely see OKC wanting more info if the documents are hand-written notes with no diagnoses or treatment. I'm just trying to avoid more wheel spinning if possible.
I'm not sure how to proceed in my situation and was looking for further thoughts or advice.
Back Story:
I was deferred for being on an approved SSRI (Seteriline). I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety in 2017 and started taking medication in 2019. The doctor is a Board Certified Physiatrist, so I'm in the clear with the FAA there. I know I have to take a cog screen and get an eval from a HIMS doctor. Enough reading through these posts would give you plenty of information on that. None of that is an issue for me though, I don't mind doing whatever I need to take the burden off the FAA to get my SI. However, here is where I'm a little chopped up.
Issue:
In my deferral letter, the FAA asked for " All medical records regarding my treatment from the treating physician." Seems straightforward, I just need to get that initial diagnosis eval and the records from my treating doctor who I see every 3 months. But, I also see a therapist. The therapist is a physiologist, but my meetings with him have nothing to do with my "anxiety" diagnosis nor does he provide me any "treatment" in regards to the medication. I started seeing him before my eval due to work-related stress. The nature of our meetings is me, telling him how life has been, and him asking me open questions about my life. He doesn't have any "real" treatment or medical records. It's just noted that I say, "I feel this way that day, and this way 2 months later." Furthermore, a lot of the conversations I have with him involve my wife and our relationship. Relationships with my father and family and their typical drama.
The FAAs guidance to AME states the following:
*The applicant should list all visits in the last 3 years to a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical social worker, or substance abuse specialist for treatment, examination, or medical/mental evaluation. The applicant should list visits for counseling only if related to personal substance abuse or psychiatric condition.*
The key here is, "The application should list visits for counseling only if related to a personal substance abuse or psychiatric condition"
So I do have a "condition" according to the FAA. I have treatment through a BCP who I see every 3 months and who has prescribed me an approved SSRI. I also have a therapist who I see every other month just for general peace of mind. My physiologist feels that if he were to submit my records that the FAA would come back asking for clarification, considering it's all in short-hand and has nothing to do with my "condition" or "treatment." He said he'd be happy to write a letter explaining this to them, which my AME feels wouldn't hurt. My AME also said that they may still want the records and to be prepared to hand them over. I'm just not sure what would be the best action here, as I don't really feel comfortable with the government digging through my counseling sessions, with some of that information being highly sensitive to my life.
In the end, I'll do what they ask as there isn't anything damning to my health or life in those documents. But I can definitely see OKC wanting more info if the documents are hand-written notes with no diagnoses or treatment. I'm just trying to avoid more wheel spinning if possible.
