pozitivehope
Filing Flight Plan
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2014
- Messages
- 4
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PozPilot
Hello everyone,
My name is Josh and I am currently in the process of obtaining my private pilots license. My goal is eventually to go all the way for ATP because becoming a pilot has been a life long dream of mine. I have a couple of medical issues however that are going to be an obstacle to get over and I wanted to get some professional opinions on how much of an issue each one will be.
1. First off - I am HIV Positive and was diagnosed after my ex girlfriend cheated on me. I have since started on treatment (Complera) and am under the impression that I will automatically be deferred by the AME and have to complete a series of steps to obtain a special issuance medical. I have been undetectable since the beginning of my diagnosis, have responded fantastic to treatment, have great white blood cell/liver counts, and have no adverse side effects from my treatment. I understand I will have to submit all my lab results and get new ones taken as well as completing a COG Screen test to prove that it doesn't effect me mentally ext.
- When I was first diagnosed with HIV it was a very tough moment at my life. I had gotten diagnosed with anxiety and depression however despite being prescribed the medicine, it never really worked for me, so I stopped taking it. I have since then (2 years ago) accepted my diagnosis, am a big time HIV Advocate and public speaker now, and have an extremely positive outlook on life, I was confusing a couple bad days with depression. I have spoken with the FAA and they said they can't tell me what I would have to submit until I actually go for the medical but going to a world renowned psychologist as well as my primary care doctor to "Undue" the diagnosis and state I am not experiencing either one, then that wouldn't hurt. Would this really help at all? I am not a depressed person but hope they can see that an HIV diagnosis at first can be very hard for someone, since then it has gotten much easier and I live life to the fullest.
2. My second issue is I have had ongoing issues with staph infection in my left leg. I had necrotizing fasciitis in Feb of 2010 and survived with all limbs in tact. A year later in 2011 I had a reoccurrence of staph due to stress from a relationship and had a surgeon that got a little scissor happy and ended up getting a second surgery. Well that second surgery screwed up my whole lymph system in my left leg and since 2011 have had multiple recurrences (not of ned fasc or MRSA however of reoccurring cellulitis). I usually was in the hospital a couple of days with antibiotics and it would clear right up, released. I haven't had a major flare up in almost 2 years thats why I am wanting to go for pilot now, because my leg doesn't seem to be presenting me any more problems. Will these issues I have had with my leg become an issue ?
- The last issue is the fact that due to the chronic swelling that caused extreme pain since all this happened, after many failed attempts through other routes to help my pain, he put me on narcotic medication (oxycontin) for the last 7 months or so. I obviously completely understand that being a pilot I will not be able to be on this medication and for very good understandable reasons. This last 7 months I went out on disability for a little bit (I have been a workaholic since I was 16, now I am 24) to give my leg time to really rest and guarantee i wouldn't have another flare up. It has worked fantastically and I have not had one flare up. I have already detoxed off the medicine and am currently in a 3 month waiting period before I can actually go and apply for the medical. My issue is the question that pertains to substance dependence/abuse. I was never abusing it, never experienced withdrawal, I did have to increase my doses a couple of times but not because of tolerance but due to pain increasing, and I had no negative side effects from the medicine either at work or in my personal life. It never affected me negatively and I was only using it to help the pain in my leg and so my leg could get better once and for all. I have since been off the medication and my doctor switched me to an FAA Approved medicine Naprosyn and it has worked well in maintaining my pain in my leg. Since I didn't have any of the symptoms of substance dependence or abuse as defined by the FAA, I would mark no for that question correct? I have copies of all my medical records from the past 4 years, so I don't want them to look at it and say well he was on oxycontin, I can understand the concern but I am no longer on it and won't be for when I go for the medical. I am maintaining my leg pain with naprosyn just fine now.
As you can see I have a couple of issues and hurdles to jump over. Mainly the ongoing cellulitis however the fact I haven't had a flare up in almost two years should work in my favor. I have consulted with several AME's and they said the cellulitis should not be an issue, what say you on all of this? I know I have a lot of hoops to jump through but this is my life long dream and HIV is not going to stop me. I want to show the world that no matter what condition someone has, they can reach their goals and dreams in life. I know aviation is all about safety and that is my upmost priority. I have started flight lessons and currently have 10 dual hours logged, I will be paying for some extra lessons due to the fact of the deferral however I don't have a choice in the matter. I understand that my HIV medicine Complera is FAA approved so the main thing will just be getting the cog screen, my numbers are superb. The leg issue is the main thing that will present me obstacles but how big of a deal do you think it will be? No flare ups within 2 years and haven't have nec fasc in over 4 years. I am currently doing very well on preventative antibiotics (Cefadroxil 1 G 1 x daily and Bactrim 800 x2 daily).
I appreciate your opinions and listening to this very long post, I know its a lot but I really just want to get some solid answers from everyone. Best of luck
Have a great day
Joshua
My name is Josh and I am currently in the process of obtaining my private pilots license. My goal is eventually to go all the way for ATP because becoming a pilot has been a life long dream of mine. I have a couple of medical issues however that are going to be an obstacle to get over and I wanted to get some professional opinions on how much of an issue each one will be.
1. First off - I am HIV Positive and was diagnosed after my ex girlfriend cheated on me. I have since started on treatment (Complera) and am under the impression that I will automatically be deferred by the AME and have to complete a series of steps to obtain a special issuance medical. I have been undetectable since the beginning of my diagnosis, have responded fantastic to treatment, have great white blood cell/liver counts, and have no adverse side effects from my treatment. I understand I will have to submit all my lab results and get new ones taken as well as completing a COG Screen test to prove that it doesn't effect me mentally ext.
- When I was first diagnosed with HIV it was a very tough moment at my life. I had gotten diagnosed with anxiety and depression however despite being prescribed the medicine, it never really worked for me, so I stopped taking it. I have since then (2 years ago) accepted my diagnosis, am a big time HIV Advocate and public speaker now, and have an extremely positive outlook on life, I was confusing a couple bad days with depression. I have spoken with the FAA and they said they can't tell me what I would have to submit until I actually go for the medical but going to a world renowned psychologist as well as my primary care doctor to "Undue" the diagnosis and state I am not experiencing either one, then that wouldn't hurt. Would this really help at all? I am not a depressed person but hope they can see that an HIV diagnosis at first can be very hard for someone, since then it has gotten much easier and I live life to the fullest.
2. My second issue is I have had ongoing issues with staph infection in my left leg. I had necrotizing fasciitis in Feb of 2010 and survived with all limbs in tact. A year later in 2011 I had a reoccurrence of staph due to stress from a relationship and had a surgeon that got a little scissor happy and ended up getting a second surgery. Well that second surgery screwed up my whole lymph system in my left leg and since 2011 have had multiple recurrences (not of ned fasc or MRSA however of reoccurring cellulitis). I usually was in the hospital a couple of days with antibiotics and it would clear right up, released. I haven't had a major flare up in almost 2 years thats why I am wanting to go for pilot now, because my leg doesn't seem to be presenting me any more problems. Will these issues I have had with my leg become an issue ?
- The last issue is the fact that due to the chronic swelling that caused extreme pain since all this happened, after many failed attempts through other routes to help my pain, he put me on narcotic medication (oxycontin) for the last 7 months or so. I obviously completely understand that being a pilot I will not be able to be on this medication and for very good understandable reasons. This last 7 months I went out on disability for a little bit (I have been a workaholic since I was 16, now I am 24) to give my leg time to really rest and guarantee i wouldn't have another flare up. It has worked fantastically and I have not had one flare up. I have already detoxed off the medicine and am currently in a 3 month waiting period before I can actually go and apply for the medical. My issue is the question that pertains to substance dependence/abuse. I was never abusing it, never experienced withdrawal, I did have to increase my doses a couple of times but not because of tolerance but due to pain increasing, and I had no negative side effects from the medicine either at work or in my personal life. It never affected me negatively and I was only using it to help the pain in my leg and so my leg could get better once and for all. I have since been off the medication and my doctor switched me to an FAA Approved medicine Naprosyn and it has worked well in maintaining my pain in my leg. Since I didn't have any of the symptoms of substance dependence or abuse as defined by the FAA, I would mark no for that question correct? I have copies of all my medical records from the past 4 years, so I don't want them to look at it and say well he was on oxycontin, I can understand the concern but I am no longer on it and won't be for when I go for the medical. I am maintaining my leg pain with naprosyn just fine now.
As you can see I have a couple of issues and hurdles to jump over. Mainly the ongoing cellulitis however the fact I haven't had a flare up in almost two years should work in my favor. I have consulted with several AME's and they said the cellulitis should not be an issue, what say you on all of this? I know I have a lot of hoops to jump through but this is my life long dream and HIV is not going to stop me. I want to show the world that no matter what condition someone has, they can reach their goals and dreams in life. I know aviation is all about safety and that is my upmost priority. I have started flight lessons and currently have 10 dual hours logged, I will be paying for some extra lessons due to the fact of the deferral however I don't have a choice in the matter. I understand that my HIV medicine Complera is FAA approved so the main thing will just be getting the cog screen, my numbers are superb. The leg issue is the main thing that will present me obstacles but how big of a deal do you think it will be? No flare ups within 2 years and haven't have nec fasc in over 4 years. I am currently doing very well on preventative antibiotics (Cefadroxil 1 G 1 x daily and Bactrim 800 x2 daily).
I appreciate your opinions and listening to this very long post, I know its a lot but I really just want to get some solid answers from everyone. Best of luck
Have a great day
Joshua
