Ready for HIMS AME evaluation

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gonzo1996

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gonzo1996
Hey all,

I'm now 29 years old. Around last December I made a post about wanting to get into aviation. I had scheduled a consultation with a HIMS given I had a history of anxiety and using buspar and propranolol daily. The HIMS AME advised that I discontinue both those meds for three months before an actual evaluation is done, which I decided to do carefully taper off both individually. I'm proud to say that I've been off the buspar since March and the propranolol since June, and I feel fantastic. I'm nearly ready to schedule an evaluation and I've been getting familiar again with what to expect in this lengthy and costly process.

Before I do the HIMS AME evaluation, which sorts of things would you guys advise doing and avoid doing when filling out the MedXPress and with the entire process? I of course know not to mention anything that isn't asked. Overall I just want to ensure that I do this without making it any more complicated than it needs to be.

Thank you.
 
Answer truthfully, and mind the wording of the questions: "Have you ever ..." has a specific meaning.
Is your prescription for those drugs still valid?
Also, not remembering your prior post, with MOSAIC signed and "in the books" and going live later this year, you can fly a whole lot of different aircraft without an FAA medical. Unless you want to "go pro" see if that will cover you.
 
Gonzo, also consider that if you have had treatment for more than 5 years, OR if you have had periods off the meds during this whole run, FAA is going to consider that you have recurrent disease. Recurrent disease off all meds unmonitored (eg,NOT on the ON SSRI program) will be denied. If this is so discuss this SPECIFICALLY with the referring HIMS AME. If not, good luck!

I am also sitting here wondering why any HIMS AME would have you do the 8500-8 exam before having what all you actually need or actually know which pathway works, for you (FAA wise).
 
bbchien said:
Gonzo, also consider that if you have had treatment for more than 5 years, OR if you have had periods off the meds during this whole run, FAA is going to consider that you have recurrent disease. Recurrent disease off all meds unmonitored (eg,NOT on the ON SSRI program) will be denied. If this is so discuss this SPECIFICALLY with the referring HIMS AME. If not, good luck!

I am also sitting here wondering why any HIMS AME would have you do the 8500-8 exam before having what all you actually need or actually know which pathway works, for you (FAA wise).
Click to expand...
Gonzo - LISTEN TO DR CHIEN. I’ve certainly had my differing opinions on things, but he’s absolutely correct. You need to be 100% certain of the best pathway before you start it and have absolute confidence in your HIMS AMEs experience and competence.

They are “HIMS AMEs” and there are HIMS AMEs, Dr Chien is definitely the latter.

There is no reasoning with the FAA, very little to no acknowledgement of “my situation is different therefore all this doesn’t seem necessary.”

Get your ducks in a row. Figure out if you want to fly for a living or for pleasure. Once you go down the route of any medical, that’s tough/expensive to unwind should you get denied or stuck in the FAA bureaucratic dance.

Good luck!
 
bbchien said:
Gonzo, also consider that if you have had treatment for more than 5 years, OR if you have had periods off the meds during this whole run, FAA is going to consider that you have recurrent disease. Recurrent disease off all meds unmonitored (eg,NOT on the ON SSRI program) will be denied. If this is so discuss this SPECIFICALLY with the referring HIMS AME. If not, good luck!

I am also sitting here wondering why any HIMS AME would have you do the 8500-8 exam before having what all you actually need or actually know which pathway works, for you (FAA wise).
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, Dr Chien. I started the buspar in 2016 and propranolol in 2017 for managing my anxiety, both discontinued this year. However I strongly feel that being off the buspar and propranolol is the proper pathway for me, aviation career or not. I don't want to be dependent on prescription drugs. It's only been about two months but I feel much better, more confident, and oddly less anxious not being on those medications anymore. This is the life I want to live, and I don't want to pursue a route having to be on SSRIs or some other form of medication.

I understand that given the time span of using these medications that the FAA would consider me having a recurrent disease. So I'd like to understand my options, if I have any. I had seen your reply in my last post that you mentioned if I were off these medications then I would need a HIMS psychiatrist who speaks part 67, please correct me if I'm wrong. Would it even be possible to pursue a career in commercial aviation down the line given my circumstances? Should I receive a first class medical in the future, I would like to progress to part 135 and ideally to part 121 thereafter.

Also I've only had one consultation with the HIMS AME. I went to him solely for convenience because he is in my city. I cannot vouch or boast his standing, he simply stated that there could be a pathway forwards given I discontinue the buspar and propranolol. So like UTLonghorn_1979 alluded, he's possibly a "HIMS AME". I have not scheduled an evaluation with him, perhaps another HIMS AME would be best?

Thank you again.
 
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