So, should I contine to tell the truth

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We have a few medical professionals here and I need an opinion...

I've heard that the "conventional wisdom" in the medical profession is that all patients lie about alcohol consumption and that the doctors typically double what's stated as the actual amount.

Well, I don't lie. I tell them I average a 12 pack a week.

Should I start telling them a six pack so they don't automatically think I'm drinking a case?
 
Unregistered said:
We have a few medical professionals here and I need an opinion...

I've heard that the "conventional wisdom" in the medical profession is that all patients lie about alcohol consumption and that the doctors typically double what's stated as the actual amount.

Well, I don't lie. I tell them I average a 12 pack a week.

Should I start telling them a six pack so they don't automatically think I'm drinking a case?
Click to expand...

If you take a blood test your Hemoglobin A1C level will tell them all they need to know. Best tell them the truth to maintain that kind of relationship with your MD.

-Skip
 
I'd say even two a day is a lot, if it's regularly every day. More importantly, I suspect the FAA would, too.
 
Shy of running someone over while drunk or something, how is it anyone's damn business in the first place?
 
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I would not remotely worry about two beers a day, a twelve a week, or any combination of the above.
 
I don't think there are any questions on the FAA medical about how much you drink.
If you can say NO on the DUI and arrest questions, nobody cares.

If you look good and sober at your physical, have no medical doctor treatments or visits betraying a possible overuse of alcohol, you have nothing to do.
 
Good question. I probably drink more Scotch than I should.
Actually, no "probably" about it.

But at my last physical, I told told the doctor the truth. In fact, I gave him the high end of the range because I don't always drink the same amount.

So now he thinks I drink over two liters a week! Maybe next time I will tell him I cut back.
 
Unregistered said:
We have a few medical professionals here and I need an opinion...

I've heard that the "conventional wisdom" in the medical profession is that all patients lie about alcohol consumption and that the doctors typically double what's stated as the actual amount.

Well, I don't lie. I tell them I average a 12 pack a week.

Should I start telling them a six pack so they don't automatically think I'm drinking a case?
Click to expand...

They triple it. No kidding.

I told my PCP I drank 1/3 of a beer a week. He laughed.:rofl:
 
Kritchlow said:
I would not remotely worry about two beers a day, a twelve a week, or any combination of the above.
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Agree 100%.

Where I was raised, in a good, German community, beer is a beverage, like milk. Two 12 ounce beers a day is the norm, not a problem -- and my people live long, happy, healthy lives.

That said, I probably average that a day, but not every day. At Movie Night I might have (*gasp*) FOUR. And if it's a hot summer night, and we've been on the beach all day, who knows -- I might even have SIX, over the course of a day. :yikes:

There are bigger things in this world to worry about. Just make sure you don't drive, and you're not using power tools. :goofy:
 
My last checkup I told the doc I didn't drink at all(truth) he called me boring. Over the years two beers a day is going to make you fat, then the fat will kill you.
 
ClimbnSink said:
My last checkup I told the doc I didn't drink at all(truth) he called me boring. Over the years two beers a day is going to make you fat, then the fat will kill you.
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True! Our main reason for keeping beer consumption to a minimum, over the years, has been calorie reduction. Neither of us can stand Diet Beer, so two good German beers can be like eating a loaf of bread.

I have to say, I think you're in the minority of pilots. Most pilots I have met enjoy an adult beverage or two.
 
Not long ago, I had to go in to the doc for some issue with me knee joint. It was clicking like it used to in HS, and I wanted a picture of it to see there wasn't any cartiledge problem.

The intake girl started asking questions like this, and I shut that down right away. I told her to go through the list and anything that didn't concern my knee joint just mark as 'refused'. Including drinking, rec drugs, my sex life, etc. I did tell her I had a very firm, and pleasant BM just that morning. She was - unimpressed.
 
Jay Honeck said:
True! Our main reason for keeping beer consumption to a minimum, over the years, has been calorie reduction. Neither of us can stand Diet Beer, so two good German beers can be like eating a loaf of bread.



I have to say, I think you're in the minority of pilots. Most pilots I have met enjoy an adult beverage or two.
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....says the guy hosting a hops party....

:)
 
Skip Miller said:
If you take a blood test your Hemoglobin A1C level will tell them all they need to know. Best tell them the truth to maintain that kind of relationship with your MD.



-Skip
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Hemoglobin A1C level is for measuring medication compliance in diabetics. It measures average blood sugar.

It won't measure alcohol
 
Well, OP, to address your question instead of analyzing your drinking habit, as most here have...(gotta love this place).

With your PCP, if you have a good relationship, I'd tell her the truth and let her know it's the truth.

With any one-time specialist who you don't know from Adam, I might consider cutting the stated consumption in half since they might likely double it. This if the "conventional wisdom" you refer to is true.
 
My Ame never asks how much I drink. My PCP does that.
 
A couple beers or glasses of wine with dinner shouldn't faze anyone. What most people did throughout history. Of course most people throughout history died in their forties.

Lotta calories, though. Then again, maybe the OP is one of those horrible mutants who can eat anything and never get fat (and keep all their hair. I really hate those guys).
 
Think about total food intake on those folks drinking alcohol way back when. Organic non processed food and probably smaller quantities. I know you know this, historical alcohol consumption is different then topping off the modern diet with a couple of drinks. Old ways don't justify the modern way.
steingar said:
A couple beers or glasses of wine with dinner shouldn't faze anyone. What most people did throughout history. Of course most people throughout history died in their forties.

Lotta calories, though. Then again, maybe the OP is one of those horrible mutants who can eat anything and never get fat (and keep all their hair. I really hate those guys).
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steingar said:
A couple beers or glasses of wine with dinner shouldn't faze anyone. What most people did throughout history. Of course most people throughout history died in their forties.
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Shouldn't, but considering that some people who do that consistently, every day, are actually dependent, high-functioning alcoholics, the FAA would probably require a HIMS evaluation if they got wind of it.

But as others have said, there is no reason they should, absent a DUI or other alcohol-related offense. Don't ask, don't tell.
 
azure said:
I'd say even two a day is a lot, if it's regularly every day. More importantly, I suspect the FAA would, too.
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I sure hope not as that's my standard day. One upon arrival home from work and one after supper while working the books for our business.
 
docmirror said:
Not long ago, I had to go in to the doc for some issue with me knee joint. It was clicking like it used to in HS, and I wanted a picture of it to see there wasn't any cartiledge problem.

The intake girl started asking questions like this, and I shut that down right away. I told her to go through the list and anything that didn't concern my knee joint just mark as 'refused'. Including drinking, rec drugs, my sex life, etc. I did tell her I had a very firm, and pleasant BM just that morning. She was - unimpressed.
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I love this comment. seeing how I am going to the doctor a lot lately I have had the same questions asked of me. Do you use illegal drugs. I thought to myself. If I did think I would tell you? Kinda rolled my eyes at this question. Then she asked how much I drink. I wanted to say, how much do you drink? I was polite and just told the truth. But the truth is its none of her dam# business and has nothing to do with my treatment.

I am doing what you did the next time I get this question asked to me. None of your dam# business. I bet they label me a drug user and drunk if I do this. Maybe I will rethink this. But I do want to say it.

Tony
 
azure said:
I'd say even two a day is a lot, if it's regularly every day. More importantly, I suspect the FAA would, too.
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I'm not trying to be sexist here, but two a day is a lot for an average woman. The limits for average size men are higher. Two drinks a day for a man is within most of the guidelines I have seen. Going much higher than that can be a problem, or if your average is drawn by drinking all 14 in one or two days is a problem.
 
JOhnH said:
I'm not trying to be sexist here, but two a day is a lot for an average woman. The limits for average size men are higher. Two drinks a day for a man is within most of the guidelines I have seen. Going much higher than that can be a problem, or if your average is drawn by drinking all 14 in one or two days is a problem.
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Definitely not sexist, it's a valid point. Two drinks a day is indeed within the guidelines - barely - for a man. Depends on body mass too, I think. A small guy would probably be prudent to stick with one, maximum. I'm just saying that some people (even men) who are dependent are able to keep their intake that low - I knew one personally - and the FAA is so zero-tolerance these days about substance abuse issues, that I would not volunteer this information to an AME.
 
azure said:
Shouldn't, but considering that some people who do that consistently, every day, are actually dependent, high-functioning alcoholics, the FAA would probably require a HIMS evaluation if they got wind of it.
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I would expect dependent, high-functioning alcoholics would not be limiting themselves to two drinks around dinner time.

Like so many things we do, the very real and serious issues surrounding alcoholism have led to a pendulum swing in a direction in which everyone can be deemed to show "signs of alcoholism." Which is ironic in an interesting way given the equally published health benefits of daily moderate alcohol consumption.
 
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Also be aware that alcohol interacts with a lot of prescription drugs. While it may not seem relevant to your problem (and it may not be) it may very well be important in your treatment. If you drink 2 beers a day, every day, and the medicine that treats your disease requires no alcohol in your system, I'd think the Dr. would want to know that.

Drs feel free to chime in...

John
 
midlifeflyer said:
I would expect dependent, high-functioning alcoholics would not be limiting themselves to two drinks around dinner time.
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I'm sure most would not have that level of self-control, but I knew someone (now deceased) who apparently managed to do that nearly always, though he also tried to cajole acquaintances into drinking beyond their limit, which was the giveaway that his drinking was more than it seemed on the surface.

I agree with your statement that the pendulum has swung to where everyone can be seen to have signs of alcoholism. Some of what I've read from Bruce on the issue suggests to me that the FAA's policies are starting to reflect that pendulum swing. For that reason, I'd be cautious about discussing ANY regular alcohol use during an FAA physical.
 
:lol: He isn't asking us to review his drinking habits, rather how to handle the issue of Drs doubling what's reported when making medical calculations. (I am not sure that is valid BTW) I would say use the correct number, if the error makes a difference, make the error be their's, not yours.

Personally, I don't think that what you report is particularly relevant to your treatment, your blood work and other observed factors will determine that. Also the difference between a twelve pack and a case a week won't be particularly significant in most things.
 
Skip Miller said:
If you take a blood test your Hemoglobin A1C level will tell them all they need to know. Best tell them the truth to maintain that kind of relationship with your MD.

-Skip
Click to expand...

Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of average blood glucose over a 12 week period. What does this have to do with alcohol consumption?
 
Yeah, twice a year I'll go buy myself a six-pack. Generally have one after cutting the grass, so more in the summer than the winter.
 
Henning said:
:lol: He isn't asking us to review his drinking habits, rather how to handle the issue of Drs doubling what's reported when making medical calculations. (I am not sure that is valid BTW) I would say use the correct number, if the error makes a difference, make the error be their's, not yours.

Personally, I don't think that what you report is particularly relevant to your treatment, your blood work and other observed factors will determine that. Also the difference between a twelve pack and a case a week won't be particularly significant in most things.
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I agree. Their treatment will be dictated by blood test and physical evaluation. But their advice on reducing alcohol consumption may be related to your reported use.
 
My doctor recommends 1-2 glasses of red wine a day, so I do that when it's not a beer or Bourbon day...

I tell my regular doctor the truth. It's my health and she knows I take an active involvement in my health. I'm there for me and I want an honest assessment of where I stand.

My AME only asks the questions on the form during my health audit. I'd be honest but if he started "wandering" and asking questions above the required ones I'd get a new AME. That visit is an audit of my compliance with Federal medical policies. I don't consider it about my health at all.
 
midlifeflyer said:
I would expect dependent, high-functioning alcoholics would not be limiting themselves to two drinks around dinner time.

Like so many things we do, the very real and serious issues surrounding alcoholism have led to a pendulum swing in a direction in which everyone can be deemed to show "signs of alcoholism." Which is ironic in an interesting way given the equally published health benefits of daily moderate alcohol consumption.
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Isn't that the truth. 2 is good, 3 is alcoholic.
 
midlifeflyer said:
I would expect dependent, high-functioning alcoholics would not be limiting themselves to two drinks around dinner time.

Like so many things we do, the very real and serious issues surrounding alcoholism have led to a pendulum swing in a direction in which everyone can be deemed to show "signs of alcoholism." Which is ironic in an interesting way given the equally published health benefits of daily moderate alcohol consumption.
Click to expand...

Shoot, I have worked for more than one person that starts the day with beer, drinks a case on the way to dinner (while functionally and productively working and running a successful business), then switch to hard liquor and proceed to down a fifth before bed time. One of them is still a friend and pushing 70years old with no more than typical health problems for his age, and still quite active in metal fabrication, welding, and machining. He's been doing this since his teens. :dunno:
 
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