Kenny Phillips
Final Approach
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Kenny Phillips
Same, it was terrifying, and oddly, she was a mental health professional. I got outta there fast, luckily before we flew together.
JOhnH
Touchdown! Greaser!
Having unknowingly hired a bipolar girl one time, I will attest to that. She was fine for a year or more, (slow as molasses, but psychologically fine). Then one of her co-workers told me she was stopping her meds, which I didn't even know she was taking. About a week later we she had a melt down on the clinic floor and we had to call the cops and an ambulance.
Let her fly a plane? UhUh.
A
Anon
Guest
That's the thing I struggle with, is I have also gone the past 2 years without incident and without medication. During that time I successfully graduated from college while working part-time, and now relocated, got married, and am working a full-time job. Stress from school was deemed to be my trigger, but I have very effectively managed how I evaluate stress and react to it. Even the 4 years before these past two, there was no issue that I had off medicine, and I was working 2 part-time jobs to save to buy a house while going to school (my junior year).
It's frustrating being labeled with this, that I can manage it effectively with out taking any medications on the disapproved list, yet automatically be deferred or denied due to this diagnosis.
It's frustrating being labeled with this, that I can manage it effectively with out taking any medications on the disapproved list, yet automatically be deferred or denied due to this diagnosis.
SkyDog58
Ejection Handle Pulled
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Canis Non Grata
If you are bipolar.
Rushie
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Rushie
You're in your mid twenties? If your symptoms were mild, there is a slight chance you may be one of the few who "overcome" "bipolar" and for whom it isn't a lifelong condition, I'll link you to the article below, but it is my SGOTI-qualified opinion that those cases are likely a misdiagnosis. True bipolar is a lifelong condition.
I'm not an AME or the FAA but I believe you have zero chance of medical certification unless you can prove that this was a gross misdiagnosis which it may be but the fact remains if it isn't bipolar, what is it? Something caused the symptoms. You would still be left with that something which might also be uncertifiable with the FAA. And disproving the diagnosis would require thousands of dollars of psychiatric testing with no guarantee you'll get the result you want.
In your mid twenties it's far too soon to assume you've got it all under control and that you will continue to handle stress well and remain stable without medication. I hope you do and I understand your frustration. I'm not saying you should give up if you have a dream to fly, just trying to lay out reality for you and that reality is it's a very long and unlikely shot. Remember you can still fly airplanes, you just can't solo. It can be fun to take lessons with an instructor for the adventure of it.
I have a niece with bipolar and she went through a similar frustration in her early twenties. She wanted to get a PhD but it turned out she could not handle college at all. She ended up marrying and now has two children and she has turned out to be one of the best mothers I've ever known, as long as she stays on her meds. Her husband has professional training and experience dealing with people with mental disorders. She also has a large extended family. They all keep her in check and on her meds. She has a huge heart and is very good at caregiving; one of her past jobs was taking care of elderly in a nursing home. So she found her niche, her purpose in life and her talent which is to love and nurture those who need it. It wasn't her destiny be a professor.
Likewise we all have to get to that whether we have bipolar or not. It's very likely being a pilot is not your destiny but you will find what it is.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bipolar-you/201206/can-bipolar-disorder-be-cured
Sounds like you were misdiagnosed to me.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Not the OP (or part of this thread), but I’ve now had two doctors state I was clearly misdiagnosed, despite being on meds for 2+ years. The original doc just “couldn’t get the dosage right for me”, which is why they weren’t working and I didn’t know any better... (nor did my parents, as I was a minor at the time). Trying to undo this is stressful as there isn’t a “one size fits all” answer, and this could ground me as a sport pilot if this doesn’t go my way, so I’ve taken the option of fly as an SP and see if any rule changes help me (for now).
A
Another Anon
Guest
Hello, I was given prescribed amphetamines from the age of 13 after a parental divorce. At 18 I did not take them as prescribed and had a psychosis, and voluntarily went to an inpatient stay. The doctor billed it as Bipolar/Psychotic, but told me under the table he thought it was the amphetamines I had been prescribed since 13. The doctor agreed to end the Bipolar medication 2 months after treatment, and 2 years later I quit the amphetamines, and stopped seeing the doctor at that point.
I had a good relationship with this doctor, and he was ready to clear me as able to join the military. Unfortunately the bureaucracy isn't able to handle the truth, as too many professionals err on the side of caution to avoid any semblence of liability.
I have been off Bipolar medicine for 7 years, and amphetamines for 5 years. I got straight As in cybersecurity programs. All of it stemmed from the original parental divorce. I really think there is an unnecessary stigma on mental illness, because mental illness is becoming much more common. I have met a plethora of capable, mature young women whom have been diagnosed with this label. It's becoming increasingly common, and losing meaning. For someone who wants to change their life, the only thing holding them back is a stigma associated with a label, which means about as much as telling someone they have cooties.
I understand, I can lie to avoid people who cannot handle the truth. Eventually these databases and information on them will reach interoperability levels unseen since the holocaust. It doesn't work how it used to. We will need to make changes before the underrepresented population is persecuted. 2% of Bipolar diagnoses are incorrect.
I had a good relationship with this doctor, and he was ready to clear me as able to join the military. Unfortunately the bureaucracy isn't able to handle the truth, as too many professionals err on the side of caution to avoid any semblence of liability.
I have been off Bipolar medicine for 7 years, and amphetamines for 5 years. I got straight As in cybersecurity programs. All of it stemmed from the original parental divorce. I really think there is an unnecessary stigma on mental illness, because mental illness is becoming much more common. I have met a plethora of capable, mature young women whom have been diagnosed with this label. It's becoming increasingly common, and losing meaning. For someone who wants to change their life, the only thing holding them back is a stigma associated with a label, which means about as much as telling someone they have cooties.
I understand, I can lie to avoid people who cannot handle the truth. Eventually these databases and information on them will reach interoperability levels unseen since the holocaust. It doesn't work how it used to. We will need to make changes before the underrepresented population is persecuted. 2% of Bipolar diagnoses are incorrect.
Vincent Becker
Filing Flight Plan
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vinnybecker
Referencing the Holocaust in this context really proves why you shouldn’t ever fly a plane. Read up on some history.
Race ain’t equal to an unfortunate medical diagnosis, buddy. Better idea is to find a hobby that better suits your situation instead of being inflammatory. Maybe it’s you who can’t handle the truth.
Race ain’t equal to an unfortunate medical diagnosis, buddy. Better idea is to find a hobby that better suits your situation instead of being inflammatory. Maybe it’s you who can’t handle the truth.
Tools
Pattern Altitude
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Tools
If you have, or accept that you have, a condition the FAA requires a special look at, go to Doc Chien or similar.
if you believe you are a victim of a misdiagnosis, go to a lawyer and appeal it to the NTSB. If you’re wrong, you’ll find out the EXPENSIVE way. I know two people who have done this. Both won. It was LONG and EXPENSIVE.
One was wrong, and lost his medical again, permanently.
If you’re right, it still hurts to have been subjected to the wrongful conviction process. Unless you’ve stood in those shoes, you’ll never understand.
It’s about that simple. Whether the FAA should or shouldn’t, is practically irrelevant.
if you believe you are a victim of a misdiagnosis, go to a lawyer and appeal it to the NTSB. If you’re wrong, you’ll find out the EXPENSIVE way. I know two people who have done this. Both won. It was LONG and EXPENSIVE.
One was wrong, and lost his medical again, permanently.
If you’re right, it still hurts to have been subjected to the wrongful conviction process. Unless you’ve stood in those shoes, you’ll never understand.
It’s about that simple. Whether the FAA should or shouldn’t, is practically irrelevant.
Mikey B
Pre-takeoff checklist
I have no idea whether this is true, but if so, that would mean 98% are correct! Doesn't really help your argument.
M
Mike Peck
Guest
Actually there are 2 types of bipolar disorder..bipolar 1 being manic, and Bipolar 2 manic depressive. There's nothing pc about it, if you have mania, you are truly screwed, manic depressives, not nearly as much.
I have the Mania option, and as much as it chaos my ass, having had 32 hours of flight time 20 years before I was properly diagnosed, I have to agree with the ban, because off my meds, I am truly a wild card. 25 percent of people with my condition kill themselves. Who's to say, they wouldn't use a plane? It sucks.
M
Mike Peck
Guest
Sounds like a misdiagnosis. If I go long enough for my meds to wear off, I am unpredictable at best, and a train wreck nightmare at worst. Find a real psychiatrist (not a therapist) to give you a complete diagnosis, and see what they say. I would suggest NOT telling them what the other Dr said. But what they see, and also ask everyone in your extended family if they have similar issues, as it definitely runs in families.
Good luck
bbchien
Touchdown! Greaser!
Well it is not possible to mislead the agency for long. We gave away pharmacy privacy in 2010, as “compelling national interest”. They’ll find it and you be an emergency revoke (all certificates). AND THAT IS NO JOKE.
They can make a class 4 felony, stick. Not really good for you hiring profile!
Google “27 pilots indicted” and “ 4 Delta pilots indicted” and see how that’s working out for them.
Medically I would simply say we don’t enough about all the variants (there are likely more than two) of Bipolar disease to predict in the next future year, how the pilot will perform with this diagnosis. I do have one of the ones who was accused of same, did ten years of no meds, no events, four rounds of HIMS P&Ps, and has a second class. He did it right but took a great chance on ruining his life (went off meds ten years), and succeeded.
I have never met a more resilient guy!
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Rockymountain
Pre-takeoff checklist
Yes there are. When you work in any healthcare organization you have to obtain privileges, which is as far as I have experienced the most painful complicated and onerous set of documents to provide and populate and that is coming from someone that spent 18 years in the military and has most of the fixed wing ratings and certs. Includes so many things from FBI and police checks, fingerprints, national practitioner database interrogations, requirements for letters from 2-3 peers attesting everything from personality to work ethic, clinical competence, accuracy of charting on and on and on. It may require psychiatric evaluation, drug testing, cognitive behavioral testing especially after some age usually 60,65, or 70 depending on system. May include drug testing if such a concern is identified. This is just scratching the surface. And note they are called privileges, not rights. They can be removed with or without cause depending on circumstance. Not like on TV.
edit: and you have to do the process every 1-2 years at a high level with every hospital you practice in, and a slightly lower level with every insurance company that you are credentialed in. In a practice you hire someone just to keep up with this never ending process
edit again. Didn’t realize there were 3 more pages talking about this.
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