I'm starting to work with Dr. Bruce, myself. Wish I would have contacted him a year ago -- might have saved myself a lot of stress and heartache.

Never assume things will ''work out fine'' with the AMCD. You'd be amazed at how they can blow ''nothing'' so out of proportion. If having your Medical is imperative, take no chances.

That said, I realize flights from where you are to an ''expert difficult case'' AME may be prohibitive. Just be sure to consider the cost of a possible denial, with numerous costly tests being demanded by the FAA before they would entertain reconsideration.

I am living this nightmare right now (17 months and counting) and believe me it is no fun. The costs I face paying would make the cost of a round-the-world ticket look like chump change.

Granted, I had a serious life-threatening event, but had I known then what I know now, things could have been very different today. Instead, I am facing a very nasty uphill battle.