Heartburn/acid reflux
 

Greetings,

I am in my low 40s and have had hearburn nearly my whole life. Over the last 10 years it has gotten worse. It is to the point where I am taking about 10 - 15 Tums a day. I need to strategically keep Tums everywhere so I always have some nearby, like my car, next to my bed, in my flight bad, etc. It is getting to the point where I am thinking of telling my doctor about it but I am afraid to due to what it could do to my First Class Medical. There isn't much online about this other than the AME has to approve the medication. Also, I already am taking medication for high chloresteral.

Is this something that could impact my first class medical, or something that is pretty common and no big deal. I am about to apply for the Regionals in a few months and am worried that if I bring this problem to my doctor and he puts me on medication, it may jeopardize my medical.

Your first class medical should be your least concern. Esophageal cancer is lethal.

See your doctor immediately, see a gastroenterologist about an upper endoscopy ASAP.


Scary? Absolutely. My father had difficulty swallowing a bite of steak one February, and he was gone in May. What we wouldn't give to go back and have him visit the doctor instead of popping antacid and "walking off" the heartburn.

Good luck.






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What Tony C said times 100.

DO NOT LET THIS GO. See a doctor ASAP.

I had issues, saw a GI doc, they did a scope, it was gastritis and esophagitis.

Was put on Nexium for a while, then put on an OTC med as required.

No issue at all with FAA. You will have a much harder time getting a medical with cancer (or dead.)

This will KILL you if you do not do something to stop the damage.

Thanks for the advice. You guys are probably right, I let this go on too long. I am due for my yearly checkup with my doc in a couple weeks, I'll bring it up then. I am just worried because I just sacrificed a lot to fly as a second career and don't want to see it all go up in flames.

Apparently I failed to scare enough. Like navigatro said, you can't get a First Class Medical when you're pushing up daisies.


If I could go back knowing what I know now, there would be no waiting a couple weeks. I would have my dad at the GI doc in the morning.

Please.






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Throat cancer took out my cousin and I got scoped. Don't wait.

Wow, I thought heartburn was more common than I thought. I already have my physical scheduled in a couple weeks and will bring it up then. Nothing has changed in regards to this condition over the past few years.

If you keep this up you'll get strictures (scarring) in your esophagus due to acid damage. This leads to food getting stuck (dysphagia), possible choking, Heimlich maneuver possibly breaking a rib. Long term leads to Barrett's esophagus, with a high probability of highly fatal esophageal cancer.

Treatment with proton pump inhibitors (prilosec, etc.) is simple and effective.

My next Class I medical was no big deal. I detailed the visit to the GI doc and that the treatment was working. No big deal. Been on PPIs for over 10 years with no issues.

But waiting for you is a big deal. You shouldn't even wait a "couple of weeks." Call him/her tomorrow, tell them what's going on and get a consult to see a GI doc. The relief is amazing and you'll start to reverse whatever damage you might have suffered so far.

TonyC and navigatro are right. Take care of this NOW.

PM me if you have questions.

Great advice guys... I flew with a captain who survived throats cancer and regained his medical after many years on SL... his list of symptoms freaked me out! I made an appointment the next week to get mine scoped because I had problem with a bite of steak on a flight going down easily. Thankfully everything was cleared and the doc said it's not abnormal to get a lazy throat sphincter (yes, you have one up there) near your voice box when you get in your upper 40s... if you eat and take a drink in close timing it jacks up your sphincter. Lesson learned... (1) don't eat and immediately wash it down unless it's a beer; and (2) don't wait to get your throats checked if you have reflux or problems swallowing food... acid reflux leads to some bad juju.

Could be gall bladder attack. Not to be taken lightly. See doctor ASAP. Gall bladder removal will not cause you to lose your medical.