Mem ame & sleep apnea
12-06-2011, 12:44 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Aug 2011
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Mem ame & sleep apnea
Retiring from the military I went in for a sleep study "just in case" I might have something (wife said I snored), and it's a pretty significant VA disability benefit, but fully expecting nothing to be wrong. Well, wouldn't you know they say I have sleep apnea! OK, so now the sleep center says I'm properly treated with a CPAP, and I get to be a fighter pilot in my sleep for the rest of my life. It's time to start taking steps for getting the FAA approval for my First Class medical. Anyone in the MEM area have experience with sleep apnea and a good AME to get me through the process?
12-06-2011, 05:44 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
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There is a surgical option - Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Worked for me - no longer have to lug the CPAP around and the FAA was happy (3rd class - sorry). All I needed to show the AME was the diagnosis report and the report on the follow up sleep study that showed I was "cured".
The pain was manageable. Lortab got it to a base level I could live with, but eating and swallowing for a day after the surgery was uncomfortable. The only side affect from the surgery is that fluids or food will sometimes go straight to the back of the throat, initiating a gag reflex.
Good Luck! YMMV
Worked for me - no longer have to lug the CPAP around and the FAA was happy (3rd class - sorry). All I needed to show the AME was the diagnosis report and the report on the follow up sleep study that showed I was "cured".
The pain was manageable. Lortab got it to a base level I could live with, but eating and swallowing for a day after the surgery was uncomfortable. The only side affect from the surgery is that fluids or food will sometimes go straight to the back of the throat, initiating a gag reflex.
Good Luck! YMMV
Last edited by N9373M; 12-06-2011 at 06:01 PM.
12-07-2011, 02:32 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: The Far Side
Posts: 968
Pirate, it's awfully convenient for a sleep center that sells CPAP stuff to come up with a diagnosis. Now you were the one who was there, and if it seems legit it probably is, but at least consider getting a second opinion before you're too deep into this. Just a thought. 
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