Brookland

Anyone had to do one of these due to a concussion? I was told that a concussion back in 2016 (no loss of consciousness) requires a cog screen.

I have already spent $8500 on testing, and the FAA wants another $8500 in testing. Should I just call the time of death?

Brookland

They wanted all of the records, which I had already provided to the doctor.

One of their requests was for my cardiac catheterization results. Duh, I never had this done - why are you requesting it?

JohnBurke

Hard to know what you're describing here, of if there's a question. What was the nature of your concussion, and the subsequent treatement? Did you get a CT scan at the time which may have revealed a bleed?

Who is guiding you through this process?

When you say you gave your medical records to "the doctor," which doctor? Your AME? If the FAA is moving for a special issuance here (lots of information not being given), then the FAA will need all the records provided to your AME, and more. The bottom line is that the FAA will require whatever they require, and you'll need to provide it. Before you invest so deeply in this event, you should make sure you have adequate counseling and guidance. Hopefully you're not doing all this on your own.

At the time of your injury, did you have post-traumatic amnesia, or an altered state of consciousness?

Review the FAA Aviation Medical Examiner's Guide table on head injury: https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/Head-Injury.pdf

Also review the AME Guide for a Neurologic Evaluation. https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/NeurologicalSpecificationSheet.pdf

Note that the FAA calls for all prior records, physicians notes, etc.

Did you have, or have you had a cardiac issue that would have required a cardiac catheterization?

It's unclear if you're being requested out of the blue to do a cog screen now for something that happened eight years ago, or what the circumstances are around your prior injury, or why it's an issue now.

If you look at the first table linked, you'll see that item C has a five-year waiting period, and that can be due to something as small as a very, very tiny bleed discovered in a CT scan following a concussive event. It may be due to a severe head injury with amnesia, altered state of consciousness, of loss of consciousness.

Brookland

I gave everything to the FAA and the AME.

No heart issues. period. EVER. 1 concussion. Sorry, I should have never played sports, as a kid and adult. Stupid me for being active, 8 years ago. NO LOC, NO AC, NO BLEED, no seizure. NOTHING. Is that clear?


ALL THE RECORDS CLEARLY SHOWED IT. BAD CAREER CHOICE.. I AM DONE.

IT'S A POOR RISK-ADJUSTED RATE OF RETURN IN MY CASE.

I don't have the money and time to play this game for years. Plus, no one wants to hear about it, including a tired wife and family that need money to pay for actual living expenses. I will not pay for a son/daughter to train in this field.

At the end of the day, it's just a job beholden to a significant chance that it could end quickly in a pen-stroke. Poor career choice. Moving on. Thanks.

I'd rather tell the truth and be out of a job, but I sure as hell would not recommend this field with the Zero Defect approach.

JohnBurke

Ah. Clearly you're not seeking anything. This is simpy your rant. Got it.

Your story is lacking a lot of information and you're telling a fraction of it, but this apparently is about martyrdom.

Carry on.

Brookland

John,

You are clearly a skeptic, which is not a bad quality. I am just saying that you can't keep throwing good money after bad.

You gotta know when to call it. Money matters from a practical standpoint. At some point, you just gotta know when to fold 'em.

JohnBurke

You had a concussion eight years ago and eight years later are told to get a cog screen?

You had a concussion eight years ago and were told at the time to get a cog screen?

You spent 8,500 dollars eight years ago and are just getting upset about it now?

You got a concussion eight years ago, had the cog screen, spent 8,500 dollars, and got, or did not get your medical at the time?

You've been trying to get a medical for eight years, following a concussion?

Impossible to know what you're suggesting, so little information is provided. We can be sure you're not happy about it.

It certainly sounds like you have not employed a service that walks you through the process, but instead tried to go it on your own. Then again, you're so defensive and vague, who knows? You've been grounded for eight years, and are introducing it now? Why now? What's really going on here?

Duckdude

I had a full cognitive work up last summer, as required by the FAA due to a stroke. It was over 8 hours long and took two days. The cost was $3,500. I now have a special issuance 1st class medical, despite having had a stroke and heart surgery. So I know from personal experience you can have at least two fairly significant “Defects” and still get a medical.

Brookland

Congratulations on getting a 1st class.

Just out of curiousity, do you know how often you will have to repeat neurocognitive screening? I was told that I would have to do periodic repeat testing, if I were to pass.

Duckdude

Thank you!

My understanding is it was a one time event, as a stroke isn’t progressive like say Parkinson’s.
My special issuance doesn’t mention retaking it either.