Quote:
Originally Posted by multipilot
The FAA Med Certification Branch told me that you can self-certify your privileges while experiencing kidney stones. Once you're free of them, you can return to work. However, you might want to send a fax to the FAA medical branch once you're done with them that includes all of your medical records rather than waiting to do it at your next medical exam. The Medical Branch will send you back a letter with a reference ID so that when you go fill out your medical app and check that kidney stone box for the first time, you can write in that it was previously reported and give that reference number. You may also have to go in for an IPV scan a month or two before your medical to prove you're still free of them. If you wait until your medical exam, chances are your AME will defer issuance of your medical until you submit all the records to the medical branch and prove you're free of them and have no retained stones.
I went through this a few months ago and you have my sympathies. Fortunately for me, no kidney stone was ever found and they said if I in fact had one that it was very small and passed quickly. It was still very painful nonetheless.
If you have any questions, just call the FAA Med Certification Branch. You might be surprised how cool they are about the whole deal. They never asked me for my name or credentials.
Feel free to PM me too.
Hang in there.
Definately NOT my experience
. It seems to depend on who you talk to. When I chatted with Tony S. of the SouthWest Region FAA MCB he was absolutely clear that I was to not return to flying until they had cleared me. They required me to send them X-rays, Urologists Letter saying Im clear, Analysis of Stones, etc...
This is definately an area where even the fine folks at the FAA are not in agreement with each other
(based on my exp). For all the phone calls I made, everyone had an answer that was different than the last one.
It's probably not going to permanently ground you, just make sure you CYA
Good Luck