Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
Both AOPA and the AME (aviation medical examiner) who advised you regarding HIMS and your status, were correct.
Do not violate the terms of your military contract. If you do, it will trigger significant additional problems for you, if it leads to a medical discharge. Do what the military has directed you to do.
You have indicated that you do have a valid condition: this is the most important concern, above FAA medicals or other issues. We're talking about your health. If the medication is helping, then you need to recognize that this may be more important than other considerations, and if it has proven to control your anxiety and give you relief, then it really doesn't matter if you were ordered to take it or volunteered. It's what's in use to treat your condition and if it's working, that is what is important.
With regard to the FAA, it is not just the medication, but the underlying condition which the medication is used to treat. The FAA considers both on an individual basis. The use of psychotropic drugs and medications do come with conditions; they generally lead to deferrals, but with treatment and on a program of testing and observation, it is possible to get medical certification. Anything you do to complicate that will only make the process more expensive or difficult later. That can include being denied a FAA medical, or a military discharge for the condition. In the case of the latter, were you to vary from your military obligations and contract, would signal the FAA that your condition had already been determined disqualifying by the military; there's no reason to complicate the matter.
You can certainly speak to or attend a physician outside the military for consultation while maintaining your military treatment. While a flight surgeon may not be available to you within the military, aviation medical professionals outside the military are available to you, and there are AME's and programs that work to help people with special issuance, HIMS, etc, that will guide you through certification.
You've already been given the general information, several times it sounds like, and the AOPA representatives who explained the situation to you may not have told you what you want to hear, but appear to have given you correct data.
On a separate note, don't attempt to give up your medication to get a FAA medical, until you've got the professional guidance, treatment, and assistance to replace the medication with something else. If it's what's giving you the relief you need, focus on that: it's what's most important, regardless of how much you want to fly. Health first, everything else a distant second.
Thanks for the reply.
I'm not sure if you understood exactly what I was trying to say here. I never said I was going to violate my military contract, in fact, you almost make it seem as if I am trying to weasel myself off the medication to fly again. Do not take this the wrong way but that is just how your reply came off to me.
In earlier posts, I did mention several key things: 1. Anxiety CAN disqualify a service member in the military (such as my case). However, the military knows this; since it is a stressful establishment they treat you and if treatment is successful you have no worries if your treatment fails then you will receive a medical discharge, the paper I signed basically said if I fail to obey doctor's orders then I will receive an administrative discharge. Completely different here. I'm not worried because it won't happen as I have no intentions on disobeying.
My contract ends in 20 months and again, I have zero intention of disobeying doctors orders (this includes stopping or altering my medication dose).
2. I clearly mention that I wanted to do this the right way and safe way. I only talked about coming off the medication through the proper channels and safely while under the supervision of my treating physician. I don't know where you came up with this whole idea that I was just going to stop taking meds and then try again.
As for the AOPA, they didn't tell me anything you didn't already just repeat back to me again. I am completely aware of what I can do, the problem is, how should I go about it. AOPA didn't tell me something I didn't want to hear as I already knew what it is they told me. Originally, when I went to see the AME, he deferred my application but felt very confident my case is so light and under control that I wouldn't have an issue getting my certificate back. What he didn't say was how much the cost was, I am trying to solve several problems here. I am trying to save on costs all while remaining safe and within parameters via the military and FAA.
Again, thanks for the reply and I don't mean to come off as impolite because I am not; the post just didn't seem very useful to me. I believe you may have misunderstood what it is I am trying to do.
You suggested at the end of your post to pretty much just give up because of a medical condition that is under control and has been for years. You might think that I'm not accepting that as an answer because I am not. If everyone gave up their dreams because of a medical condition, perhaps, society would not be where it is as every major breakthrough had to go through some kind of pitfall before it was successful. In my case, it's how I go about staying healthy, safe and legal to make it work.
AIRLINE
04-04-2019
Today