The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

[Hardy_boy]

Ok so I’ve got a question for a friend:

Said friend has had a little bit of a heart flutter for a few years. Every so often it happens - his heart seems to skip a beat or two, and then overcorrect by pounding hard and fast for a few seconds. While this happens his breath gets a little stuttered as well. Up until recently, it only happened every few months. He thought nothing of it. Now, however, it’s been happening more frequently- about once or twice a month.

He’s also been experiencing more shortness of breath.

That said, he’s an SNA, and is now in pre-primary. What will happen to him when he tells a flight doc?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Ok so I’ve got a question for a friend:

Said friend has had a little bit of a heart flutter for a few years. Every so often it happens - his heart seems to skip a beat or two, and then overcorrect by pounding hard and fast for a few seconds. While this happens his breath gets a little stuttered as well. Up until recently, it only happened every few months. He thought nothing of it. Now, however, it’s been happening more frequently- about once or twice a month.

He’s also been experiencing more shortness of breath.

That said, he’s an SNA, and is now in pre-primary. What will happen to him when he tells a flight doc?

You seem to know a lot about, "this friend".

 

[Hardy_boy]

You seem to know a lot about, "this friend".

Yes we’re very close

 

[TimeBomb]

Your friend will almost certainly be referred to NAMI for further evaluation. Their findings will drive what happens after that. Sorry, not a definitive answer, but there isn't enough information in your post for even conjecture.
V/R

 

[Mouselovr]

Ok so I’ve got a question for a friend:

Said friend has had a little bit of a heart flutter for a few years. Every so often it happens - his heart seems to skip a beat or two, and then overcorrect by pounding hard and fast for a few seconds. While this happens his breath gets a little stuttered as well. Up until recently, it only happened every few months. He thought nothing of it. Now, however, it’s been happening more frequently- about once or twice a month.

He’s also been experiencing more shortness of breath.

That said, he’s an SNA, and is now in pre-primary. What will happen to him when he tells a flight doc?

As an SNA dealing with very serious medical problems at the moment, he needs to go to a doc now. Tell him his health is more important than his career in the Navy or as a pilot.

When he did his flight physical, he had to have had an EKG which would have come back clean, so there's nothing obviously wrong. Personally, I have a very slight heart murmur and was referred for an echo and visit to a cardiologist while at OCS. While I was fine, there was another guy in my OCS class who was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that warranted surgery..... he was later cleared for SNA.

Likely referral to a cardio, some testing, potential downchit if a procedure is needed. If they can ultimately get him back to health and waiver him, they'll waiver him.

If its a serious procedure/diagnosis, you can get TAD to go home for care with your family...

 

[taxi1]

Ok so I’ve got a question for a friend:

Said friend has had a little bit of a heart flutter for a few years. Every so often it happens - his heart seems to skip a beat or two, and then overcorrect by pounding hard and fast for a few seconds. While this happens his breath gets a little stuttered as well. Up until recently, it only happened every few months. He thought nothing of it. Now, however, it’s been happening more frequently- about once or twice a month.

He’s also been experiencing more shortness of breath.

That said, he’s an SNA, and is now in pre-primary. What will happen to him when he tells a flight doc?

My wife has similar.

Any correlation with stress? Anxiety-related? Plenty of that in Naval Air.

Foods? Beer?

 

[Hardy_boy]

Thanks everyone for the responses. The heart stuff is more than likely stress and anxiety related. We shall see how it goes.

 

[Dinosaurologist]

Hello all, I just found out that my sitting height is 0.5cm too tall to fly jets. Does anyone know if I can get a waiver for this?

 

[Astro9291]

Okay so I’m an SNA waiting to class up and I’ve noticed blood in my stool for quite some time now. I’m ready to go to the doc and see what’s up. I’ve been to a civilian doc in the past and they said they are pretty sure it’s internal hemorrhoids but you can tell unless you get a colonoscopy. My question is, is this disqualifying? Am I going to get grounded until this issue is resolved. What is the results of me doing this. Thank you for your help.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Okay so I’m an SNA waiting to class up and I’ve noticed blood in my stool for quite some time now. I’m ready to go to the doc and see what’s up. I’ve been to a civilian doc in the past and they said they are pretty sure it’s internal hemorrhoids but you can tell unless you get a colonoscopy. My question is, is this disqualifying? Am I going to get grounded until this issue is resolved. What is the results of me doing this. Thank you for your help.

You first priority should be your health, I know you are concerned about your flying status but take care of yourself.

 

[Mouselovr]

Okay so I’m an SNA waiting to class up and I’ve noticed blood in my stool for quite some time now. I’m ready to go to the doc and see what’s up. I’ve been to a civilian doc in the past and they said they are pretty sure it’s internal hemorrhoids but you can tell unless you get a colonoscopy. My question is, is this disqualifying? Am I going to get grounded until this issue is resolved. What is the results of me doing this. Thank you for your help.

A good metric of should I go to the doctor is to pretend you aren't in flight school or an SNA. Would you go to the doctor for rectal bleeding? Probably, yes.

I can't find hemorrhoids listed in the waiver guide, however, my gut says you should be fine as long as they aren't major. Probably a waiver.
You may or may not be downchitted based on how it impacts you.
Docs should give you a clear idea of what happens next, and if you need a procedure, you'll likely get it done at Naval Hospital in Pcola.

Depending on where you are on "the list" and your med process, you might not lose any time.
But you won't be able to class up until you have an upchit again.

I've been downchitted/ in LIMDU status for 6 months now in advance. If they can get you a waiver, they will get you that waiver.

 

[Gatordev]

First, go to medical and get the referral process started. It will probably take you at least a month to even get into see a GI doc.

Second: where are you in the actual process? Have you had your NAMI Whammy physical yet? If so, your chances for any kind of GI waiver has increased. If not, it's a much harder battle to fight if you get a non-favorable diagnosis.

@Mouselovr is spot on...that's probably something you want someone to look at if they haven't been up there before. Hemorrhoids are pretty common for everyone, so not a big deal if that's all it is, but you need to rule out the other IBDs that can be much more serious for your health.

 

[Astro9291]

First, go to medical and get the referral process started. It will probably take you at least a month to even get into see a GI doc.

Second: where are you in the actual process? Have you had your NAMI Whammy physical yet? If so, your chances for any kind of GI waiver has increased. If not, it's a much harder battle to fight if you get a non-favorable diagnosis.

@Mouselovr is spot on...that's probably something you want someone to look at if they haven't been up there before. Hemorrhoids are pretty common for everyone, so not a big deal if that's all it is, but you need to rule out the other IBDs that can be much more serious for your health.

I’ve passed all my medical exams and I currently have my upchit. I have no symptoms or issues besides seeing the blood. I just tried making an appointment with doc but they insisted I go to ER first to get me an appointment quicker. I’m suppose to class up in 3-4 months so I’m really hoping this won’t affect it. I really appreciate the help.

 

[Gatordev]

I’ve passed all my medical exams and I currently have my upchit. I have no symptoms or issues besides seeing the blood. I just tried making an appointment with doc but they insisted I go to ER first to get me an appointment quicker. I’m suppose to class up in 3-4 months so I’m really hoping this won’t affect it. I really appreciate the help.

That might not be a bad plan on the whole, as it bypasses a flight doc while still getting the referral.

 

[taxi1]

I’ve passed all my medical exams and I currently have my upchit. I have no symptoms or issues besides seeing the blood. I just tried making an appointment with doc but they insisted I go to ER first to get me an appointment quicker. I’m suppose to class up in 3-4 months so I’m really hoping this won’t affect it. I really appreciate the help.

Epidemiology hasn't been trending in the right direction for younger folks. Good to get it laid to rest.

More Young People Than Ever Will Get Colorectal Cancer This Year

Colon and rectal cancers are increasing among people younger than 50. Experts have a few ideas about why.

www.nytimes.com