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-   -   End of the line... NOT!!!! (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=104148)

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 09-10-2013 12:04 PM

End of the line... NOT!!!!
 
And that, as they say, is that.


Rupester 09-10-2013 12:11 PM

So-called Super AMEs ...
 
Have you enlisted the services of one of the Super AMEs? I recall there's only about 20 or 30 of them .... they have more sway and more credibility with the FAA in OK City than the other 800 or so AMEs. We're lucky to have a top notch Super AME here in central IL ...he has helped many EAA members around here after they had all but given up hope.

John R. Graham 09-10-2013 12:32 PM

Bob,

I suspect you know way more about this than I ever will, but are you aware of endolymphatic shunt surgery? This was used to successfully treat Ménière’s disease in none other than astronaut Alan Shepard. He was grounded after diagnosis but flew to the moon on Apollo 14 after successful treatment.

Best,
John

Don 09-10-2013 12:33 PM

+1 on what Rupster said. Call the EAA and the AOPA and talk to their medical folks. This may not necessarily be the end of the line.

rhill 09-10-2013 12:45 PM

Ear Rocks
 
Bob,Sorry to hear of your predicament,Are you sure the medical community isn't leading you down the garden path for a simple case of BPPV. Have you ever tried a Hall-pike, Epley maneuver? I don't know your history so I'm just spit balling here. Most doctors love to prescribe pill upon pill or what ever it says on there new pen the rep just gave them.Don't give up the fight,you have come too far to stop now!

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 09-10-2013 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John R. Graham (Post 806089)
are you aware of endolymphatic shunt surgery? This was used to successfully treat M?ni?re?s disease in none other than astronaut Alan Shepard.

I had that done several years ago.

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 09-10-2013 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhill (Post 806096)
Bob,Sorry to hear of your predicament,Are you sure the medical community isn't leading you down the garden path for a simple case of BPPV. Have you ever tried a Hall-pike, Epley maneuver? I don't know your history so I'm just spit balling here. Most doctors love to prescribe pill upon pill or what ever it says on there new pen the rep just gave them.Don't give up the fight,you have come too far to stop now!

The Eppley maneuver doesn't work for Meniere's. This isn't a new diagnosis. My docs are very honorable and very good (my latest ENT, bless his heart, tried his darndest) and have not prescribed pills. There are no pills -- and certainly no pills that are not banned substances -- for Meniere's. As I indicated on the blog, the FAA in particular, apparently, doesn't like the Medtronic device I'm now using, which is basically is a $3500 ($1800 out of pocket, btw) aquarium pump.

See, that signals to the FAA that there MIGHT be additional symptoms in the future and the fact is, they're right.

If I had a beef it's that the FAA punishes those most who try to get on top of their maladies, but you know, I'm getting too old to get too outraged anymore.

RickWoodall 09-10-2013 01:33 PM

Wow
 
Some things in life just SUCK. This is one of them. I am very sorry to read of your issues here. Always enjoy your writings, battles and triumphs. Very sorry that this one is one you can seem to fix or work through. :(

Best, Rick

DeltaRomeo 09-10-2013 02:13 PM

+1, Bob.

LSA maybe? If yes, just tell me know how I can help.
v/r,
dr


Quote:

Originally Posted by RickWoodall (Post 806115)
Some things in life just SUCK. This is one of them. I am very sorry to read of your issues here. Always enjoy your writings, battles and triumphs. Very sorry that this one is one you can seem to fix or work through. :(

Best, Rick


Eddie P 09-10-2013 02:24 PM

Bob, I am sorry to hear this. I know it has to be devastating. However, there does seem to be a door open, as the letter says, to future medical evaluation to the contrary.

As you say, the system punishes those who try to remedy ailments when we may perhaps consider that others might have done noting to address their health issue and just carried on flying without a medical (LSA, glider, ultralights). Most know about the caveat to continued flying of any sort once the dreaded medical denial occurs. Since, as is true, you can fly your airplane today, tomorrow and the next as long as you have a qualified and current pilot to fly with you and assume PIC for legal purposes and act as a safety pilot while you fly, all is not lost. I would imagine that if we can get "waivers" to fly with hearing loss, color blindness, single eye vision, etc with waivers of demonstrated ability then maybe you can continue flying as you are with a safety "PIC" pilot on board and take careful notes on your condition and liaise with an AOPA medical department, etc and see what might lie ahead as far as future medical certification.

Sorry to see this.


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