|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

09-18-2018, 12:04 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 28
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdeerinck
I recently went to a doctor because when I made the appointment, I had wheezing coming from my lungs after I got done with my open water ocean swims for a few weeks. When I heavily exhaled, I could also hear some bubbling in my lungs, which had happened many years ago when I had some type of lung infection which antibiotics cleared up. By the time of my appointment, it was already gone, but I kept the appointment anyway.
For some reason the doc prescribed asthma medicine even though I have never had asthma.
I mentioned that when I did have the wheezing, that a few times I got extremely sleepy, and had shortness of breath while laying down. For this, she suggested I get a) blood work, b) a chest x-ray, and c) a sleep diagnostic.
After leaving, I began to feel like the doc completely missed the mark, regarding what had occurred, and was overcompensating with tests after the symptoms were gone.
But one thing really concerned me, and that was that if the sleep test somehow showed anything like sleep apnea (which I have never suffered from), that this could somehow make its way into my medical records, and possibly interfere with getting a Class III medical, which I have due in a few months.
I am inclined to not do any of what the doc suggested, given that my symptoms actually were gone before I even went in.
Have any of you ever done a sleep diagnostic test, and later had issues with your Medical based on having done it?
|
Assuming you're generally healthy, not old like me, and don't have any other underlying medical problems, the history you give suggests the symptoms are tied in somehow to the open water swimming sessions you were doing. I'd be wondering about something like "Exercise induced Asthma" or "Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema". You might be one of the 1-2% of otherwise healthy, (even robustly healthy) athletes who are subject to SIPE. The factors contributing to it are not well understood. Certain people in the tiathelete, breathholding diving, competitive swimming and military communities have been noted to be subject to it. Treatment and prevention has been "empirical" meaning it's based more on theories of what might be going on, but not on hard data from well designed scientific studies. It's a bit akin to some healthy people who are subject to altitude sickness, which may strike the most robust appearing person on a climb and leave other less hardy appearing individuals untouched. Just some food for thought. I am a family doctor, but retired now.
|

09-18-2018, 01:35 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 114
|
|
Just as an aside, this thread is a great example of why the FAA Medical process needs to be changed: it inherently has chilling effects. By being required to report every visit to a doctor, the FAA actually discourages people from going, particularly to specialists. I understand the FAA's interest, but it's poorly implemented and arguably results in a less healthy pilot population. I personally know people who have avoided seeking help for conditions, and the multiple suggestions in this thread to avoid even checking for fear of a questionable diagnosis, because they were afraid of losing their medicals. This is compounded by the strictness of some conditions being disqualifying, or at least requiring rigorous monitoring and sharing scads of sensitive data.
FAA, take a note from this thread and fix your process.
|

09-18-2018, 04:34 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,104
|
|
^^^This^^^
^^^This^^^ Dave is exactly right.
__________________
(2020 dues paid)
|

09-18-2018, 07:23 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by snopercod
^^^This^^^ Dave is exactly right.
|
Amen, brother. I'd have probably ended up with a routine procedure instead of an MI if I had not hesitated to go to the doctor with some odd, non-specific symptoms... simply because I didn't want the hassle and expense of explaining it on my next medical. None were the classic "Hey, dummy, you're about to have a heart attack" symptoms, but if I hadn't had a medical to worry about I'd have called the doc 2 or 3 days before ending up in the ER.
__________________
Dale
Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
|

09-18-2018, 07:41 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Roseville
Posts: 386
|
|
As a practicing Otolaryngologist, I read the prior thread with some concern. There seems to be a level of suspicion regarding the patient physician relationship and the process of medical diagnosis. It always concerns me, the propagation of misinformed and biased opinions which, if not discussed with someone that actually has knowledge, can lead to medical decisions that will have real and, sometimes, severe consequences. There are so many holes and wrong assumptions in the previous thread that it would take a prolonged face to face meeting to dispel the "expert" opinions listed and lead you to real understanding of the possible causes of your symptoms. Please return to your physician and discuss your misgivings and concerns. Let he or she inform and teach you so you're an informed patient, better able to make decisions that will help you.
Respectfully,
David
__________________
RV-9A N435KR, Vans calendar March 2018
LIO 320 B1A, Dual LS Plasma III, AFP injection
G3x touch
Roseville, Ca
|

09-18-2018, 08:19 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 483
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdeerinck
* I have never had asthma either, but the doc prescribed an inhaler. On the label it says "Take 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed". The "problem" is that it has never been needed, so it just sits there unused. The "shortness of breath" that I described to the doctor only occurred while I had the lung issue. Even though I told her that, she prescribed it anyway.
|
Depending on what is in the inhaler, it could cause issue with future medicals. I've seen advice from AME to return potential problematic to the Dr. office and get a letter that it was in-used to avoid problem. I'm not sure how you do that with an inhaler (vs. pills) but the trip to the Dr. seems worth it.
|

09-18-2018, 08:22 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sunman, IN
Posts: 2,189
|
|
and...
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaweeka
As a practicing Otolaryngologist, I read the prior thread with some concern. There seems to be a level of suspicion regarding the patient physician relationship and the process of medical diagnosis. It always concerns me, the propagation of misinformed and biased opinions which, if not discussed with someone that actually has knowledge, can lead to medical decisions that will have real and, sometimes, severe consequences. There are so many holes and wrong assumptions in the previous thread that it would take a prolonged face to face meeting to dispel the "expert" opinions listed and lead you to real understanding of the possible causes of your symptoms. Please return to your physician and discuss your misgivings and concerns. Let he or she inform and teach you so you're an informed patient, better able to make decisions that will help you.
Respectfully,
David
|
...and don't forget to include that visit on your next medical... 
__________________
Bob
Aerospace Engineer '88
RV-10
Structure - 90% Done
Cabin Top - Aaarrghhh...
EFII System 32 - Done
297 HP Barrett Hung
ShowPlanes Cowl with Skybolts Fitted - Beautiful
Wiring...
Dues+ Paid 2019,...Thanks DR+
|

09-18-2018, 09:15 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Culpeper, VA
Posts: 693
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwranda
My wife says I snore and stop breathing for a while at a time while sleeping. I had a sleep study and couldn't sleep during it. At about 4 in the morning I asked to leave because I was wide awake. They told me I couldn't because I was being charged for it so I might as well stay the whole time. I finally fell asleep for maybe less than an hour. I personally didn't think that was enough time to classify me as having apnea but they did.
I'm 6'1 and 195 lbs so not overweight. I can drive for over 8 hours without falling sleep. I really don't believe the faa issue with apnea is realistic. Not many pilots are flying for 6 or 8 hours without stopping. If you're flying for 2 hours and falling asleep then yeah you might have an issue.
I'm with the guy who said just buy a machine and see if it helps if you're having an issue. They try to tell you that only the doctor can adjust your machine but that's not true.
Good luck. If you take the test just be prepared to be wearing a mask every night.
|
I was around 30 and my wife convinced me to get a sleep study because I snored a lot and she was worried about me. Not overweight. Not tired during the day at all. No health issues. I just snored.
I went for the study. They diagnosed me with apnea. I got the cpap machine. I went for a follow up appointment and they asked me if I was still tired during the day. I said I wasn't tired during the day to begin with. But I am now because that stupid machine wakes me up all night long.
Took me a very long year to get used to that machine. In my case the sleep study was a bad mistake. My wife sleeps better, though, because I don't snore anymore so that is a positive (I mean that sincerely). But I still think it was a mistake for me to do the sleep study. There were probably other ways to deal with snoring.
I'm sure there are cases where an OSA diagnosis is vital. But I'm equally convinced that a minor apnea episode probably happens to everybody on occasion. And when you're wired up like that for a sleep study it's probably a near guarantee: a form of expectation bias. I'd love to see the stats for the number of sleep studies where they DON'T find apnea.
Like many things there's certainly some truth to the seriousness of OSA, but I think also like many things it's a severely over-diagnosed condition. Regarding the OP, I would save the sleep study as a last resort only if the issues are not answered by the other tests. Doctors (in my opinion) should be viewed as trustworthy advisors, not authority figures.
For those who do use a machine, try one of the on-line sources like cpap.com. You'll get the machine you want at a fraction of the cost (including accounting for insurance). And you can most definitely make all the adjustments to pressure, etc, yourself.
Every year I jump through hoops with the FAA. But I think this next time I'm going to try the basic med route. I hope that will make things a little easier.
__________________
-Joe Wilbur (N520LW)
Phase II - 11/2017
First flight - 8/2017
RV-10 Build Log
|

09-18-2018, 11:12 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
Posts: 2,416
|
|
^^^same as JOE ^^^^
...in addition to the above, which was pretty much my exact experience....
I now have to fill out a half-dozen pages of paper every time I apply for anything, explaining why I am nearly dead and/or asleep from my extremely serious sleep apnea.
yep. snored, but had no other symptoms. Normal weight.
Now I am treated like a leper when applying for life insurance, all the new hassle licensing....etc.etc.
ah, yeah, and I think the 'system', which I keep very clean, may have caused a chronic sinus infection. which is really great for pilots.
so take all that with a grain of salt. If you are NOT breathing well in your sleep, that's very hard on your heart, and wife.
Address that problem!....but beware of 'the system' ....as many have noted.
__________________
Perry Y.
RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC
|

09-18-2018, 11:13 AM
|
 |
Forum Peruser
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
|
|
Separate bedrooms
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilbur
...My wife sleeps better, though, because I don't snore anymore so that is a positive (I mean that sincerely). But I still think it was a mistake for me to do the sleep study. There were probably other ways to deal with snoring...
|
I know a pilot who got fed up with the CPAP machine, and he and his wife agreed the solution was for them to sleep in separate bedrooms! He sleeps better, she sleeps better...problem solved!
Disclaimer: I am unaware of any other problems this may have created! 
__________________
Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!
?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:09 AM.
|