Rusty Ellison
Member
Well to start I have been on Special Issuance Medical for about 8 years now. Requires the regular stress test yearly, which I pass with flying colors, once in awhile the FAA will ask for a 24 hour halter monitor check, which hasn't been a problem. This year I got my medical last October then received a notice from the FAA that they would like to see the heart cath report that was done back in 2007?
and also a 24 hour halter monitor report, okay so I provided both a month ago. Last year I also had a episode of AFIB, which I have had about four times in the last 9 years, which they have always been aware of throughout the years, never been a concern in the past, and as far as I know isn't a concern now either according to the correspondence we have had. Here is where it gets interesting, I receive a letter from the FAA that they would like me to confer with my cardiologist about getting another Heart Cath? They also say that without another Heart Cath I will be forced to return my medical. So I talk with my cardiologist about the need for this in which he says Mr. Ellison there is no reason to put you at that risk. Your stress/echo tests have always been good, had I began to see in those tests signs of something going on, along with some other testing, it might be considered, but in my opinion I do not see the need for that.
So he wrote a very nice letter to the FAA stating why he doesn't feel that is necessary and the potential risk. Well it appears that the FAA is still requiring me to have a Heart Cath or I lose my medical!!!!
I go to Greg Pinnell, M.D. Private Pilot ~ Flight Surgeon USAFR, he is one of the best in our area of Michigan He had told me that the letter from my cardiologist would be all I need. He had the authority to give me my medical last October as he has always done. It just completely blows my mind that the FAA can require me to do a Heart Cath when my cardiologist and my Flight Surgeon don't see the need. I did contact the FAA about all this and was told the our standards are different than perhaps you cardiologist, but they also said a letter from my cardiologist can sometimes do the trick. Evidently not this time.
Would really appreciate your thoughts and ideas as to where to go from here. I really don't want to risk a heart cath and also my health insurance will not pay for any of that because the cardiologist has no justification to do so. He also mentioned that in the letter to the FAA;
At a lose in this.
Thanks
and also a 24 hour halter monitor report, okay so I provided both a month ago. Last year I also had a episode of AFIB, which I have had about four times in the last 9 years, which they have always been aware of throughout the years, never been a concern in the past, and as far as I know isn't a concern now either according to the correspondence we have had. Here is where it gets interesting, I receive a letter from the FAA that they would like me to confer with my cardiologist about getting another Heart Cath? They also say that without another Heart Cath I will be forced to return my medical. So I talk with my cardiologist about the need for this in which he says Mr. Ellison there is no reason to put you at that risk. Your stress/echo tests have always been good, had I began to see in those tests signs of something going on, along with some other testing, it might be considered, but in my opinion I do not see the need for that.
So he wrote a very nice letter to the FAA stating why he doesn't feel that is necessary and the potential risk. Well it appears that the FAA is still requiring me to have a Heart Cath or I lose my medical!!!!
I go to Greg Pinnell, M.D. Private Pilot ~ Flight Surgeon USAFR, he is one of the best in our area of Michigan He had told me that the letter from my cardiologist would be all I need. He had the authority to give me my medical last October as he has always done. It just completely blows my mind that the FAA can require me to do a Heart Cath when my cardiologist and my Flight Surgeon don't see the need. I did contact the FAA about all this and was told the our standards are different than perhaps you cardiologist, but they also said a letter from my cardiologist can sometimes do the trick. Evidently not this time.
Would really appreciate your thoughts and ideas as to where to go from here. I really don't want to risk a heart cath and also my health insurance will not pay for any of that because the cardiologist has no justification to do so. He also mentioned that in the letter to the FAA;
At a lose in this.
Thanks