Should be getting my medical back....but...

Looking for some advise here. I have been sitting on the sidelines
for about a year now after discovering that I have sleep apnea. I
never failed the failed the medical, but just didn't go in for the
test because I has not treated my condition. Now I have and I've
never felt better!

The question is...what exactly do I need to get my medical. I have
been to the AOPA web site and I can't figure out if I need a MWT test
ot not.

Link here for aopa members: http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/medical/
certification/sleep/apnea_specs.html

In paragraph 1 it says maybe not. It paragraph 2 it says every year
for the rest of your life! Anyone have recent experience with this?

On 27 Jan 2007 06:27:12 -0800, "Greg" wrote:

Looking for some advise here. I have been sitting on the sidelines
for about a year now after discovering that I have sleep apnea. I
never failed the failed the medical, but just didn't go in for the
test because I has not treated my condition. Now I have and I've
never felt better!

The question is...what exactly do I need to get my medical. I have
been to the AOPA web site and I can't figure out if I need a MWT test
ot not.

Link here for aopa members: http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/medical/
certification/sleep/apnea_specs.html

In paragraph 1 it says maybe not. It paragraph 2 it says every year
for the rest of your life! Anyone have recent experience with this?

You need one MWT for sure. Subsequent requirements would seem to depend on
the nature of your treatment.
--ron

You need one MWT for sure. Subsequent requirements would seem to
depend on
the nature of your treatment.
--ron

Are you speaking from experience? I have heard second hand stories of
people not being required to take even one MWT, but never first
hand...

Anyone?

Ron Rosenfeld writes:

You need one MWT for sure. Subsequent requirements would seem to depend on
the nature of your treatment.

Why does the FAA care about sleep apnea? It only occurs when you're
asleep--which presumably you won't be while in the cockpit.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:
Ron Rosenfeld writes:

You need one MWT for sure. Subsequent requirements would seem to depend on
the nature of your treatment.

Why does the FAA care about sleep apnea? It only occurs when you're
asleep--which presumably you won't be while in the cockpit.


From WebMD

Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you normally
should not, such as while you are eating, talking, or driving.

601XL Builder writes:

Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you normally
should not, such as while you are eating, talking, or driving.

Ah, point taken.

The most common cause of sleepiness, though, is a lack of sleep, and
unfortunately a great many people sleep less than they should, and
tend to doze off easily in consequence. I don't know that the FAA
takes this into account (or even how it could), but some cross-country
flights must surely be powerfully sedative in effect.

Does the FAA allow pilots to carry No-Doz in the cockpit?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Greg wrote:
Are you speaking from experience? I have heard second hand stories of
people not being required to take even one MWT, but never first
hand...

Anyone?

I never took a MWT... don't even know what one is. I was treated for sleep
apnea some years ago; had a sleep study where they said I desatted into the 50s
(no wonder I always felt tired)... used CPAP at night for some years with very
good effect. I ended up having a gastric bypass, lost a bunch of weight and
came off all meds and the CPAP.

When I went to get my flight physical back (earlier yanked for some EKG
irregularity later proven to be bogus by a heart cath), I just provided all the
progress notes provided by the cardiologist attesting to the false positive, and
notes from my primary care physician stating I was no longer being treated for
diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea. I never heard another word from the FAA
but I walked out of the AME's office with a third class in my hot little hand.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

On Jan 27, 5:27 pm, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com
wrote:


I just provided all the
progress notes provided by the cardiologist attesting to the false positive, and
notes from my primary care physician stating I was no longer being treated for
diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.

--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

This sounds a little different than my situation as I still have sleep
apnea (but I am being treated successfully) and sound like you no
longer have the disease at all...that's great for you but I am not so
lucky!

Greg writes:

This sounds a little different than my situation as I still have sleep
apnea (but I am being treated successfully) and sound like you no
longer have the disease at all...that's great for you but I am not so
lucky!

Sleep apnea is often a consequence of obesity; when it is, losing
weight usually makes it go away permanently (unless the patient gains
weight again). Obstructive apnea from other causes may be more
refractory.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

On 27 Jan 2007 10:48:07 -0800, "Greg" wrote:

You need one MWT for sure. Subsequent requirements would seem to
depend on
the nature of your treatment.
--ron

Are you speaking from experience? I have heard second hand stories of
people not being required to take even one MWT, but never first
hand...

Anyone?

No, I'm only reading what is on the AOPA web site. It's been years since
I've been involved with examining pilots -- and then it would have been
only for cardiovascular issues. Perhaps my background made it easier for
me to understand what is on the AOPA web site.

If you want a definitive answer and are not happy with the AOPA
information, I would suggest you contact either your own AME or one of the
Regional FAA Flight Surgeons.

Policies change from time to time, and what may have been true in the past
is not necessarily true today. Personally, I've experienced a few changes
with regard to my low pressure open angle glaucoma in terms of required
followup and duration of the medical.
--ron