medical question: childhood heart murmur

The poster is and was sincere. I did not post under my name, because,
honestly, medical questions are sensitive, as are questions about the
faa and medical certifications. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but I
figure better safe than sorry.

There was nothing 'troll-like' about this question. I did want to see
what people said. Most people backed up what the aeromedical people at
AOPA said. (Actually, it was the other way around, I called AOPA
later.)

-- unnamed

Gary Drescher wrote:
"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
You guys just slay me... THis TROLL throws out a baited hook and you
are all over it...

What are you talking about? What makes you think the question isn't sincere?

--Gary

Cub Driver wrote:

Plus there is the universal tendency of families' trying to spoil the
fun of a relative they suspect of having too much fun. Probably his
parents made the whole thing up, just to put him in his place.

That possibility also occurred to me. If my mother had known about the way the
FAA medical board works when I was training, I'd probably *still* be waiting on
my student pilot's certificate.

I can guarantee one thing. If you report a condition and then discover that the
old medical records don't exist any more, you're in for a *very* long and
expensive road.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

Of much more concern to me would be a murmur that appeared where none had
previously been. That would get my attention... the doc's too.

And that's *exactly* what this would look like to the FAA medical board if he
checks off that box at his next exam.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...
How could you possibly be required to report something you don't
remember?

Asked and answered.

I for one never thought it was a troll. BUT I can see where some might think
so as it was an actual on topic post and there have been so few lately from
new people.




wrote in message
oups.com...

The poster is and was sincere. I did not post under my name, because,
honestly, medical questions are sensitive, as are questions about the
faa and medical certifications. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but I
figure better safe than sorry.

There was nothing 'troll-like' about this question. I did want to see
what people said. Most people backed up what the aeromedical people at
AOPA said. (Actually, it was the other way around, I called AOPA
later.)

-- unnamed

Gary Drescher wrote:
"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
You guys just slay me... THis TROLL throws out a baited hook and you
are all over it...

What are you talking about? What makes you think the question isn't
sincere?

--Gary

wrote:
Okay, here's an odd situation.

30-something pilot, been flying a few years, have had a couple of class
III medical examinations; no problems.

On a recent visit home, pilot's family remind him that as infant he had
a heart murmur. There were checkups for a few years, but no
restrictions, meds, problems, etc of any sort.

I have absolutely no clue how the FAA views this, but a heart murmur is
not in and of itself a medical condition. It is just a sound heard on
examination, and murmurs are exceedingly common both in children and in
adults. Most murmurs indicate nothing other than some turbulent blood
flow through the heart and do not reflect any sort of medical problem at
all. Occasionally murmurs are an indication of a hole somewhere in the
heart or problems with the heart valves, but I would guess if this were
the case for the OP he would know about it.

--
David Rind

On 4 Aug 2005 03:01:10 -0700, wrote:

Pilot has a one year old medical good for two more years.

1. does the pilot divulge to FAA said childhood murmur?
2. if so, to whom? AME? Oklahoma City?
3. does he wait until next exam (couple of years) or do so now?
4. If going to divulge, should he go get fancy/expensive tests *first*
or let FAA or AME ask for said tests?

I believe the relevant question on the FAA medical exam -- at least what is
posted on the AOPA web site -- is: "HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE Heart or vascular trouble?"

Note that the question does not ask if you have ever had a heart murmur.

Having had a transient heart murmur as an infant, with no diagnosis of
"heart trouble" does not require you to answer this question with a YES --
in my opinion as a (retired) cardiologist.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote

I believe the relevant question on the FAA medical exam -- at least what
is
posted on the AOPA web site -- is: "HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE Heart or vascular trouble?"

Not that I think that the OP should tell on himself, but I would be
interested in how you think that a heart murmur is not a HEART PROBLEM.
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 5 Aug 2005 23:45:03 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote

I believe the relevant question on the FAA medical exam -- at least what
is
posted on the AOPA web site -- is: "HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE Heart or vascular trouble?"

Not that I think that the OP should tell on himself, but I would be
interested in how you think that a heart murmur is not a HEART PROBLEM.

I guess I should ask you the converse: Why do you think that a heart
murmur IS a heart problem?

A heart murmur is merely a particular kind of sound that may be heard when
listening to a heart. It may be perfectly normal (most are) or it may be
suggestive of some underlying heart condition.

It is only a physical finding; it is not a diagnosis of any diseased
condition.

If there were a problem, the problem would not be the murmur; rather the
problem would be some trouble with the heart such as (in lay terms) "leaky
valve", "hole in the heart", "tight valve", etc.

The OP's description of a possible murmur in infancy; no diagnosis of any
heart disease; no recommended followup; no murmur as an adult; clearly
falls into the "normal finding" category.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote

The OP's description of a possible murmur in infancy; no diagnosis of any
heart disease; no recommended followup; no murmur as an adult; clearly
falls into the "normal finding" category.

Agreed, about no fining in adulthood.

I still stand about saying a heart murmur, until thoroughly diagnosed, is a
heart problem. If it is an abnormal sound compared to a normal healthy
heart is heard, it would have to be investigated. This does not seem to be
the case, but if it was heard at one time, it should be checked. (which it
was)
--
Jim in NC