Hanging up my wings

Mike, please go see a competent neurologist, the first priority is to figure
out the
cause - then you can work out the consequences to your passion.
Good luck, and best regards
Todd

Mike Gaskins writes:

Over the last few months I've unexpectedly lost consciousness 3 times
on two occasions (second time I went out again a few minutes later).
I've also had several episodes of not feeling "right" - dizzyness,
inability to focus, feeling disconnected, etc. I haven't been flying
at all during this time as I was afraid of anything happening in the
air, and now, though I haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, all
signs are pointing to me having panic disorder. I've no doubt that I
will/would fail my next medical; I don't even trust myself in the air
at the moment and have voluntarily grounded myself. Kinda
disappointing as I've always been so interested in flying and having
only started training about 2 and a half years ago (and having had my
PPL for less than a year); it's not fun to have to hang it up so
early.

Since you make it sound exactly like a self-fulfilling prophecy, I daresay you
think it's a lot more fun than you admit. You've already diagnosed yourself
and written off your PPL without even talking to a doctor. You probably don't
really want to fly for some reason (which might indeed be related to a panic
disorder, but there are many other possible reasons).

Oh well. Just needed somewhere to rant a bit. I'm thinking I'll keep
going up every now and then with an instructor along; it's not the
same as solo (I actually enjoyed flying alone), but it's a safe and
legal way to get into the air.

So something is making you panic on the ground or in the air and you'd rather
stop flying entirely than risk having that unpleasant experience again?

"Mike Gaskins" wrote in message
ups.com...

Over the last few months I've unexpectedly lost consciousness 3 times
on two occasions (second time I went out again a few minutes later).
I've also had several episodes of not feeling "right" - dizzyness,
inability to focus, feeling disconnected, etc. ...
though I haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, all
signs are pointing to me having panic disorder.

You don't make this clear, but are you sure of the causal relationship?
Contrary to Dr. Mxsmanic's oh so expert opinion, are you sure that feelings
of "not feeling right" are causing the loss of consciousness, or could it be
that you are so worried about the unexplained loss of consciousness that you
are "not feeling right". Like others have said, if you haven't already done
so, you should talk to a competent neurologist; there may be an underlying
cause of the unconcousness. I know someone who faints after she eats a
starchy meal and the ambient temperature is over 85 degrees (ok,
exageration, but you get the point).

I'm thinking I'll keep
going up every now and then with an instructor along; it's not the
same as solo (I actually enjoyed flying alone), but it's a safe and
legal way to get into the air.


As others have said: you don't need an instructor, just another pilot.
Sure, it's not the same, but I'm sure that you can find one "sympathetic" to
your needs (and hell, they then become $50 hamburgers, not $100 ones big
grin)

Good luck!

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

In article ,
"Todd W. Deckard" wrote:

Mike, please go see a competent neurologist, the first priority is to figure
out the
cause - then you can work out the consequences to your passion.
Good luck, and best regards
Todd

It seems to me that you lose consciousness due to reduction/loss of
blood flow to the brain.

If it were me the first guy I'd talk to would be a cardiologist.

Brugada syndrome, which I have and have lost my medical because of, is a
condition that can cause loss of consciousness and is generally
diagnosed because of "unexplained" LOC.

On Aug 24, 3:38 pm, Mike Gaskins wrote:
Just figured I'd post here as I lurked and posted in the
rec.aviation.student groups a lot during training. Mostly looking to
vent some as I have no pilot-friends aside from my former
instructor.

Over the last few months I've unexpectedly lost consciousness 3 times
on two occasions (second time I went out again a few minutes later).
I've also had several episodes of not feeling "right" - dizzyness,
inability to focus, feeling disconnected, etc. I haven't been flying
at all during this time as I was afraid of anything happening in the
air, and now, though I haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, all
signs are pointing to me having panic disorder. I've no doubt that I
will/would fail my next medical; I don't even trust myself in the air
at the moment and have voluntarily grounded myself. Kinda
disappointing as I've always been so interested in flying and having
only started training about 2 and a half years ago (and having had my
PPL for less than a year); it's not fun to have to hang it up so
early.

Oh well. Just needed somewhere to rant a bit. I'm thinking I'll keep
going up every now and then with an instructor along; it's not the
same as solo (I actually enjoyed flying alone), but it's a safe and
legal way to get into the air.

Mike

Mike, you are discouraged and that is only natural. But it's way too
early in this process to give up. Get yourself to a specialist and
get a real diagnosis. Then you will know what you are dealing with,
and what you can do about it. It may be that it can be effectively
treated.

If you want an example of someone overcoming the odds to return to
flying, there is a book by Susan Edsall called Into The Blue. It's
about her father, who returned to flying after suffering a serious
stroke.

Hang in there, Mike. Don't give up on your dream.

Phil

On Aug 25, 9:34 am, Mxsmanic wrote:
Mike Gaskins writes:
Over the last few months I've unexpectedly lost consciousness 3 times
on two occasions (second time I went out again a few minutes later).
I've also had several episodes of not feeling "right" - dizzyness,
inability to focus, feeling disconnected, etc. I haven't been flying
at all during this time as I was afraid of anything happening in the
air, and now, though I haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, all
signs are pointing to me having panic disorder. I've no doubt that I
will/would fail my next medical; I don't even trust myself in the air
at the moment and have voluntarily grounded myself. Kinda
disappointing as I've always been so interested in flying and having
only started training about 2 and a half years ago (and having had my
PPL for less than a year); it's not fun to have to hang it up so
early.

Since you make it sound exactly like a self-fulfilling prophecy, I daresay you
think it's a lot more fun than you admit. You've already diagnosed yourself
and written off your PPL without even talking to a doctor. You probably don't
really want to fly for some reason (which might indeed be related to a panic
disorder, but there are many other possible reasons).

Where did I say I hadn't consulted a doctor? I've been to the
hospital twice (once carried out in an ambulance when I collapsed at
work) and consulted my family doctor 4 times regarding this issue.

Oh well. Just needed somewhere to rant a bit. I'm thinking I'll keep
going up every now and then with an instructor along; it's not the
same as solo (I actually enjoyed flying alone), but it's a safe and
legal way to get into the air.

So something is making you panic on the ground or in the air and you'd rather
stop flying entirely than risk having that unpleasant experience again?

Panic attacks aren't necessarily triggered by anything (though they
can be). The first time this happened I thought I was having a heart
attack. It's taken a while for them to exclude other possiblities.
Are you suggesting that after having lost consciousness 3 times in the
last few months I should climb into a plane at this point?

Of course, I know this reply is falling on deaf ears anyways. I've
been around these groups for years and know very well your trollish
nature.

Mike

In article .com,
Mike Gaskins wrote:

Of course, I know this reply is falling on deaf ears anyways. I've
been around these groups for years and know very well your trollish
nature.

Then why bother responding to it?

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

On Aug 25, 1:08 pm, Phil wrote:
On Aug 24, 3:38 pm, Mike Gaskins wrote:



Just figured I'd post here as I lurked and posted in the
rec.aviation.student groups a lot during training. Mostly looking to
vent some as I have no pilot-friends aside from my former
instructor.

Over the last few months I've unexpectedly lost consciousness 3 times
on two occasions (second time I went out again a few minutes later).
I've also had several episodes of not feeling "right" - dizzyness,
inability to focus, feeling disconnected, etc. I haven't been flying
at all during this time as I was afraid of anything happening in the
air, and now, though I haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, all
signs are pointing to me having panic disorder. I've no doubt that I
will/would fail my next medical; I don't even trust myself in the air
at the moment and have voluntarily grounded myself. Kinda
disappointing as I've always been so interested in flying and having
only started training about 2 and a half years ago (and having had my
PPL for less than a year); it's not fun to have to hang it up so
early.

Oh well. Just needed somewhere to rant a bit. I'm thinking I'll keep
going up every now and then with an instructor along; it's not the
same as solo (I actually enjoyed flying alone), but it's a safe and
legal way to get into the air.

Mike

Mike, you are discouraged and that is only natural. But it's way too
early in this process to give up. Get yourself to a specialist and
get a real diagnosis. Then you will know what you are dealing with,
and what you can do about it. It may be that it can be effectively
treated.

If you want an example of someone overcoming the odds to return to
flying, there is a book by Susan Edsall called Into The Blue. It's
about her father, who returned to flying after suffering a serious
stroke.

Hang in there, Mike. Don't give up on your dream.

Phil

Thanks. I'll see about visiting a specialist. I've seen several
doctors all-ready but all were general practitioners so far. I do
know that it's not heart related (they've done a lot of testing there
- which did relieve my mind quite a bit as the first time I thought it
may have been a heart attack). I also know that it's not diabetes.
Panic disorder has been suggested but not confirmed as of yet. If I
can get back into the air safely I'd be extremely happy. I was kinda
revved up about looking into buying an older model taildragger and
having some fun in it, and this has just put a real damper on things.

MIke

"Mike Gaskins" wrote

Thanks. I'll see about visiting a specialist. I've seen several
doctors all-ready but all were general practitioners so far. I do
know that it's not heart related (they've done a lot of testing there
- which did relieve my mind quite a bit as the first time I thought it
may have been a heart attack). I also know that it's not diabetes.
Panic disorder has been suggested but not confirmed as of yet. If I
can get back into the air safely I'd be extremely happy. I was kinda
revved up about looking into buying an older model taildragger and
having some fun in it, and this has just put a real damper on things.

If you can get it figured out, and can be assured that it won't happen
again, at least there are sport planes in your future. It sounds like what
you want to do would go well with that.

Good luck with your "detective work."
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in message
...
If you can get it figured out, and can be assured that it won't happen again,
at least there are sport planes in your future.

Don't forget soaring!

Vaughn