migraine medication and soaring

[ Gee, doesn't anybody in here quote or attribute quotes or both? Funny
and difficult way of keeping a usenet discussion going... ]

On 7 May 2005 07:10:02 -0700, chipsoars
wrote:

I'd talk to your doctor about warnings (like don't operate machinery)
and see how you tolerate the medication.


I intend to do that of course.

I've used Imitrex for example, and still felt odd a day later. We are
talking about drugs affecting a neurotransmitter pathway; serotonin.


My doctor therefore advised me a drug that is originally intended for
heart problems (Dutch: beta blokker). And in anyway, there are days I
can't fly without any drugs also :-)

Bottom line, get an expert
opinion and be conservative. It is better to miss a day's flying than
end up injured or worse.


Oh, but I agree with that, of course. I think that when one is not fully
healthy one knows better how to be conservative, than anyone else. Just
thought I might get some experts opinion in here too, because experience
makes excellent experts IMO.


--
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`-------------------------------------------------- ----@ ------------'

Barbara,

some of these threads get to long to not cut out the proceeding
threads. I used beta blockers for a time with no effect. Around RAS,
you will find lot's of opinions, sometimes based on fact.

You might hunt around on FAA.gov or the EU equivalent for medications.
In the US, a medical is required for power ratings and I do know some
medications are disqualifying. I would expect that with the
international harmonization programs, most medical issues will be
handled similarly.

With gliders,no medical exam is required- it is supposedly an honor
system; if you have a health issue, you should not fly.

On 7 May 2005 08:42:42 -0700, chipsoars
wrote:

some of these threads get to long to not cut out the proceeding
threads.

I'm not saying to keep all of the thread. Just what you reply to. You snip
the rest. That is custom in large parts of usenet. Isn't it in here too?
This way:
1. people entering a thread here actually know what the post is about;
2. if archived this message serves a purpose beyond our discussion of this
one moment.

I used beta blockers for a time with no effect. Around RAS,

What is RAS?

you will find lot's of opinions, sometimes based on fact.


You might hunt around on FAA.gov or the EU equivalent for medications.

Tried the Dutch association. No luck. Tried FAA, but am not a member, so
no access.

In the US, a medical is required for power ratings and I do know some
medications are disqualifying. I would expect that with the
international harmonization programs, most medical issues will be
handled similarly.


In the EU a medical is needed for soaring as well. The check is not as
thourough and strict as the one for power ratings, but it is a medical all
the same.
I could always ignore the new knowledge and live on happely ever after.
Lived with migrain, withou knowing that, for about thirty years or more
now. Just thought, if it is possible to fight off the pain _and_ keep on
flying, well, I would give it a try.

With gliders,no medical exam is required- it is supposedly an honor
system; if you have a health issue, you should not fly.


Well, I suppose this is always true, no matter what rating or system.

--
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| weblog | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/_private/weblog.html |
| webontwerp | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/webontwerp.html |
|zweefvliegen | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/vliegen.html |
`-------------------------------------------------- ----@ ------------'

Barbara,

I don't do usenet other than this group so if there are protocols, I'll
have to plead ignorance.

FAA.gov doesn't require a membership. It is the US Federal Government
and anyone can access the site.

Chip

Barbara,
RAS = rec.aviation.soaring (i.e. this newsgroup)

:-)

"Barbara de Zoete" wrote in message
newspsqe75icwx5vgts@zoete_b...
On 7 May 2005 08:42:42 -0700, chipsoars
wrote:

some of these threads get to long to not cut out the proceeding
threads.

I'm not saying to keep all of the thread. Just what you reply to. You snip
the rest. That is custom in large parts of usenet. Isn't it in here too?
This way:
1. people entering a thread here actually know what the post is about;
2. if archived this message serves a purpose beyond our discussion of this
one moment.

I used beta blockers for a time with no effect. Around RAS,

What is RAS?

you will find lot's of opinions, sometimes based on fact.


You might hunt around on FAA.gov or the EU equivalent for medications.

Tried the Dutch association. No luck. Tried FAA, but am not a member, so
no access.

In the US, a medical is required for power ratings and I do know some
medications are disqualifying. I would expect that with the
international harmonization programs, most medical issues will be
handled similarly.


In the EU a medical is needed for soaring as well. The check is not as
thourough and strict as the one for power ratings, but it is a medical all
the same.
I could always ignore the new knowledge and live on happely ever after.
Lived with migrain, withou knowing that, for about thirty years or more
now. Just thought, if it is possible to fight off the pain _and_ keep on
flying, well, I would give it a try.

With gliders,no medical exam is required- it is supposedly an honor
system; if you have a health issue, you should not fly.


Well, I suppose this is always true, no matter what rating or system.

--
,-- ----@ -- PretLetters: 'woest wyf', met vele interesses: ----------.
| weblog | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/_private/weblog.html |
| webontwerp | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/webontwerp.html |
|zweefvliegen | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/vliegen.html |
`-------------------------------------------------- ----@ ------------'

On Sat, 07 May 2005 22:21:58 GMT, Malcolm Austin
wrote:

Barbara,
RAS = rec.aviation.soaring (i.e. this newsgroup)

:-)


Should / could have thought of that... :-)
Thanks

--
,-- ----@ -- PretLetters: 'woest wyf', met vele interesses: ----------.
| weblog | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/_private/weblog.html |
| webontwerp | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/webontwerp.html |
|zweefvliegen | http://home.wanadoo.nl/b.de.zoete/html/vliegen.html |
`-------------------------------------------------- ----@ ------------'

All,

I'm an aerospace medicine physician who works full time with FAA medical
certification issues, for professional pilots (as well as flying gliders for
fun).

There was an excellent summary of treatment options earlier in this thread,
so I won't re-hash that.

Here's the FAA rules on this, were you applying for a medical. (Obviously we
don't need medicals in the US, but these are still good common sense
guidelines).

Prophylactic (preventive) meds, like betablockers (Inderal, tenormin), or
calcium channel blockers, or ACE inhibitors: Ok with the FAA if they work
for you, and you have no side effects which would prevent safe performance
of aircrew duties.

Abortants (like the triptans, including imitrex, maxalt, etc): No fly within
24 hours after last dose.

These rules apply to pain-only migraines which occur twice a month or less
freuently. If you get neurological symptoms, and particularly if you have
visual symptoms, the FAA usually requires a 6 month headache free interval
before clearing a pilot who requires a medical.

An earlier poster was correct, the VFS web site at www.aviationmedicine.com
is an excellent resource for these types of questions.

Hope this helps,
Bullwinkle

On 5/9/05 4:48 AM, in article opsqh8bly1x5vgts@zoete_b, "Barbara de Zoete"
wrote:

On Sat, 07 May 2005 22:21:58 GMT, Malcolm Austin
wrote:

Barbara,
RAS = rec.aviation.soaring (i.e. this newsgroup)

:-)


Should / could have thought of that... :-)
Thanks

You might look at this web site and contact them. I know several of them
are gliders pilots and instructors, as well as doctors.

http://www.aviationmedicine.com/

John Scott

chipsoars wrote:

Barbara,

some of these threads get to long to not cut out the proceeding
threads.

Hmmm, interesting phenomenon ...

CV