Stroke & Class 1 CAA

[SIBUK]

5 weeks and 4 days ago I had a stroke. I am only 28. It was caused by a blood clot but they dont know why it happened, hoping to find out this Friday. I had just driven from the UK to Slovenia a couple days before it happened and I had been paragliding in the alps. Personally, I think it was because I had been sat in a car for 3 days but who knows. They flew me home.

The problem is Ive been saving to become a Helicopter Pilot and was hoping to start my lessons soon, then this happens. :{ It was only very minor, I have lost no motor control or anything, but still im scared now of not being able to pass my medicals. I was going to wait until after Friday when I go to the stroked clinic before I said anything but I cant stand the suspnse and more. Does anyone have any experience or know anything about this?

As of this Saturday, they said I am fit to go. I.e. I can drive again, I can drink I can go paragliding I can go to the gym again etc. this Saturday. Whats the deal guys, I gotta know :(

[Flyin'Dutch']

You best bet is to ring the CAA Medical people in the Belgrano, they are very helpful and will tell you what they can and cannot pass.

Past experience from one of our patients is that they did not issue a medical to someone who had a TIA and made a full recovery. That was for a class 1.

Best of luck.

[SIBUK]

Went in today and spoke to the doctor. Didnt find out anything new; hes going to take a look at my scans and see what he thinks then he will get back to me with another appointment in 2 weeks.

I gotta say though I feel sick now. Sick with worry. This is gonna be a long 2 weeks. One glimmer of hope was that he said it could have been an inner ear infection because the symptoms are similar. Since I am 28 I hope this is the case.

[A2QFI]

So what happened when you went back 2 weeks later?

[SIBUK]

It has taken me almost 2 years, but today I received confimation; I HAVE PASSED MY CLASS 1 FAA MEDICAL!!! :ok::) it is time limited to 12 months but I really dont care :D For anyone who is reading this, you might find what I have to say of use to you in the future should you ever be diagnosed with a disqualifying condition.

I started off by doing lots of research on the internet about medicals and reading the AME handbooks for the CAA, FAA and TCCA and I came to realise that, even if you have been diagnosed with a disqualifying condition, if you can prove that you no longer have the condition and/or that you have had the condition treated satisfactoraly, or you can otherwise prove that the cause of the condition has been found and treated (so that it wont happen again), then you will get your medical!

So I went for MRI scans and after the results came back they found a tiny aneurysm in my right vertebral artery in my neck right at the exact point where I had reported having a sharp stinging pain during the time shortly before I had the stroke. It did not take long to realise that the pain in the neck was caused when I had taken a shunt from the side while go-karting 2 days earlier, which had damaged the wall of my right vertebral artery. The diagnosis was that after the artery was damaged, blood had forced its way in between the layers of the artery wall causing it to 'balloon' out restricting blood flow (which also explained why I had suddenly become extremely ill very shortly after the go-karting, and then became better again within 3 hours) and then a blood clot formed behind this blockage which broke free a couple days later as the swelling went down and so I had the stroke! And so the reason for the stroke was discovered, and I was discharged.

But before I was discharged I had explained to the neurologist about my aviation medical and that an aneurysm was a bad thing and so he booked me in for a '1 year later' MRI scan to see how things were doing, which I am glad I did!!! because they then found that no part of my brain was damaged, and by definition of a stroke there is always some damage to the brain even if its only a very tiny part. And so, my diagnosis was changed from stroke to a 'cerebrovascular event' caused by the pseudo-aneurysm. And this would never have happened if I had not explained about my aviation medical to the neurologists!!!

With this ammunition in hand, I went for my medical ( I decide to go for an FAA in the end because I want to do my training in America and spend some time outside of the UK :) ) and I took my medical and explained it all to my AME who deferred it to the FAA for their decission. The FAA wrote back and asked for copies of my scans and current status reports off my neurologist and allsorts of stuff like that, but after it all got sent they were satisfied and they allowed me to have my medical! :) So I have been very lucky (and I also know craploads about aviation medicals now), but determination has played a BIG part. So if there is one bit if advice I can give to anyone who has been disqualified from a medical, it is do not give up until there is nothing more that can be done. See specialists, have tests/scans, do whatever you can do find the cause and then see if it can be treated. But whatever you do, do not assume that 'this is it, I have failed and can never pass again' because as soon as you think that way, then you have failed forever for sure.

[F3]

Well done! It must be a great feeling.
Good luck with all the training. :)

[Overdrive]

What a great story, and a fantastic result. After a ride like that, it appears you are destined to be in aviation.


Best of luck :ok:

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Yes Congratulations on your recovery.:D

Life's one 'beach' and can throw anything at you.:ugh:

All The Very Best.:ok:

[Ancient Observer]

That's a great story. Thanks for posting it.

[Desk Jockey]

Very pleased for you, who would have thought it would be a good outcome like that. Good luck with the training.:ok:

[ariel]

Very well done, your persistance has paid off. May you find in aviation everything you are looking for

ariel