Letter from GP, useful or not?

[HomerJay]

At last the class one medical is booked for the 23rd of next month. As my asthma is well controlled and I’m not on any regular medication I got my GP to write up a letter to bring to the medical as evidence of this. I am not sure however if the letter will be of any help due to the content.

The two points I have doubts over revealing to the hospital are the reference made to chest infections and the peak flow of 600. The average peak flow for my age is about 650 which I am working at obtaining through improving fitness.

Can anyone advise whether this letter would actually be of help or if I would actually be better off not bringing it?

All feedback much appreciated.

Letter:

Dear Sir/Madam,

HomerJay has mild asthma. Never had severe episode or “Asthma attack”. Symptoms revert to occasional chest infection. Very occasional used of inhaler. Peak flow today >600.

Signed.

[gingernut]

Homer, I'm not an ame, but I think this has been covered before on this forum, and it would appear that the authorities would probably be more interested in how your condition affects you, whether or not your condition has disabled you, whether or not you've required hospitalisation. (All of which appear to be negative in your case.)

"Chest infection" doesn't really mean much medically, its a bit of a coverall used by some clinicians, to describe anything from a mild cold, to lobar pneumonia.

Sounds like your peak flows fine, remember the reference is an average- 50% will fall below this and 50% above. 50l/min below doesn't ring any alarm bells, and would be considered within the range of normal I expect.

Perhaps if it was 500 below, they may take a bit of notice.

good luck

[HomerJay]

Thanks Gingernut,

I was just a bit sceptical about bringing up the subject of chest infections in the medical as the asthma just doesn’t seem that “well controlled” when I have to go visit my GP with infection. But I see your point

[Professor Plum]

It might be worth phoning the CAA medical branch and asking them about the issue, and what sort of information they may require.

As for peak flow, have a look at www.peakflow.com

That website will tell you what you "normal" peak flow should be, and it also tells you what deviation from it is considered "normal". Up to 100, if I remember correctly.

I not an AME, neither am I asthmatic, so I cant help you with anymore of your enquiries. A search should bring up plenty of info on the subject.

A further point of note, as part of the class 1, you are requred to undergo spirometry testing (blowing into a long tube attached to a machine), as well as peak flow. As you are asthmatic, you've probably done that with your GP/specialist at some stage, so may be able to get previous results, which, if "normal" or at least satifactory, could help.

Good luck!

[HomerJay]

Thanks Prof Plum!

I did do that spirometry test alright and I also have a letter from the hospital where I did the test. Their comment was my lung functions were "supra normal" so was just thinking of bringing this letter.

Contacting the CAA so far has been difficult enough as they can only give certain information out by post which will take a few weeks. But I have found out nearly everything from this forum alone!

[Flyin'Dutch']

Never been particularly clever at geography but is Dublin not part of Ireland aand therefore the remit of the IAA rather than CAA?

You can bring any letter you like to your medical. Fact is that unless it contains all the stuff that they are going to be interested in further correspondence may be required.

I am not a CAA/IAA AME but suspect that like the FAA they would like to know, diagnoses, treatment, hospitalisation, exacerbations, current condition.

FD

[HomerJay]

Yes Dublin is part of Ireland but I hold a CAA license as I got my PPL in OBA. I tried questioning the IAA also but the told me to contact the CAA.

[Flyin'Dutch']

If you already hold a class 2 would they not already know about your asthma?

[HomerJay]

I ticked the box alright on the form. As the examiner looked at it he walked up and asked me about my condition. I told him truthfully and his words were "ah well I wouldn’t put it on the form so"

At the time I didn’t think of questioning him.

[HomerJay]

Aftab what was your peak flow result?

From everything I have heard about asthma and medicals it sounds like you should be ok with what you have said above. With your asthma being well controlled etc.

Did you check what your GP was submitting first?

[Flyin'Dutch']

what do i do???

aftab

Learn to use capitals and proper spelling!

:}

Take the CAA's request for further information to your doctor and kindly ask him/her (rather than i told my GP to submit some reports) to generate a report that answers the questions.

Ask how much that will cost and pay with a smile.

Providing that your asthma is as you say it on here I suspect there will be little problem in getting your medical.

Good luck.

[HomerJay]

Just to update I passed the medical. I think the letter above was a big help so that answers this thread!

I made a bit of a mess however with the forms. I was under the impression that with a CAA PPL I needed the IAA to forward the cert to the CAA to transfer the medical so I instructed them to do this on the form.

I understand this will not affect me being able to do commercial training in Ireland as I will still hold a IAA class 1 but does anyone know if this will cause any other complications?

Thanks,
HJ

[Flyin'Dutch']

firstly, thanks to homer Jay for your reply. my peak flows are good and above average. However i do not have exact values. The thing is the CAA are taking a very very long time in doing what they have to do. I sent reports back in july. further help needed!!!!!

Dear Flying dutch.. thankyou for your irrelevent comments, however they are not wanted nor are they appeciated.. its good to know that theres some sad person out there in the big wide world reading this forum looking and checking for spelling and grammer mistakes.. thats really going to get you far in life.
:mad:

Off course, silly and sad me.

:rolleyes:

The thing is the CAA are taking a very very long time in doing what they have to do. I sent reports back in july. further help needed!!!!!

Maybe they could not understand what you'd written.

:}

[flightychick]

:D :) at Flyin'Dutch'!! You probably have a point....