Surgery and CASA

[airaholic]

I am looking at getting some minor surgery done in me guts and was worried how badley CASA is going to shaft me. Can anyone pass on there experiences with Casa and surgery.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Had cardio-thoraccic surgery when I was 30- DAME manual recommended 12 weeks off post-op. I had my Class 1 exactly 12 weeks later and was back in action 2 weeks after that.

Get your DAME and specialists all lined up to keep it to a minimum, then hope nothing goes wrong. :ok:

[Howard Hughes]

Six months for me as recommended by DAME handbook, as with Horatio had everything ready to go and got it on the day!

PS: I have found the medical branch at CASA the most helpful Government department I have ever dealt with, keep up the good work!:ok:

[CFPlnr]

[QUOTE]I am looking at getting some minor surgery done in me guts and was worried how badley CASA is going to shaft me. Can anyone pass on there experiences with Casa and surgery./QUOTE]

Well, if you get CASA to do it you're in big trouble..!!
What colour flowers do you like.....:)

[outnabout]

A workmate had laser surgery and was off for just under 3 months. From what I saw, get the specialist & DAME appointments/check-ups all lined up first. I learned it was easier to cancel an appointment you don't need, than sit & wait for a month for the next available appt.

[Seabreeze]

After your Op your DAME may need to get a letter from your surgeon and/or other specialists detailing what was fixed. Provided this doesn't alter your risks of passing out etc and you pass all the components of the medical, your class 1 renewal should be fine.

Just for personal well being, try to improve your fitness before, and get into walking etc as soon as you can after. Pm me if you want more details; I had major fuselage repairs in the lower back.

good luck

SB

[navajoe]

Having arguement with CASA at the moment over a small kidney stone
(1 mm) , doc says its ok and almost too small to get and will probably pass, CASA says no and will only issue restricted medical. As I fly single pilot this is totally useless and I am effectively grounded and in limbo.
What means do I have to have this reconsidered.:{

[PA39]

Have the bloody thing removed or "shattered" mate. Go see your doc and book in. You could take 1/2 teaspoonful of bi carb soda every morning which does dissolve them over time....which you probably haven't got. If it grows (which it will) and obstruct your ureter your in big trouble. :ok:

[Aussie Bob]

When does your current medical expire?

If you have some months to go why tell CASA in the first place?

In my humble opinion a medical is to say you ain't going to cark it at the controlls, is this you? It is also my opinion that if you tell CASA then they will revoke your medical instantly and the onus will then be on you to show you are fit to get it back.

[navajoe]

Bob.......I had one removed recently, the doc either couldn't see this one or missed it. I didn't know I had the other one, I went for my medical and had a haematuria which had to be checked out and after all the tests bingo, a 2.5 mm stone. This of course gets back to CASA after which your a marked man and have to prove your ok or no medical. I have an appointment aaaaggggaaaiiinn with the doc in a week to see what can be done.:ugh:

[PA39]

Navajoe: stones caused by calcification usually can only be detected by an MRI.....ultrasound will not pick them up. Easy to overlook in most circumstances.

[Cactusjack]

What is CASA's view on prolapsed sphincter's and gender reasignment ?

[Horatio Leafblower]

What is CASA's view on prolapsed sphincter's and gender reasignment ?

I think it becomes mandatory for all GA Chief Pilots from June 2012.

[Pseudonymn]

Leafy, thats gold mate. Made me laugh out loud (but quietly... can't wake up 'is nibs, he's on earlies tomorrow) :D

[The Green Goblin]

Golden rule?

Dont tell CASA ****, unless you are dying or not fit to fly. If you need some form of elective surgery, take annual leave and get it done.

I got shafted for self reporting a flu that lasted longer than 7 days.

Never again!

If CASA were reasonable and had common sense, no problem. Get tied up in their process and you will be on leave without pay fighting the medical testing and public servant process without any income.

Now I have the MBF for just such an occasion.

[Aussie Bob]

OK let's learn from Goblin, anyone who self reports anything to CASA deserves what they get.

Ditto for self reporting to a DAME

[Baritji]

Hi guys,

In my experience, most DAMES are pretty good. CASA medical department are excellent to work with. They actually care. I have heard of a few pilots who have been screwed, but they really helped me out.

I had my left arm severed and reattached. It took 3 years to heal, I only got about 60% use back.

It wasn't easy, but I got my medical eventually. Many letters written, meetings with lawyers. gps, surgeons and occupational therapists.

I now fly a falcon for a living... Not to bad considering that two years ago, I was a groundie for a Darwin GA company, earning about 20k a year.

Sounds like you will be fine. Just dont ever give up.

[Aussie Bob]

Good story Baritji and cause for reflection .... BUT the fact remains

Report anything to CASA aviation medicos and you will be grounded while they think about it and get reports and tests. Good guys or not, this is what they will do.

[The Green Goblin]

Obviously you can't really hide a severed arm from them.

I'm glad you got your medical back though mate.

Did they place that silly two crew restriction on you?

[Old Akro]

Agree with Green Goblin. Keep your medical advice and what you tell CASA completely separate. CASA may or may not react sensibly, but if they don't your life will be a living nightmare. Stan Tilley had a very good article about his experiences in the AOPA magazine some years ago. He essentially lost his medical for a year due to CASA mis-diagnosing dyhdration & heat stroke as a neurological condition. Once they are set on an idea a gaggle of disagreeing medical experts will not shift them. I had the misfortune to be the first Australian pilot on a particular drug. In the US it is specifically listed in the FAA medical manual as safe and not requiring FAA notification. It is a safe drug with no documented side effects, but CASA required a string of medical specialist opinions and recurring medical checks. Even an opinion from the Mayo clinic made not the slightest difference to them.

[fatmike]

airholic,
No one has actually addressed your problem. The way I see it you have 3 choices.
1. Appeal the CASA decision to place a restriction on your medical to the AAT: time consuming and maybe at some financial cost and may not be successful.
2. Find a new job or conduct your aviation in compliance with your medical certificate
3. Have the kidney stone problem by your doctor at your insistence. After all you doctor works for you.

[Capt Fathom]

Having things done while on leave and not telling CASA/DAME is all well and good. But if you get found out, you're stuffed.

Take note of this question, asked on each Medical Renewal... have you had any procedures since your last medical.

You're skating on thin ice if you lie on an official document.

Over 35 years or so, I've had GPs, DAMEs, and GPs that are DAMEs. It's never been a problem. In fact, I think it can be beneficial!

I've had several issues with medical renewals. It all gets sorted each time. I have many friends who have Medicals that are renewable by CASA ONLY. It never seems to be a problem!

You guys need to relax and forget about the boogey man!