Inflammatory Bowel Disease and class 1

[Frederick Arran]

Hello all, I am a UK Class 1 holder (medium jet captain UK based) and I was recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unclassified.

Needless to say my class 1 was suspended several months ago and after a successful course of steroids I started to feel unwell again a few days later. I am nowhere near as ill as I was at first but they are now suggesting I go onto Azithiaprene which has some nasty side effects and takes months to work to maintain remission as mesalazine doesn't seem to work for me.

So obviously the first order of business is to get well again but getting into "stable remission on a maintenance dose" is proving tricky and everything takes so long you wonder if you will have a job to go back to if you do get well again!:(

Any UK class 1 holders (particularly in the airlines) have any experiences of IBD, azithiaprene and getting a class 1 back with IBD?

[Frederick Arran]

Thanks for that and the link.

Sadly being an airline pilot and thick as two short planks I didn't understand a word of it!

[TheWrongTrousers]

Frederick,

I used to have aggressive Crohns/Colitis, and used to take Azathioprine and almost every other med for it in days gone by. The CAA were very good about it, and after a 6 weeks of taking it, with steady blood results (organised by the GP weekly) I was allowed back to work - Class 1 unrestricted. Eventually I was 'bagged' and haven't looked back (the real advantage being no drugs anymore!).

However, just be aware that with IBD, (Crohns especially) your blood tends to be naturally thicker and can lead to clotting issues ie. DVT. Guess how I found out? :ok: Make sure you drink plenty, as dehydration is the biggest factor.

Talk it through with your AME as he/she will have to negotiate with the feds to see what they want. Generally if the AME is happy, they will be.

I never had any side effects with Azathioprine. But then again I never read the warning leaflets, as i'd just slit my wrists there and then to save the worry :E especially considering how big the leaflets sometimes are.

Also, please bear in mind that Winnerhofers quoted research is now some 10 years old, (not saying its wrong, just very dated considering how fast medicine moves) so I would take the time to explain the situation to your gastroenterologist/specialist and formulate an aviation friendly solution. Mine was excellent. If you are worried you can always print Winnerhofer gubbins off and take it with you for them to look at? Also playing Devils advocate, why are they going to prescribe you something that makes you worse? Just wastes everyones time and costs more money to the NHS.

Best of luck, and PM me if you have any more questions that you think I might be able to answer. Remember to keep smiling as you are on the mend now :ok:

[TheWrongTrousers]

Winnerhofen,

You are entitled to your view, however I find it a little upsetting (and insulting) as I am adopted, with no hope of finding my biological family. On the basis of your statement, I will never be well :ugh::ugh: with the inability to trace 7 generations :=

I admire your thoughts that its all psychological :sad:

What medical training do you have out of interest?

[gingernut]

This thread could be of interest.... http://www.pprune.org/medical-health/565581-class-2-ulcerative-colitis.html

[Frederick Arran]

Frederick,

I used to have aggressive Crohns/Colitis, and used to take Azathioprine and almost every other med for it in days gone by. The CAA were very good about it, and after a 6 weeks of taking it, with steady blood results (organised by the GP weekly) I was allowed back to work - Class 1 unrestricted. Eventually I was 'bagged' and haven't looked back (the real advantage being no drugs anymore!).

However, just be aware that with IBD, (Crohns especially) your blood tends to be naturally thicker and can lead to clotting issues ie. DVT. Guess how I found out? :ok: Make sure you drink plenty, as dehydration is the biggest factor.

Talk it through with your AME as he/she will have to negotiate with the feds to see what they want. Generally if the AME is happy, they will be.

I never had any side effects with Azathioprine. But then again I never read the warning leaflets, as i'd just slit my wrists there and then to save the worry :E especially considering how big the leaflets sometimes are.

Also, please bear in mind that Winnerhofers quoted research is now some 10 years old, (not saying its wrong, just very dated considering how fast medicine moves) so I would take the time to explain the situation to your gastroenterologist/specialist and formulate an aviation friendly solution. Mine was excellent. If you are worried you can always print Winnerhofer gubbins off and take it with you for them to look at? Also playing Devils advocate, why are they going to prescribe you something that makes you worse? Just wastes everyones time and costs more money to the NHS.

Best of luck, and PM me if you have any more questions that you think I might be able to answer. Remember to keep smiling as you are on the mend now :ok:Thanks a lot, good solid advice.

This thread could be of interest.... http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...e-colitis.html (http://www.pprune.org/medical-health/565581-class-2-ulcerative-colitis.html)and thanks again.

I am back on the roids again and in under a week I feel miles better again. From reading online I don't think I have been anywhere near as bad as some poor sufferers. It seems the steroids do a sterling job with me it's just maintaining that remission afterwards so for now I will have to go with Azathiaprene and a careful diet and see how it goes.

What a mad disease, no known cause or cure but certainly, if I think back over the past few years there was definitely a lot of symptoms that I ignored or put down to stress or work etc. Now it all makes sense!

[Frederick Arran]

TheWrongTrousers

Sorry I can't seem to work out how to private mail (no option on my screen) but I have a question on your treatment. Did you ever have the dreaded steroids (Prednisolone)? The oral (systemic) version of them seems to be the big no no with the CAA and I wonder what your experience was if any with them and how the CAA responded?

I know I feel pretty grotty on the roids and Azathiaprene together but it feels like the disease itself has gone into remission again but the it's the medication that makes you feel bloody awful instead!

Cheers, feel free to PM me if you prefer.