Eating before Class 1

[Shiver me timbers!]

I'm flying MAN - LGW next week for my class 1 medical. Word on the street is that BA serves a nice juicy English breakfast.

If they do, shall I eat it or stick to something more healthy?

I fly @ 10.30am - medical @ 1.45pm.

Cheers.

[Fishstick]

I'd go for that juicy breakfast!
Eating healthy/unhealthy once won't make a difference anyhow. Health is all about consistency pretty much.
Not like you'd go from overweight to skinny after biking once for example (bad one I know, haha, but still!)

[Shiver me timbers!]

Anyone else have an opinion?

I'm thinking from a blood test point of view. It can't be good having all that grease in my body hours before hand?

:confused:

[gingernut]

When I went for my class 2, I had a fingerprick test for haemoglobin. Your diet "on the morning" shouldn't make any difference to this result.

I believe that some pilots have their lipid profile tested, (I'm not sure of the scientific reason behind this), the results would be altered if you fasted, but I guess the CAA should take this into account when interpreting the results.

I guess the medical is all about not dying suddenly whilst flying a plane, not much in the medical would predict this.

[adam_753]

A lipids profile will be affected by consuming a greasy meal so if you have a questionable cholesterol level then you would be better to fast. In real terms a lipid profile is only valid if you fast for 8-12 hours. However generally a cholesterol result will be consistent regardless. My warning is if you have a high cholesterol avoid eating before the test.

A finger prick Haemoglobin will not be affected AT ALL by eating a meal. Hb will only change suddenly if you have acute blood loss (unlikely!)

[russellmounce]

When I went for my class one in Feb, I ate a McDonalds on the train on the way down, and then a whole pack of cookies throughout the day in the waiting room.

It didnt seem to affect the results.

[adam_753]

It would have increased your lipids (trigs) but not to a point where it raises alarm bells. If however you already have high cholesterol then eating mcdonalds could put poeple over the edge...........play it safe

[gingernut]

It would be interesting to know how, and what tool, the CAA use to interpret the results, and what they actually do with them.

Reasons why we measure cholesterol/lipids: in order of importance

1) To predict risk of future disease-a non fasting test result in isolation of other factors is a bit like trying to predict the weather on may bank holiday, by looking a todays wind speed. Even when other factors are taken into consideration, the process is haphazard.

2) To make GP's look as if there doing something worthwhile and measurable-personally, I'd rather have a doc that looked at me rather than his computer

3) So nurses like me get to look clever-we get to use big words. And understand them.

4) So labs get to use their fancy machines-

5) To monitor patients on lipid lowering therapy- (anyone care to answer why?)



'Spose I'd like to add, To stop patients dying of heart disease and strokes but I don't know where to put it in the list, perhaps others could advise.:ooh:

[russellmounce]

Does anyone else think it's wierd that the waiting room coffee machine charged at certain times of the day, and was free at others?

[march1981]

It's like everything the CAA do, it's to test your patience!

[411A]

JAR vs FAA class one medicals.
My AME does both here in the USA, and reports that about the same percentage fail both, and of those that pass, the same general percentage goes on to have problems later on.
So, does he think the JAA medical is somehow better?
No.
However, he likes doing them simply because they are more profitable.
Surprise, surprise.:}

[PompeyPaul]

I have high cholesterol and my doctor is talking about putting me on a statan(sp?) in order to lower it. I'm 35.

Will I fail the Class 1 medical ?

Yes, I know it's hard to know without doing the test. I was just wondering if it has to be very high to fail, or just moderately high.

Obviously I'd be happy to fast for 48 hours before hand to get through.

[niknak]

Plenty of Class one medical holders take Statins.
Sometimes it;s to actually control cholesterol levels, on other occassions, it's simply a recommended practise (e.g for type 2 diabetics). Either way, as long as the AME knows the reason why and the dosage, you'll have no problem.

Going back to the original question, anyone who has higher than normal cholesterol levels or is prone to higher than normal sugar levels in their blood should be very wary of consuming "fat boys devil food" before having a blood test for the class one. It doesn't matter if its the full English or lots of fruit, theyre both as bad for you with regard to the blood test, bananas are completely out of the question! (very high in sugar).
Try and stick to a sensible diet for a few days before and on the day, a bowl of porridge made with water should see you through, (then go for a fat boys fry up afterwards!).