Class One Medical And Migraine

[ATCO Wannabe]

Anyone had any experience with "past history" of migraine and initial issue class 1 UK medicals?

THe CAA seem detirmened to stop me getting a medical based on a ten year rule or something (now got 5 years left) , does anyone know any way around this or anything that I can do to presuade them I am fit and well.

Is it worth seeing a nurologist or having a MRI scan, would that tell me if I am likely to ahve another attack?

I do kno what triggers the migraine as well, and that is why I no longer have attacks.

Any information wuld be very appreciated




Thanks

:eek: :rolleyes:

[JP788us]

What is the 10-year rule?

There must be some way around it, a lot of people suffer migraines while going through adolescence’s and never get a recurrence of the condition.

Is there a clear-cut test? Or only medical records.

[Easy226]

I had two migraines on two consecutive days about 1 1/2 years ago. I have never had one since ( now, im 17) - went for a class two medical a couple of months back and explained to him i'd had them and he said that i was ok as i dont always get them. Reading recent posts on this subject, i'm now getting a bit worried?!!

[Norman Rochester]

A tricky problem.

My first piece of advice is no good to you, as that would be to not admit to migraine in the first place, particularly if you believe you have it under control. I had the 'third degree' from the RAF in the seventies when I admitted to pre-teenage headaches at interview. However, they let me in and I was free from migraine symptoms until my early forties.

As I now have a class one medical and migraine symptoms, I do have some information to share.

The first bit is not too helpful. My AME has shown me the CAA guidance, which suggests that, as you are finding, initial issue is problematic. However, if you are diagnosed after initial issue it is possible to keep the class one (I am, nevetheless, taking my own advice from para 1). So the fact that a class one can be kept should give you some cause for optimism.

If you go down the route of testing, the prices I was charged are as follows:
MRI scan - £560
comprehensive Neurological tests (hearing & balance) - £610
Consultation with top vestibular expert - £150

The CAA are much more pragmatic than they used to be, and I understand that their top doc is an ENT chap, so perseverence may pay off. Nevertheless, I'm still following para 1 and saying nothing. Good luck!

[JP788us]

Norman

Thank you for your post, it is spreading light on what is a relatively grey area in air-crew medicals. Great to hear from somebody who has been through the system and come out the other end.

Where does one go to get these tests done?

JP

[Norman Rochester]

Jp

Be careful how you interpret my post, I have not so much 'been through the system' as sidestepped it!

As to the tests, my problem is with vertigo/nausia rather than headaches, and I was refered by my GP to an ENT consultant. The company medical insurance paid for the tests. After the MRI, blood tests, hearing & balance tests, etc proved inconclusive I was further refered to a 'top banana' in London. After further tests and family history, the 'top banana' gave a most likely diagnosis of migraine. Treatment (beta blockers) is an option, but I don't want to go down that road for what is only a very occasional problem.

You mentioned that you know what caused your migraine. Can you tell us what? I've experimented with overdosing on red wine. port, cheese, chocolate, etc in varying combinations (all in the cause of medical science!), but have never provoked an attack.

regards,
Norm (an alias, as I'm sure you've gathered)

[Easy226]

I ve only ever had two migraines in my whole life and i know that it was definatly not by excessive movements as i have done everything since then and i havent been affected The only thing i think could have brought it on was the lack of wearing glasses. I never used to wear them , but now i wear contacts sio i think this could be the only possibility. I might speak to my doctorabout it. Any Comments??

[Easy226]

Thats what my doctor thought it could have been as it was a couple of months before my GCSE's. She didnt know i was short sighted, but my opticionisit said that this could have been the cause.
What i am worried about is passing the Class 1 medical as the migraine could be on my doctors notes (im not sure though).
Thanks For The Replies

[gingernut]

"Migraine" is a very lose term banded about by medical people. Are you sure you suffered a migraine? How was it diagnosed ? (Its is usually diagnosed on history alone). How was your headache any different than others ?

It might be useful to see the post on subject May/June

[takenthe5thamendment]

Hi,
Not being one of you pilot chappies.............i'm a girl anyway and not a chappie, I dont know anything about the medicals.

However, I am medically trained and a migraine sufferer.
I dont know what causes mine either, other than stress or lack of sleep.
Eye strain can also trigger an attack.

No-one can say that you are likely to or unlikely to get one again no matter what tests you have...........dont waste your money on that score.

Beta Blockers can be used prophylactically................eg, Propanalol, would they be allowed to be taken.

I take Sumatriptan tablets at the onset of an attack, they are only available on prescription, but they work, very quickly and prevent a full blown attack.

Try this website for info -

http://www.migrainehelp.com/

Hope this helps.
J

--------------------------------------------------------------
'dont worry that the world will end today - it's tomorrow already in australia'

[TikkiRo]

I don't suffer from headaches to any degree nor indeed migraines but recently was told by a CAA doctor in relation to a friend who was undergoing a Class 2 medical that she wouldn't be likely to be passed as she had a full blown migraine the day of her med exam.

I actually have a rheumatic disorder that cites migraines as a possible symptom - in our case it can be related to tightened/spasmed 'trigger points' - muscle knots that can crop up in the neck with some people - these can then provoke responses within the circulatory system in the scalp arteries which can further evolve into migraines if not treated. The quickest way of preventing these and to my knowledge the med is okay for a medical is to take ibuprofen - perhaps someone else can clarify on whether this is indeed an acceptable med?

TR

[Circuit Basher]

I'm not a regular reader of this Forum (usually on Private Flying), but came for info on Migraines, which has been an issue with me for the last year.

For my CAA Class 3 Medical in 95, I was honest and declared a childhood history of migraines (reduced by chocolate avoidance!), but some ongoing pre-migraine aura incidents 1-2 times a month (primarily caused by tiredness/ stress/ ironing striped shirts(!)/ flickering fluoresecent lights). These are cured by taking paracetamol at the onset and I have not had a full blown migraine since around 1973. They said they'd refer me to a Neurologist, but nothing ever came of it and I retained my Class 3. About a year after my last renewal of my JAR Class 2, they sudddenly wrote out of the blue and said that seeing as I now had a PPL and 170hrs, they wouldn't take any further action!

In Apr 01, I also started attending an Air Cadet Gliding School, with a view to becoming an Instructor. At my Initial medical in Jul 01, the 'M' word was mentioned and I was refused a medical. I have since been through the appeals process and have been told that I am 'Unfit Solo' on gliders unless a consultant neurologist will declare me clear of migraines.

I visited a neurologist last week (there is one who specialises in General Aviation issues in Edinburgh) to see whether my self-diagnosis of migraines was wrong. He has unfortunately confirmed that I am a migraine sufferer and charged me £240 for the privilege!! I believe that is as far as I can go - he advises me that this will preclude an RAF Medical category for solo, also a CAA Class 1. :( :(

I could not possibly encourage anyone to lie on a medical form, but think carefully what you write on them as once the cat is out of the bag, you'll never manage to put it back in!!;)

[P.O.M]

I have suffered from headaches for years which I suspected to be migrains.
When I've gone for my medical I have mentioned them but the MD's have said unless I have had them specificaly diagnosed as migraines they are just bad headaches.

People have a tendancy as to use the word migrain to describe a bad headache, when it's not a migrain and this can get people in trouble inadvertantly.

Last week I finaly went to my GP who has now diagnosed them as migrains. They are where the blood vessels in your neck start to contract (this is where you can start to feel one come on)restricting blood flow to the brain. Then after about 20-30mins the vessels start to expand again, blood returns with a rush thus causing the pain in the neck and behind the eyes.
You may notice that if you exert yourself with a migrain you will get the thobbing and pounding in the front and around the eyes, this is again because of the blood rush from exerting yourself. So never have nooky with a migrain....;)

I will now have to check with my aviation medico aout the medication I have been given.

The above is what my GP described to me to help me understand how and why. Some people have triggers, chocky and coffee are a couple, my GP gets them if he drinks beer (no, not as a hangover:p ) so the poor sod con only drink imported stuff....

Cheers,
P.O.M :D