History of Epilepsy
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History of Epilepsy
Hello,
I'm an aspiring pilot from India and I'm 21 years old. I have an history of epilepsy. I had it when I was about five and I have never had any seizures after the age of seven. I stopped taking medicines about 7 years ago and doctors have declared me a complete healthy and normal person. WIll my history of epilepsy cause any problems for an FAA or an Indian Medical?
kris
I'm an aspiring pilot from India and I'm 21 years old. I have an history of epilepsy. I had it when I was about five and I have never had any seizures after the age of seven. I stopped taking medicines about 7 years ago and doctors have declared me a complete healthy and normal person. WIll my history of epilepsy cause any problems for an FAA or an Indian Medical?
kris
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Kris,
I have absolutely no experience of dealing with the Indian authorities but in my experience of the FAA the problem you will have is that due to there amazing liability industry, they will not accept the opinions of others.
So whilst it maybe that in the long term you could qualify for a medical you will only find out if you apply through an FAA medical examiner and then go through the steps they require. The fact that in the meantime your own Authority might be quite happy to give you a medical doesn't generally carry that much influence.
I have absolutely no experience of dealing with the Indian authorities but in my experience of the FAA the problem you will have is that due to there amazing liability industry, they will not accept the opinions of others.
So whilst it maybe that in the long term you could qualify for a medical you will only find out if you apply through an FAA medical examiner and then go through the steps they require. The fact that in the meantime your own Authority might be quite happy to give you a medical doesn't generally carry that much influence.
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Of course the FAA accepts the opinion of others. Every time a non FAA regulated pilot turns up to a FSDO and obtains an FAA certificate on the basis of their foreign licence/medical certificate the FAA are accepting the opinion of foreign doctors and examiners.
As for epilepsy, it's disqualifying and for very good reasons. Unfortunately epilepsy is regularly misdiagnosed and the wannabe pilot has to learn to live with this for the rest of his life.
As for epilepsy, it's disqualifying and for very good reasons. Unfortunately epilepsy is regularly misdiagnosed and the wannabe pilot has to learn to live with this for the rest of his life.
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Hello,
Well I do not have a single trace of epilepsy left and in my case I have been fortunate to have been diagnosed at a very early stage and I have no problem what so ever. I have proof of this. I just want to know considering all this, do u think it will be difficult for a medical??
Well I do not have a single trace of epilepsy left and in my case I have been fortunate to have been diagnosed at a very early stage and I have no problem what so ever. I have proof of this. I just want to know considering all this, do u think it will be difficult for a medical??
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tiger_kris,
I wouldn't get your hopes up, under FAA you might get lucky, but it's not common. I personally think the standards for issuance of a medical are probably too high, but not in the case of epilepsy. I don't think I'd want to sit behind a pilot with a history of epilepsy, I suppose I'd say life is sometimes not fair, not nice but unfortunately true
I wouldn't get your hopes up, under FAA you might get lucky, but it's not common. I personally think the standards for issuance of a medical are probably too high, but not in the case of epilepsy. I don't think I'd want to sit behind a pilot with a history of epilepsy, I suppose I'd say life is sometimes not fair, not nice but unfortunately true
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Slim_slag,
May I respectfully suggest that you stick to your 'last'
Epilepsy is potentially disqualifying, but in some cases the FAA will provide a special issuance medical. Without looking further into this I am not sure if that would only be for a class 3.
This is very much a matter of individual circumstances and needs a full work up by the appropriate health professionals.
So if you want to go the FAA way your first port of call would be to find an FAA AME and discuss your case with him/her and be guided by them.
The FAA is quite happy to accept the opinion of other qualified medical practioners.
I know nothing about certification rules and regulations under the Indian Aviation Regulations.
Hope this helps.
FD
May I respectfully suggest that you stick to your 'last'
Epilepsy is potentially disqualifying, but in some cases the FAA will provide a special issuance medical. Without looking further into this I am not sure if that would only be for a class 3.
This is very much a matter of individual circumstances and needs a full work up by the appropriate health professionals.
So if you want to go the FAA way your first port of call would be to find an FAA AME and discuss your case with him/her and be guided by them.
The FAA is quite happy to accept the opinion of other qualified medical practioners.
I know nothing about certification rules and regulations under the Indian Aviation Regulations.
Hope this helps.
FD
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Hello,
I have heard about the special issuance before and it is available for a medical of all classes. I'm pasting below, the FAA Medical rule(Slim Slag, pay attention):
Neuralgic - FAR 67.109
No epilepsy, a disorder involving convulsions or seizures that can occur at any time interfering with the performance of airman duties or may be expected to do so. Generally, an applicant with a history of epilepsy needs to show that there has been a 10 year period since the last seizure and that no anticonvulsant medicine has been taken. See a doctor for details. Each case is unique.
Now you guyz tell me about my case!
I have heard about the special issuance before and it is available for a medical of all classes. I'm pasting below, the FAA Medical rule(Slim Slag, pay attention):
Neuralgic - FAR 67.109
No epilepsy, a disorder involving convulsions or seizures that can occur at any time interfering with the performance of airman duties or may be expected to do so. Generally, an applicant with a history of epilepsy needs to show that there has been a 10 year period since the last seizure and that no anticonvulsant medicine has been taken. See a doctor for details. Each case is unique.
Now you guyz tell me about my case!
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Well FD, as always your excellent posts are more eloquent than mine, but I'm not sure what was wrong with my 'first' !
Epilepsy is disqualifying.
It's frequently misdiagosed
It's a stigma you are stuck with for the rest of your life. Even if tiger_kris gets a waiver under FAA rules (how much do you want to bet he wont), he will have to have his case referred to OKC every time he goes to get his medical renewed. I don't believe an FAA AME can reissue a medical on a special issuance if he has a history of epilepsy.
tiger_kris,
I have seen many people with epilepsy and I genuinely commiserate with you, but you seem to know it all so I'll just wish you good luck
Epilepsy is disqualifying.
It's frequently misdiagosed
It's a stigma you are stuck with for the rest of your life. Even if tiger_kris gets a waiver under FAA rules (how much do you want to bet he wont), he will have to have his case referred to OKC every time he goes to get his medical renewed. I don't believe an FAA AME can reissue a medical on a special issuance if he has a history of epilepsy.
tiger_kris,
I have seen many people with epilepsy and I genuinely commiserate with you, but you seem to know it all so I'll just wish you good luck
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(how much do you want to bet he wont),
Reading his post there is an outside chance that his 'fits' were febrile convulsions although they usually stop before age 7 and usually don't require anticonvulsant medication.
But impossible to say which way the cookie crumbles.
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Not really advisable
If you have an accident and they find out (by witness, old medical records, medical examination or whatever means) you'll be in BIG trouble.
Furthermore you had to live with the thought that they could find out once. And this throughout your whole flying career. Not really comfortable.
If you have an accident and they find out (by witness, old medical records, medical examination or whatever means) you'll be in BIG trouble.
Furthermore you had to live with the thought that they could find out once. And this throughout your whole flying career. Not really comfortable.
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Yup, unfortuantly if there is an accident resulting from an electrical fire caused by a cooker overload... I'm afraid your epilepsy will be to blame! Obviously exaggerated, but you get the drift?
As to your case, I do wish you the best of luck; if the law you described is indeed practiced, there should be no reason for you not to obtain a class 1. And if you have not suffered for seven years, really what are the chances? I'm not an expert on epilepsy and I don't pretend to be, but I had asthma five years ago with frequent attacks; I haven't used an inhaler for four years, two years ago I was diagnosed as not having a trace of asthma left and two months ago during my Class 2 I was told I passed a peak flow test with flying colours... subsequently I do not have 'asthma' as being written on my medical.
My point is, things change, you grow out of medical conditions, and like I said, I don't know if epilepsy is the same, but if you really want to do something bad enough, do something about it, find out as much as you can and play it to your advantage.
Good luck,
Jack.
As to your case, I do wish you the best of luck; if the law you described is indeed practiced, there should be no reason for you not to obtain a class 1. And if you have not suffered for seven years, really what are the chances? I'm not an expert on epilepsy and I don't pretend to be, but I had asthma five years ago with frequent attacks; I haven't used an inhaler for four years, two years ago I was diagnosed as not having a trace of asthma left and two months ago during my Class 2 I was told I passed a peak flow test with flying colours... subsequently I do not have 'asthma' as being written on my medical.
My point is, things change, you grow out of medical conditions, and like I said, I don't know if epilepsy is the same, but if you really want to do something bad enough, do something about it, find out as much as you can and play it to your advantage.
Good luck,
Jack.
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Hello Half-Baked,
I'm really glad to hear that you have been cleared of your medical condition. I havent had attacks for the last 13 years. I stopped my medicines 7 years ago, but didn't have any seizure for the last 13 years. The doctors diagnosed it early and have guaranteed it will never recur and I can do whatsoever I want. Also the Doctor whom we consulted is highly acclaimed in the field of Neurology and is popular all over the world. So my med records and a statement from her should breeze me through the med procedures.
Thank You for the Advise!
Kris
I'm really glad to hear that you have been cleared of your medical condition. I havent had attacks for the last 13 years. I stopped my medicines 7 years ago, but didn't have any seizure for the last 13 years. The doctors diagnosed it early and have guaranteed it will never recur and I can do whatsoever I want. Also the Doctor whom we consulted is highly acclaimed in the field of Neurology and is popular all over the world. So my med records and a statement from her should breeze me through the med procedures.
Thank You for the Advise!
Kris
