I get hayfever - I'm not ashmatic!!
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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I get hayfever - I'm not ashmatic!!
I wonder if anyone can offer any advice...
I went for a Class 1 medical about 8 years ago, during the summer.
The CAA detected a problem with my lungs (via the inhale/exhale test). I was made to run around the building at Gatwick (it was a hot day!) and re-tested, after which I was diagnosed with ashma, therefore no Class 1.
I actually get hayfever during the summer and one of the symptoms can be occasional shortness of breath (usually at night), but this clears immediately with the use of a ventolin inhaler. The symptoms only last through July and August, with nothing for the rest of the year.
8 years on I still have ambitions to fly professionally in some way/shape/form - anyone have any thoughts on the likely response from the CAA??
I went for a Class 1 medical about 8 years ago, during the summer.
The CAA detected a problem with my lungs (via the inhale/exhale test). I was made to run around the building at Gatwick (it was a hot day!) and re-tested, after which I was diagnosed with ashma, therefore no Class 1.
I actually get hayfever during the summer and one of the symptoms can be occasional shortness of breath (usually at night), but this clears immediately with the use of a ventolin inhaler. The symptoms only last through July and August, with nothing for the rest of the year.
8 years on I still have ambitions to fly professionally in some way/shape/form - anyone have any thoughts on the likely response from the CAA??
Join Date: Jan 2001
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I cannot comment on the likely response from the CAA as I do not have the necessary knowledge. It seems to me however that what you need to do is provide the proof, or lack of it, as to whether or not you actually have asthma so here is what I suggest. Go to see your GP and ask him to do several things:. .1 Provide you with a Peak Flow Meter. You will need to do readings at least 4 times a day and for several months, particularly through the "Hayfever Season".. .2 Ask him/her to do your IgE levels. This is a blood test which will reveal the presence or absence of an allergy. Raised levels indicate the probability that you have one. Your Dr should ask if you have any ideas about what the allergen may be eg you may find that your hay fever is worse when you walk through, or near a field of grass or cereal crops.. .3 If anything proves positive ask about the possibility of desensitisation.. .4 You mention that your shortness of breath occurs at night so it might be a good idea to check the possibility of Housedust mite allergy.. .Hope you find this of some help. Good luck with the CAA. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> . .PS Let me know how you get on.
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To add to this ... I suffered from both asthma and hayfever when I was younger (ie until about age 12), but not any more. Does anyone know what the CAA's view is likely to be on this? I got my Class 2 without any difficulties, but the Class 1 is obviously more rigorous!
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Next time you take the test - do it in winter when the pollen count is low, also ensure that you mention that you are an occasional sufferer from hayfever.
No point in stacking the odds against yourself, I mean we all would not take a Class I renewal after being on the Beer the night before ?
F4. ."Oops , its never done that before"
No point in stacking the odds against yourself, I mean we all would not take a Class I renewal after being on the Beer the night before ?
F4. ."Oops , its never done that before"
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In a previous incarnation I worked as an Administrator in the RAF. The RAF takes a very dim view of pilots with hay fever (or it did). Therefore none of the RAF fast jet pilots I knew had hay fever. A huge number of them got 'summer colds' which mysteriously cleared up (temporarily) with anti-hystemines (spelling?), but none of them had hay fever. You'd see them in July wandering around with their eyes streaming, sniffing and bunged up noses from their 'summer colds', near medical time, a few anti-hystewotsits an hour before and a cold face wash and they felt fine. Funny that.
Also it is not unusual to hear that you get a bad turn and breathless 'at night'. I would hazard a guess that you get wheezing, and breathlessnes at about 3 am. This is associated with the time that dew forms (I jest not) and can lead a large number of people to get 'asthmatic tendencies' as the doc's call it and they give you Ventolin, which makes it better. It's primarily associated with damp (especially if your home is old) and dust mites. How old is your house? do you have fitted carpets (dust mites hide in the edges where you cannot vacumn them up), remember in the good old days you'd see the women battering rugs with beaters over a line, huge clouds of dust etc. Well funny thing kids didn't get much asthma then, floors were wooden, and no-one had fitted carpets. They had rugs which they beat regularly. When did you last lift your fitted carpets, take them outside and beat them........... same as me probably. If your house is not brand new, then you'll have wheel-barrow loads of nasties living in the edge of your carpets. They love you and your families lungs.
My Brother used to suffer from asthma badly. He lifted his carpets, sanded down the wooden floor boards and vernished them. House looks great now. No more asthma.....strange. Of course this might not relate to you at all, but its a bit of a thing with me.
Also it is not unusual to hear that you get a bad turn and breathless 'at night'. I would hazard a guess that you get wheezing, and breathlessnes at about 3 am. This is associated with the time that dew forms (I jest not) and can lead a large number of people to get 'asthmatic tendencies' as the doc's call it and they give you Ventolin, which makes it better. It's primarily associated with damp (especially if your home is old) and dust mites. How old is your house? do you have fitted carpets (dust mites hide in the edges where you cannot vacumn them up), remember in the good old days you'd see the women battering rugs with beaters over a line, huge clouds of dust etc. Well funny thing kids didn't get much asthma then, floors were wooden, and no-one had fitted carpets. They had rugs which they beat regularly. When did you last lift your fitted carpets, take them outside and beat them........... same as me probably. If your house is not brand new, then you'll have wheel-barrow loads of nasties living in the edge of your carpets. They love you and your families lungs.
My Brother used to suffer from asthma badly. He lifted his carpets, sanded down the wooden floor boards and vernished them. House looks great now. No more asthma.....strange. Of course this might not relate to you at all, but its a bit of a thing with me.
