Medical certificates and depression
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Medical certificates and depression
Hi,
I have read the thread on CVD dramas and CASA with interest.
I am fairly new to the game, having been flying for just over a year. I had a great deal of trouble getting a medical certificate (Class 2) because more than five years ago I had an episode of depression and unfortunately I made mention of this to my DAME. (There has not been a recurrence since. I was only on medication for six months at this time. I had not required any treatment since.)
Lots of money and time was spent on various psych appointments to jump through Avmed's hoops, and after about four months I finally was issued with a medical, albeit with a one year expiry date rather than the usual four. I should note that both my Psychologist and Psychiatrist thought that Avmed's requests were ridiculous. Each time we would comply with their request for information, they would then change the standards and require another report.
All this aside, if I were to try for a Class 1 medical is it likely that they will make me go through all this bull**** again? Also, has anyone (in their experience) had the one year limitation on a Class 2 medical removed?
Thanks!
I have read the thread on CVD dramas and CASA with interest.
I am fairly new to the game, having been flying for just over a year. I had a great deal of trouble getting a medical certificate (Class 2) because more than five years ago I had an episode of depression and unfortunately I made mention of this to my DAME. (There has not been a recurrence since. I was only on medication for six months at this time. I had not required any treatment since.)
Lots of money and time was spent on various psych appointments to jump through Avmed's hoops, and after about four months I finally was issued with a medical, albeit with a one year expiry date rather than the usual four. I should note that both my Psychologist and Psychiatrist thought that Avmed's requests were ridiculous. Each time we would comply with their request for information, they would then change the standards and require another report.
All this aside, if I were to try for a Class 1 medical is it likely that they will make me go through all this bull**** again? Also, has anyone (in their experience) had the one year limitation on a Class 2 medical removed?
Thanks!
Sprucegoose
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I can't help you with your problem, other than to say my Cardiologist thinks CASA is way out of step with modern medicine! 
-------------- other than to say my Cardiologist thinks CASA is way out of step with modern medicine!
Tootle pip!!
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"after about four months" ... I would thankful that they moved with such blistering speed ... unless you work for an outfit that has some influence with them (and I think there is only one of them), a broken toe nail could have you out of action for that long.
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
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All this aside, if I were to try for a Class 1 medical is it likely that they will make me go through all this bull**** again?
Also, has anyone (in their experience) had the one year limitation on a Class 2 medical removed?
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Is it true that common sense flew out of the cuckoo's nest?
Not sure if things have changed recently but I found them surprisingly good when I decided to get back into flying after a pretty spectacular breakdown.
I lost 5 years of my life to the dreaded black dog, along with most of my family and friends, my career and my money. At that time I never thought I would work again, let alone live a normal life (flying is very normal).
Life did improve, just as the psych told me it would, and I wanted to fly again.
I had a couple of exchanges with the head honcho, authorised contact with my psychiatrist and doctor, explained what had happened to me and they gave me a two year class 2 with no further hassles. I have been back flying for about 8 years now and it is the best thing that has happened to me for a long while.
Should be a mandatory component of any recovery program!
Kaz
I lost 5 years of my life to the dreaded black dog, along with most of my family and friends, my career and my money. At that time I never thought I would work again, let alone live a normal life (flying is very normal).
Life did improve, just as the psych told me it would, and I wanted to fly again.
I had a couple of exchanges with the head honcho, authorised contact with my psychiatrist and doctor, explained what had happened to me and they gave me a two year class 2 with no further hassles. I have been back flying for about 8 years now and it is the best thing that has happened to me for a long while.
Should be a mandatory component of any recovery program!
Kaz
Ok, it's over 14 years ago, but after a major illness I found casa brilliant. My medical was returned exactly when they said it would be and my 5 year restriction was lifted after just 3 with no request from me., just happened.
Howard, your doctor says avmed is out of touch. Probably not. My oncologist felt the same, he said he is the cancer specialist, why would doctors query his opinion about whether I could fly earlier than I was allowed? But as the casa doctors said, yes the oncoogist knows cancer, but the avmed doctors said they are taught from a different viewpoint, such as cellular reactions at altitude in rarefied atmospheres and perhaps some of my chemotherapy has damaged cells which will react differently in different environments. So there is more to it than some doctors may realize.
I know this is not related to depression, but depression is something that is real but does not ramificate physically so to speak, ie it's not a lump, it's not something you can x ray or MRI. Only you know how you feel, so the doctors have to work on empirical evidence of cause and effect and how this may affect decision making and coping under stress. So they need to be careful and take the decision to give you responsibility for other peoples lives in stressful situations situations with a strong bias towards risk management.
But I agree with an earlier post, it is probably much easier to never mention it and make an honest assessment of your state of mind and fitness to fly very time you strap a machine on.
Howard, your doctor says avmed is out of touch. Probably not. My oncologist felt the same, he said he is the cancer specialist, why would doctors query his opinion about whether I could fly earlier than I was allowed? But as the casa doctors said, yes the oncoogist knows cancer, but the avmed doctors said they are taught from a different viewpoint, such as cellular reactions at altitude in rarefied atmospheres and perhaps some of my chemotherapy has damaged cells which will react differently in different environments. So there is more to it than some doctors may realize.
I know this is not related to depression, but depression is something that is real but does not ramificate physically so to speak, ie it's not a lump, it's not something you can x ray or MRI. Only you know how you feel, so the doctors have to work on empirical evidence of cause and effect and how this may affect decision making and coping under stress. So they need to be careful and take the decision to give you responsibility for other peoples lives in stressful situations situations with a strong bias towards risk management.
But I agree with an earlier post, it is probably much easier to never mention it and make an honest assessment of your state of mind and fitness to fly very time you strap a machine on.
