Diet and lifestyle before CAA Class 1 Medical...
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Yep, bend over and take a deep breath in !! 
Before I went for mine, I printed off some info from the CAA website and took it to my own GP for a quick once over, and went to the Opticians with the eyesight requirements. Turned out my cholesterol was high, (runs in the family) so for 2 weeks before I used those Flora pro-active thingies. When I was tested again at the CAA, it was normal - so they do work !!.
Oh and don't bother wearing a suit as some people do for the Class 1, it is unnecessary. Jeans, T-shirt and trainers is just fine. You spend most of the day half naked under a dressing gown anyway.
Before I went for mine, I printed off some info from the CAA website and took it to my own GP for a quick once over, and went to the Opticians with the eyesight requirements. Turned out my cholesterol was high, (runs in the family) so for 2 weeks before I used those Flora pro-active thingies. When I was tested again at the CAA, it was normal - so they do work !!.
Oh and don't bother wearing a suit as some people do for the Class 1, it is unnecessary. Jeans, T-shirt and trainers is just fine. You spend most of the day half naked under a dressing gown anyway.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Haha they're all pulling your leg. It's nothing too bad. The worst part is probably when they inspect downstairs...especially when the ever present smokers in the car park are stood right next to the window.
Good luck!!
Good luck!!
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Join Date: May 2005
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Oh! I've just thought, what if this junk i've been eating has raised my cholesterol?? How would I go about lowering that...is it something excerise alone could achieve or do I need to eat a stick of that flora butter stuff every day??
Upto The Buffers
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I think you're flapping a bit much. They won't fail you for high cholesterol, it's an advisory test only.
I'd just returned from a month in South Africa having been eating lobster drowned in garlic butter on a daily basis when I had my medical. Cholesterol through the roof (<5 is normal, mine was 9.3!), still passed, although was duly frowned at. Tested at GP fortnight later after resuming normal diet, back to normal
I'd just returned from a month in South Africa having been eating lobster drowned in garlic butter on a daily basis when I had my medical. Cholesterol through the roof (<5 is normal, mine was 9.3!), still passed, although was duly frowned at. Tested at GP fortnight later after resuming normal diet, back to normal
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Shunter- I reckon your right! I just keep thinking that the Class 1 is a lot more stringent than a class 2 (Which it is) but im just nitpicking i think! I'm thinking it's more like a medical an Apollo astronaut would have to undergo!
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Reply #27
Reply #23
Don't people read the whole thread anymore ?. 
Oh! I've just thought, what if this junk i've been eating has raised my cholesterol?? How would I go about lowering that...is it something excerise alone could achieve or do I need to eat a stick of that flora butter stuff every day??
Turned out my cholesterol was high, (runs in the family) so for 2 weeks before I used those Flora pro-active thingies. When I was tested again at the CAA, it was normal - so they do work !!.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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At 18 years old IT DOESN'T MATTER! Mine was high after a weekend of junk food and plenty of same on the loong train journey down there. They still passed me, and I staggered out of my teens into the bright light years ago!
If you were 50-odd with a high cholesterol and this funny sensation in your chest when you went up the stairs they'd be down on you like a ton of bricks. But you're not, so they won't.
Also, as mentioned, the finger-prick testing they do is really just to give you a pointer to having a proper blood test. Which is done fasting, so that the BK flamers/ etc. can't screw up the result.
No-one, anywhere, cares what the random non-fasting cholesterol of an otherwise fit and healthy 18 year old is. Trust me on this
Now on the other hand, if you weigh 30 stone, can't walk 2 steps without having a sit down and have a family history of relatives dropping dead at a young age, someone might just prick up their ears a bit....
(they might also have a word with you if they get the impression that you get really, REALLY worked up about things that don't matter...
)
If you were 50-odd with a high cholesterol and this funny sensation in your chest when you went up the stairs they'd be down on you like a ton of bricks. But you're not, so they won't.
Also, as mentioned, the finger-prick testing they do is really just to give you a pointer to having a proper blood test. Which is done fasting, so that the BK flamers/ etc. can't screw up the result.
No-one, anywhere, cares what the random non-fasting cholesterol of an otherwise fit and healthy 18 year old is. Trust me on this
Now on the other hand, if you weigh 30 stone, can't walk 2 steps without having a sit down and have a family history of relatives dropping dead at a young age, someone might just prick up their ears a bit....
(they might also have a word with you if they get the impression that you get really, REALLY worked up about things that don't matter...
)
Join Date: May 2008
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Intresting thread. 
I've got my medical coming up in a week and a half now. I'm stressed out about millions of things. I'm not changing my diet, as I eat really.. really healthy, and I exercise quite a lot too. I spend 7 hours a week at the swimming pool
Hopefully I will pass
I've got my medical coming up in a week and a half now. I'm stressed out about millions of things. I'm not changing my diet, as I eat really.. really healthy, and I exercise quite a lot too. I spend 7 hours a week at the swimming pool
Hopefully I will pass
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You'll probably fail for having high chlorine levels, a verruca or athletes foot. I'd veg out a bit, eat some lard and fire up a few Woodbines, you don't want to make the doctor look bad
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Yeah!
All that exercise might make your heart rate LOW enough to raise a few eyebrows!
A guy posted on another thread (can't see it here, hope it's not an eyesight issue) who did lots and lots of swimming and cycling. Frowns all round, "harrumph, bradycardia" and lots of explanations needed apparently.
Just enough cheeseburger to get your heart rate into the 70-80's, methinks. But not enough to raise the old cholesterol. Obviously. And given your age, advice about booze is right out!
A guy posted on another thread (can't see it here, hope it's not an eyesight issue
) who did lots and lots of swimming and cycling. Frowns all round, "harrumph, bradycardia" and lots of explanations needed apparently.Just enough cheeseburger to get your heart rate into the 70-80's, methinks. But not enough to raise the old cholesterol. Obviously. And given your age, advice about booze is right out!
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My lifestyle has always been like that I've been doing loads of swimming for the past 3 years, I enjoy it 
I go swimming about 2/3 times a week, after work. About my diet, I eat a lot of meat & veg 
. Sometimes I go to a chippy and get something Who doesn't?
I've been doing loads of swimming for the past 3 years, I enjoy it I go swimming about 2/3 times a week, after work. About my diet, I eat a lot of meat & veg . Sometimes I go to a chippy and get something Who doesn't?
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I never worried about things like cholesterol or exercising before
going to do my medical during my time in the UK.
The only thing (related to a blood test) I got checked
on regularly was blood sugar and it never seemed a big
challenge to go renew my medical year after year...
My initial medical I did in an other european country though and
it felt like a marathon running from one doctor to the next
I only assume (well, I bloody well hope so) that the initial
medical in england might somewhat be more "difficult" than the yearly checkup...
Good luck to everyone!!!
going to do my medical during my time in the UK.
The only thing (related to a blood test) I got checked
on regularly was blood sugar and it never seemed a big
challenge to go renew my medical year after year...
My initial medical I did in an other european country though and
it felt like a marathon running from one doctor to the next
I only assume (well, I bloody well hope so) that the initial
medical in england might somewhat be more "difficult" than the yearly checkup...
Good luck to everyone!!!
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I had my Initial Class 1 just a month ago and there really isn't anything to get overly stressed about. Its a very calm, relaxed atmosphere and the people who work there were fantastic. I arrived approximatly an hour early and they let me get started almost immediatly thankfully. I'd take a book/magazine with you as theres plenty of sitting around but would advise you not to take an ipod as I'm sure that wouldn't do your hearing test any favours. Its not overly intrusive if you have issues with that...no KY dont worry , you have to strip down to your pants infront of the nice nurse and balance on one foot but thats about as bad as it gets. I did have a bit of scare though when the nurse told me she thought she had heard a heart mumor (obviously at 18 its not what you would expect ), but all was found to be well 
.
So to summarise, unless you like your fags, Big Macs and Television a bit too much I wouldn't loose any sleep over it
AJ
, you have to strip down to your pants infront of the nice nurse and balance on one foot but thats about as bad as it gets. I did have a bit of scare though when the nurse told me she thought she had heard a heart mumor (obviously at 18 its not what you would expect ), but all was found to be well .So to summarise, unless you like your fags, Big Macs and Television a bit too much I wouldn't loose any sleep over it
AJ
