Bad News... And Good News... Asthma and Medical Test...

[ForensicFlyer]

So, there I was, preparing to become a fly-boy...

So, I hopped over to the CAA web-site and downloaded the medical test stuff, "just to see..."

I was not worried about hypertention or any of the other "obvious" suff..

And, as I read through it, I came across section "Protocol on Asthma..."

As part of the medical, this requires a Lung Function Test and some Chest X-Rays...

Minimum Lung Function Standard is (as I understand it) 70%, while it is 75% for "Initial Pilots." That's me, for those of you that do not know...

Then it says: "Any Form of Asthma in the last 5 years..." That's also me...

But see, I have so-called "Exercise Induced Asthma." I only found this out recently (about a month ago).

As per the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) information, "Exercise Induced Asthma" is a condition that can potentially exclude me from becoming a pilot.

Although I have Exercise Induced Asthma, I have unique symptoms!

I am able to “run around” for an hour, in the ice cold rain on an accident scene (I investigate accidents), and would suffer NO asthmatic symptoms, or too little to notice.

However, I started “training” recently by going for regular morning runs at the beach, and found that these (cold sea air) caused me to get asthmatic attacks. Funniest thing is, when I have no asthma inhaler with me (which is normally the case), I only need to relax and breathe slowly for about ten minutes then the symptoms go away spontaneously.

So – I have established that I do not get an asthma attack spontaneously, but that I COULD get one under a specific set of circumstances and that it seemed to be linked to exercises under specific conditions – normally cold sea air.

When I found out that I have Exercise Induced Asthma (back then), I specifically visited and Asthma Clinic. I was prescribed a Cortisone inhaler to use twice daily.

I must admit that I was not keen on this and failed to take the medication.

Yes - I know that was stupid... I am also a "Tough-guy Sefrican" type, so stuff you all for judging me!

But, the possibility of being excluded from becoming a pilot was then the wake-up call I needed, so I decided to start taking this medication, like NOW!

Now, it’s also all systems go for a “total recovery” or “total improvement” effort, hence my SUDDEN exploration of various different forms of treatment and mechanisms for improvement.

As things stood – when I visited the Asthma Clinic – I was exposed to a lung function test. I have the results. So, fortunately, I might be able to have the doc check it out and "clear" me anyway...

I now intend to use the prescribed medicine, use the "PowerLung" and do regular (light) Cardio Vascular exercises for at least a month (initially) and then go BACK for a lung-function test.

You can read more about the device at http://www.powerlung.co.za if you want...

Then, after ABOUT one month, I will "try" my luck with the medical...

If I fail...

Let's just say you will have one VERY UPSET wannabe!

So, let's see?

I will also keep updating my progress on this posting, so you can all catch up and other would-be pilots might be able to benefit...

So - there's the bad news...

Good news? I am gonn abeat this!

I will post me training regime here as well. If this works out, others could benefit, yes?

So there you go!

Stan.

[DieselFan]

Good luck with the training Stan and yes I know of others that would benefit!

[Biggles]

Why not go and see an aviation doctor. They will give you the straight up. And for microlight you do not need to do the full PPL medical, cannot rememeber what class, but for that a mild form of ashma (that by the sounds of things will not impact you ability to fly), although sucking in cold air might be a problem...

[ForensicFlyer]

Thanks, Biggs...

Actually, as you will see, it's really not the COLD air that's a problem, it seems to be SEA air...

I also (now) go walking every morning for about 30 min, and THAT seems to cause no problem.

Also, I SCUBA dive - no problem there!

It seems that it's only when I get OUT OF BREATH, like when running that there's a problem.

I personally think it's just a result of unfitness. I will call it "Unfitness Induced Asthma..."

As you said - doesn't seem BAAAAD, but certainly I'd be stupid NOT to prepare for the worst and take preventative action NOW...

Or I could just lie and do the test to "see what happens?"

Mwaaahaaaahaaa! How funny if the doc puts me on a stress test and I die!

No, I actually think this is the BEST motivation to sort this sh!t out once and forever!

Thanks again... LEt's see what the other GURU's say...

Any FLying Doctors on here?

Stan.

[Biggles]

Stan

Will have to look up the name of the Doc I went too. Was a very nice guy and ultimately its up to him whether it will impact your flying.

So do you Scuba often? I am looking for a partner to do some shore dives.

[Rusty]

Hi Stan,

I was fortunate in that I started with athsma at the age of 3, but at 14 it left me. This apparently is a usual pattern according to doctors, that it runs a seven year cycle, then subsides. With exercise induced it is a different scenerio. My youngest son player soccer from under 8 with no problem. At 13 he had to have his tonsils out, and after that his problems started with athsma when exerting himself. He had the pump which provided temperory relief, but at the end of the season, stopped playing soccer, and took up golf, and going to gym. This I think helped, as he could control his exercise better, and of course exercise certain parts of the body, which helped in increasing lung capacity etc.
He is approching 21 now, and barely has to use his pump ever, even when playing touch rugby or other strenuous exercises, so it seems the same pattern may apply, although no certainty.
This said, be certain you will beat it, and be able to fulfill your dream.
Go for it, and we will monitor your progress.

Regards,

Rusty

[ForensicFlyer]

Biggz...

No man - no more diving. Haven't been in the water since I did my course, actually.

Been too busy. Also, the nature of my work is such that I must be available on phone 24/7...

Haven't been unreachable since 2001...

I investigate accidents, and there are many in SA, so...

Also, I have no more gear left...

Perhaps this is a wake-up call?

But hey - we CAN get together, talk "swimming and flying" some time, and see where it leads to, yes?

Stan.

[ForensicFlyer]

Agh!

Here's my FULLER history, as I posted it on AVCom...

Perhaps it solicits some wise and wonderful answers and recommendations:

Ok - here's an intersting one for all of you...

As you may have noticed (in person and on the forums) people who are diagnosed with Asthma tend to deny it and argue as much as they can to convince others that the Asthma does not exist in the first place!

I am no different, but I DO have Asthma...

If you can find the time to read this and reply, I would be most appreciative...

See - I have so-called "Exercise Induced Asthma..."

Now - I didn't know this, but here's my history:

As a child I had Asthma. Can't remember it, but my mom told me I did.

Never had problems in my life, and although I did not play sports at school, I went right through Military Training (Naval Marine) and did Martial Arts for over 20 years with no ill effects and DEFINITELY no Asthma Attacks. Never saw an inhaler in my life...

Then I got a bad bout of flu (it was called Gauteng Flu?), and picked up a bad cough... Probably a form of Bronchitis, but I'm no doctor...

After this, I got some regular Asthmatic symptoms (probably three or four a year). I call them "bouts" in stead of an "attack" since they never incapacitated me or FORCED me to take a bronco-dilator or inhaler. In stead, if I waited a couple of minutes (normally 10 -20) the symptoms would go away on their own.

Now - people regularly used to ask me if I am Asthmatic, coz they say my chest "wheezes" when I speak. I never noticed it and also did my SCUBA Diving Open Water 1 SINCE that period without a problem and passed with flying colours.

There is a rather strenuous swimming test, and I passed that without problems as well.

My underwater (swimming) record is two minutes, and I dive to a depth of 10m easily while snorkling, and remain there (total time under) for about a minute at a time - no problem... I've always been a water-baby...

I investigate accidents and can (or could?) easily "run around" on an accident scene for an hour, in sub-10-degree weather in the rain while investigating an accident and not even get cold. And - no asthma!

Anyway, recently (three months ago or so) I started to do some exercises again, since I was unhappy with some weight I had gained. So, I started to run (along the beach in Cape Town) in the mornings with weight-loss in mind. I could not reach my intended 30-minute run goal, since my chest closed up within about 10 - 15 minutes of starting.

Since this was uncomfortable and felt unhealthy, I would stop and walk. I never carried an inhaler with me, so I would have to walk back to my car and drive home. Again - normally within 10 minutes or so the symproms would subside and the "Asthma" would be gone, or at the very least tolerable.

Someone had forgotten an "Asthma Pump" at my place, and I took it once or twice and it worked. I'm not even sure what it was...

Bad huh? Go on, judge me... I am still alive! LOL!

So, I got fed up and went to an Asthma Clinic.

They did a lung function test and told me I had Asthma. They then put me on cortizone (inhaler, twice daily) after giving me some (also cortizone) pills to take once a day for a week...

I was diagnozed with "Exercise Induced Asthma." I was told to take the pills and stay on the inhaler for 6 months... In the mean time, I stopped running...

I was a bad boy. Took the pills and finished them, but never took the inhaler, and actually never needed any inhaler again. Yes - I know the cortizone and the preventative are not the same...

So - here's the short version: Unless I actually go an RUN along the beach in the early morning in the cold sea air, I NEVER needed an inhaler.

So - I forgot about this Asthma thing, until I looked into becoming a pilot and buying my own plane...

So - the minute I saw the "medical test thing" I tensed up... Oh sh!t! Asthma! I read the CAA documents and found the particulars.

Guess who's "pomping gassies" again!? I have immediately gone back onto my inhaler (cortizone) to try and "fix me chest..."

I understand Asthma MIGHT cause you to fail your test?

So - here are my eventual questions after all that history (as if you'd want to know):

What am I to do to ensure that I "get myself sorted out" before my medical test?, or

What tests should I go and expose myself to prior to doing the actual medical test for becoming a pilot?

How stringent is the test for an MPL? I intend to byua trike and possibly a Jabiru (microlight)...

Later, I want to go to PPL... Oh - and I am 38 years young...

Do things like "Super Lung" and other "lung training devices" improve lung function?

Any other advice? Anyone?

Thanks - if you found the time to read this book I wrote.

Stan.

[Biggles]

Stan

Sure thing, will get together when I am back in the civilised world in about a month.

Steve

[Biggles]

Stan

Sure thing, will get together when I am back in the civilised world in about a month. Hopefully you have sorted out your problem and flying by then!!

[RV4ker (RIP)]

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php ... highlight=