allergies
- Thread starter ALOC
- Start date
I_WANNA_BE_ATP
New Member
Are you sure you have hayfever????? Do you have a second chance with the AF??? I mean that sounds really nit-picky.
But small history of me: For years I thought I had chronic allergies, saw an allergist, had a skin test and a CT of my sinus done. He told me that my turbinates were very large and that it was the way they formed. Well, after a few years of taking various nasal sprays for my allergies, I saw a ear, nose, throat specialist to see if he could do any thing to help me breathe easier. Well first thing he said to me after he looked up my nose was, "who hit you" (I still say it was my sister, only girl of 5 children and the dirtiest fighter) Well, after I had my deviated septum fixed, I am breathing just fine!!!!!
There are options, check with a specialist or call another AF medical unit and talk to their Flight Doc.
But small history of me: For years I thought I had chronic allergies, saw an allergist, had a skin test and a CT of my sinus done. He told me that my turbinates were very large and that it was the way they formed. Well, after a few years of taking various nasal sprays for my allergies, I saw a ear, nose, throat specialist to see if he could do any thing to help me breathe easier. Well first thing he said to me after he looked up my nose was, "who hit you" (I still say it was my sister, only girl of 5 children and the dirtiest fighter) Well, after I had my deviated septum fixed, I am breathing just fine!!!!!
There are options, check with a specialist or call another AF medical unit and talk to their Flight Doc.
ALOC
New Member
This kid was born with allergies. No doubt. It seems to be a family trait. Are there any qualifications that I should worry about, and if so, how do I go about acquiring a waiver?
The AF requirements were that I was to have no medical history of allergies after age 13, and guess what... age 20 and still have 'em. I think my chances are shot unless I get a waiver from them, which is extremely difficult to get.
The AF requirements were that I was to have no medical history of allergies after age 13, and guess what... age 20 and still have 'em. I think my chances are shot unless I get a waiver from them, which is extremely difficult to get.
Allergies are pretty much a non-issue. Unless they're like, severely debilitating.
I'm allergic to just about everything. An Allegra every now and then, and I'm good to go. Claritin & Allegra are both on the FAA approved list for medications, so you can safely take those and still fly.
I'm allergic to just about everything. An Allegra every now and then, and I'm good to go. Claritin & Allegra are both on the FAA approved list for medications, so you can safely take those and still fly.
[ QUOTE ]
Amber, are you allergic to cats? I have a cat dander allergy that comes and goes, but we've got three.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh yeah. But I'm a cat person, so I choose to ignore it. When we're up at the farm and I'm hugging the kitties I'll go inside scratching at my eyes, and Bill will tell me to quit rubbing cats in my face and my eyes won't itch so much.
I'm allergic to:
Cats
Dogs
Any animal dander
Pollen
Mold
Mildew
Dandelions (Had a bad run-in with a patch of dandelions in the 3rd grade)
Dust
I've always been allergic. I ignore it now. Basically I sneeze a lot, the fall is the worst. But it passes.
Allegra is great. Claritin will do (I'm not allowed to have Allegra while pregnant, so I have to deal with Claritin til March). Tylenol Allergy Sinus is a good OTC one, though it makes me REALLY tired.
Amber, are you allergic to cats? I have a cat dander allergy that comes and goes, but we've got three.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh yeah. But I'm a cat person, so I choose to ignore it. When we're up at the farm and I'm hugging the kitties I'll go inside scratching at my eyes, and Bill will tell me to quit rubbing cats in my face and my eyes won't itch so much.
I'm allergic to:
Cats
Dogs
Any animal dander
Pollen
Mold
Mildew
Dandelions (Had a bad run-in with a patch of dandelions in the 3rd grade)
Dust
I've always been allergic. I ignore it now. Basically I sneeze a lot, the fall is the worst. But it passes.
Allegra is great. Claritin will do (I'm not allowed to have Allegra while pregnant, so I have to deal with Claritin til March). Tylenol Allergy Sinus is a good OTC one, though it makes me REALLY tired.
Any normal antihystamine (sp?) or "PM' style allergy medication and I'm out for at least 24 hours.
I may look all tough 'n burley, but when it comes to medication, I'm an 18-month old.
But I'm:
Cats
Grass
Dust
Hay
Eggs (without a unknown ration of animal fat like sausage)
Whole milk
Work
One day the starbucks at DCA gave me a whole milk iced latte and we weren't even outside of the "special security area" and I told the captain that I've either got to go back to the lavatory or crap my pants in the cockpit -- his choice.
The answer was obviously "do what you gotta do!"
I may look all tough 'n burley, but when it comes to medication, I'm an 18-month old.
But I'm:
Cats
Grass
Dust
Hay
Eggs (without a unknown ration of animal fat like sausage)
Whole milk
Work
One day the starbucks at DCA gave me a whole milk iced latte and we weren't even outside of the "special security area" and I told the captain that I've either got to go back to the lavatory or crap my pants in the cockpit -- his choice.
The answer was obviously "do what you gotta do!"
Ha!
I'm downright drugged when I take that Tylenol stuff. It's so bad I haven't even been brave enough to take it since I had baby #1! I'm too afraid of being totally whacked and 'under the influence', and unable to deal with something with the baby should I have to.
I've been known to have conversations after taking it, and remembering nothing of it. Also I'll have this wide-eyed vacant stare going on that my parents and Bill both say is really creepy.
Can't wait to be able to take it again!
I'm downright drugged when I take that Tylenol stuff. It's so bad I haven't even been brave enough to take it since I had baby #1! I'm too afraid of being totally whacked and 'under the influence', and unable to deal with something with the baby should I have to.
I've been known to have conversations after taking it, and remembering nothing of it. Also I'll have this wide-eyed vacant stare going on that my parents and Bill both say is really creepy.
Can't wait to be able to take it again!
I think it was either Actifed or something similar that I took when I was in college when I was having bad cold symptoms. I clearly remember screaming out to either MikeD or my roommate Joe about these weird beings standing in the corner or my room that looked like liquidy creatures that were trying to communicate with me. Needless to say, I never took Actifed again!
I had another bad allergy attack about a year ago where effected my equibrium and the doctor told me to take over-the-counter Benedryl. Holy cow, I was catatonic for at least 48 hours afterward. I think the next day, I walked into the home office, turned on something on iTunes and stared at the wall for about two hours before the telephone rang and snapped me out of my daze.
That's primarily the reason I only injest about two Tylenol per year, never any cold medication and only Claratin when absolutely undeniably necessary.
I had another bad allergy attack about a year ago where effected my equibrium and the doctor told me to take over-the-counter Benedryl. Holy cow, I was catatonic for at least 48 hours afterward. I think the next day, I walked into the home office, turned on something on iTunes and stared at the wall for about two hours before the telephone rang and snapped me out of my daze.
That's primarily the reason I only injest about two Tylenol per year, never any cold medication and only Claratin when absolutely undeniably necessary.
sopdan
Well-Known Member
I have allergies and have been receiving allergy shots for ~17 years (along w/ a Claritin prescription, actually now Clarinex since the former is OTC, and I haven't taken either for a few years) and it was a complete non-issue on my medical. From now on just "previously reported, no change" on my medical applications.
I_WANNA_BE_ATP
New Member
If you want to try an antihistamine that does NOT go through the body to work, try Astelin. You need a perscription for it and it's Ok with the FAA.. Great stuff. BUT it is a nasal spray but unlike neosynpherine this is not addicting!!!! The only downside is the taste is the worst possible imagineable and then SOME!!!!!! But before my surgery it was the only thing that helped. And I still use it now for the stuffy head feeling.
And on the list of allergies, I reacted to a couple tree pollens (and I was a park ranger go fig) and cockroaches.
But seriously Astelin is the sh***. See if you doc can give ya a sample. Mine just gave me 5, should last a year or more the way I'm using it.
btw, this guy rocks!!!!
And on the list of allergies, I reacted to a couple tree pollens (and I was a park ranger go fig) and cockroaches.
But seriously Astelin is the sh***. See if you doc can give ya a sample. Mine just gave me 5, should last a year or more the way I'm using it.
ALOC
New Member
I found some AF document that basically set the guidelines for approval/disapproval for a waiver. Based on what I think is on my medical record, and what I think my current status of my allergies are, I could qualify for a waiver. The problem is that there also has to be a spot open (i.e. the AF really needs some pilots). I decided to go with the brute force, no holds barred, go for broke approach. I've switched to my schools professional pilot degree (hoping I can get my GPA up
) and I'm going to go back to my ROTC detachment and reaquiaint myself with the cadre and fellow cadets. I'll try to keep you guys posted on the situation as it develops. I'm sure future readers might have a question like this and I would like to help them follow their dreams... or save them the heartache.
C3C Homan
AFROTC Det. 370
C3C Homan
AFROTC Det. 370
Vingus
New Member
How bad are the allergies? Do you sneeze your head off or just the occassional sniffle. Honestly, I was a pilot in the Air Force, and I had "allergies". BTW, once you have your wings, they will perscribe allegra or flonase. You just have to get the the first year of pilot training. Not all of us were "supermen". I did just fine.
ps. Keep your mouth shut unless your condition will be obvious!
ps. Keep your mouth shut unless your condition will be obvious!
Vingus
New Member
They won't know you have allergies unless you tell them at the physical. No kidding, there is no test they will give you to determine whether you have allergies or not. So as long as you aren't sneezing or sniveling at your exam, all is good.
Now, here is the real problem..You aren't allowed to self-medicate in the AF. So, if you have symtoms, you have to go to the doc and say you have a "cold" or something. You will be grounded until you get "better". If you get busted taking OTC meds, it's hasta la vista, baby!
I had allergies in my home town, but when I moved to different locations during my carreer, my symptoms dissappeared. I guess it's related to what you are allergic to and what location you live in.
I know this all sounds like heresy, but I wouldn't have had the great carreer that I had if I would have played it 100% straight. I made it to the rank of major and flew KC-135s and T-37s.
Like I said earlier, the AF will prescribe allegra if you have allergies, and come to think of it, prescribed it to some of my students in pilot training (I was a UPT instructor at the end of my carreer). The students claimed that they never had allergies before, but moving to the pilot training base, they developed symptoms. This sounds like a reasonable story since some allergies are environmental. These guys had to sit for two weeks to see if the allegra had additional side effects, but then were put back in the training flow...end of story.
Good luck. I hope you understand what I am telling you and will gladly communicate further if you would like.
Now, here is the real problem..You aren't allowed to self-medicate in the AF. So, if you have symtoms, you have to go to the doc and say you have a "cold" or something. You will be grounded until you get "better". If you get busted taking OTC meds, it's hasta la vista, baby!
I had allergies in my home town, but when I moved to different locations during my carreer, my symptoms dissappeared. I guess it's related to what you are allergic to and what location you live in.
I know this all sounds like heresy, but I wouldn't have had the great carreer that I had if I would have played it 100% straight. I made it to the rank of major and flew KC-135s and T-37s.
Like I said earlier, the AF will prescribe allegra if you have allergies, and come to think of it, prescribed it to some of my students in pilot training (I was a UPT instructor at the end of my carreer). The students claimed that they never had allergies before, but moving to the pilot training base, they developed symptoms. This sounds like a reasonable story since some allergies are environmental. These guys had to sit for two weeks to see if the allegra had additional side effects, but then were put back in the training flow...end of story.
Good luck. I hope you understand what I am telling you and will gladly communicate further if you would like.
ALOC
New Member
What exactly happens if I get busted? I think it may be on the med record, but I'm not for sure. I'm going to sit down and have a chat with my doctor over the summer, and I'll see what all is there and what can be done about it if it is on the record. Otherwise, would they seriously examine the "sudden"
appearance of symptoms and check to see if I had any previous conditions of allergies?
