Talked to my AME at length today

[mightynimbus]

Urine test. He knew I’ve been borderline and didn’t want to see a glucose test. I’ll do a glucose test when I return. I think the urine test is a screening tool and can’t actually be used. He might have wanted a fasting test.

Years ago, when my near-vision acuity was declining with middle age, he did the same thing, telling me to return with a fresh RX.

I think there is a window between exam start date and submission deadline. Maybe he’s using that window to my advantage.

My doc wants me to be healthy and wants me to meet FAA standards. He’s a doctor first, FAA cop second.

Thanks, makes sense
I was thinking based on upthread code bloat etc. that some other blood work for whatever was starting to be pushed their way

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Thanks, makes sense
I was thinking based on upthread code bloat etc. that some other blood work for whatever was starting to be pushed their way

No, my post was a general reaction to the upstream. Get an AME you trust and won’t create an unwarranted •storm with the FAA.

The medical world is used to throwing diagnostic and billing codes at insurance companies and seeing what will stick.

That said, the system does test our ethical compass. My compass says I need to be healthy enough to do my job by any medical standard. Do I think the FAA deserves to know what I do to stay healthy? Mixed feelings .

 

[JordanD]

“Insurance harvesting” is the new Olympic sport for the 2020s.

It is effing everywhere. At all levels, public and private.

Want to know where the money goes? It goes everywhere. The leakage is out of control.

I love how literally almost everything in America is some kind of scam.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I love how literally almost everything in America is some kind of scam.

Speaking of harvesting.

This week, I’ve received a dozen calls from providers wanting to schedule my annual physical, in home or office, each call knowing my name and correctly identifying my insurance company.

Either my insurance company has shared data across their network or it’s data-mining to link my name and number and the rest playing off the fact that my insurance company is the largest carrier in the state.

 

[derg]

I love how literally almost everything in America is some kind of scam.

I literally could have ended up grounded because of that doctor’s office greed.

I’m still trying to figure out where the F the insomnia and sleep apnea came from.

I love the “severe hypercholesterolemia“ when I had a cardiac score of 0 plus textbook-healthy levels.

 

[Richman]

I love how literally almost everything in America is some kind of scam.

It’s important to understand how endemic it is across everything.

“Scam” is not really the proper way to describe it. “Failure to understand motivation” is probably a better way to put it. If you know that fiscal incentives motivate people, you also have to understand, and not be disappointed with, the behavior people exhibit in the presence of such incentives.

 

[Richman]

My new Dr dictates your visit notes in your presence, and then asks you if you agree. I thought was entirely peculiar until I read this thread.

Calibration received.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

My new Dr dictates your visit notes in your presence, and then asks you if you agree. I thought was entirely peculiar until I read this thread.

Calibration received.

I’m cool with that if he dictates the diagnoses I can expect on my chart.

 

[BobDDuck]

I literally could have ended up grounded because of that doctor’s office greed.

I’m still trying to figure out where the F the insomnia and sleep apnea came from.

I love the “severe hypercholesterolemia“ when I had a cardiac score of 0 plus textbook-healthy levels.

In 2019 I went to an initial consult with an orthopedic surgeon to talk about fixing my ankle. His intake nurse did a vitals work up and put a digital BP cuff on. I told her that for whatever reason they don't work for me and she'd have to take it manually. She basically said that she didn't know how and we'd just go with whatever the machine said. She tried 4 times before she finally got a reading... of 140/90. So of course she put "pre hypertensive" in my record. It took about 2 years to get it out. Thankfully that data stream never ended up anywhere near my AME but still it was pretty frustrating.

 

[N826AW]

In 2019 I went to an initial consult with an orthopedic surgeon to talk about fixing my ankle. His intake nurse did a vitals work up and put a digital BP cuff on. I told her that for whatever reason they don't work for me and she'd have to take it manually. She basically said that she didn't know how and we'd just go with whatever the machine said. She tried 4 times before she finally got a reading... of 140/90. So of course she put "pre hypertensive" in my record. It took about 2 years to get it out. Thankfully that data stream never ended up anywhere near my AME but still it was pretty frustrating.

I had that happen a few years ago. I was like, 'Ma'am, if my BP were that high I'd be dead.'

 

[DeltaAlphaNovember]

In 2019 I went to an initial consult with an orthopedic surgeon to talk about fixing my ankle. His intake nurse did a vitals work up and put a digital BP cuff on. I told her that for whatever reason they don't work for me and she'd have to take it manually. She basically said that she didn't know how and we'd just go with whatever the machine said. She tried 4 times before she finally got a reading... of 140/90. So of course she put "pre hypertensive" in my record. It took about 2 years to get it out. Thankfully that data stream never ended up anywhere near my AME but still it was pretty frustrating.

I am currently taking two blood pressure meds. During the process I found out that the FAA says anything over 155 on the top number and 95 on the bottom number is a no go. Before my medical last year I had to get my primary care guy to fill out a form and then took it to my AME and he filled out his part and sent it in. Now once a year I have to get those forms filled out again.

I've since lost about 60 lbs and exercise on a regular basis. I'd like to say I eat healthier, but it's been more cutting back on eating a lot of junk food between meals. My BP has come way down to more acceptable levels.

 

[Richman]

BP is such a PITA. Mine is normal but every Tom, Dick and Sally seems to be on some kind of quest to find you out of range. The electronic ones age completely wrong most of the time and simply don’t work on some people, but if you said you’d rather have it done manually, they tell you they can’t do that.

Then you say, “Ok, fine, it’s not necessary to clean my teeth, so just don’t do it.” and they look like a dog that just ran into a sliding glass door.

 

[BobDDuck]

BP is such a PITA. Mine is normal but every Tom, Dick and Sally seems to be on some kind of quest to find you out of range. The electronic ones age completely wrong most of the time and simply don’t work on some people, but if you said you’d rather have it done manually, they tell you they can’t do that.

Then you say, “Ok, fine, it’s not necessary to clean my teeth, so just don’t do it.” and they look like a dog that just ran into a sliding glass door.

There was also a study in NEJM last year that showed about 90% of readings (manual and automatic) are done incorrectly and generate incorrect results.

So there's that.

 

[Boots2Wings]

Cant have medical diagnosis in error, if you never go to the doctor….

Im convinced I will 100% die of something preventable/caught early…but getting grounded over some bs is worse to me…so, bring on the undiagnosed disease

 

[Soul Brotha']

I am currently taking two blood pressure meds. During the process I found out that the FAA says anything over 155 on the top number and 95 on the bottom number is a no go. Before my medical last year I had to get my primary care guy to fill out a form and then took it to my AME and he filled out his part and sent it in. Now once a year I have to get those forms filled out again.

I've since lost about 60 lbs and exercise on a regular basis. I'd like to say I eat healthier, but it's been more cutting back on eating a lot of junk food between meals. My BP has come way down to more acceptable levels.

Same thing happened to me several years back. Had a high reading and was denied a medical. Told me to go see a specialist. They put me on two meds and have to fill out the CACI form every year. Lost some weight and now I’m fine but they insist I still go through the process.

There was also a study in NEJM last year that showed about 90% of readings (manual and automatic) are done incorrectly and generate incorrect results.

So there's that.

I went to the dentist last week and my reading was like 137/88. I said something is wrong with your machine. After my cleaning they did it again and was 110/70. Can’t win.

 

[MikeD]

I went to the dentist last week and my reading was like 137/88. I said something is wrong with your machine. After my cleaning they did it again and was 110/70. Can’t win.

BP machine is like a casino slot machine, with the random numbers it generates.

 

[Richman]

Those who know me know I’m not some nut fudge conspiracy theorist, but I don’t abide sloppy work, which has been completely endemic since 2020 across the board.

There’s been a general death of competence, and I haven’t quite narrowed it down.

 

[Boots2Wings]

Those who know me know I’m not some nut fudge conspiracy theorist, but I don’t abide sloppy work, which has been completely endemic since 2020 across the board.

There’s been a general death of competence, and I haven’t quite narrowed it down.

Also, not a theorist nor fan of politics….so hope this doesnt cause drift

But might have to do with the fact medical professionals witnessed the public/government turn on them, their recommendations, and then vilify them in recent years. This surely causes the objective competency we once expected as normal to have gone by the wayside?

Can only espouse the efficacy of vaccines and clinical trials so long, then be screamed at for prescribing tylenol to a child before the good physicians go by the wayside. Anecdotal for sure, but the sentiment seems very real and clear

 

[Roger Roger]

Also, not a theorist nor fan of politics….so hope this doesnt cause drift

But might have to do with the fact medical professionals witnessed the public/government turn on them, their recommendations, and then vilify them in recent years. This surely causes the objective competency we once expected as normal to have gone by the wayside?

Can only espouse the efficacy of vaccines and clinical trials so long, then be screamed at for prescribing tylenol to a child before the good physicians go by the wayside. Anecdotal for sure, but the sentiment seems very real and clear

A lot of brain drain happened from GPs, bedside, ER, etc during and immediately post-covid. Anecdotally, a lot of them didn’t leave medicine, but went to specialty clinics and similar. Better money and less arguing with • about whether polio really was that bad if you’re doing, say, specialty foot stuff for yuppies who turned an ankle while ice climbing.