Well, that's depressing...

[David Pavlich]

All this time I've been concerned about having high blood pressure, altbeit controlled with meds, as something that will derail my Private certificate. Well, I was just reading through a little tutorial about the physical and noticed that kidney stones can derail the certificate. Guess what...that's me. :( Any words of encouragement?

David

[rosiejerryrosie]

Buy an Aeronca - stay away from doctors - fly Light Sport. [And if that stone moves to a place where it starts hurting, get a large bottle of whiskey or get to a hospital ASAP]

[Mike Switzer]

Generally, if you are stone free for a certain period of time & your doc will say as much it isn't a problem - although I seem to remember Dr Bruce saying something once about a less common type of stone that keeps coming back and if you had that type you have a problem. If you are an AOPA member do a search in the medical section of the AOPA forums.

[David Pavlich]

I have the most common type which are calcium oxylate. I haven't had an "attack" for about 10 years. Some stone producers can have several in very short times, but that's not me. I can tell you, one is enough!

And as far as getting a Sport certificate, unfortunately, the only flight school in the area that has an S-LSA for instruction is a Cessna school and they require the physical to take lessons. Trust me, I checked into that already. I'm not happy...

David

[Jim Hann]

David, I'm an airline pilot and had an attack on April 22, 2011 as well as one back in 1998. I was cleared to fly less than six months later, and it could have been quicker but I was on furlough so I wasn't in a hurry. It is just more documentation, not a big one at that. Don't sweat it.

I know a retired corporate pilot who has cystine stones which are hereditary and require more attention, but he has still held a first class for many many years.

[David Pavlich]

Thanks, Jim!!! That just lifted my spirits a bunch. I've been in a funk all day. Darn things sure aren't fun. Did you pass the stones, basket extraction or lithotripsy?

David

[Jim Hann]

Thanks, Jim!!! That just lifted my spirits a bunch. I've been in a funk all day. Darn things sure aren't fun. Did you pass the stones, basket extraction or lithotripsy?

David
David, the one back in 1998 spontaneously passed. The two stones two years ago took two lithos, one each. Almost had to get the fragments of the first one with a basket but it passed the day before the second litho, whew! The biggest thing is being stone free (x-ray) in the follow up. If you are either an EAA or AOPA member, they have aeromedical help that can tell you what you can expect.

[David Pavlich]

The basket extraction, while far and away better than the scalpal, is miserable because after the procedure, a stent is placed in the ureter for a couple of weeks to allow the ureter to reform itself after being stretched by the basket. I won't describe the extraction, but suffice it to say, it is NOT fun. When I was 23, I'm 61 now, I had one cut out of my right ureter. The neat little gizmos we have now weren't around then.

I suggested to my urologist that they come up with a ureter replacement that's about a half inch in diameter to allow the stones to pass easily. :)

Edit: I was PMing with a guy on Cloudy Nights (astronomy forum) that's a retired pilot. I told him that I wouldn't be surprised if I had to have a KUB (X-ray: Kidney/Ureter/Bladder) before I'd be ok'd. It sounds like that may be the course of action that the AME will take. It's been so long since I've had a KUB, there's no telling if there's a stone in there or not. I'm not symptomatic, but who knows.

Jim, are you now required to have a KUB for your Class I now that you've been "blessed" with stones?

David

[Floatsflyer]

I've had 2 attacks spaced 8 years apart, last one in '92. Passed the first, not the second. About 15 years ago I felt one coming on and followed my doctor's instructions by drinking a ton of water which magically eliminated the on-coming pain. Been stone free ever since. The one I passed was biopsied and was found to be of the common 90th percentile variety. My doctor also told me to cut back on the eating of brocolli which is a cause.

I wish you all the best.

[steveinindy]

Edit: I was PMing with a guy on Cloudy Nights (astronomy forum) that's a retired pilot. I told him that I wouldn't be surprised if I had to have a KUB (X-ray: Kidney/Ureter/Bladder) before I'd be ok'd. It sounds like that may be the course of action that the AME will take. It's been so long since I've had a KUB, there's no telling if there's a stone in there or not. I'm not symptomatic, but who knows

Just an FYI, but not all stones show up on a KUB because of their small size, the normal amount of gas in the bowel obstructing the view and however much fat might be overlaying the abdominal wall not to mention the perinephric fat and capsule that surrounds the kidneys. According to my urologist (also had a kidney stone many years back), the stone has to be "rather large" to be reliably detected. I asked about routine screening for them and he said "Honestly, an urinalysis is going to tell you far more than an abdominal film about your chances of chucking a stone in the near future". Just my experience, your mileage may vary....


My doctor also told me to cut back on the eating of brocolli which is a cause.

...along with rhubarb, spinach, beets and a few other common greens which are heavily laden with oxalic acid.

[Jim Hann]

The basket extraction, while far and away better than the scalpal, is miserable because after the procedure

<snip> (no pun intended)

Jim, are you now required to have a KUB for your Class I now that you've been "blessed" with stones?

David

Re the basket: Yes David, that is why I said Whew! I dodged that bullet. Actually, as long as I'm asymptomatic, I don't have to do anything else. I have other paperwork to do for them, but it is currently still on sheet typed up from my GP. It falls under taking care of yourself, lots of water, etc. you can search "low oxalate diet" and learn more about other diet modifications you can make to limit your chances of a recurrence. Good luck.

Jim

[cluttonfred]

My doctor also told me to cut back on the eating of brocolli which is a cause....along with rhubarb, spinach, beets and a few other common greens which are heavily laden with oxalic acid.

I knew it! Vegetables ARE bad for you! Seriously, I hope you're able to get over the issue but if not, then stay away from medical examiner and, as has been said, fly light sport.

[Anymouse]

David,

If you're an AOPA member, get with Dr. Bruce on their forums. If not, there's always www.pilotsofamerica.com. He haunts that board as well. Dr. Bruce will tell you everything you need to know and do in order to get your medical. He's the guy the FAA listens to.

[Mike Switzer]

I knew it! Vegetables ARE bad for you!

Just one more reason to stay on Atkins. Now I need to go cook some bacon & eggs.

[David Pavlich]

My urologist told me that the latest research suggests that drinking high acidic beverages impedes stone production. It seems that a more acidic urine makes for a poor breeding ground for stones. So...I drink a lot of lemonade and OJ. Also, the worst thing is taking a calcium supplement as it passes right through the kidneys. He also said that dietary calcium has little affect on stone formation. Stuff like spinach and as previously noted, broccoli, shouldn't be consumed. One more thing, in the medical world, the SE United States is called the Kidney Stone Belt for obvious reasons; heat and humidity=heavy sweating. Of course, I live in humidity central.

Anyway, I posted on the AOPA site. Thanks for all the suggestions and well wishes. Being this close to starting my training and have this pop up has been a rea treat. :-(

David

[Tom Charpentier]

David, call our main number (800-JOIN-EAA) and ask for me. Myself and my colleague Jon here at HQ handle member medical questions and we'd be happy to give you some guidance. You can start with this "checklist" of what the FAA needs in making a special issuance determination: http://members.eaa.org/home/medical/checklists/Kidney%20Stones.asp#TopOfPage. If you need more technical information we can connect you to one of the AMEs on our Aeromedical Advisory Council, a group of highly experienced doctors who volunteer their time with members on aeromedical questions. If your condition is well controlled you should have no problem getting an issuance.

[steveinindy]

One more thing, in the medical world, the SE United States is called the Kidney Stone Belt for obvious reasons; heat and humidity=heavy sweating. Of course, I live in humidity central.

I wonder if the various minerals in the soil and therefore the groundwater down there play a role in it as well....

[gbrasch]

Ditto on what some others said about AOPA. As a professional pilot, I subscribe to both their medical and legal plans. Their med folks have been very helpful and worth the money in the past with a few questions I have had. Hope that helps, Glenn.