Class 1 Medical

[57GoldTop]

So far everything checked out fine but the only thing holding me back is my urine sample results.

I've had the test done twice, although the blood is not visible the second test revealed less blood than the first and there seems to be no obvious cause for it, I've just done an ultrasound and won't get results until my DAME comes back from leave and has the chance to examine the results.

I'm a little worried about having some kind of long term medical condition that could potentially prevent me from getting a CPL.

Is this common ? If it's just a one off thing then surely there must be some explanation for it.

Cheers.

[bentleg]

An article here. Could be serious or not serious. I think you should await expert evaluation.

[57GoldTop]

Thanks.

I have just read through most of it, it doesn't sound good but I will keep my fingers crossed.

[Hasselhof]

That article paints a pretty bleak picture. There are many causes of haematuria that are simply acute and self resolving which will not be the cause of any long term harm so I wouldn't get all negative about it until its been checked out properly. Go see your own GP rather than a DAME and get them to look at it thorougly for you (especially if you've got a bulk billing GP), then once the issue is diagnosed properly and treated appropriately you can get back to the DAME with a better understanding of whats going on.

[VH-XXX]

You may have been able to sway the results by drinking a crap load of water before hand, however not much good doing that if you're gonna pass out in charge of an airliner at FL400 full of pax.

[Bullethead]

"I'm a little worried about having some kind of long term medical condition that could potentially prevent me from getting a CPL."

I'd be more concerned about a long term medical condition that'd prevent me from having a life. Get it diagnosed and treated first and then get on with the CPL.

Good luck with it and I hope it works out well for you.

Regards,
BH.

[Defenestrator]

In the meantime Goldy start drinking truckloads of Cranberry Juice. Has an antiseptic effect on the Urinary sytem and has been known to clear the odd ailment. Helped me heaps when passed a kidney stone.

Best of luck ol' soldier

D

[57GoldTop]

Thanks for the advice and support.

I got a class 2 medical certificate just over a year ago and no problems were found then, perhaps it will sort itself out. Will keep you posted on the results.

Cheers.

[Hasselhof]

Without knowing what the underlying cause is, recommending someone to "drink a crap load of water beforehand" isn't the smartest thing to do.

GO SEE YOUR GP

[Noeyedear]

Hey Goldtop,

I had/have the same thing but there could be different reasons. You do need to get the matter investigated.

Having said that, the Dr told me that out of the people who present with this symptom, in 30% of cases, it will just go away, 30% it will stay but have no effect and 30% will go on to have a more serious problem.

When my was diagnosed as a nephrytis(?), CASA just had my class 1 medical marked "Renew by CASA only" (or words to that effect) and each year I had to do a 24 hour urine collection, give the results to my DAME and he'd send the paperwork to Canberra who would issue my medical.

The stress of it did push my blood pressure up a little but otherwise it's no real hassle.

Having said that, the symptoms come and go, they may be there one year and not the next. I feel that some exercise and lowering my blood pressure have helped in this regard.
Best of luck.

PS: The Dr also told me that there is a very high undiagnosed prevalence of this. Most people don't know because the blood isn't visible and they don't do regular medical checkups.

[Capt Claret]

Goldtop,

I reckon many of us go through life dehydrated, or partially so. I certainly wouldn't drink 8 x 150 ml glasses of water a day.

Undergoing my medical a couple of years ago, the nurse who tested my urine gave me the hint that if I didn't drink more water, I'd have a problem, blood in urine wise, soon.

[Jerr]

Hi

I would strongly suggest seeing your GP and getting a referral to a urologist or nephrologist.

There are lots of causes for haematuria - blood in the urine.

Some of the dipstick test strips that they use are not always reliable, so it could be a false positive, certainly microscopic examination is needed.

Most cases are easily resolved, but some need specialist investigation.

Anyhow CASA medicos are likely going to require a specialist report anyway!

Good luck

[havick]

giving your right hand a rest would probably also help!

[VH-XXX]

Hasselhoff, I'm tipping that if you didn't drink any water for a while and went in to a medical you'd find a lot of nasty things in your piss!

I recently watched a show on ABC where they tested some elite soccer players. Some drank water, some drank powerade or similar and others drank nothing. After a competitive game they x-rayed their bodies.

The ones that didn't drink water had the beginning stages of kidney stones and only after a lot of water and time did they get back to normal.

Hydration is very important.

[Hasselhof]

VH-XXX

Over hydration can also kill you if you have significant kidney damage, of which blood in the urine is one of the symptoms. So recommending someone to over load with water just to pass a medical while not knowing the underlying pathophysiology of the guys complaint is not a great idea.

[Peter Fanelli]

Over hydration can also kill you if you have significant kidney damage,

or even if you don't have kidney damage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

[*Lancer*]

Obviously, it's good the process has picked it up and you're able to get it checked out... But before you start worrying too much about cancers and kidney problems, heavy exercise, and recent sexual activity can leave detectible levels of blood in your urine. It's not uncommon, and generally neither poses a significant medical issue.

[57GoldTop]

Update. I recently had an ultrasound performed, they found nothing wrong with my kidneys or bladder but I'll need to talk to the doc tommorrow to see where we go from here... he said something about going to see a specialist. I'm pretty sure I should be fine and get the medical cleared, he said that it's probably nothing to worry about.

On a more positive note I completed my first PPL solo yesterday, it was a great experience I'll never forget.

Cheers.

[Artificial Horizon]

I had this exact thing happen to me when I renewed a medical around 10 years ago. I also went to see the specialist, had numerous urine tests and an ultrasound. In the end nothing was found and on a retest a few weeks later was all clear. Now flying A321's and loving it, I know it sucks at the time but just stick with the doctors and it will get sorted and you wil get the medical eventually. Best of Luck.

A.H.

[CHAIRMAN]

I'm with you guys - also had the deadly 'protein in the urine' result - not enough water intake and the KFC on the way to the test wouldn't have helped - can't remember the sex!
Blood tests later confirmed all was OK. Made sure on subsequent tests that I wasn't dehydrated and kept off the sugar, salt, spuds, KFC and Maccas for a day or two beforehand. No problems since.