Brain Status

Update: The brain doctor said I am good to go. He is taking me off the anti-seizure drug (slowly, last dose on Tuesday) and as far as he is concerned I can resume driving. The EEG and MRI were clear of any reason for the seizure to happen again. He says it happens, a perfectly normal person can have one out of the blue, possibly triggered by dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, drugs or just some neuron dying at the wrong moment. One in 30 of us will develop epilepsy of some form in our lifetimes (this isn't considered epilepsy since I've only had one seizure with no known cause or evidence) and 60 out of 100,000 people will do this once and never again. So brain-wise I seem to be ok. My shoulder is still broken. For more info: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1184608-overview

Apparently the FAA wants to see me be seizure free for four years, the last two years without any anti-seizure medication. And then they'll listen to the brain doctor. I have some options in the mean time as long as the DMV allows me to drive. Safety pilot/instructor can fly with me in my plane. I can fly Light Sport category aircraft (there was one I could rent but I think it is gone now). I can fly ultra-light aircraft (para-gliders, hang-gliders, powered hang-gliders, etc...). There is also some legislation in congress to relax medical requirements for my class of aircraft to be the same as Light Sport. I have not heard from the DMV yet. I called them last week and they had no restrictions on me noted. That could change and there is a form the brain doctor can send in to reinstate me, he said he would if it happens.

UPDATE:  Uh, no I can't fly Light Sport or if they relax 3rd class requirements.  Oh well.  4 years before I can fly 44D solo again.  That sucks.  Ultralight is ok I think.  DMV finally caught up with me but they bought what my neurologist said and they are happy.  Forms all filed away.  

Well. That does it. As a private pilot anyway.

My seizure of 10 April killed my ability to fly as a private pilot for the next 4 years at best.  Assuming I'm off any drugs for the previous 2 years and I am ok to drive.

The good news is I can fly Light Sport aircraft if I am ok to drive.  Slower, smaller planes, only one passenger.  Now to deal with the DMV.  That means getting past the EEG test later this week.  If that shows no sign of epilepsy they will take me off the seizure medicine and I can start back to normal.

Grand mal seizure

Flew some kids on April 5th, these will be my 301st through 304th Young Eagles officially.  I am hoping they are not my last.

On April 10th I experienced a grand mal seizure strong enough to fracture my left shoulder and stress the crap out of my back.

Tom Hail shared Chuck Thurston's status.

April 13

Thanks to everyone. Standing up to the face of what life throws us is what makes us human. I'm proud of being part of this bunch.

A good friend and coworker suffered a seizure today at work. It was both a horrifying and amazing event. The seizure itself was horrific to witness, understandable, but traumatizing to some. The response of our team of coworkers was astounding. People clearing the room, people dialing 911, people running to various doors to await the emergency response, people holding the elevator, people holding doors.... There is NO WAY the medical responders were going to have any doubt where to go. Yes it stressed people out, but they did well. A true team  I'm proud of them all.

I visited him in the ER tonight, and he is doing well. The MRI showed no sign of a stroke or tumor. He's loaded on morphine at the moment and seems, well, drugged. lol Lucky him. After this I may need some.

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• Austin Wright, Dennis F Thomas, Angel Chere and 6 others like this.
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  Vicky George Love this report, and love how people act in crisis like this. I don't know why but it always makes me really emtional to see how KIND people are when circumstances liberate them to be so.

  April 13 at 12:22pm · Unlike · 2
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  Chuck Thurston We were in the middle of a nationwide VTC at the time, so we thought about rolling Tom under the table to keep the meeting going, but the swearing he was doing would have disrupted the meeting anyway.
  
  

  April 13 at 1:02pm · Unlike · 7
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  Mary Jane Pace Owen Thank goodness for all the wonderful people who helped my dear cousin.

  April 13 at 1:22pm · Unlike · 1
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  Catherine Chappuis McMahon Thank you all for the fantastic response you provided when my nephew needed you. We are so very grateful!!! I know he would have done the same for you as well.

  April 13 at 3:01pm · Unlike · 1
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  Melanie Moreno Stuart What a beautiful message Chuck! I second that, it was difficult yet amazing to see how everyone worked together to help Tom. And yes Tom has quite the potty mouth! 

  April 13 at 3:33pm · Unlike · 4
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  Austin Wright Tom, I feared the worse during that VTC and am glad that it wasn't a stroke or worse. Sorry that you had such a rough time, seizure and broken shoulder. Hope you can get some good rest and get your health back quickly - but for your sake I hope you don't return to work too soon! Thanks for all your hard work on our program.

  April 16 at 7:47pm · Like

  
  

  
  

  I am just a tired, grumpy liberal atheist whose brain decided to leave the room at the start of a customer briefing.  The raving maniac that remained was hauled away by paramedics.  Brain and body rejoined somewhere on the way to the hospital.  :-)

Perfect!

 I love it.