Reporting of conditions is required only when applying for certification (1) (Except for alcohol-related legal events and medical events after special authorization)

• If you develop a disqualifying condition, you may as well start right away on building the dossier, as you can't fly per 14 CFR § 61.53

• It will help get you up to speed on the regs
• You can train your docs to document for the FAA
• The FAA will keep a file only while you have an active medical certificate
• (Don't bother to send any medical information to the FAA if your certificate has expired – you are a non-person until you have a “current” flight physical on file)
• Pros, use ALPA; others, use AOPA or EAA