A battle hard won

Hi,

So I had a full health check yesterday. All was going well until it got to the exercise stress test. The doctor basically said it was against company policy to stress test someone with a pacemaker.

I explained that I have a pacemaker for 2nd degree AV block, am not pacemaker dependent and that the device only kicks in if my heart rate drops below 50. The doctor appealed to a higher authority. The response that came back was that the test would be pointless because someone with a pacemaker cannot achieve their maximum heart rate. I was apoplectic as I know this to be nonsense for someone with my condition.

So I again explained that I have no upper limit set, showed them a letter from my cardiologist that says I have no contraindication to exercise, no other heart problems. I also explained that I run/cycle 5 days a week and have measured my heart rate at 184 while running uphill. All to no avail. They refused the test.

I was extremely upset by this as one reason for the check was to give myself confidence and to feel reassured that there are no other problems lurking. It also cost me a lot of money for the health check. The irony was that they gave me a free day pass to the gym next door where I could exercise to my heart's content WITHOUT being wired up to an ECG and with a doctor on standby. lol

Anyway, I got home and cooled my ire by writing a very long and detailed letter explaining my condition and how I felt I had been poorly treated, my particular history not being taken into consideration. I also provided copies of letters from my cardiologist.

Well today, I received a reply today with an apology from the head of the department and an invitation to do the exercise stress test after all.

A small victory over ignorance and corporate ass covering policies! I went out for a long hilly cycle ride to celebrate.

Mark


4 Comments

Hi Mark

by IAN MC - 2013-05-03 01:05:22

Congratulations on your victory !!

I am curious when you say that " the doctor said it was against company policy..... " . Was this some sort of private check up that you were having ?

I know that you are from the UK. I assume you know that you can have an exercise stress test FREE on the NHS; in fact I'm having my second one in 3 weeks time. You have to justify having one at the PM clinic which may take a few persuasive skills but I think they enjoy doing it with fairly fit people.

Cheers

Ian

It was a private health check

by ma_ku - 2013-05-03 01:05:40

Basically an all over MOT, bloods, lung capacity, bowel check, eye test, ears, skin. The works.

I didn't know the NHS would do a stress test without cause. Thanks for the info!

Mark

Congrats!

by Zia - 2013-05-03 01:05:53

Good for you! I celebrate whenever anyone wins out against the stupid CYA policies we all come up against from time to time. We don't always win but when we do it makes it all worthwhile and encourages all of us to keep on keeping on.

Thanx 2 U
Z

Mark

by IAN MC - 2013-05-03 02:05:54

I once paid for one of these all singing, all dancing, medical checks and came away with mixed feelings ( and a smaller bank balance ! )

The analogy with the MOT on your car is a good one. I once had a car that passed the MOT.... and a week later the exhaust fell off .

I have discussed these " full health checks " with a few doctor friends and got very varying views from them as to their value , I don't know about you , but when I had one, I felt that I was being processed on a factory production line.

Still ..they don't do any harm !

Cheers

Ian

You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is intact and working great.