Firefighter telling his boss

I'm 34 year old male Firefighter/Paramedic. I am new to the career. I have dizzy spells about 3 times a year. I have had a whole workup done on me and have been diagnosed with "Neurocardiogenic Syncope." or "Vasovagal Syncope." I am told I need a pacemaker even though I can pass every stress test and the doctors can't find anything wrong with my heart. It is unexplained why I get dizzy or sometimes pass out but due to a positive Tilt Test with a little Nitro my heart stopped for approximately 40 seconds and my friend Atropine helped bring my heartbeat back. I now am faced with telling my job next week and will have a pacemaker put in in three weeks. The cardiologist said I can go back to work full time so prob, no restrictions. My job is an "At-Will Employer." Can anybody give me advise on how to present my case to my boss and what all paperwork I need?

7 Comments

note from the dr

by Tracey_E - 2014-12-02 07:12:36

Often with electrical problems we have healthy hearts, but with an unexplained short circuit. The pm is an easy fix. I'd have something in writing with you when you tell your boss making it clear you can get back to your job when you heal. It shouldn't be an issue. Are you union?

Sometimes it isn't good news.

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-02 09:12:55

Sometimes it isn't good news. You'll have no choice but to notify your employer. How they will react to that news is yet to be seen. However, early on with my problems with afib, it was suggested I go into EMT service. Reasoning was medication would be able to control my afib and my knowledge of afib would be beneficial to people with heart problems. So I feel that is an option avialable to you - maybe not with your current employer but somewhere. If you look around the forum you'll see people with PM's doing all sorts of stuff. The PM, in and of itself, probably won't hold you back.

As for being in shape, I moved 2300 pounds of wood on Thursday, walked 3 1/2 miles with the dogs on Friday. Was doing everything my doctor told me, was taking my medications, was exercising. If you would have told me I would collapse on the trail with the dogs, end up dying in the ambulance, end up dying in the ER, then being in a six day coma, I would have told you that you were stark, raving, insane. But it happened. Whether you like it or not, heart problems will be heart problems.

Your physical ability and training will help you get through the initial stages with the PM. What I suggest is that you take the knowledge you picked up during training and map out several different scenarios. If they won't take you as a firefighter, will they take you as a medic? If they won't take you, who will? Can you work ER in a local hospital? Having been in a lot of ER's in the past year, they really need physically capable people. Hospital medical orderly? What other options?

If you look around the forum you'll see people with PM's skiing, scuba diving, swimming, biking, running marathons, all sorts of stuff. My suggestion is that you present the information you've gleaned from this forum as an argument that you will be able to carry on your job effectively. They may not accept it, but hey, at least you gave it a chance.

There was a recent posting on the forum about people with PM's being in better shape because the PM will prevent heart failure. Good argument but I don't think it will get very far. The FAA doesn't allow you to hold a private pilot's license with a PM. Question is how many pilots are flying around, thinking they're in good shape, but are teetering on the edge of a heart attack or heart failure? Good question but I don't think the FAA is going to change. So even if you present a good argument, local regulations may not be in your favor. My only suggestion for that is to make alternate plans.

As the saying goes, when a door closes, a window opens. Map out your scenarios, plan for the worst, hope for the best.

In any case, with the PM your life will get better. Hang in there.

Hate to say it but...

by brushmore - 2014-12-03 03:12:33

I used to be a volunteer firefighter but I don't do that anymore given I have the same exact medical issues as you. I stopped because what if I had an incident that put my fellow firefighters at risk. I hate to say this but with your medical condition might be a problem.

"I get tears in my eyes and start feeling sorry for everybody on here and myself." Try not to feel that way. Sure, it's very difficult to accept that you can't do your life's dreams because of a medical issue. All I ever wanted to do was be a pilot in the military but had that cut short while I was in flight school. But now that I have my pacemaker I my life has changed for the better. I no longer live in fear of passing out. It has changed my life for the better with out a doubt!

The point is

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-03 04:12:01

The point is not to "suck it up". This is a life changing event and now is not the time to just bull through. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to help if you give them a chance.

Yeah, you may lose your job. Yeah, you may have to give up something you'd really like to do. But, and the big BUT is to look at what you do have and how you can live with it.

I worked at a Health Plan insurance company. Doctors and nurses were down the hall. Ended up in the hospital with afib. Was complaining to one of the nurses. She said, "You're a guy. Guys like to fix things. You're not going to be able to fix this. You'll be a lot happier and not be worn out if you learn how to live with the situation instead of fussing that you can't fix it." Good advice.

You've got EMT training. I would have paid good money just to be able to talk to someone in the medical profession who had a PM and was doing well. I feel you would be invaluable working in a hospital on the heart floor. Do you know what it would mean if someone would say, "I'm going to get a pacemaker.", and you could look them in the eye and say, "I've got one!" Priceless.

Start working on things you can do. Get yourself out of the blue funk and go on with your life. You've got a lot of living to do!

We are not Union

by FiremanBob - 2014-12-03 11:12:59

I'm going to get the letter from my doctor today stating if everything goes well I will be released without restrictions. I have heard of firefighters going back to work as a full time firefighter but they are far and few in between. When I read the post and see "welcome to the PM club" I get tears in my eyes and start feeling sorry for everybody on here and myself. I'm pretty sure I will be hanging out on this site while I recuperate after the procedure. I need to be the strong man I have always been and suck it up. This is a good opportunity for me to get back in touch with my creator and remember why I need to rely on Him for everything. Thanks for the advise about jobs, EMS, and doorways. I'll keep you posted.

FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)

by N8UAD - 2014-12-06 02:12:24

Tell your job that you want to take FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) time. By federal law they have to allow you to be out for up to 6 months. I took FMLA to cover my time out to have my defibrillator put in a couple years ago. Your employer HAS to let you take it.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/

Re: FMLA

by N8UAD - 2014-12-06 02:12:24

By the way I am in North Carolina, an "at will" state.

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

Member Quotes

I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.