How to convince Med Examiner heart arrhythmia is ok?

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Ralph4159, Nov 9, 2021.

  1. Ralph4159

    Ralph4159 Heavy Load Member

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    The only problem I ever came close to on DOT med card was my blood pressure was close to the 1 year card (130+?). But I was able to go into a trance and bring it down. So always got a 2 year card for 20+ years.

    My current card has 6 months left on it but I went to renew for a new company I'm applying to. I went to the cheapest clinic I could find, $45, and it was a chiropractor as usual. First thing he does is take a stethoscope and said "Uh-oh, you have an arrhythmia". He didn't know any other details but said he could only give me a 45 day extension. I knew that would be the end of my new job so I left and kept my old card. Maybe that right there put me on a bad guy list, not sure.

    I don't have insurance so can't afford seeing a cardiologist for probably $800. I bought one of those home EKG devices from Amazon and it kept saying "Sinus Rhythm with Supraventricular Ectopy" (not AFIB). After reading a whole bunch of stuff, I think I understand that this type of thing can be common and not necessarily a health risk. But how do I prove that?

    I started reading all the stuff on the FMCSR site about medical exam regs. But I could never ever find exact details on what arrhythmias are ok and which aren't. Is it all just subjective to the doctor? How do I prove to a medical examiner that I'm good to go? My BP and pulse are within normal ranges. I feel fine with no symptoms and could run 5 miles right now. This is something I never expected and is really screwing up some great job offers.
     
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  3. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    Self-diagnosing a potentially fatal condition with a doodad from China you bought on Amazon is NEVER a good idea. From Wikipedia:

    "While most cases of arrhythmia are not serious, some predispose a person to complications such as stroke or heart failure. Others may result in sudden death."

    You could feel fine and be fine or feel fine and keel over without warning. The only way to know for sure is to get it checked out. Your BP, pulse and how you feel have nothing to do with it. Whether you've got to go on Obamacare or take a non-cdl position at YRC/Yellow/New Penn/Holland/Reddaway for the free insurance do what it takes to get it checked out. You could be facing something much more serious than screwing up some great job offers.
     
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  4. Ralph4159

    Ralph4159 Heavy Load Member

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    Thanks, I understand what you're saying but even the non-driving positions require an HPE (Human Performance Evaluation). I'm pretty sure as soon as they see an arrhythmia they are going to put me in the round file. I was just thinking if there was something I could say to sway them since it seems pretty subjective.

    Here is the only chart with specifics, but it doesn't mention my type of arrhythmia:

    Cardiovascular Advisory Panel Guidelines for the Medical Examination of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers | FMCSA

    In the pdf, pages 96-7 (as labeled on bottom of pages)
    or pages 106-7 (from the beginning of the pdf)

    Also, I was wondering how anyone dealt with a similar situation. Even if I $hell out big time and see a cardiologist, I can almost guarantee he won't know squat about the FMCSRs. Whereas most of the Certified Medical Examiners (like the chiropractor I saw) don't know details about arrhythmias. What is the protocol for a cardiologist to advise the Med Ex? Thanks
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2021
  5. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    with all due respect. You don't KNOW what your issue is, you are not a doctor. You are not going to "convince" one to let you drive with a condition that could have you killing others. They'd be liable. So your choice is to get seen by a professional or find a different career.
     
  6. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    Any doctor, chiropractor, NP or PA giving DOT physicals isn't qualified to determine whether your condition is serious or not. Bottom line, if they sign you off and you keel over behind the wheel their career is over! If they fail you there's zero risk to them.

     
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  7. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    First thing that pops into my mind is to find one of those urgent care centers and get an EKG and the results of the EKG in writing. Did this just come out of nowhere? Train for this test like you would for any test! No alcohol or caffeine for a week prior would only help.
     
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  8. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    Just go see a normal doctor and have him listen
     
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  9. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    So your advice is to try to game the system when he might have a condition that could cause him to kill others. Rather than seek to find out what is wrong with his health. Great.
     
  10. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    You're reply says a lot about your frame of mind. My post says nothing like that.
     
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  11. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Thats what wasted thyme means, if you cant pass a routine physical without jumping through hoops that you definitely wont do except for the "test" then the physical is useless.
     
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