I hate doctors!

I'm a truck driver, as such I'm aware of my health.

So I eat right I don't drink sugary drinks, and I exercise. " nothing much I've got bad knees, but I keep active"

I've never failed a physical, ever!

But for as long as I can remember I've had random chest pains, and it was always because of my heart feeling like it was beating to too fast.

It just comes and goes, it's never caused me any problems, even back when I worked out every day and ran 3 miles a day.

But yesterday the clinic just had to be slow, and after I do my physical, and all their little exercises my heart starts acting up!

So now while they're checking my blood pressure it's randomly dropping to low then shooting up, and I can't do anything about it.

They start asking if I feel alright, of course I say I'm fine you don't talk about your heart at physicals, that's just not smart.

So they hook me up to this stupid device, and my dadgum heart rate is going from 90 to 127, so they start listening to it, and tell me I have a heart murmur.

I lose my medical card no questions asked, so now what do I do? I'm jobless in this crappy economy!

I blame the government! It's because of all they're new exam requirements!

I'm 32 years old and still alive, and I've never been to the doctor about my heart if it was going to make me die behind the wheel it would've happened already!

Doctors are working with our corporate government to get us all dependent on government hand outs.

Well not me! I'll go see this cardiologist, and if they try to tell me I can't work I'm moving to China! They'll even let my kids get a good job with Nike...


So if your job requires medical cards be prepared for closer examinations. If they'd just got to me when they should have they wouldn't have even known!

STUPID DOCTORS!!

reply to post by terriblyvexed


that's just terrible. terrible, terrible !!

i would go on a rant also.

good luck to you, you'll be fine. you'll find something else.

reply to post by terriblyvexed


Doctors are PRACTICING medicine, they learn as they go, however what you described sounds like you need them now. Id find out whats going on, I was diagnosed with LQTS after serving in combat in gulf war. They said it was due to the cocktail of exposures, I was put on medication which helped the random pain. I live a normal life with an occasional pain but if you don't take care of it, BLAM, NO MORE DAD for your kids!

take care and Ill pray for you too, its the only way I can help!

reply to post by terriblyvexed


That's a horrid situation, to just have your job taken away like that is harsh.

But you shouldn't mess about with your ticker, driving a truck and heart failure is a lethal mix. Not saying that will happen but the longer something like a heart murmur is left the higher the risk to your health especially if the cause is unknown.

It might be totally harmless and you can return to work soon, I hope that's the case. The fact you've had this for a while it seems makes it a good idea to get seen to pronto. It's best from all angles.

I hope it's nothing too serious and you can get back to work soon.

reply to post by terriblyvexed


You may have read my posts to note I spent 15 years as an OTR driver as well, so I have a couple technical questions on this.

What 'doctor' was this? Was it one of the B.S. storefront 'company store' types the companies use to shuffle packs of drivers through at a time? If so...I would say you get with a REAL physician and as quickly as you can manage to do it, so you can get your actual status documented. If you say this isn't normal and that was a fluke, you'll need that documented very quickly to show it was a fluke and not a condition you managed to correct after some time ..but really did have when they saw it.

Also, what did your safety dept say about it? They have the option, as I understand this, to allow you some time to correct an issue or get confirmation of the condition. They may keep you off driving status (which is a moot point with your card yanked) but not necessarily fire you before giving that chance. I had that done for me with my diabetes and BP. They gave me a fair period to try and control it on my own, which failed.

Any options presented by officials here?

reply to post by terriblyvexed

So if your job requires medical cards be prepared for closer examinations.

I'm a truck driver in the UK and have to take a medical every 5 years to renew my license , if you have a problem with your heart get it sorted and stop whining that the doctor has probably saved your life and any poor soul on the same stretch of road as you when you have an attack .

STUPID DOCTORS!!

Stupid is continuing to drive a large vehicle when you know you have a medical condition , as a professional driver you should know this .

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I got 30 days to take care of it.

It's just upsetting I'm a pretty physically fit guy if they hadn't of been slow they wouldn't have caught me there just random "I don't know what to call them attacks I guess" and they stop after few minutes sometimes a few hours.

This one lasted about two hours they wouldn't let me leave.

The company is called Concentra medical centers.

reply to post by gortex


We do it every 2 years, and I'm mad because I've always had this problem it's never been an issue.

reply to post by terriblyvexed

STUPID DOCTORS!!

Yup right up to the point that you have a heart attack at the wheel of your truck and cause smash in the the small family hatchback.... stupid doctors.

Sorry OP, I know i sound harsh and do sympathize with you but i can also see this from the other side, you have a untreated heart condition and therefore obviously dont seem to meet what ever criteria they have required to pass you as medically fit.

it doesn't make them stupid, they are just doing their jobs.

To me it sounds like you have Atrial Fibrillation

reply to post by OtherSideOfTheCoin


That's just it I'm not going to have a heart attack!

It's just a small pain it doesn't make me feel weak are sick or anything like I've heard described about heart attacks.

It's been like this since I was a kid, and they might take my lively hood for it.

All those exams I've had and they never noticed they just caught me at the wrong time.

reply to post by terriblyvexed

and I'm mad because I've always had this problem it's never been an issue.

If your having heart palpitations it is an issue if you're a truck driver , one day it could become a real issue while your at the wheel which could involve other innocent road users.

It may just be arrhythmia which can easily be treated with the implantation of a stent but whatever it is you need to see a specialist and get it sorted before you can be sure you are fit to drive a large vehicle .

You're still young so fix it now , I'm just showing concern for a fellow driver .

What Is an Arrhythmia?

reply to post by gortex


That doesn't sound like a big deal.

I'm going to a cardiologist I have to if there's going to be a chance of me keeping my job.

Truth is I'm scared they're going to tell me something I don't want to hear.

I'm a out of sight out of mind kind of guy.

reply to post by terriblyvexed


A heart attack is a very complex thing, you could be having one and mistake it for something else its rare but they do not always present with the classic symptom which many have confused before with indigestion.

I can recall one of my patients who once complained of a sudden onset of sever jaw pain, turned out it was a heart attack.

no chest pain.

Really i know why you are pissed, I would be pissed to, hell i am currently awaiting the results of a medical myself and i know i would be ranting if i were you.

All i am saying is that while you have every right to be annoyed, they would not just fail you for the sake of failing you.

terriblyvexed
That's just it I'm not going to have a heart attack!

It's just a small pain it doesn't make me feel weak are sick or anything like I've heard described about heart attacks.

It's been like this since I was a kid, and they might take my lively hood for it.

All those exams I've had and they never noticed they just caught me at the wrong time.

How do you know you won't have a heart attack? You're a truck driver with zero medical knowledge. These guys did not "catch you at the wrong time." They caught you at the right time on something you had been hiding from them. You've been a walking time bomb all these years. I don't like the medical profession either and I hope your issue can be fixed, but thank God they got you off the road.

reply to post by terriblyvexed

I'm a out of sight out of mind kind of guy

I hear ya mate I'm the same , it's a bloke thing
I don't think you've got anything to be scared of if as you say you've had it since you were a kid , as it says in the link I posted "Most arrhythmias are harmless" .
If on the off chance you do need a stent implanted from what I know of it it's an in out the same day kind of thing .
The main thing is you get it checked then you can give the authorities what they want and you can get back to driving .

I wish you the best mate , the only thing to fear is fear itself

Well at least they gave you 30 days to deal with this and try to resolve it. Hopefully, it is something manageable and you'll be back on the road in no time.

Anxiety can present like heart palpatations and cause erratic heart rates and varying blood pressure. However, to be quite honest, when this is a reason, the bp usually spikes higher, not lower.

There are simply so many possibilities, that I urge you to follow-up with your GP. Better safe than sorry.

Angina - chest pain - is most often the painful obstruction or spasm, called ischemia, of the coronary arteries.
Also atherosclerosis - plaque build up of your arteries - which is cholesterol. It's a pill and changes to diet. Later, sometimes a stent is placed to open up the thickening walls of the artery. You have no idea how many people's femoral arteries I've put my weight down on for a good while after a day surgery. In and out on your way home within 12 hours if things go swimmingly.

My major point is, being aware, is being forearmed. Why wait for a heart attack to know what's going on if you can know and treat the condition and maybe NEVER have a heart attack later in life!

Well good luck to you and well wishes. My recommendations is go see your doc and fight for your job. It doesn't seem right to me you might lose your job for a condition your treating. Right? So treat it!

CdT