ECG anomoly - trainee driver role

[2002Im]

Hello All

I have finally completed all aspects of recruitment for a trainee driver role with Southern Rail. I am a fit and able person I like to think I'm active as I go for regular runs and do mountain treks annually. Anyway long story short I went for a medical and all went fine except for the fact that a small "anomoly" was discovered in my heart by an ECG. The doc tested me multiple times with two different machines and kept picking it up. The results have been sent to a railway cardiologist who's advised further tests including echo and exercise tests. Currently waiting to find out if the TOC will pay for this as it's around the £1,200 mark! I've also contacted my GP who's advised it'll take 2 to 6 weeks to get tested. The training course starts in 6 weeks and I'm worried that by the time I get tested I will have no time to provide notice at my current work place which by the way also involves me driving trains.

Just reaching out to see if anyone has had similar issues and what was the outcome.

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2023 ==

Forgot to add cardiologist report came back with:

Sinus rhythm. Evidence for antero-septal ischaemia.

 

[nickswift99]

It sounds like your desire to drive trains has found a health issue that needs to be addressed.

Talk to your GP about your cardiologists diagnosis. They will explain the possible treatments and health implications.

It is possible that there are a couple of procedures available to reverse this condition.

In the meantime I’d encourage you to engage with your new employer. You may be able to defer until your health issues are resolved, reducing short term stress and making sure you are fit.

 

[Mattydo]

The reality of course is that these things are often benign. I'm prone to PVC's (an early ventricular beat). In my case they are the result of an underlying issue and stress or stimulant, so avoiding coffee and trying to relax at the doctor's means they go away. However once they were investigated after my medical it was found that their route cause was that I have a minor mitral valve prolapse (sometimes called a murmur). Something like 65% of the population have this to some degree and will never know. After Echo, and ECG stress test, mine was deemed benign and completely safe and it has never been an issue since as it's recorded and tested.

Point is, don't worry, it may be absolutely nothing. However it is of course better to know than not.

On another note the price you've been quoted seems astronomically over the odds compared to mine even given time for inflation. Any chance you can shop around as it were.

 

[2002Im]

The reality of course is that these things are often benign. I'm prone to PVC's (an early ventricular beat). In my case they are the result of an underlying issue and stress or stimulant, so avoiding coffee and trying to relax at the doctor's means they go away. However once they were investigated after my medical it was found that their route cause was that I have a minor mitral valve prolapse (sometimes called a murmur). Something like 65% of the population have this to some degree and will never know. After Echo, and ECG stress test, mine was deemed benign and completely safe and it has never been an issue since as it's recorded and tested.

Point is, don't worry, it may be absolutely nothing. However it is of course better to know than not.

On another note the price you've been quoted seems astronomically over the odds compared to mine even given time for inflation. Any chance you can shop around as it were.

I appreciate your reply.. the price quoted was by the railway doctor, I have since shopped around and found tests for £700. Did you carry out the tests privately yourself? I'm seriously considering just paying for it myself.

 

[T-Karmel]

During my medical it showed exactly same sinus rhythm. They've redone it with same result. Consulted a doctor and signed me off as fit for duty, but referred me to my GP for consultation. At my GP they've ECG with the same result, if not worse - the doctor sent me immediately to hospital, considered even using the ambulance yet didn't want to tell me her suspicion. In the hospital they didn't test me anymore, yet after assessment they said I'm fine, and the reason my GP sent me here was they suspected a... heart attack. But I'm fine, definitely I don't have a heart attack.

But to GP and weeks later they invited me for a new ECG due to... their device being wrongly calibrated before, and now being recalibrated. This time my ECG came out clear.

Despite, I was still sent for echo after that, and again for echo year later - both came out clear.

Somehow two different ECG devices were decalibrated.

I hope it'll be the same for you! Good luck!

 

[Mattydo]

I appreciate your reply.. the price quoted was by the railway doctor, I have since shopped around and found tests for £700. Did you carry out the tests privately yourself? I'm seriously considering just paying for it myself.

Privately but I had coverage thankfully. Think it was about £500 but this was 12 years ago so £700 doesn't sound quite so bad. Ultimately the findings they have could indicate a dislodged plaque or minor infarction. I'd have thought the GP would have you off to the specialist very swiftly to be honest.

 

[Danetime]

I also had an ECG anomaly on my medical and had to go for private test scans. I would be very surprised if the TOC will pay for it if you are an external candidate from my personal experience. I had to pay for an echo test privately cost me around £300 with Nuffield. Personally I would pay for it as you can't put a price on your health. If you everything comes back okay I would see if you can claim back some of the costs though Southern Rail health scheme if they do one.
Did you get wait time at these private places? As they can also have long waiting lists.

 

[Evolution]

These issues do seem to be picked up quite frequently, a lot can be what's considered a "normal variation" but further testing is obviously needed. A colleague on my course had something called bundle branch block and she had to go for further tests and was given the all clear. It was just a normal variation and nothing further to worry about.

 

[Horizon22]

You're not the first person to have an "anomaly" picked up on an ECG, nor the first person to post about it on these forums. Most of the time it seems to be all squared away and I think most people progressed happily into their roles.

Hopefully this will be the same for you, especially if you are in good health on all other metrics. But always worth confirming with a cardiologist and your GP as you have done.

 

[GPR]

As above, I’ve heard of issues with ECGs done on the railway in the past aswell.
Someone was told that they had an heart attack to then go the hospital.
Tests done, nothing wrong.

 

[2002Im]

I also had an ECG anomaly on my medical and had to go for private test scans. I would be very surprised if the TOC will pay for it if you are an external candidate from my personal experience. I had to pay for an echo test privately cost me around £300 with Nuffield. Personally I would pay for it as you can't put a price on your health. If you everything comes back okay I would see if you can claim back some of the costs though Southern Rail health scheme if they do one.
Did you get wait time at these private places? As they can also have long waiting lists.

It seems like availability is quite good when going private but the prices very.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==

These issues do seem to be picked up quite frequently, a lot can be what's considered a "normal variation" but further testing is obviously needed. A colleague on my course had something called bundle branch block and she had to go for further tests and was given the all clear. It was just a normal variation and nothing further to worry about.

That's lucky she got to keep her start date.. I'm hoping to get tested before my course starts.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==

You're not the first person to have an "anomaly" picked up on an ECG, nor the first person to post about it on these forums. Most of the time it seems to be all squared away and I think most people progressed happily into their roles.

Hopefully this will be the same for you, especially if you are in good health on all other metrics. But always worth confirming with a cardiologist and your GP as you have done.

Thanks for responding it's reassuring to know others have gone on to progress further.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==

Quick Update.. I've been to a private cardiologist who's ruled out any major issues with my heart, however he's recommended in his report that I go for a CT angiogram to asertain what the anomoly is on the ECG.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==

It seems like availability is quite good when going private but the prices very.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==


That's lucky she got to keep her start date.. I'm hoping to get tested before my course starts.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==


Thanks for responding it's reassuring to know others have gone on to progress further.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==

Quick Update.. I've been to a private cardiologist who's ruled out any major issues with my heart, however he's recommended in his report that I go for a CT angiogram to asertain what the anomoly is on the ECG.

He carried out a Echocardiogram and said I need to go for a CT angiogram.

 

[Carl98k]

My ecg picked up ectopic beats, which I knew as I’d had them for years. Despite my cardiologist saying they were benign, the railway Dr still wouldn’t sign me off. Fortunately I had Bupa health. So 2 weeks later I was in and the node ablated. I was then signed fit 6 weeks later.

After you’ve had the all clear ect, make sure you send the railway Dr everything, including the letter from cardiology saying you’re fit. If not they have to chase it up and it can take a while.

 

[LCC106]

I would tell your employer that you have been given a provisional offer of employment but are awaiting medical results. Explain that you are reluctant to hand in your notice just incase, but don’t want to leave them in the lurch of all is ok. Follow it up in writing. Keep it simple for now. Hopefully all will be fine.

 

[2002Im]

After all the headache and an MRI scan under andrenaline induced stress test, I've finally passed the medical!!

 

[Chrysalis]

After all the headache and an MRI scan under andrenaline induced stress test, I've finally passed the medical!!

Congratulations! Did they say what the issue was?

 

[2002Im]

Absolutely nothing.. no explanation, only that everything is in working order.

 

[ayaz2001]

Supermarket trolleys reveal heart problems in shoppers

Special sensors in the handle can detect an irregular heartbeat that raises the risk of stroke.

www.bbc.co.uk

reminds me of this, lots of people have undetected heart problem.