Echocardiogram?
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Echocardiogram?
Hello all,
I recently went for an initial class one medical, but my ECG showed a minor abnormality.
The paperwork states I need to have a clinical report, exercise ECG and Echocardiogram (not 24 hour ECG). I also received a list of acceptable consultant cardiologists to the CAA, and under the Aeromedical Centre CAA section it states the following with the prices (I have left out the prices in case they change):
Initial consultation..........£xxx
Follow-up consultation....£xxx
Exercise ECG.................£xxx
24hr ECG......................£xxx
24hr Blood Pressure........£xxx
Echocardiogram... Not available
I phoned up the CAA medical department to ask which order and what I need to do, but I was a bit confused.
Am I right thinking I need book in an initial consultation, then Echocardiogram, Exercise ECG then finally a Follow-up consultation?
My initial understanding (when I spoke to the doctor when I had my inital exam) was that I only needed to get an echocardiogram and exercise ECG, and they will send it to the CAA.
I was wondering if anyone has gone through the same process and can shed some light on this please.
Regards,
JP
I recently went for an initial class one medical, but my ECG showed a minor abnormality.
The paperwork states I need to have a clinical report, exercise ECG and Echocardiogram (not 24 hour ECG). I also received a list of acceptable consultant cardiologists to the CAA, and under the Aeromedical Centre CAA section it states the following with the prices (I have left out the prices in case they change):
Initial consultation..........£xxx
Follow-up consultation....£xxx
Exercise ECG.................£xxx
24hr ECG......................£xxx
24hr Blood Pressure........£xxx
Echocardiogram... Not available
I phoned up the CAA medical department to ask which order and what I need to do, but I was a bit confused.
Am I right thinking I need book in an initial consultation, then Echocardiogram, Exercise ECG then finally a Follow-up consultation?
My initial understanding (when I spoke to the doctor when I had my inital exam) was that I only needed to get an echocardiogram and exercise ECG, and they will send it to the CAA.
I was wondering if anyone has gone through the same process and can shed some light on this please.
Regards,
JP
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For me it was similar in the fact that I was told an echocardiogram was required as there were signs of x axis deviation (if memory serves me correctly, initial was 1999). At the time I remember getting home and doing a search for x axis deviation and reading a few threads thinking I only had a few days left! Having already booked to fly to Florida to start my training I only had two or three weeks to get everything sorted out. I was fairly fortunate and after explaining the situatuion to my doctor I was quickly referred to a cardiologist at my local hospital...cost me a box of coffee but I was again lucky he was ex RAF so very understanding and said I do not know why you need this doing as it is fairly common! Anyway report and echo sent back to CAA then invited to see a doctor at the CAA for a fee who "signed me off" as fit.
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Thanks Gardener.
Thanks for your advice. It makes me feel more at ease as I am worrying about it. In my case a small section of my ECG showed T Wave Inversion. I also spoke to an ex RAF pilot who was also getting his medical, and he said that this gets pulled up a lot of times and its very rare for someone to be denied a medical because of it. My understanding is that should it pop up again at later ECG's it can be dismissed.
Did you have to book in an appointment when you had to go back to the CAA, and did you have to pay for it?
Regards,
JP
Thanks for your advice. It makes me feel more at ease as I am worrying about it. In my case a small section of my ECG showed T Wave Inversion. I also spoke to an ex RAF pilot who was also getting his medical, and he said that this gets pulled up a lot of times and its very rare for someone to be denied a medical because of it. My understanding is that should it pop up again at later ECG's it can be dismissed.
Did you have to book in an appointment when you had to go back to the CAA, and did you have to pay for it?
Regards,
JP
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I recently had to go to the CAA for a consultation, exercise ECG and 24 hour ECG. I then had the Echocardiogram done seperately. Expect to pay for all unless you have private medical insurance. If you are insured, speak to your provider first and they will let you know what is covered and which hospitals/consultants they will pay for.
You will need to arrange all appointments in advance at the CAA although there doesn't seem to be much of a waiting list.
Good luck.
You will need to arrange all appointments in advance at the CAA although there doesn't seem to be much of a waiting list.
Good luck.
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Shortleg,
Thanks for your reply.
I phoned the CAA yesterday and they can put me in for an exercise ECG in less than a week. One of the hospital's in London can also give me an Echocardiogram next week.
It seems I don't need to book in for an initial consultation at the CAA first, as that was covered in my initial class one exam.
I will let people know how I get on, as I am sure there are other people who may be in the same situation.
Regards,
JP
Thanks for your reply.
I phoned the CAA yesterday and they can put me in for an exercise ECG in less than a week. One of the hospital's in London can also give me an Echocardiogram next week.
It seems I don't need to book in for an initial consultation at the CAA first, as that was covered in my initial class one exam.
I will let people know how I get on, as I am sure there are other people who may be in the same situation.
Regards,
JP
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JP,
I realise I'm not a commercial,but I had a similar problem when getting my ppl two years ago,the ECG showed a branch blockage,apparently it's very common.
I needed 24 ECG,the Treadmill and Echocardiogram,all carried out privately at our county hospital.
Off the top of my head the consultant fee was £350 and hire of equipment £300.
It was all OK and, have not needed another one and just have the ECG at my annual medical.
Lister
I realise I'm not a commercial,but I had a similar problem when getting my ppl two years ago,the ECG showed a branch blockage,apparently it's very common.
I needed 24 ECG,the Treadmill and Echocardiogram,all carried out privately at our county hospital.
Off the top of my head the consultant fee was £350 and hire of equipment £300.
It was all OK and, have not needed another one and just have the ECG at my annual medical.
Lister
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Due to my hodgkins lymphoma. I have to go through
Echocardiogram
24hr ECG
Excersise ECG
Just had my echo 2day! Had it done on the NHS, so not costed me a penny!
Sending that off to the CAA next week!
Fingers crossed
x
Echocardiogram
24hr ECG
Excersise ECG
Just had my echo 2day! Had it done on the NHS, so not costed me a penny!
Sending that off to the CAA next week!
Fingers crossed
x
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JP.Pilot,
I had a flat T wave, which didn't show up on a class 1 Ecg until some 5 years after my Class 1 was initially completed.
As with yourself, I was given a contact list of CAA recognised cardiologists. In my case, I spoke with my nearest by phone and he stated my issue could possibly be resolved with an exercise ECG. On completion of this he then completed his report to the CAA describing it as a minor birth abnormality, which got my medical re-instated in a matter of a few weeks start to finish.
All of this made me very happy, and the cost was not unreasonable. Likewise the CAA were remarkably good given their reputation.
My advice is to speak with one of the cardiologists and take their guidance on how to progress.
Hope this helps,
Obs cop
I had a flat T wave, which didn't show up on a class 1 Ecg until some 5 years after my Class 1 was initially completed.
As with yourself, I was given a contact list of CAA recognised cardiologists. In my case, I spoke with my nearest by phone and he stated my issue could possibly be resolved with an exercise ECG. On completion of this he then completed his report to the CAA describing it as a minor birth abnormality, which got my medical re-instated in a matter of a few weeks start to finish.
All of this made me very happy, and the cost was not unreasonable. Likewise the CAA were remarkably good given their reputation.
My advice is to speak with one of the cardiologists and take their guidance on how to progress.
Hope this helps,
Obs cop
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Thanks everyone for the advice.
The whole process has cost me £500, and that is including an Echocardiogram next week done privately (doing it on the NHS was going to take too long), and the Exercise ECG and consulatation at the CAA a week after.
It seems that I will get my verdict at the consultation which is immediatly after the exercise ECG. By the way, do you know what the exercise ECG involves?
I've been adviced to take it easy for the next two weeks, as three weeks before my medical I started some intense training to try and get me fit again (only exercise I did for the last three years at university was on the dance floor!). I was so nervous I hardly slept, didn't eat in the morning and because I was worrying so much my ECG heart rate was at 112bpm!
Also, would you advice to do the exercise ECG privately or at the CAA. At the moment I'm having the exercise ECG done at the CAA, but would it be of any benefit to me to have it done privately?
Once again thanks for your help.
Regards,
JP
The whole process has cost me £500, and that is including an Echocardiogram next week done privately (doing it on the NHS was going to take too long), and the Exercise ECG and consulatation at the CAA a week after.
It seems that I will get my verdict at the consultation which is immediatly after the exercise ECG. By the way, do you know what the exercise ECG involves?
I've been adviced to take it easy for the next two weeks, as three weeks before my medical I started some intense training to try and get me fit again (only exercise I did for the last three years at university was on the dance floor!). I was so nervous I hardly slept, didn't eat in the morning and because I was worrying so much my ECG heart rate was at 112bpm!
Also, would you advice to do the exercise ECG privately or at the CAA. At the moment I'm having the exercise ECG done at the CAA, but would it be of any benefit to me to have it done privately?
Once again thanks for your help.
Regards,
JP
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The exercise ECG at the CAA involves walking on a treadmill which increases in speed and incline every 3 minutes. You have to complete at least 9 minutes and you are not allowed to run. It's easier if you have long legs! You'll have wires dangling everywhere and they basically take an ECG reading every minute or so.
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minor correction . . . . . . . .
and they basically take an ECG reading every minute or so
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In my case a small section of my ECG showed T Wave Inversion. I also spoke to an ex RAF pilot who was also getting his medical, and he said that this gets pulled up a lot of times ........
Correct me if I'm wrong AMEandPPL (hello again!) but doesn't exposure to OPs cause inverted T waves???
Correct me if I'm wrong AMEandPPL (hello again!) but doesn't exposure to OPs cause inverted T waves???
acronym . . . . . . . .
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Hmmm . . . . . . not sure . . . . . .
but doesn't exposure to OP's cause inverted T waves ?
Have just spent the last hour or so looking through numerous documents thrown up by Google. Hundreds of references to "inverted T waves" and just as many hundreds of references to "organophosphates", but have so far not come across anything at all which confirms the latter being proven as a cause of the former.
As with all associations, the two could easily co-exist in one individual by chance, without any direct cause-effect relationship. If the proof were there I would, of course, be happy to see it.
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I had to have a 7 day ECG recently ( following 2 fume events within 3 1/2 months) so I looked up everything I could on the internet and I came across a medical site that said exposure to organophosphates causes abnormalities in ECG readings. It said to look for " prolonged QTc interval, elevated ST segments and inverted T waves."
It was an American health site but can't remember exactly where I found it.... will try and find it again and let you know.
It was an American health site but can't remember exactly where I found it.... will try and find it again and let you know.
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Just an update for everyone on my progress...
I went for my Echocardiogram last Thursday, and that came back all normal. I then had my Exercise ECG at the CAA today...
When I first arrived I was asked to give another urine sample and take another ECG. The ECG still showed inverse T-wave, so I then met with the cardiologist (who by the way was absolutely fantastic), and he explained to me by drawing a diagram how the heart works, and where my problem lies. He also gave me a quick check of my upper half of my body with his stethoscope, which was ok.
I then went into the exercise room (make sure you take some comfortable shorts and running shoes), where I was hooked up to the machine and also the device to take your blood pressure.
I was told by the cardiologist that the inverse T wave should correct itself when I exercise, and if that was the case then I would be awarded my class one. Should it not then I would have to get further tests to determine if there is any problem or heart/artery disease.
The treadmill started at a slow pace at a small incline, you’re only allowed to use the front bar for support, but you can't hold onto it tight. After two minutes a blood pressure is taken (you have to relax your arm and not hold the support). After the initial 3 minutes the speed and incline is increased, and the whole routine is done again. You have to complete a minimum of 9 minutes, and if you can go further it is recommended.
I managed to go to 11mins 24sec (not as fit as I used to be), but I was at my maximum heart rate when I asked to stop. They ask if you feel any pain (chest, head etc) but fortunately I didn't. You’re then required to lie down for 7 minutes to watch your resting phase, and then once that is complete you’re sent back to the waiting room to wait for the cardiologist to call you into his office.
Fortunately in my case, I had a good exercise capacity and my inverse T wave did correct itself, but went back to inverse towards the end of the resting phase. The cardiologist was happy with my progress and awarded me with my class one.
I felt so happy and indestructible I felt like playing a game of Russian roulette!
The cardiologist did advice me that in the future I will get pulled up on this again, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.
If any of you have any questions or are going through the same thing, then please let me know, I would be more than happy to help. It helped me to speak to others on this forum and by PM, so I would like to thank all of you for your advice. If you would like to know where I got my Echocardiogram done and cost, then please PM me; the place I went to was fantastic and the staff were great.
Regards,
JP
I went for my Echocardiogram last Thursday, and that came back all normal. I then had my Exercise ECG at the CAA today...
When I first arrived I was asked to give another urine sample and take another ECG. The ECG still showed inverse T-wave, so I then met with the cardiologist (who by the way was absolutely fantastic), and he explained to me by drawing a diagram how the heart works, and where my problem lies. He also gave me a quick check of my upper half of my body with his stethoscope, which was ok.
I then went into the exercise room (make sure you take some comfortable shorts and running shoes), where I was hooked up to the machine and also the device to take your blood pressure.
I was told by the cardiologist that the inverse T wave should correct itself when I exercise, and if that was the case then I would be awarded my class one. Should it not then I would have to get further tests to determine if there is any problem or heart/artery disease.
The treadmill started at a slow pace at a small incline, you’re only allowed to use the front bar for support, but you can't hold onto it tight. After two minutes a blood pressure is taken (you have to relax your arm and not hold the support). After the initial 3 minutes the speed and incline is increased, and the whole routine is done again. You have to complete a minimum of 9 minutes, and if you can go further it is recommended.
I managed to go to 11mins 24sec (not as fit as I used to be), but I was at my maximum heart rate when I asked to stop. They ask if you feel any pain (chest, head etc) but fortunately I didn't. You’re then required to lie down for 7 minutes to watch your resting phase, and then once that is complete you’re sent back to the waiting room to wait for the cardiologist to call you into his office.
Fortunately in my case, I had a good exercise capacity and my inverse T wave did correct itself, but went back to inverse towards the end of the resting phase. The cardiologist was happy with my progress and awarded me with my class one.
I felt so happy and indestructible I felt like playing a game of Russian roulette!
The cardiologist did advice me that in the future I will get pulled up on this again, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.
If any of you have any questions or are going through the same thing, then please let me know, I would be more than happy to help. It helped me to speak to others on this forum and by PM, so I would like to thank all of you for your advice. If you would like to know where I got my Echocardiogram done and cost, then please PM me; the place I went to was fantastic and the staff were great.
Regards,
JP