A thief’s bargain.
P2 has provided some appreciated top cover while I have been absent and managed things very nicely, despite being short handed at the pumps. Thanks mate, great job.
It was never intended that P2 would be left short handed. P7_TOM was to have been there along with a couple of others to help out – the best laid plans eh? So what happened? Well, that is - IMO, potentially of great interest to the aviation community, pilots in particular. So, with your indulgence I will bring the matter forward for discussion. I hasten to add that we have not, as yet, had a chance to dig deeply into the subject (although we will) and that there is only supposition and hearsay to work with; well, that and recent experience. So:-
P7 toddles off for yet another routine medical. The half yearly requirement comes around pretty quickly so, off he went to do the necessary; all good. That complete he rolled up at DAME, went through the checks and, no surprise – good to go. Then the letter from Avmed – about a week later, they wanted a stress test ECG – no problem, just a $400 impost on an ever growing bill. It’s now just two weeks after that stress ECG and TOM is the proud owner of four new heart by-pass grafts and a fashionable stainless steel zipper. Just like that. WTD.
It has all come as a bit of a shock to be frank. P7 has held a Class 1 medical for over 45 years, a six footer, fit, strong and rarely troubled by illness – bar the odd flu. The day before the ‘Stress test’ between us we unloaded 14 metric tons of lumber off a truck (legit) carried it about 30 meters, stacked and stored it; four hours of hard graft. Cup of tea, sandwich and we worked the rest of the day framing a new roof (on the stable). What you might call a good, solid day of hard physical exercise. Glad to knock off, but just work tired – both of us. Ready to roll the next day at 0600. P7 knocked off at morning tea, showered and off he went to ECG. Thanks for your forbearance – there is a point. P7_TOM has over the past decade had 20 ‘static’ ECG as a matter of routine; not once have those results been questioned. So far as we were concerned, he was as fit and well as it was possible to be. Not so; tests show that he had indeed had a heart attack – never a symptom, never ever a chest pain. Seems a ‘silent’ heart attack is a possibility. I ramble. Long story short; they put him on the treadmill, wired him up the declared that the ‘stress test’ could not be conducted and insisted on a ‘Echo’ stress test. This revealed the abnormality and they whisked him off for an ‘angiogram’ the very next day, all serious and concerned. The rest is history and scars.
Finally, the point. P7 asked every single qualified person (from Professors to Surgeon) why had the progressively building blockages not been picked up by the standard ECG at routine medical? The short answer is, the test is 'bloody useless' – seems it will pick up signs ‘after’ and show an irregularity but that’s about it. P7’s blockages had been developing over a number of years; and, had they been detected ‘early’ there would have been a routine ‘Stenting’ and all would be well. As it stands, TOM was lucky in that his heart had actually had time to build its own ‘by-pass’ (marvellous ain’t it) which stopped him dropping dead on the spot. Then there is final question – why would you insist on a nine minute treadmill marathon with the heart up at 200 odd BpM to determine if there was a problem? If ever anyone was going to have a heart attack it would be then. No experts here – but we know some, and on face value, there is a big question hanging over the CASA Avmed medical check procedure. Do yourself a favour, do not rely on your six month medical check as an indicator all is well. Book in, get the real tests done and hopefully you can avoid a heart attack; or get treatment early – before you too join the zipper club. Me? Oh, I booked in and had the ‘Echo’ ECG all is well; however; I may, in a couple of years book in again. By any test, I am as fit, well and strong as most blokes, with no problems indicated on the CASA static ECG; but, so was TOM.
Time for a rethink CASA – time to join in the twentieth century version of medicine. If something as basic as heart health is treated as a box ticking exercise. My old man believed his CASA check up was all he needed; I wonder how many others are out there with medical problems unacknowledged and un diagnosed; for fear of loosing their certificate. It’s not good enough, nowhere bloody near. The ‘Echo’ ECG cost a little more than the treadmill torture; the results are priceless.
As stated, experience, hearsay and unqualified comment from me; but the ‘experts’ we have talked to all say pretty much the same thing – the CASA version of cardiac health is worse than useless – as a preventative measure.
Well, the kettle has done it’s thing and the coffee is made (from Tanna) P7 is at his work bench, making a set of draws for a restored dresser. A seven day from discharge and back to normal. Well done modern medicine and those terrific folk who put Humpty back together again. Thank you.
Toot - toot.
P2 has provided some appreciated top cover while I have been absent and managed things very nicely, despite being short handed at the pumps. Thanks mate, great job.
It was never intended that P2 would be left short handed. P7_TOM was to have been there along with a couple of others to help out – the best laid plans eh? So what happened? Well, that is - IMO, potentially of great interest to the aviation community, pilots in particular. So, with your indulgence I will bring the matter forward for discussion. I hasten to add that we have not, as yet, had a chance to dig deeply into the subject (although we will) and that there is only supposition and hearsay to work with; well, that and recent experience. So:-
P7 toddles off for yet another routine medical. The half yearly requirement comes around pretty quickly so, off he went to do the necessary; all good. That complete he rolled up at DAME, went through the checks and, no surprise – good to go. Then the letter from Avmed – about a week later, they wanted a stress test ECG – no problem, just a $400 impost on an ever growing bill. It’s now just two weeks after that stress ECG and TOM is the proud owner of four new heart by-pass grafts and a fashionable stainless steel zipper. Just like that. WTD.
It has all come as a bit of a shock to be frank. P7 has held a Class 1 medical for over 45 years, a six footer, fit, strong and rarely troubled by illness – bar the odd flu. The day before the ‘Stress test’ between us we unloaded 14 metric tons of lumber off a truck (legit) carried it about 30 meters, stacked and stored it; four hours of hard graft. Cup of tea, sandwich and we worked the rest of the day framing a new roof (on the stable). What you might call a good, solid day of hard physical exercise. Glad to knock off, but just work tired – both of us. Ready to roll the next day at 0600. P7 knocked off at morning tea, showered and off he went to ECG. Thanks for your forbearance – there is a point. P7_TOM has over the past decade had 20 ‘static’ ECG as a matter of routine; not once have those results been questioned. So far as we were concerned, he was as fit and well as it was possible to be. Not so; tests show that he had indeed had a heart attack – never a symptom, never ever a chest pain. Seems a ‘silent’ heart attack is a possibility. I ramble. Long story short; they put him on the treadmill, wired him up the declared that the ‘stress test’ could not be conducted and insisted on a ‘Echo’ stress test. This revealed the abnormality and they whisked him off for an ‘angiogram’ the very next day, all serious and concerned. The rest is history and scars.
Finally, the point. P7 asked every single qualified person (from Professors to Surgeon) why had the progressively building blockages not been picked up by the standard ECG at routine medical? The short answer is, the test is 'bloody useless' – seems it will pick up signs ‘after’ and show an irregularity but that’s about it. P7’s blockages had been developing over a number of years; and, had they been detected ‘early’ there would have been a routine ‘Stenting’ and all would be well. As it stands, TOM was lucky in that his heart had actually had time to build its own ‘by-pass’ (marvellous ain’t it) which stopped him dropping dead on the spot. Then there is final question – why would you insist on a nine minute treadmill marathon with the heart up at 200 odd BpM to determine if there was a problem? If ever anyone was going to have a heart attack it would be then. No experts here – but we know some, and on face value, there is a big question hanging over the CASA Avmed medical check procedure. Do yourself a favour, do not rely on your six month medical check as an indicator all is well. Book in, get the real tests done and hopefully you can avoid a heart attack; or get treatment early – before you too join the zipper club. Me? Oh, I booked in and had the ‘Echo’ ECG all is well; however; I may, in a couple of years book in again. By any test, I am as fit, well and strong as most blokes, with no problems indicated on the CASA static ECG; but, so was TOM.
Time for a rethink CASA – time to join in the twentieth century version of medicine. If something as basic as heart health is treated as a box ticking exercise. My old man believed his CASA check up was all he needed; I wonder how many others are out there with medical problems unacknowledged and un diagnosed; for fear of loosing their certificate. It’s not good enough, nowhere bloody near. The ‘Echo’ ECG cost a little more than the treadmill torture; the results are priceless.
As stated, experience, hearsay and unqualified comment from me; but the ‘experts’ we have talked to all say pretty much the same thing – the CASA version of cardiac health is worse than useless – as a preventative measure.
Well, the kettle has done it’s thing and the coffee is made (from Tanna) P7 is at his work bench, making a set of draws for a restored dresser. A seven day from discharge and back to normal. Well done modern medicine and those terrific folk who put Humpty back together again. Thank you.
Toot - toot.