Heart attacks and race licences

[m3psm]

More positive stories Cheers

Got another week of rest, then I can start exercising with a clear goal of passing this MSA treadmill ECG test.

Couldn't run before the heart attack due to my smashed leg, so at least it's incentive to build that up too

[taffyracer]

Paul, sorry to hear about your attack mate, stay positive and work hard at the fitness and i'm sure you'll be fine mate

[anonymous-user]

Does anyone know about getting a race license back after a by-pass. My cardiologist picked up a problem with my hart at high hart rate when I went for the stress test to get my race license renewed in January. (Previous week I passed a ECG for a new job, so I wonder what good a std ECG is?). Anyway I had no chest pain or symptoms but as there is a family history they did an endogram and I had a by-pass 5 weeks ago. I am fairly fit and I went back to work after 3 weeks (office) and all is now looking good, except I feel like a donkey has kicked me in the chest.
My cardiologist reckons that there is no long term problem getting the license renewed as he has done several flying licenses for people who have had a bypass. The last race of the year for the class I’m in is on my birthday at end November, so I’m setting that as a target to get back on the track. I’d then need to do the stress test at end October which is six and a half months after the by pass, Has anyone experience, does this sound a realistic target?

[moffspeed]

Berw said:

Does anyone know about getting a race license back after a by-pass. My cardiologist picked up a problem with my hart at high hart rate when I went for the stress test to get my race license renewed in January. (Previous week I passed a ECG for a new job, so I wonder what good a std ECG is?). Anyway I had no chest pain or symptoms but as there is a family history they did an endogram and I had a by-pass 5 weeks ago. I am fairly fit and I went back to work after 3 weeks (office) and all is now looking good, except I feel like a donkey has kicked me in the chest.
My cardiologist reckons that there is no long term problem getting the license renewed as he has done several flying licenses for people who have had a bypass. The last race of the year for the class I’m in is on my birthday at end November, so I’m setting that as a target to get back on the track. I’d then need to do the stress test at end October which is six and a half months after the by pass, Has anyone experience, does this sound a realistic target?

Sounds realistic to me. You're a good advert for preventative medicine in that you had no symptoms but still underwent surgery on the grounds of a positive stress test and an abnormal angiogram. In the bad old days you would have been considered for a CABG only after you had begun to encounter angina pains or having suffered your first heart attack.

You're right about a standard ECG, it's OK as a means of assessing the rhythm of the heart and to exclude any major pre-existing problems - but that's about it. Simple analogy - if you were buying a new motor for your Locost then a standard ECG would be the equivalent of seeing the engine on tickover for 30 seconds with cold oil. A stress ECG would be the equivalent of sticking it on the rolling road and banging it up against the rev limiter for 10 minutes or so. An angiogram would be another step on - buying the engine having carefully stripped it down and having had a good look at the crank, con rods, pistons etc.

Sounds as though the bypass went well, so assuming that you are on at least some ingredients of the conventional cocktail of aspirin/clopidogrel/statins/ACE inhibitors/beta blockers/supervised exercise then there is no reason why a stress test in 6 months should pose any significant problems.

Incidentally why did you need an RACMSA stress test in the first place - did you need an International Licence ??

Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 26th May 22:45

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the reply and good wishes, I have a Malaysia AA license stress test is needed if over 40, cardiologist agreed to give me a stress test in 6 weeks, which is 3 months after Op, I like to think its a good advert for preventive medicine and reguler check up, and yes I'm on a mixture of tablets, currently convincing my wife that the stress tet 9motor racing0 saved my life and the money spent over the years has been well spent, by the way the op was private would not have gotit otherwise.

[shaunroche]

m3psm - you still alive fella? It seems to be a while since you posted.

I am in a similar position that you were in 2010...what happened in the end?

Slight heart attack two years ago and now I am about to apply for my first Nat B license.....I am on the same drugs as you mentioned and feel fighting fit so, just wondering...

[jj.]

Sadly, I can add to this....

I had a MI (Heart Attack, resulting in a stent being fitted - including a stretch on the slab with the old, 'clear!', 'clear!!', yup he's back) scenario.

I stopped racing for a year, and didn't renew my licence, I knew I needed time to recover, don't think the old heart could have coped with the start line....!

I reapplied for my licence (Nat B), a year later, they requested a new medical from my GP, which I did. Declared all my new (sadly acquired!) meds, (Asprin, Bisoprlol, Clopidogrel, Ramipril, Statin) on the application and they sent a new licence, didn't seem to bother them.

Since then, I've stopped taking the Clopidogrel & Bisoprlol, which have been amended on the form, not had to have a medical since (although I am still under 45) the point I believe you have to have more regular medicals.

Controlling my heart rate and keeping calm on the assembly area and sitting on the grid is another matter. I'd hate to think what my bpm is (I have a HRM for gym use), I won't wear it on the track, as I think I'm best off not knowing.
jj

[shaunroche]

Hi JJ, cheers for this!
Nothing so dramatic for me I'm pleased to say...a spot of somewhat persistent indigestion or so I thought and then a visit and 4 day stay in hospital after a slight heart attack.

Did the angiogram and didn't have a stent fitted though I am on all the five drugs you mentioned.

Any minute now I think they'll stop the Bisoprolol and Clopodogrel, though I want to continue with the beta blocker as this has totally stopped the migraines that used to plague my life.

jj. said:

....they requested a new medical from my GP, which I did....

Out of interest, what did the Doctor do during your medical...was it with an inclined tread mill etc.?

Cheers, S.

[df76]

shaunroche said:

Any minute now I think they'll stop the Bisoprolol and Clopodogrel, though I want to continue with the beta blocker as this has totally stopped the migraines that used to plague my life.

You have to be careful with beta blockers as they are a "banned in competition" drug for motorsport. So you'd need a TUE to continue using them.

Talking of headaches, I had a small stroke caused by a heart virus about four years ago, and the cardio team recommended that I stay on clopidogrel (given my age and the weirdness of it all) and I haven't had a headache since.

[jj.]

shaunroche said:

Out of interest, what did the Doctor do during your medical...was it with an inclined tread mill etc.?
Cheers, S.

Nope, just the basic traditional medical, checked limb/hand function, knee/arm bend/raise etc... Simple eye test, blood pressure, heart rate, height/weight, urine check, etc.

The inclined tread mill (with full lead ECG) you refer to is perhaps the 'BRUCE' test (search on google), this is something normally done at hospital/outpatients. I requested to do one, which I did about 9 months following my MI, really just for my own curiosity, to see if the heart would work at increased rate and I didn't have any issue's.

Regarding the other comment from someone about 'beta blockers', I agree, I wasn't sure if they would return my licence being on a beta blocker (I expected it to be an issue), but I declared it and was on the medical report and I got the licence. Maybe they figure at Nat B level it's fine.
jj

[shaunroche]

df76 said:

.....Talking of headaches, I had a small stroke caused by a heart virus about four years ago, and the cardio team recommended that I stay on clopidogrel (given my age and the weirdness of it all) and I haven't had a headache since.

This is very interesting! I thought it was the BB's that were stopping the Migraines but after reading your comments and doing a quick surf, it seems Clopodogrel can also be used.

This is a bit of a bugger as I think the Doctor is hoping to stop them both soon, but as I said, I was going to try and stop on the BB's. I wonder which one, if not both is working then?

[shaunroche]

jj. said:

Nope, just the basic traditional medical, checked limb/hand function, knee/arm bend/raise etc... Simple eye test, blood pressure, heart rate, height/weight, urine check, etc.

The inclined tread mill (with full lead ECG) you refer to is perhaps the 'BRUCE' test (search on google), this is something normally done at hospital/outpatients. I requested to do one, which I did about 9 months following my MI, really just for my own curiosity, to see if the heart would work at increased rate and I didn't have any issue's.

Regarding the other comment from someone about 'beta blockers', I agree, I wasn't sure if they would return my licence being on a beta blocker (I expected it to be an issue), but I declared it and was on the medical report and I got the licence. Maybe they figure at Nat B level it's fine.
jj

It might be down to how positive a report the Doctor makes out then?

I would like to do Sprints and the like next season, hence the interest in getting a license - I did a track day at Spa earlier in the year and noticed that my heart rate at any point during my laps was lower than when I shoot Zombies on CoD!

I never feel mild terror after being in a car as much as when I'm ducking and diving on the settee playing that game!

Thank you for all the replies though - I've got a good relationship with the Doc so the plan is to get fitter and go and see him in the new year before I apply for a license...thanks once again chaps!

S.

[df76]

You don't need a medical for a non-race licence, just need to complete your own declaration.

[shaunroche]

df76 said:

You don't need a medical for a non-race licence, just need to complete your own declaration.

For a Nat B doesn't the doctor need to fill the medical section in?

[df76]

shaunroche said:

df76 said:

You don't need a medical for a non-race licence, just need to complete your own declaration.

For a Nat B doesn't the doctor need to fill the medical section in?

Only for a Race Nat B. If you want to do speed events, you only need a Non-Race Nat B (careful, you can only use certain cars) and there is no need for any doctor involvement.

[shaunroche]

df76 said:

Only for a Race Nat B. If you want to do speed events, you only need a Non-Race Nat B (careful, you can only use certain cars) and there is no need for any doctor involvement.

Brill, cheers, at last!

I always considered myself to be fairly bright but I have struggled like hell trying to get to the bottom of this and then all of a sudden with a bit of guidance it all opens up before me!

Cheers df and everyone else who has helped...I know exactly what to do now! From the MSA Blue book....

'As a beginner you will need a "non-race National B" licence; this currently costs £33. In most instances you will require no medical, just your doctor’s name and address.....'

Once again, cheers fellas!!