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Failed Medical.

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Andrew Ford

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Had my medical for GWR today.

Sadly failed on having high blood pressure.

I’ve already been to see my GP and hopefully will get it sorted out, but to say I’m gutted is an understatement.

They have said when I get it solved I can have the GP send them my BP readings and I’ll be good to go, but even so...
 
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Joliver

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Sorry to hear that. Surely it's not a complete failure though? Once you've got it sorted they'll give you another medical? Might be sorted in a few days with medication etc?
 
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Andrew Ford

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I passed everything else, so they said the GP can just send them 3 good BP readings and it’s all good.
 
ESONEULB

ESONEULB

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Andrew Ford said:
Had my medical for GWR today.

Sadly failed on having high blood pressure.

I’ve already been to see my GP and hopefully will get it sorted out, but to say I’m gutted is an understatement.

They have said when I get it solved I can have the GP send them my BP readings and I’ll be good to go, but even so...
Click to expand...


What was your score for the blood pressure result.

IE: What/What

My misses is a health and wellbeing coach and deals with lots of high blood pressures etc.
 
T

The One

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Did they do the blood pressure straight away when you got there it’s been known for them to do that and especially if you been rushing about,they should recheck at the end if they get a high reading
 
A

Andrew Ford

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Yeah, the lady doing it was really nice.
I was tested pretty much first thing, and then again at the end.
 
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Stigy

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Sorry to hear this. However, as you say, you should be good to go once it’s sorted. I know it’s not ideal, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Have you had a history of high BP?
 
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dctraindriver

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Andrew Ford said:
166/117
Click to expand...
That’s high, anything above 140 they tend to refer.

Chances are it’s white coat syndrome, many get it.

Exercise will help, as will avoiding alcohol for a good couple of weeks.

You haven’t failed, just delayed it a little. Don’t be too disheartened.
 
malc-c

malc-c

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That's high, especially the diastolic (lower reading). It could be the stress of the medical (white coat syndrome as mentioned above), but if not then something like 5mg Amlodipine tablets should help (they worked for me and my readings were always in three figures top and bottom).

As others have said, you haven't failed the application process, just a small set back. I'm sure after you have those three results, or retake the medical after you've seen the GP you'll pass.
 
Rockhopper

Rockhopper

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The drama is that there are literally hundreds of different blood pressure tablets plus combinations of tablets that it can take months and months to find the one that works for you. Each time you change you need to take them for a month then have bloods done to make sure your kidneys can tolerate them and so on.
Amlodipine gave me chronic back ache, Ramipril can cause a bad cough etc etc.
Nightmare! - but worth getting sorted. Buy a home tester from the chemist and log the results on a smart phone app called BPMonitor. Print out and take with you next time you see the vet.
166/177 is on the worryingly high side to be blunt.

Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news but I've been there - I got turned down for mobilisation to go to Afghanistan twice because of high BP.

The Doctor said to me "you are not going anywhere till you can sit in my office and do 120/80" so no pressure then (pun intended!!).

The railways option of a note from the Doc seems totally sensible.
 
P

Peeler

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I think I am dreading this more than my impending MMI! I tend to get white coat syndrome too and tend to run at high-normal readings. I’v Just walked to my GP and used the machine. Best reading was 125/83. I run at least 30k a week and if I get to medical I’ll do a good detox before hand!

I tend to get dodgy heart readings too and have been sent for heart scans and all sorts in my time in policing. Thankfully always turns out all ok.
 
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Stigy

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Rockhopper said:
The drama is that there are literally hundreds of different blood pressure tablets plus combinations of tablets that it can take months and months to find the one that works for you. Each time you change you need to take them for a month then have bloods done to make sure your kidneys can tolerate them and so on.
Amlodipine gave me chronic back ache, Ramipril can cause a bad cough etc etc.
Nightmare! - but worth getting sorted. Buy a home tester from the chemist and log the results on a smart phone app called BPMonitor. Print out and take with you next time you see the vet.
166/177 is on the worryingly high side to be blunt.

Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news but I've been there - I got turned down for mobilisation to go to Afghanistan twice because of high BP.
Click to expand...
It may be that he doesn’t need any tablets of course.
 
crebbs1

crebbs1

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Peeler said:
I think I am dreading this more than my impending MMI! I tend to get white coat syndrome too and tend to run at high-normal readings. I’v Just walked to my GP and used the machine. Best reading was 125/83. I run at least 30k a week and if I get to medical I’ll do a good detox before hand!

I tend to get dodgy heart readings too and have been sent for heart scans and all sorts in my time in policing. Thankfully always turns out all ok.
Click to expand...

You have nothing to worry about with that reading and you are clearly fit if running 30k a week.
My reading was similar to that in my medical.
 
A

Andrew Ford

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Cheers all.

The quack has given me a monitor for a week to log my BP and I’ve got an ECG and bloods on Thursday, just to make sure there’s nothing sinister going on.

She seemed fairly confident that it’ll sort itself out just by cutting out the couple of beers I have of an evening and cutting back my coffee intake, as I’m pretty fit and my BMI is bang on.

I’m just really disappointed.
 
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Stigy

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Andrew Ford said:
Cheers all.

The quack has given me a monitor for a week to log my BP and I’ve got an ECG and bloods on Thursday, just to make sure there’s nothing sinister going on.

She seemed fairly confident that it’ll sort itself out just by cutting out the couple of beers I have of an evening and cutting back my coffee intake, as I’m pretty fit and my BMI is bang on.

I’m just really disappointed.
Click to expand...
It’s amazing how seemingly small things affect people. I had a higher BMI and was told I needed to lose weight at my medical (although the quack only said he’d be cross if I didn’t and wanted to see me in three months - he passed me as fit at the time). I’ve since made a few changes and have seen even little things like my resting pulse rate lower slightly. It wasn’t high before, but small things improve things like that. You’ll be okay I’m sure. Keep us updated and good luck!
 
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bluesfromagun

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Rockhopper said:
The drama is that there are literally hundreds of different blood pressure tablets plus combinations of tablets that it can take months and months to find the one that works for you. Each time you change you need to take them for a month then have bloods done to make sure your kidneys can tolerate them and so on.
Amlodipine gave me chronic back ache, Ramipril can cause a bad cough etc etc.
Nightmare! - but worth getting sorted. Buy a home tester from the chemist and log the results on a smart phone app called BPMonitor. Print out and take with you next time you see the vet.
166/177 is on the worryingly high side to be blunt.

Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news but I've been there - I got turned down for mobilisation to go to Afghanistan twice because of high BP.

The Doctor said to me "you are not going anywhere till you can sit in my office and do 120/80" so no pressure then (pun intended!!).

The railways option of a note from the Doc seems totally sensible.
Click to expand...

I can't see why getting turned down for mobilisation in Afghanistan could possibly be a bad thing.
 
ESONEULB

ESONEULB

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Andrew Ford said:
166/117
Click to expand...

Hi Andrew,

I spoke to my misses and she sent me this reply.

" Lowering your Blood Pressure

No smoking

Keeping insulin low by not eating a high refined carbohydrate diet, insulin is secreted from the pancreas when we consume carbohydrates, so the less we eat the less insulin needed. Try to eat mainly non-processed food, a good rule of thumb is to consume foods that do not require an ingredients list or if they do no more than 5 items on it.

Low salt diet, not no salt as we do need some sodium, a non processed diet should provide enough.
Cardiovascular exercise
Minimal alcohol consumption
Reduced Stress

Insulin can cause renal sodium retention, which can result in fluid retention. Low carb followers have reported fluid loss which could be the reason for their reduced BP.

Some people report apple cider vinegar containing 'the mother' (an enzyme) has lowered their BP.

High BP is considered more than 140/90

High BP is considered dangerous as constant pressure in the arteries can cause damage which can lead to heart attack and stroke, also can lead to kidney damage, angina and narrowed arteries in the legs."

Hope this helps

It's not meant to scare anyone it's just the facts.
 
Rockhopper

Rockhopper

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bluesfromagun said:
I can't see why getting turned down for mobilisation in Afghanistan could possibly be a bad thing.
Click to expand...

If you are in the Army then that’s what you do! I was in the TA, I volunteered to go. We always had more people wanting to go than there were spaces available. I was absolutely gutted that I couldn’t deploy.
I went out there anyhow as a private contractor and did nearly three years in the end. I’d go back tomorrow if I could!
 
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Dynamonic

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I initially ‘failed’ my medical last year due to high blood pressure too.
I went to the Doctors, took readings at home and quickly got diagnosed with white-coat hypertension.
A letter from my Doctor to Occupational Health later and I was on the course as planned! :)

Hopefully, it’s just a minor setback and you’ll be starting very soon! :)
 
MidlandsChap

MidlandsChap

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Best of luck Andrew. Hopefully it was just the stress of the medical giving the high reading and a simple fix can be found.
 
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Andrew Ford

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12 Jun 2019
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So.
Eventually got my blood pressure under control with medication.

Letter from Docs emailed yesterday and phone call and formal offer received this morning:)))

I’m on the course next Monday.

I’m so happy!!!
 
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