Question about one of the questionnaire sections

[mightymints 0]

With regards to the medical form. Last year I was admitted to hospital with an "idiopathic atrial flutter". Basically, my heart beat went out of the normal beat, into a irregular rhythm, where it wasn't the normal bu-dum bu-dum pattern.

I went in in the evening, and was out the next lunch time, as all they did was slightly shock my heart, which then caused it to restart in the regular rhythm, and all was good. At the time, I asked the Dr at the hospital if it would effect insurance or anything like that, and he said that theres no way it should effect things like that. Its something totally random, hence the name, and could happen to anyone. He also said that theres a better chance of it happening to someone else than it is to happen to me again. I don't have this in words though, and so I am wondering if this is will cause any problems? Hopefully they will know what it is, but my actual GP didn't know what it was last time I went when I had a cold!

Obviously I am guessing this is something I should put a yes to where is says have you been hospitalized?

Any guidance on how to word the letter I add with it to explain the box I ticked yes to?

Thanks in advance

[Nik+Heather 122]

I would go armed with the records from that hospital visit, if you can get them, and a letter from the doctor who treated you.

[MARM 7]

With regards to the medical form. Last year I was admitted to hospital with an "idiopathic atrial flutter". Basically, my heart beat went out of the normal beat, into a irregular rhythm, where it wasn't the normal bu-dum bu-dum pattern.

I went in in the evening, and was out the next lunch time, as all they did was slightly shock my heart, which then caused it to restart in the regular rhythm, and all was good. At the time, I asked the Dr at the hospital if it would effect insurance or anything like that, and he said that theres no way it should effect things like that. Its something totally random, hence the name, and could happen to anyone. He also said that theres a better chance of it happening to someone else than it is to happen to me again. I don't have this in words though, and so I am wondering if this is will cause any problems? Hopefully they will know what it is, but my actual GP didn't know what it was last time I went when I had a cold!

Obviously I am guessing this is something I should put a yes to where is says have you been hospitalized?

Any guidance on how to word the letter I add with it to explain the box I ticked yes to?

Thanks in advance

As a health care professional, I can tell you that idiopathic atrial flutter is not a contagious, chronic, or life-threatening diagnosis. The fact that it is idiopathic means that it is does not have any known cause (and almost always an isolated and acute case), so you don't have to worry about it being an issue for your medical or for your visa issuance. However, the fact that you were hospitalized for it is a reason for you to include a letter from the Dr at the hospital where you were treated or from your GP (whoever has the record of your hospitalization) along with your medical questionnaire. It most probably will not cause any problems for you to mention this at your medical, but they might delay sending your medical results to the embassy if you go to the medical without a letter explaining the hospitalization, as most times Knightsbridge will ask to fax over explanation letters if someone mentions a hospitalization or some type of other medical history. So it is better to go prepared than to be delayed after wards. It is just a formality, so nothing to worry about. Just put a yes for the hospitalized question and you can ask whoever has records of your hospitalization for a letter explaining what happened. Something along the lines of:

"Above-named was hospitalized and diagnosed with idiopathic heart flutter on such and such date... was an isolated occurrence, patient has no history of prior episodes, treatment was given as follows (describing the use of the cardioverter defibrillator or whatever else was used). Prognosis: No further treatment required, (comments where physician told you that it's not something to be worried about in the future.)

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding this (contact details of GP/hospital)

Signed,

(GP/Doctor)"

Hope this helps!

-MARM

Edited September 24, 2009 by MARM

[mightymints 0]

Hmm, it might be difficult to actually track down the dr who treated me for it , but I figure I should speak to my GP about it when I visit her about the vaccination records? Do you think she would have a record of this on her system? I did not actually get admitted at that place, since I didnt not go to the GP when I was concerned about my high pulse. I went to Kidderminster hospital, where they sent me to Worcester hospital. It was treated at Worcester the next day since no one was there who was qualified to treat me at night. I guess that also proves in its own that it was not serious due to them being able to leave it over night?

Hopefully my GP will be able to see something into this on her system :S?

Thanks so much for your help so far.

[MARM 7]

Hmm, it might be difficult to actually track down the dr who treated me for it , but I figure I should speak to my GP about it when I visit her about the vaccination records? Do you think she would have a record of this on her system? I did not actually get admitted at that place, since I didnt not go to the GP when I was concerned about my high pulse. I went to Kidderminster hospital, where they sent me to Worcester hospital. It was treated at Worcester the next day since no one was there who was qualified to treat me at night. I guess that also proves in its own that it was not serious due to them being able to leave it over night?

Hopefully my GP will be able to see something into this on her system :S?

Thanks so much for your help so far.

I am sure if you explain the situation to your GP, she can check your heart beats right there to ensure that everything is indeed alright and then maybe contact the hospital where you were treated? Were you given a discharge sheet after you left Worcester? I am not sure how hospitalizations work in the UK, but I am sure the GP would have some record in her system for you. The goal is to get a letter saying that you are A-OK and that the hospitalization was an isolated case. Not that it will cause a problem for you that you had this hospitalization, but just to eliminate further delay, it's a good idea to go with the letter rather than be asked for it afterward.

[MARM 7]

Worse comes to worse if there is no way you can get a letter documenting the hospitalization, you can at least get a letter from your GP saying that you are not currently under any treatment for the idiopathic atrial flutter and that you are fine otherwise.

[mightymints 0]

Okays, tomorrow I will try and meet with my GP and talk about both this, and vaccines. I think the only thing they gave me when i was discharged was a photocopy of the graph showing my before and after pulse, nothing else. I mean they put me to sleep when they jolted it, but when i woke up not long later, they just wanted to make sure I could urinate normally! Then I was allowed to go home, and didn't need any checkups or anything after that!

I do still have my wristband from it, but it doesnt seem to have anything useful on it apart from the date i was in there.

Ill let you know what the result of my talk is with the GP!

[MARM 7]

Okays, tomorrow I will try and meet with my GP and talk about both this, and vaccines. I think the only thing they gave me when i was discharged was a photocopy of the graph showing my before and after pulse, nothing else. I mean they put me to sleep when they jolted it, but when i woke up not long later, they just wanted to make sure I could urinate normally! Then I was allowed to go home, and didn't need any checkups or anything after that!

I do still have my wristband from it, but it doesnt seem to have anything useful on it apart from the date i was in there.

Ill let you know what the result of my talk is with the GP!

Don't worry about the wristband, but take the graph with you and talk to the GP, I am sure you will work everything out

[mightymints 0]

Right, I saw my GP today! Regarding this issue, she said the had the information in the system which said that there was no real cause of it, its just a random event. I understand it could happen again, but hey, this could happen to ANYONE. It also said how i didnt have to go back for any treatment or checkups.

She is putting this into a letter, as well as printing it out, and will get it to me next week.

Does this sound ok?

thanks

[MARM 7]

Right, I saw my GP today! Regarding this issue, she said the had the information in the system which said that there was no real cause of it, its just a random event. I understand it could happen again, but hey, this could happen to ANYONE. It also said how i didnt have to go back for any treatment or checkups.

She is putting this into a letter, as well as printing it out, and will get it to me next week.

Does this sound ok?

thanks

That is perfect, and should suffice for your Knightsbridge medical!

[mightymints 0]

Great news. Although I wont stop worrying until its passed, thank you MARM, you have been a HUGE help!

[mightymints 0]

As an update, I got my letter regarding the idiopathic atrial flutter. This also includes the release letter from the cardiologist who treated me, and that states that although i understand i could have it again, there is no way of telling if it would happen again, and this means that it will not definitely return etc. basically just explains that it was a random event, and that i was advised to not drink too much alcohol or caffeine, which i don't anyways. It also states how I am normally fit and very active, so hopefully that should be all fine .

Ill just try and get a letter regarding my eye sight, as stated in another thread, and hopefully all will be good .

[MARM 7]

As an update, I got my letter regarding the idiopathic atrial flutter. This also includes the release letter from the cardiologist who treated me, and that states that although i understand i could have it again, there is no way of telling if it would happen again, and this means that it will not definitely return etc. basically just explains that it was a random event, and that i was advised to not drink too much alcohol or caffeine, which i don't anyways. It also states how I am normally fit and very active, so hopefully that should be all fine .

Ill just try and get a letter regarding my eye sight, as stated in another thread, and hopefully all will be good .

Excellent, you have nothing to worry about at the medical!

[mightymints 0]

As long as they don't fail me on eyesight issues, then awesome .