Possible very early stage heart failure - a problem when applying for office jobs

WobblyDog

I'm a pretty fit chap in my late forties, who runs a couple of half marathons per year, and up until now I've had no serious health problems. No sick leave in 10 years.

Some of my relatives have heart problems, so I get periodically screened, and the last checkup hinted at very early stage dilated cardiomyopathy. As a preventative measure, I now take low dose beta blockers and ACE inhibitors daily.

I'm thinking of applying for a MOD office IT job, which will involve some kind of medical questionaire, not sure what yet. I will of course be truthful.

Is my medical condition, which currently has zero effect on me, but could get worse (timescale years), likely to be problem in my job hunt?

Red-Squirrel_2

Your medical condition isn't anybody else's business unless you want it to be.

Not employment related, but have you had any medical advice about whether long distance running is the best/safest kind of exercise for you now?

xapprenticex

Legally you dont have to declare it apparently, it may be different for the MOD, i dont know.

What dose of beta blockers do you take? Im sure its bad for your liver long term.

elsien

xapprenticex wrote: »

Legally you dont have to declare it apparently, it may be different for the MOD, i dont know.

What dose of beta blockers do you take? Im sure its bad for your liver long term.

I'm not sure that's quite right. You wouldn't declare pre-interview/job offer but depending on any post offer health screening you may have to put it on there, depending on the wording.
They could then only retract the job offer if it affected your ability to carry out the role at this point in time, not at any hypothetical point in the future. So with a decent employer it shouldn't make any difference.

WobblyDog

To answer some of the questions, the cardiologist says it's OK to carry on running subject to the usual caveat "don't push yourself too hard". I'm on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol per day.

xapprenticex

WobblyDog wrote: »

To answer some of the questions, the cardiologist says it's OK to carry on running subject to the usual caveat "don't push yourself too hard". I'm on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol per day.

Thanks for answering, seriously, i'd stop the running, maybe cycling would be better on your heart.

Bmth100

Ah, heck. This reminds me, my mother recently got diagnosed with something heart-y and Im fairly sure this was it. Really need to go and check it out but Im petrified by the 50% chance of inheritance.

If you dont mind, whats the prognosis like..? Im 30.

GothicStirling

[QUOTE=xapprenticex;74302042What_dose_of_beta_blockers_do_you_take?_Im_sure_its_bad_for_your_liver_long_term.[/QUOTE]

The OP needs to take the Beta Blockers to keep his blood pressure down, or else risk premature advanced heart failure or kidney failure.

OP, my Mam is 78 and diagnosed with heart failure 5 years ago. She's a keen gardener, and we've just come back from our local swimming pool. The only thing that really slows her down is her broken Femur a few years back. Do what your cardiologist and heart nurse tells you, go to your hospital appointments and you can still have a full life (that includes your career). Especially, don't listen to life expectancy, the science has leapt forward substantially since those stats where arrived at. Good luck with the job!

Energize

xapprenticex wrote: »

Legally you dont have to declare it apparently, it may be different for the MOD, i dont know.

What dose of beta blockers do you take? Im sure its bad for your liver long term.

No they aren't bad for the liver. Why is it that whenever drug toxicity myths come up, everyone always seems to focus on the liver.

xapprenticex wrote: »

Thanks for answering, seriously, i'd stop the running, maybe cycling would be better on your heart.

I would say maybe listen to the cardiologist.

Bmth100 wrote: »

Ah, heck. This reminds me, my mother recently got diagnosed with something heart-y and Im fairly sure this was it. Really need to go and check it out but Im petrified by the 50% chance of inheritance.

If you dont mind, whats the prognosis like..? Im 30.

The prognosis is certainly much better with prophylactic medical treatment, see your doctor as soon as possible.

GothicStirling

xapprenticex wrote: »

Thanks for answering, seriously, i'd stop the running, maybe cycling would be better on your heart.

Any form of exercise is good, there's no reason for the OP to stop running. The only exercise I was told to refrain from (family history of aneurysm on Dad's side) is weight-training.

WobblyDog

Bmth100 wrote: »

Ah, heck. This reminds me, my mother recently got diagnosed with something heart-y and Im fairly sure this was it. Really need to go and check it out but Im petrified by the 50% chance of inheritance.

If you dont mind, whats the prognosis like..? Im 30.

I haven't asked for a prognosis but I suspect it would be "decades". The large and impressive machines at the hospital have detected a minor abnormality in my heart, but I have no symptoms. I hope the the prescribed drugs will prevent the abnormality getting worse, or even reverse it. It only really becomes something I think about when I have to fill out a health questionaire for some reason.