K1 VISA: Had Medical examination at London Embassy. Doctor spotted little problem?! (merged threads/postings)

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

My wife had a doctor unnecessarily refer her to another physician during her medical appointment, based on an erroneous conclusion from reading the report from my wife's normal family doctor. The extra appointment and the extra paperwork that had to be sent btwn medical offices cost us 3 days, because the embassy interview was scheduled the day after the medical. She passed the interview but they said the visa could not be issued until after they received all medical reports, which again, cost us 3 days.

One word of advice... we were making calls to both the original doctor and referred doctor, daily, to make sure they were forwarding the reports to the embassy. We feared that the reports could get lost in the shuffle and sit on someone's desk for weeks. Also note, if your embassy interview isn't for awhile, this might not cause you any delay. Our problem was that our medical appt was right on top of the interview. Good luck.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

You cannot be denied for heart murmur.

Only certain medical conditions can make you inadmissible to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.), under Sections 212(a) and 221(d). These include:

• A communicable diseases of public health significance. A list of these is kept in the Code of Federal Regulations at 42 C.F.R. Section 34.2. The main ones on the list are active tuberculosis, various venereal diseases, and infectious leprosy. AIDS (HIV) was once on the list, but no longer.
• A physical or mental disorder and a history of behavior associated with the disorder that may pose or has posed a threat to the property, safety, or welfare of the applicant or others.
• A physical or mental disorder and a history or behavior associated with the disorder that may pose or has posed a threat to the property, safety or welfare of the alien or others and which behavior is likely to recur or lead to other harmful behavior. (Note that a conviction for driving while under the influence of alcohol has been interpreted to indicate inadmissibility as a medical disorder and associated harmful behavior.)
• Abuse of or addiction to drugs.

That said, they are mainly concerned about communicable diseases like TB. However, these days they allow immigrants with AIDS and Hepatitis to enter the USA, so I seriously doubt a little heart arrhythmia is going to deny your chances. Heck, there are stories here with beneficiaries on full blown dialysis getting accepted for their visa. You have nothing to worry about based on the facts.

Now, if you have a circulatory condition that would result in you getting a blood clot and dying, they may caution you to use another mode of immigration like a cruise ship.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[JDWright 30]

That is not something you can get denied for. But it's something to monitor for your own health.

[JDWright 30]

That said, they are mainly concerned about communicable diseases like TB. However, these days they allow immigrants with AIDS and Hepatitis to enter the USA, so I seriously doubt a little heart arrhythmia is going to deny your chances.

Now, if you have a circulatory condition that would result in you getting a blood clot and dying, they may caution you to use another mode of immigration like a cruise ship.

A person with a murmur can travel on a plane, for the most part it's caused by a valve leaking, but there are more sinister causes; but plane rides, perfectly safe.

[JCV 5]

My advice...RELAX It is not a disease that makes you inadmissible, be glad you found out and can now work on being healthy in the future with your husband!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Did the GP refer you to a cardiologist? Before you leave for the U.S., I think you should pause and get some answers from a specialist. Medical care is so expensive in the U.S. so the opportunity to get evaluated free on NHS is really something to prioritize. It could be anything from not very serious to Whoa! you need heart valve repair. That could be billed out at over $100,000. So once you can stop crying because you know you will not be denied a visa, think about your health and consider at least getting a specialist's opinion. I understand it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under you but regroup and think about it. BTW, You two are a gorgeous couple.

Heart murmur info http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-murmur-causes-treatments

[Kris&Eva 6]

Did the GP refer you to a cardiologist? Before you leave for the U.S., I think you should pause and get some answers from a specialist. Medical care is so expensive in the U.S. so the opportunity to get evaluated free on NHS is really something to prioritize. It could be anything from not very serious to Whoa! you need heart valve repair. That could be billed out at over $100,000. So once you can stop crying because you know you will not be denied a visa, think about your health and consider at least getting a specialist's opinion. I understand it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under you but regroup and think about it. BTW, You two are a gorgeous couple.

Heart murmur info http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-murmur-causes-treatments

The GP will be sending me to the hospital for an ultrasound scan for my heart and 24 hour monitoring observation of the heart. I don't know when yet as she told me she will be letting me know. Thank you for the reassurance and the compliment !

[TBoneTX 45,329]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum -- topic involves that phase. ***

[lewisandmike 4]

So sorry to hear that! Best of luck!!!

[yuna628 9,677]

So I had my examination yesterday at Knightsbridge doctors and the lady sent me a referral to my GP as she heard something when she was checking my heart.

I went to see my GP today and the DR heard the same thing. Ive never had heart problems... NEVER. I have been checked before and i never had heart problems.. Nobody ever told me I have heart murmur. So this is news to me...

Can anyone tell me if i can get denied because of this? I am so heartbroken. I can't stop crying because of this.. it might effect my future with my fiance. I don't want this to ruin everything.

Please help!

Absolutely don't worry, you won't be denied okay? And it's a very good thing you know now, where you can get medical care without heavy cost.

Many people have heart murmurs, but they also often never know they have one. Often not even a doctor will pick it up as they can be transient and hard to hear if not specifically looking/trained. Stress will do you no good with it, but the good news is often murmurs are innocent and don't even require treatment beyond monitoring once in a while. My mom has a transient murmur, which is honestly fairly normal for her age. She has some underlying conditions that also has an affect on the heart. If you are generally fit and healthy, chances are it's an issue that is easily solved.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Being under stress to the point it affects your health is suffering from anxiety to some degree. I know it well. That being said, if it came on suddenly during a stressful situation, it does sound like a classic anxiety attack. First time for everything right? Nevertheless, should it not be, it's always good to get it checked anyway.

Racing heart by itself is not a symptom of an anxiety attack, it's just the body going into fight or flight mode.

OP: Just try to relax, meet with your GP and get those results back ASAP and you'll be fine If you have not experience any heart problems prior to this I am sure they won't find anything.

[Shauna&Wael 211]

Being under stress to the point it affects your health is suffering from anxiety to some degree. I know it well. That being said, if it came on suddenly during a stressful situation, it does sound like a classic anxiety attack. First time for everything right? Nevertheless, should it not be, it's always good to get it checked anyway.

Just because you're nervous and your heart is beating fast does NOT mean you're having a panic attack. Please do not spread misinformation.

To the OP, I have a feeling this nasty doctor was giving you the run around. She could tell you were already nervous, she knew that was why your heart was beating fast, but she purposefully wanted to delay your case by making you go somewhere else. If you've been to your regular doctor relatively recently, and you've never had heart problems before, obviously they aren't going to suddenly pop up now. I truly think you'll be fine and I'm sorry you had this experience. These doctors should be making people comfortable.

[yuna628 9,677]

Just because you're nervous and your heart is beating fast does NOT mean you're having a panic attack. Please do not spread misinformation.

To the OP, I have a feeling this nasty doctor was giving you the run around. She could tell you were already nervous, she knew that was why your heart was beating fast, but she purposefully wanted to delay your case by making you go somewhere else. If you've been to your regular doctor relatively recently, and you've never had heart problems before, obviously they aren't going to suddenly pop up now. I truly think you'll be fine and I'm sorry you had this experience. These doctors should be making people comfortable.

As someone that does suffer from anxiety attacks, I know what personally causes my heart to race. There's a difference between racing from anxiety, or a fight or flight response and a true murmur.

That being said, since the OP has made another thread as a follow-up to the subject, despite this particular doctor's attitude being prickly, their concern in this matter regarding the heart was warranted. Not every doctor has a good bedside manner, no. But that doesn't mean the doctor doesn't know what they are doing.

Edited August 13, 2015 by yuna628

[Shauna&Wael 211]

As someone that does suffer from anxiety attacks, I know what personally causes my heart to race. There's a difference between racing from anxiety, or a fight or flight response and a true murmur.

That being said, since the OP has made another thread as a follow-up to the subject, despite this particular doctor's attitude being prickly, their concern in this matter regarding the heart was warranted. Not every doctor has a good bedside manner, no. But that doesn't mean the doctor doesn't know what they are doing.

Just because you have anxiety doesn't give you the right to diagnose others on the internet with confidence I have panic attacks too, and given what the OP described and the mitigating circumstances, it seems pretty clear to me a panic attack is not what occurred.

Oh really? Were you in the room with her and the doctor listening to her heart to know that the follow up was warranted? Give me a break.

[yuna628 9,677]

Just because you have anxiety doesn't give you the right to diagnose others on the internet with confidence I have panic attacks too, and given what the OP described and the mitigating circumstances, it seems pretty clear to me a panic attack is not what occurred.

Oh really? Were you in the room with her and the doctor listening to her heart to know that the follow up was warranted? Give me a break.

I did not say that is what she has, I said that's what it sounded like to me in my experience (and several others I know) but that it also might not be too. Sorry your panic attacks do not cause heart racing as it does for other people. That's a good thing right?

And yes, it was warranted. Which is why I mentioned her follow-up thread, if you'd care to read it.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/561337-had-k1-medical-exam-at-knightsbridge-london-heart-murmur-issue-what-now/

Edited August 13, 2015 by yuna628