Gym Class

[kayla71]

Yesterday I had gym class and my teachers where making us run 8 minutes sraight. The class was told, " if you run 8 minutes you will get an A, 7 minutes a B, 6 minutes a C...and so on. well I ran 4 minutes and had to stop, I was out of breath and my chest was hurting. I dont think my teachers understand what my deal is, so I told my mom and she said I DID NOT need to be running that long so see is going to write a note to my teacher.....

[Glen Beamish]

Better still, get one from your doctor.

[BlueDevil]

I ran 4 minutes and had to stop, I was out of breath and my chest was hurting. I dont think my teachers understand what my deal is, so I told my mom and she said I DID NOT need to be running that long so see is going to write a note to my teacher.....

I'll echo Glen and strongly recommend you and your mother get a note from the doctor, as well as ask him/her if there is any sort of exercise you can do. The teacher should be able to accommodate you and your limitations.

You are lucky in the sense that you know you have HCM. When I was your age (I'll be 38 a week from today), I didn't. I couldn't physically keep up with my classmates, and it was blamed on other reasons. We had no indication that I had any sort of heart problem, and I was constantly told I was lazy and too inactive. My middle school and high school years were absolutely miserable because of this.

Good luck!

[Reenie]

Kayla, thank goodness your mom will stick up for you. I hope you get it through your teacher's head that you can't run in PE like that. My own kids are around your age and haven't been diagnosed yet, but since their daddy has HCM, they may develop it later. I've already told their PE teachers that if they say they can't run any more, let them quit running. Don't ask questions, just let them rest. The teachers agreed that they would do just that. I hope your teachers listen as well as ours do.

Reenie

[JohnM2]

Hi Kayla,

I will just echo what the others have written about getting notes from not only your mother but also your doctor (cardiologist if possible, otherwise family doctor).

Like BlueDevil, I also wasn't very good at sports at school, though I did enjoy them - especially cross-country running and middle distance track. I often thought I should have been able to do better than I was achieving, but didn't know I had HCM (I was a grandfather before I found out). Obviosly, your symptoms are more severe than I suffered at your age - mine could easily be mistaken for simply not being quite as good as some of the other boys in my class (I went to boys only schools!).

Here is one suggestion for you, which you may like,or may prefere not to do - that's entirely up to you. I've read about some kids with HCM doing a presentation to their class (and teachers) about the disease and it's consequences. If you feel you could do something like that, it might help them to understand what you can and cannot do. If you don't feel comfortable with doing a presentation, or aren't confortable with discusing your personal health problems in such a public manner, then don't try it. That sugestion is something for you to decide on yourself. If you like it - fine. If you don't like it - that's fine also.

Best wishes to you

John

[mflanagn]

Kayla, our Cardiologist wrote a letter to our schools taking the kids out of gym class until they graduate. I think it would be a good idea to have your cardiologist write a letter to your school and have you taken out of gym class.

[kayla71]

I just want to thank you all for the support and advice you all have given me. I think I will try to tell my teacher and fellow students about HCM. Although if I do give a speach I am sure most of the people at my school wont understand. Thanks Again!

[met]

Hi, Kayla. One other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet --

Since it's pretty likely that your inability to run for the required time is because of your HCM, your gym teacher is (though likely due to being uninformed rather than being evil) down-grading you because of your disability.

This is, at best, not kosher. I'm not an attorney, but it sounds like it could also be illegal.

At age 14, you might be in high school, and if gym grades count in your GPA, it matters whether you get a bad grade in gym, since it could affect college admissions, etc.

The big question, and it's a delicate one, is how to handle it. If you've got a good relationship with your gym teacher and you feel comfortable with it, a one-on-one conversation might solve the problem directly. If not, I suggest a conversation with your guidance counselor (if you have one), your regular teacher, or the principal or assistant principal (with your mom in on the conversation, too, if that makes you more comfortable). Again, the approach, as others have suggested, is probably best as one of trying to educate your gym teacher/principal/etc. and explaining why it isn't safe for you or the school for them to require heavy physical exertion from you. And do be sure to have a confirming note from your cardiologist.

--Mark

[tommysgirl]

Kayla,
I'm glad that you have decided to educate your teacher and class about your condition. I will also echo all of the wonderful advice above. My hubby is the HCM person in our family. Our youngest gets screened yearly and hasn't had any sign on the disease by echo as of yet. He has asthma and is well controlled with meds. He also has these episodes of shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitations from time to time. We recently moved to a new state and that ment educating a new school system. It took some time to get them to understand. Lil' Tomy gets very winded and has these episodes during heavy physical activity. He is allowed to continue to participate in P.E.

He is also allowed to stop and sit down if he needs to. The schools will usually work with you. A doctors note is always a good idea. I try not to pull the handicap card unless I absolutely have to, which all ways gets their attention immediately! I also have a child with a learning disability. They have to accomidate you. There are laws out there to protect you, if you ever need to use them. You have a right to the same education as every other student with accommidations if they are needed. I'll pray all goes well with your presentation.

God Bless!
Sherry

[purple_ness1]

heya

i do agree with everyone else in telling ur teacher so shes a where ;ect but i have to say be carefully on how u its put , my parents made the mistake of telling my teacher and it had the opersit effect and they treated me like i couldent do anythink at all and i hated it,
i remeber going 2 a school camp once and i wasent allowed 2 do any of the things there cos they where worried if sumthink happered to me it would look bad for the school.
people fear what they dont understand so just be carefull about they way u put it

take care
*margi*

[Grecoeuro]

Hi Kayla,


Maybe it would be a good idea for your gym teacher and Principal to check out this website or maybe get him a copy of one of Lisa's books. Maybe some more information would help them understand. What do you think?

Take care

Theo

[Brownie]

Hi, Kayla:

My daughter Olivia is about your age - she's 15 next month- and so we have also had to deal with the issue of gym class for her. She is in her first year of high school, and before the school year began we met with both her gym teacher and the school guidance councillor to explain her situation and to work out a way for her to receive her gym credit without endangering her life.

I posted on the old board about her swimming on a swim team for kids with disabilities. Swimming is a safe sport for HCMers, and because she swims with other disabled kids (everything from other cardiac kids to kids with cerebral palsy, to kids with neuromuscular diseases) it is a very comfortable environment for her. It has been great for her to spend time with other kids who understand what it is like to live with a disability. She has an ICD, which is an added safety net for her. She just loves being a part of the team!

When we met with the school's gym teacher and guidance councillor, we explained her participation on the team, and asked it they would allow her to leave school 20 minutes early twice a week to swim with the team, as well as taking part in the health portion of the phys. Ed curriculum, and be awarded her gym credit for doing it. After consultation with the Principal, they agreed. Thanks to their flexibility, Olivia was able to satisfy the requirements for the credit doing something she loves to do and that is safe for her to do. You may find that your school may be open to a similar arrangement for you once they understand your situation.

Met's post questioning the legality of your teacher's testing method got me thinking, and after a quick "Google" I found some information about your school board's responsibility to accomodate your disability. You can find the info at the following link:

http://www.ncpe4me.com/inclusive_pe.html

I hope you find it helpful.

Good luck talking to your class about HCM.

Abby

[Toogoofy317]

I had the same thing happen to me that MET described. Although, I was in ROTC and ran every day I still couldn't do it fast enough. So, I was constantly punished with what more running. I had no idea why I couldn't do it so I pushed and pushed but it did no good. I ended up getting a "C" in gym and they teacher told me that he was being kind giving me that. I ended up graduating with a 2.97 that "C" cost me graduating with honors and no telling how many scholarships.
After, I found out about my hcm a couple of years later I went back and told the teacher and he didn't feel compelled to change his ways. "nothing happened to you and it's never happened before". So, if you have to pull out the doctor's note do it. It could mean the difference between a good college a great college and maybe even your life.


Mary S.

[horsecrazy]

well my gym teacher last year made me do the mile run.luckely i was a loud 2 walk. but i had a bloody nose during it so i got a g in gym 4 getting a bloody nose during the run. i think my gym teacher knew i had a heart problem them.all i could say to your gym teacher is "It s not fair"