Skylar Rae Bayer

I tried applying for my Coast Guard license back in April/May 2012. I submitted information regarding my ICD and medical background and was rejected from receiving my license (although absolutely none of my material was sent back to me). L.G. Gillis, MD stated that I could request reconsideration in their letter to me, but given the current rule, I'm not really sure how this would've changed anything, so I didn't. I am a 26 year old woman who is exceptionally healthy given my "condition" and continue to compete in high cardio sports like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Ice Hockey and Roller Derby with known problems. I am not being paced, I merely have an ICD in case I have some sort of rare, unpredictable tachycardia episode. In my case, only one has been documented that was not induced in the hospital. Given my age and infrequency of these events, and given how active I am, I am at a loss at how this would make me any worse of a candidate than a 40 year old man who smokes everyday and who might exercise once a week. I do not have a medical condition that causes frequent episode that would render me unconscious in the middle of an activity. In fact, the settings on my ICD right now are such that I remain conscious if I undergo a defibrillator shock. Obviously, I cannot be completely objective on this matter, but after putting together sea time and doing the exercises required for an AB Sail license, none of which have been as stressful on my heart as the physical exercise I do, I am saddened and disappointed that this career path has been taken away from me. I hope to continue volunteering on ships to learn how to be a better sailor, but now I know I will never be hired as one.