Can someone help

[Tonyo51179]

Hi all. I've been put on warfarin for life after having a blood clot for the second time, I'm 33 and a mechanic which don't help every time I cut myself which is at least4 times a day it's making me take longer on a job coz I have to stop the bleeding I'm losing my bonus which makes up my wages and my boss is getting sick of me taking so long and losing him money and bleeding over customers cars! Also I have trouble going for blood tests as my work times are over the hospital blood test times and I can't afford the home test machine and I have to take time off which don't help. The waiting list to see my doc is over 3 weeks, at this rate I'm going to lose my job and it's the only thing I know it's really getting me down and how am I meant to find a new job saying that I may need to shoot of at the drop of a hat? Is it normal to have dizzy spells and heart pulpertations???? Im loosing sleep and maybe everything else! What do I do

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi , I build race engines and manage fine. Try wearing rubber gloves. At least you bleed into them LOL.

Sorry if that sounds flippant but we all have to find a way to live with our problem. Try talking to you boss and explaining what you have and why you have a problem. Yes many people have dizzy spells with AF

Bob

[Tonyo51179 in reply to BobD]

I do wear rubber gloves! I seem to slip from the the nuts and bolts more which make a mark in my arms I've spoke to my boss and his sick of me always having time of to deal with the problem. Do you have heart pulputations?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Tonyo51179]

Hi Tony. I know it can be a bind sometimes I once filled a glove after wacking my hand on a sharp casting. Others have given you the heads up on employment law and some good advice on dealing with your doctor but I wonder what kind of doctor you have seen . An electrophysiologist is a special cardiologist who knows all about heart rhythm problems so it might help to get to see one of those. There is a list by area on the main website (AFA) and you do have the right to be treated by who you want.

I used to get bad palpitations and dizzy spells but had three ablations up to five years ago since when I don't have AF although still get some other odd rhythms from time to time especially when stressed or very tried. Dyno testing engines is very stressful when you have maga buck engines running for the first time!

Stay positive and do ask any questions as we are all in the same boat and share our problems.

BobD

[Vivante in reply to BobD]

I agree with you, my INR levels have been between 2-4 and 2-6 for the past 18 months, I still get dizzy.

[Hidden]

I think we all have palpitations Tony, it goes with the territory. So sorry you are having such a tough time and your boss is unsympathetic. Have you told him you have AF and what that means? Remember if you're in the UK, he can't sack you for being ill if you're permanent staff, and if he does you can take him to a tribunal - so ignore any grumpiness, don't let it get you down. Stress makes AF worse! Just imagine him naked, or in a penguin suit if that thought is too horrible lol...

Just take things at the pace you can and don't let someone who doesn't know or care force you on - you'll make more mistakes if you're panicking and rushing to make up time, and will cut yourself more. The important thing is to focus on taking care of yourself. Hoping you feel better soon, and take heart - there are a lot of people here in the same boat, if you have any worries you'll find they are very helpful and sympathetic.

[xfrack]

Dear Tony

You must be very worried and anxious. There are drugs that can replace Warfarin, that dont need monitoring by frequent visits to have blood samples taken. I am taking Dabigatron.

Being worried will give you heart palpitations and these will make you feel dizzy. Look up exercises that help you to de-stress and see if any appeal to you. Breathing exercises are the simplest and help a lot. These are taught in Pilates, T'ai Chi and Yoga. Also, taking a deep breath and then holding your nose, closing your mouth and breathing out , puts pressure on the heart and can stop the palpitations.

Legally your boss cant sack you. Dont get into a confrontation but tell him its early days and you are still adjusting to your situation. Lastly, when you next speak to the receptionist at your surgery, get her on your side, you may find you can speak to your doctor on the telephone .

Good luck! You will get used to the new circumstances. .

[Offcut]

gov.uk/definition-of-disabi... Worth a read you cannot be sacked for a condition that you are been treated for and you have to have tests as this could worsen your condition. Your boss has the right not to pay you while you are on appointments. My hospital has a 07:30 start Blood Clinic we also have a few private at home phlebotomy nurses which do not charge a fortune so get them to come to your work lunch hour. It is a shame that you have a boss that is from the dark ages. We all know it is tough times and we need to get as much as we can out of employees. How much more hassel would it be to get another guy and train than keep the one you know?

Put a good wad of cotton wool and tape on your cuts it will block it better than a plaster.

Hope all goes well for you.

[meadfoot]

Sorry to hear you are having work issues Tony, not good. I had similar work hassle and eventually negotiated a deal to leave (I worked in a should have been caring organisation would you believe).

Only suggestion I can give around anti coagulation is to ask your doctor to be changed from Warfarin to one of the newer drugs which don't require such regular blood appointments. There is Rivaoxaban; Dabigratran and Apixaban. I take Rivaoxaban and have blood tested 6 monthly. It will not help your bleed hazards in your job but will decrease time off for INR testing.

Regards Dee.

[jobwag]

For how long must we put up with this.? The eastern states of the USA have done research which proves the advantages of apixaban for preventing stroke and systemic embolism for people with non-valvular AF. Nice, our own official organising committee for advising the NHS has produced a costing statement (Feb 2913) (249 and 256). Which supports the USA contention that the cost of Apixaban is in the long run cheaper than warfarin by its reduction in bleeds and its reduction in strokes and the lack of a need for constant monitoring.

The recent discovery by Addenbrooks and Cambridge geneticists of a gene that will inhibit thrombin has received about 12 million pounds to fast-track the work.

Will our current NHS take any notice?

A new procedure in the USA , celled ‘lariat’ or similar has come into constant use. It is non-surgical strangulation of the atrial appendage which stops it causing AF. It is reported that thousands of cases of this procedure are being carried out.

Our greatest need, and you will find a great deal of this in the press currently, is for a complete reform of the NHS management and its costing, so that the NHS can be run by the medically trained staff for our benefit and all the savings of the huge amounts paid to so called ‘managers’ can be used for the patients.

[Vivante]

I have been taking warfarin since 2004. It is important you keep a check on your INR levels. According to the information I was given, self testing does not always provide the correct info. Although I daresay many do have success, it depends on the person. According to the information provided by the NHS, you do have the right to choose. I do not do manual work, but I need to take care because, if I scratch myself on sharp objects I do find the blood flow gets a little uncomfortable. Your employers must take your condition on board,