Work and afib !!!!

[zak123]

Dear afiber's how many of you work? And what sort of work do you do ? I'm a joiner by trade and sometimes struggle with my job ! Just woundering how most of you coped with work !

[Wodney1966]

I've got heart failure and I work full time as a bus shunter 🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

[Tako2009]

Hi zac123. I am 67 and still working full time as a project manager. I have been diagnosed PAF and following a recent episode that saw me taken to A&E now have an appointment with an EP. Up till this last episode they have not stopped me working but I have an understanding boss who is ok with me working from home if I have a bad night. I am lucky to be able to work flexibly like this at the moment so I can work around the episodes - I think it all depends on the type of job you have and probably frequency and symptoms you experience in AF - mine are infrequent and always at night. How long I can continue working I guess depends on whether AF progresses and what the EP decides to do!!

[gwyn53]

I am a domestic with the NHS

I work.

But dont expect any help from managers. They are rubbish.

To them its an annoyance.

Get on with it.

So if i have sn attack have to use a/l.

Great caring nhs

.

[Hidden]

I changed my work completely to a less stressful one and never regretted it - in fact AF is the excuse I needed to make the change.

[Hidden]

I am a farmer 🐑 🐂 🚜 . I found the more I stood up the better I was, and as being vertical and active is a big part of my job, my arrhythmia hasn't been much of a problem workwise. Although fair to note that most of the time I'm successfully controlled by drugs or ablation. I didn't get dizzy spells or anything like that.

[Hidden]

Hi worked as district nursing sister prior to diagnosis. Took early retirement for other reasons. Plodded on with symptoms before that. Noticed changes as AF progressed but carried on. Depends on job symptoms etc

[Mazdavi]

I work but struggle when I've been awake all night with AF which happens on a regular basis 4 or 5 nights on just less than 2 hrs sleep, had one abalation last year,going for another one in May having AF so regular is affecting my immunity system I work in a school but my worry is getting warnings for being off work I struggle working when I'm in having constant AFs then feel I've got to drag myself in for fear of losing my job it's a viscous circle at times and I feel It at times dominates my life

[wilsond in reply to Mazdavi]

Same here

[jeanjeannie50]

After spending about a week in hospital with my PAF I decided to give up work (was pension age). I really hoped that removing myself from the stress would help, but it didn't!

I had a desk job and I can't understand how people with physical jobs can possibly continue to do them with PAF. My attacks would totally floor me and it would take about a week to get over them. Since having my 3rd ablation last July my attacks are now nowhere near as bad, though saying that I'm just coming up to two weeks with constant AF and am unable to walk far or exert myself.

Everyone with PAF and physical jobs you have my sympathy, it must be a total nightmare for you.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Jean, just a wee note to wish you better. I rely on your messages to keep me informed and cheerful, and I find it hard to realise you may not be feeling good.

Love,

Pat

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Pat. X

[castanes]

I have a sedentary job but it can be very stressful at times because of the workload and short deadlines. Since my PAF hospitalization and since starting beta blockers, I have noticed that work stress really affects me in a negative way. I have two years to go until early retirement though so I plan to slog on through the next 24 months regardless. My boss has been supportive thank goodness but the workload and stress are still often there. I think that the fact that I know that I can retire in 2 years is what is keeping me going.

[wilsond in reply to castanes]

Me too!

[zak123]

Thanks fellow afiber's for your reply's ! I had an ablation in november with moderate success, which has controlled it to a level that I can work ! And also walk my lurchers which invoves several miles a day at least ! To be honest I think the exercise helps

[Hidden]

G'day Zac,

I am a bus driver. I was 65 when diagnosed and am 73 this coming September. I am pretty fit now I've had a partial right knee replacement, although still have a bit of a nagging problem with my right sacrililliac joint (Si). I am not on route service so don't have the heavy traffic/passenger stresses I used to. I drive a 17 seater mini bus as a shuttle service between an airport and a railway station - so - its a twenty minute trip each way and I have to load and unload passengers luggage (most of it weighing over 15 kgs) and have a bit of down time at the end of each trip, anything from 10 minutes to 2 hours. I work 30 to 40 hours a week depending on other staffing levels (basically 10 hours a day). I have to have a DVLA PCV medical annually which I pass each year to retain to bus drivers licence. No problems.

John

[Pam296]

Hi Zak123. I was diagnosed with PAF a month ago, having had symptoms for about a year. The episodes were very short so although scary, didn't cause me many issues. However, I'm now on my third week of Flecainide and due to the horrendous side effects, finding work a real problem. I have to give presentations and I keep losing my thread. Total brain fog! I'm hoping an alternative can be found as I love my job.

[djbgatekeeper]

Hi Zak.. I drive a HGV with some handball involved... currently waiting for ablation as my AFIB is affecting my ability to do the physical side of the job...hope you are keeping well.

[Ad1980]

Hi zak123,

I am 36 with it seems in constant AF I say seems as I can't tell if I am ever out of it, I had a cardioversion a few weeks ago I was in nsr for a week but oddly I felt worse and when I reverted back into AF I felt better apart from the breathlessness. I work self employed as a bricklayer so I'm very physical knocking up muck and carrying bricks and blocks, I must say I feel good working (apart from the odd pain in the heart) and worse resting or sleeping. I guess I have age on my side but I can't see me continuing to back this active forever as I hear so often this dreaded AF gets worse with age. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of retirement coming anytime soon and with two young kids to feed I just have to get on with it.

[zak123 in reply to Ad1980]

Cheers for the reply ad 1980 every time I sat down with a doctor they used to froen when I told them I was a joiner !!!! I am now back on the tools since I had an ablation in November

[zak123]

Like I said before thanks again for

The replys to the work thing ! Got some real insperation listening to you fellow afibers !