I'm excited but a little nervous. My last day at work was 18 June last year. That night I was taken by ambulance to hospital. The next morning my EP came and saw me and said he didn't want me going back at work until we got my aggressive arrythmias under control (I had been in hospital a few weeks earlier too). I certainly didn't think that it would take a year, and what a year it's been.
My employer has been wonderful. They have created a new role for me, focussing on my strengths. I'm working 3 days a week with one of those days working from home. It will be strange as the young woman that I will now report to used to report to me.
I have always been my worst enemy as I tend to give work (and life) 110%. I know I need to set boundaries, listen to my body, get enough rest and stay as stress free as possible.
So many of you on this site have been an amazing support for me over the past twelve months. Even though I'm on the other side of the world to many of you, I feel like I have made a lot of new friends (and in fact I've now actually met a couple of you I've really appreciated your support and advice. Don't worry..... I won't dissappear. I've learnt a lot over my AF journey and will continue to help others where I can.
Thank you
Karen xx
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Kaz747
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Congratulations! And best of luck returning to your job. Remember the lessons you learned about not putting 110% of yourself into your job! Keep up the good work you have done to get healthy.
Good luck Kaz, been a tough year and I hope its a new start, don't overdo the work, I'm the same chomping at the bit, but know if got to take a back seat a little, sure you will be fine.
Good to hear you’re taking steps to get back to some semblance of normality 😉. Great to hear you have a helpful employer.
Like you, I used to give 110%. Like you, I was off work for a year. In my case, though, the first six months were investigative so it was a while before I had treatment. I’ve been on phased return to work (including a period of further treatment) for 7 months. My treatment is now complete (including CRT) and I feel much better.
I’m 64 and 20 months off retirement so I’ve decided to cut myself some slack and retire a little early. I now have a changed perspective on life and think I’ve earned it 😊.
It’s been a long time off work and will almost certainly be tiring. Take it easy and be kind to yourself. I hope it goes well for you. Let us all know how you progress.
Good luck, Kaz! Hop back into the yakka, cobber! It might be weird at first but I’m sure you will hang in there. Freud said that all we need is work and love (something like that, anyway). Just take it easy for a bit.
Good luck to you in your return to work ! Sounds like the perfect role for you and that you are highly valued and well respected for your skills and abilities ! Onwards and upwards xx
I’m in Australia and was seen and treated immediately (we have a great medical system which combines public and private insurance funding). I had a very complex and complicated case and a few complications along the way.
Good luck Karen & fingers crossed AF stays away & if my daughter makes the move out there I’m sure you’ll here a knock at the door, all the best Frank & Karen ( the wife )
My one-year anniversary is the 16th --- so it's been a year for me this week too, since I was taken in by ambulance to the ER and had 4 cardiac arrests caused by AFib while I was there. I am 71 and was so weak from all of this, it was a very slow recovery for me. It's really only been the last 8 weeks that I've felt a little better . I pretty much went through my savings in the first 6-8 months. But I am blessed to have my own successful business on the internet, so I was able to get back to work in little bits and pieces even when I wasn't feeling great. Now I only work a couple hours on days when I feel good, and on those days when I wake up and just want to go right back to bed, I do! It has been such a blessing to be able to work only when I feel like it, and not to have to worry about stressing myself to make money. I am in Canada, and have free home care, almost anything I need they can come out and take care of. Going out totally exhausts me, but fortunately I only have to go out to see the Cardiologist and get my pacemaker checked a couple times a year.
Hi Goldey, sounds like you’ve been on quite a journey too. Glad you’re starting to feel a little better. I hope you continue to improve. Having flexibility around work is very important. I’m thankful that I had some income protection insurance in place which has helped financially over this period. It’s nowhere near my usual income but helped pay some bills.
I did my first official job yesterday after nearly 12 months off, unlike you though, in the comforts of home/office. I was doing some pre Royal Ascot week filming, and it was pouring down, cold & windy. Today, I am completely exhausted and beginning to realise that being a location TV Cameraman that is a wonderful job with all the travel and people one meets and places I've been and still do and get paid; I have 34yrs of stories behind me which includes war zones etc... but the physical demands of this job don't really alter because you're getting older. So I have much thinking to do about carrying on doing the job I so much love, taking into consideration my now heart health, type 1 diabetes and so on...
Must be the week for it. I’m working from home tomorrow- that’s my agreement - Tuesday’s and Thursday’s in the office and Wednesdays from home so I only need an alarm 2 mornings a week and there’s no 2 days in a row. My job is mainly thinking, talking and writing. Your career sounds amazing and I can understand you not wanting to give that up. I hope you can strike a balance to be able to stay involved without the heavy lifting and stress. I used to work in the media many moons ago (newspapers).
Kaz, sounds like you got it summed up with work/health/life balance good luck. My job Is so different from the usual occupations because of the situations we're endlessly in. One min trekking through jungles in South America, week later doing fashion show in Paris or doing a football player or manager interview it's so diverse. Yes, I'm going to try and just do simpler jobs like sit down interviews etc... that's normally stress free depending on where you're doing it or with whom... good luck
I have my EP follow up next week and my Occupational Health assessment on the back of that 2nd July. Then work are planning for be being back on the floor not behind a desk, for up to a month or longer afterwards - as my last clinical shift was April 2018.
I'd like to say work have been supportive, but I think it's well noted on here that certain people in higher authority haven't been.
Thanks Jedi. I’m now home after my first day which was lovely. There was a nice card on my desk from my colleagues welcoming me back. We moved offices whilst I was off and Ai love where the new office is situated. It’s a shorter walk from the train station and not uphill like it was getting to the old office. I’ve followed your work issues closely. All the best with getting back on the floor.
Atrial flutter - cardioversion - Shingles - postherpetic neuralgia - more atrial flutter - atrial fibrillation - 2 month wait for ablation because of Shingles & nerve pain- aborted ablation because blood clot was found- 2 month wait for blood clot to be dissolved - AF & Flutter ablation - rehospitalisation after 2 weeks with rapid AF and chronic inflammatory response - pericarditis - gastritis- gastroscopy to check for any other issues - another AF ablation - success - giving the body and mind a bit of time to heal before heading back to work - eye surgery (unrelated to AF) 😉 A total of 11 hospitalisations in 13 months
Good luck tomorrow Kaz remember to try to stay calm and use deep breathing if you find yourself getting stressed to help your heart to stay in NSR,
You have been a complete star, given what you have been through. Always a kind word and thoughtful comment for those in need and a great provider of useful resources for us all to read and improve our AF knowledge.
Hope your new work regime goes well & glad you will be sticking around on here.
Hi kaz, well that day has been a long time coming imso pleased for you. We’re both at the point of hoping this nasty beast has left us, and long may it continue.....I think listening to our bodies is the most important thing. Keep posting those sunny photos!
I’m in Provence,it should be sweltering, but it’s been raining all day! Happy holidays!but I’m happy this time last year I thought I’d never do holidays again.
Will be very weird starting back to work I’m sure but equally it’s a “ hello world I’m back” moment.
Oh best wishes to you...the very best! You have given a lot back.to us all too....you must be happy but a !little nervous...hope all goes well for you...take care now xxxxx
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I've really appreciated your support and advice. Don't worry..... I won't dissappear. I've learnt a lot over my AF journey and will continue to help others where I can.
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