A less taxing job because of AF

[Alweoh62]

Has anyone had to change occupation because the old job exacerbated their condition? I work in construction and have found the physical work combined with the hot humid climate I live in, have contributed greatly to the frequency and severity of my AF. Anyone else?

[Paulbounce]

Yep. I'm luckly as my work is mostly online - however it can be very stressful at times. Believe me - with Brexit and covid my income is affected. Would I change it though ?

No.

You wrote

"I work in construction and have found the physical work combined with the hot humid climate I live in, have contributed greatly to the frequency and severity of my AF"

Would I change that ?

Yes I think I would. However you (like many) need to earn a living. Is there another job were you could apply your skills ?

I think physical work combined with a hot environment is not ideal with afib. That's just my take and I could be totally wrong.

Good luck anyway.

Paul

[BobD Volunteer]

Although it was another five or six years before my AF was finally diagnosed it was what I now know to be the early stages of AF that helped me to decide to take early retirement at the age of 52. That over the last 24 years I have probably worked harder doing my own thing building race cars and engines is irrelevant. That has been on my terms and in my time so the stress levels for the most part greatly reduced.

[meadfoot]

Easy to say but no job is worth compromising our health and if yours is or likely to impact then changing your work is the sensible thing to do. How easy that is in practice is another issue given we are living in such uncertain times.

Heres hoping you can find a fulfilling role which enables your health to be better cared for. Best wishes.

[rosyG]

I would think you may get easily dehydrated? That would be bad for AF

[jeanjeannie50]

With my AF I could never have held down a job that involved a lot of physical exertion, so really feel for you. Mine was mainly desk based, but it used to kill me just going up the stairs at work or my daughters house - I live in a bungalow. I'd keep a lookout for a less strenuous job, but they are not easy to find right now with covid rife everywhere.

Jean

[Kaz747]

I had a year off work because of my AF, procedures and complications and then went back part time into a different role with the same company. My role was impacted by COVID and I knew I’d struggle working in a high pressure environment so I started my own business. I work from home when it suits me. I’m not earning as much as I was before but I’m having fun and loving what I do.

[Dondo1953]

Yes, I was an elementary school principal of a school that served about 1100 low income students and their families. The stress was immense and, after 3 hospitalizations that totaled 23 days in about 6 weeks, I retired earlier than I had planned. I now work part-time (even a bit more, at times, than I really want to) as a consultant, since the working is pretty much on my terms, the stress is much less! Good luck to you.

[Mitcham]

I worked in construction, on the surveying side, not physical but very stressful. This fascinated my AF and after eleven years with AF appearing, and then being treated and reappearing I decided to retire a year early. Whilst I don't like retirement and miss work ,I believe it has benefited my health all I suggest is try to get something g on construction a little less physical and make sure you get p!entry of rest . Good luck

[momist]

Thankfully, I was already retired when I first started AF. However, I don't think I would welcome a bout starting whilst high on a construction site, with many ladders etc. to climb down to safety. Having said that, I nevertheless built my own timber frame single story substantial cabin in my garden last year without any problems whatsoever, including the apex roof structure, all without scaffolding.

I have stopped solo sailing, and will sell on my little dinghy. I might sail as crew on something larger in the future, but wouldn't want to be miles out on my own any more, in case I started a bout of AF and had to struggle back.

[secondtry]

I would use your knowledge/experience and go into a related area less stressful and physical. I would not stop completely without a longish wind down nor would I take up a sedentary job sat a long time in front of a computer. I have found becoming 'Mr Bland Man' may not sound attractive but works for my AF.

[meeko45]

I was a fishmonger for a big supermarket. Moving buckets of ice and large fish was too much heavy work. I'm now a carer which is very fulfilling and less physical.

[Ducky2003]

Hi. I was in my 40s when AF struck and I was a deputy manager in a charity shop, which is quite physically demanding. I was so symptomatic, I had a couple of months off sick and realised there was no easy fix so I then resigned to be fair to them. I then set up an on line craft business and then, needing to interact with people, I retrained and became an Advanced Foot Health Practitioner. Working for myself is great as I can choose what days I work and my patients are very understanding about moving appointments if I'm not feeling great.......as we know, this condition can be a bit like Russian Roulette.