Advice On Working Matters With Heart Problem.

[Liam47]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some advice, but let me explain a little about me first.

I've been diagnosed with a dilated aortic root (5.1 cm dilation on last echocardiogram beginning of this year) and a leaky aortic valve with which I have been diagnosed with aortic regurgitation. I have seen a heart surgeon, which he said I needed to have open heart surgery, firstly to replace the aortic root with a synthetic tube, and secondly to repair or replace the aortic valve (he wasn't sure which he would do until he could see). He has already said that due to my age (which is the young age of 47), if he needed to replace the valve he would replace it with an artificial metal mechanical one. Hopefully my surgery will be very soon.!!

I am still working, (which I have been since I was told of my conditions and I was to have surgery), I have had to reduce my hours from full-time to part-time due to finding it tiring and difficult. I have had several appointments with Occi Health at work, that's how I've reduced down to part-time. I'm now getting more tired, stressed and finding it more difficult to do my job, I force myself to carry on with work. I feel sometimes that my work colleagues are fed up with having to do some of my work as well as their own, to make it easier for me, I sometimes get the impression that they don't want me to be at work, I'm too much of a risk too all those concerned at work! A close member of my family said to me that, why should i be at work, you need to make sure your fit and healthy enough and not stressed or knackered for the surgery! They won't do the surgery if your too tired or not in a healthy enough state for it. My parents want me to start my sickness from work now, because they can see how unwell and knackered I look! This got me thinking a lot about the work side of it, and this is what brought me here to this forum.

So the advice I'm seeking is, what should I do about work? Can anyone advise me please?

Thank you,

Liam.

[Hidden]

Hi Liam - I'm really sorry to hear you're feeling stressed leading up to your surgery. It's great that you've already been to occupational health a few times to chat about how you're feeling, and do take advantage of any onward referrals they can give you. Sometimes it can really help to speak to a counsellor when you have work/health anxieties or stress and this may help you to stay in work (if that's what you want to do).

If you feel like it's becoming a bit too much then have a chat with your GP, who may want to sign you off from work. It's important to look after yourself before you have any kind of heart surgery, and we know that being more relaxed and positive leading up to and after surgery helps on the road to recovery.

If you want to chat things through a bit more with one of our helpline nurses you can call 0300 330 3311. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Take care, Chris

[Liam47 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the advice! I feel work is getting too much for me now. You said go and see my GP to sign me off work. Do you think it's best to see GP or see Occi Health to see if they would deem me unfit to work?

Thank you,

Liam.

[Hidden in reply to Liam47]

Hi Liam - it's my understanding that occupational health are primarily there to support you in staying at work and helping you to make adjustments to the way you do your job if necessary. Most commonly you'd be signed off by your GP, and you would send this on to your employer/occupational health depending on how your policy works.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Chris

[Liam47 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Chris,

I thought I had a feeling it would be my GP signing me off work and not Occi health.

Thank you for confirming it for me Chris.!

Liam.