Tiredness

[sewbeit]

I'm 10 weeks post stent. As I'm self employed I'm trying to work but find come lunch time I'm exhausted. I just want to curl up and have no stamina. Is this normal or do I need to push myself. Haven't had follow up with hospital yet so have no idea if any damage to my heart or anything. I thought the pain I had initially was heartburn and left it 10 days before seeibg gp. Everyone kept saying it was muscular .

[Jasppip]

10 weeks is early days you will be tired it must be hard when your self employed obviously bills still have to be paid I went back to work after 12 weeks but only doing 2 days a week perhaps you could do less hours

[sewbeit in reply to Jasppip]

Im only managing about 4 hours a day. Thanks

[Jasppip in reply to sewbeit]

In time you will be able to build it up more your doing well to even do 4 hours a day after 10 weeks you should be pleased with yourself

[Dickydon]

Hi, I understand, I’m also self employed. Being self-emplyed gives you so much freedom and flexibility you can turn work down if you don’t fancy doing the paticular job being offered; in my case, I can do that, but inless you are financially sorted it can be a difficult situation especially if you’re not able to work for several months. Not sure what work you do. The job I do is very physical as I’m a Sports TV Cameraman and it would be too dangerous for me to return to work too early, so I’m into my fourth month of being off.

I too have been suffering with extreme tiredness ontop of everything else going on with my heart issues, I’m also a Type1 diabetic on insulin for over 43yrs, so that’s another notch on the tiredness scale because of my fluctuating blood sugar levels but recently I had my B12 level checked and the result came back and I came under the normal range which I now have Pernicious Anaemia my mum has it too and I now have a B12 injection every three months.

Since having the B12 injection my tiredness has dropped by 80% or more and I’m much more awake and enthusiastic than I have been for a long time, despite having had a mild heart attatck and now a Pacemaker - so hopefully, I’m aiming to return to work by the end of Nov.

I understand your tiredness issue and it may serve you well to get your Dr to do the B12 and Thyroid tests because these can cause extreme tiredness if the levels are not in range and can be corrected and you’ll definately benefit from it if it’s the case.

Good luck!

[Jo_africa]

Hi there. It might be worth talking to your GP about your medication. I've had the dosage of my beta blockers reduced twice because of the extreme lethargy.

[Emily_BHF]

Hi sewbeit,

The usual advice following a new stent is to gradually increase exercises from the first 2 weeks post recovery. Another important aspect of your recovery is cardiac rehabilitation classes (which run for 6-8 weeks.) bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

If you have not heard from this team, please call the hospital switchboard number who can put you through to the team.

I would also recommend making an appointment to discuss this with your GP as I would not expect someone to continue experiencing this level of tiredness at this point in your recovery., unless it is related to medication.

Take care,

Emily

[sewbeit in reply to Emily_BHF]

Thank you. I am attending the classes. Think I'll make that appointment as no real improvement in tiredness for last 4 weeks.

[Badger1955]

I’m really relieved that other post HA and stent op are feeling and discussing similar symptoms and problems that I have. I keep wanting to do more but run out of energy quickly. Rehab classes have been brilliant. Having read the many posts I will raise the issue of pain behind shoulder blades with my cardiologist when I see him next week and also discuss how down I feel on myself at times. Keep up rehab if you can it works for me.