On the day of my anniversary of my first year in my job i end up having to get a staff member to call an ambulance to my workplace.
I do all the heavy work and moving stuff at work but today (Not sure if it was the lack of oxygen because of the heat or what?2 hours into my job and I suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of something wasn't right. Took a break or should I say I hid in staff room to try and calm down.Got up 20mins later to a dreadful feeling of illness.
was struggling to breath then extreme weakness all over and struggled to lift my arms?I felt like I has been on a massive rollercoaster with sudden onset of nausea that wouldn't go...Then came a huge pain like a dagger right across my left breastbone and just under my rib.
After that I felt awful and shakey at this time I knew something wasn't right.So staff member called ambulance followed by everyone wanting to know what's happend and me feeling by now overwhelmed with it all
All the usual questions and tests
BP had dropped but couldn't find anything else.So here I am back at home thinking are they now going to question my ability to do my job?Will they all be staring at me as I walked through the door?and because I stood up and in the end managed to get to the ambulance will they think I'm a fraud.
Something definitely happened and in all honesty as much as I stayed as calm as possible I was concerned it was a HAVE bearing in mind I now have Microvascular angina I made me wonder.Ive been under intense stress lately and still am as I watch my beautiful boxer dog fight cancer and watching her slip away! She's been my rock throughout all my troubles so I'm trying to care for her now and I'm not sleeping because she won't be here much longer
Then the heat
so maybe it was a combination of the two with internal stress that tipped my body over the edge today?
Who knows.
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Rob6868
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Yes she is my little guardian angel and is the oldest but even with cancer ravaging her body she's still the first to the door when she hears my van.Ive just been talkingto the vet actually and it's all about palative care.
Hi Rob! You have definitely not been a failure and from your previous posts you have achieved a lot. If you look at today's posts you will see I posted about heat and low blood pressure. Stress then adds to it. About two weeks before my bypass I had a rather stressful day - it was quite warm but not as hot as today. About 7:00 pm I was hit by angina, dizziness and nausea, and went down. Someone had to dial 999 for me. I thought it was the big one and maybe game over! It wasn't but it was the most scary moment in my cardiac journey. If anyone thinks you are a fraud ignore them they are just not worthy of even being thought about. Sorry to hear about your dog - I have lost three over the years! Looking to the future it may be worth thinking of something less physically demanding but you know your own body better than anyone else.
Wow Michael it sounds like you have had your fair share of problems and then some.I think your right regarding the heat and blood pressure.It certainly fits with what you have explained to me.I love you lot.Your wisdom is so refreshing for us hearties that are just not up to speed with these things.
Hi, sorry to hear of your recent experience at work and also about your dog. I really feel for you. I hold a First Aid at Work qualification and have at least 10 years experience in that role, for a large high street company. I looked after people with a wide range of conditions. Some and had symptoms that could have been cardiac events and required paramedics to attend and often hospital treatment too.
But no matter what the situation, your employer has a Duty of Care towards you which covers your physical and mental health as well as ensuring you are treated with respect by the organisation and everyone else who works there. Perhaps you can talk about your concerns with your Line Manager, HR team or union (if you have one). Or Citizens Advice Bureau can provide advice.
In the meantime, in respect of the stress you’re under, have you spoken with your GP? They can refer you for counselling which may help you through.
All the best. X
Hi Rob,
I don’t scare easily as was a nurse in Intensive Care for years caring for critically ill patients.
Becoming a patient myself was eye opening and I have been terrified with some of my symptoms on a few occasions including once developing chest pain in a very remote and rural location. No one will understand what that is like unless they have experienced it for themselves. Add in the fact that very few of us look unwell plus a poor understanding of microvascular angina amongst medical staff it’s not surprising you felt like a fraud.
It’s a difficult balance between cutting ourselves some slack and not feeling that we are giving in to symptoms. The situation with your dog would be hard for anyone to cope with when well, never mind with this heat and added stress.
I hope that things improve soon and your work mates will be supportive and not interrogate you when returning to work.
I remember that you have a child or children, you have those to care for as well.
I would say this heat has caused us all difficulties at times, if we are going to have more heatwaves like this, I am going to buy a very good quality fan, I do have a small one but I've had it a long time. My son has just bought a very good fan for £99. I was quiet jealous.
All the best Rob, your workmates with be pleased to see you back, sounds as if you have a tough job.
Hi Rob so sorry to hear you suffered that experience please be assured you are not a failure and you are human and we go through things sometimes unexpected; your work colleagues will be concerned and will want to know that you are ok.so sorry to hear about your dog and she will have great comfort knowing you are there for her and loving her. Best Wishes
You are NOT a failure and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I can’t really comment on your heart issues cos I don’t know too much about it.
What I would say in this intense heat, even in the North it’s been ruddy hot. I was putting the shopping away and came over all fuzzy I had to sit down, otherwise I would have fallen. I’m sure it was the heat, but a reminder we ain’t superman/ woman.
With regard to your boxer dog, I’m sending you huge cyber hugs it’s a horrible dreadful thing to have to go through, and so so stressful. I’m sure she knows your caring for you, hugs from me too, I do know how you are feeling, when one of my cats died some years ago I went into clinical depression. Was working in the community and took him in my car he needed feeding every two hours.
I can’t remember if it’s the Blue Cross or the PDSA have a bereavement service, it’s good to talk. I have long conversations with my kitties!!
Hi Rob, really sorry to hear about your latest heart issues as well as the very sad news regarding your dog.
I have seen a few of your previous posts and I think I am going through a similar situation in that I have a stent and since then have been suffering angina that is brought on by stress and relieved with exercise.
Not sure if it could be micro vascular angina as I haven't seen a cardiologist yet but could you tell me what medication you take so I know what to ask about, cheers
Hi Rob,you`ve received sound advice from people much more knowledgeable than me but I do understand your thoughts on fraud and failure.You`re not a fraud,you have heart problems and how can you be a failure when you`re holding down a full time demanding job despite your problems.Well done! As to your darling dog,I`m so sorry,they give us such love but they also know when they`re well loved too.
You`ve given each other such love and happiness over the years and now you`re with her when she needs you most. All the very best to you Rob x
Please don't be so hard on yourself. What you experienced was very scary indeed. You are a great person minding your beloved dog too. You're so brave - be good to yourself and don't try not to care what others think or say. It's none of their business
During this hot weather I've just flopped. I couldn't begin to do any physical work. So hats off to you for even soldiering on with the heavy lifting. Emotional stress is a big trigger for most of us and having a poorly dog you love is right up there for stressful situations. So be kind to yourself. Superman is overrated anyway.
Sounds to me like you did exactly the right thing in calling an ambulance. It's hard when you feel people see you as a fraud (a good friend told me recently that I shouldn't be taking DWP to tribunal over PIP as I have a "fantastic quality of life" - not what I needed to hear!) but anyone who has any experience of heart disease will undoubtedly appreciate the amazing resilience you've shown. Maybe you do need to make some adjustments at work (I don't know, obviously - that's for you to decide) and hopefully your employers will support you if so. Heat and stress definitely play their part too.
So sorry to hear about your dog. I hope you enjoy some lovely quality time together over the next wee while. Lots of love x
You did exactly the right thing as only you know what you are feeling. It took 6 months for me to be diagnosed with blocked arteries, I passed every diagnostic test until I had an angiogram which revealed the truth. Before that, although I was retired, I felt that everyone including my wife thought it was all in my head. I was even trying to convince myself that , despite how I was feeling, their was nothing wrong! Hopefully in your case symptoms were brought on by the combination of exceptional heat which has been very difficult for us all, heavy physical activity and stress which can do awful things to anybody. If you still have symptoms stick to your guns and have everything checked again, but it seems unlikely anything is wrong if you have not had problems before. So sad to hear about your lovey boxer, we can all empathise with what you are going through as she is family to you. People at work will not think badly of you and will be glad things turned out to be not as they might have thought. Take things easy and take each day as it comes, you will come through this difficult time.
Hi Rob. I suspect there are more than a few of us on here who have experienced something similar. A few weeks ago I was at work on one of the very hot days and suddenly came over "unwell", ie feeling sweaty and nauseous and having diarrhoea (which is how my silent HA presented last summer), and I had to call an ambulance. The hospital (not my usual one) kept me in for 24 hours, although they couldn't find anything "wrong". A&E were worried that my troponin was high at 24, but having got my records, CCU were happy that that is now my "normal" level.
That's the second time over the last year that I've called an ambulance for similar symptoms. The first time I'd gone to the GP feeling like this, and she called the ambulance, so I don't feel so guilty about it, and neither should you.
Hi Rob, I think it's all been said. You're not a failure!
I felt exactly like you did when I had a major hypo during a first aid training course I was delivering!! Thankfully I'd covered low blood sugar so the signs were there but I was too far gone!! Ambulance called but they treated me at the scene. I was so embarrassed returning to work and felt a complete and utter failure.
The day before I'd cuddled our cat as she was put to sleep by the vet. She too had cancer and she was 17 years old but emotional stress plays havoc with our bodies.
Workmates were brilliant though.
This forum is brilliant for support and guidance.
All the very best to you and your dog. We're thinking of you xxxx
Hi Rob, I'm 45 and suffered a HA and subsequent CA in January. I'd been under an enormous amount of stress - both personal and workplace - over the past 4 years; this is what my doctor believes caused my HA. The effects of stress should never be underestimated. Last year my employer (of 17 years) asked me to take on some additional duties. which I declined but somehow still found myself doing! I'm due to return to work for the first time since the HA 9th Sept and I'm already worrying about how everyone will react and what sort of work they'll have me doing/what I'll be able to do.
On top of that, I can truly ppreciate your feelings about your fur-baby. Unfortunately, I arrived home last year to find my 6 year old dog, Marly, having a heart attack. (He'd been running around the park only hours earlier). Despite my best efforts - and those of his vet - we lost him. I feel guilty that I wasn't able to save him). Enjoy every moment with your loyal friend.
I think I'm feeling just like you right now as I return to work tommorrow. So much so that I've gone armed with photo copies of the condition microvascular angina to give to people if there so intent on knowing what's happening to me.
I absolutely agree about the stress being a huge factor.Since my boxer was diagnosed I've questioned everything and cried because I feel so helpless.
She's my little soulmate and has never left my side.
Now I'm sitting here watching her tonight getting worse knowing I'm off to work in the morning. And yes I'm already stressed and know it's causing these horrid angina attacks.but I Care And I'm Human And I'm Struggling To Think About Being Without Her Here.
You sound like a good person who cares so much and I thank you for your kind comments and your openness about your lovely four legged friend and the upsetting horrendous way you lost him.
Only pet lovers really ever understand I believe. I really hope you yourself are now in a better place health wise and mind wise.
No one has actually suggested that you visit your doctor and to discuss your stress and looming depression due to matters beyond your control. You may well benefit from a discussion and where the doctor may well prescribe something to help with the stress - which can be as big a killer as a heart condition since it can manifest itself in so many ways.
One remark you made did make me very uneasy which was the photocopy of the heart disease you have and details about it to be able to present to staff if they begin to question you. The only person that may ask about your illness, from a Health and Safety point of view, would your the Personnel Manager, officer, whatever - but it is not the business of anybody else.
It seems you are under increasing pressure to perform at work, leading you to "feel obliged" to do more than you are paid to do. If that is so, then you must stop and then is the time to use the information you have on your illness - with the Personnel Manager! or Office Manager, who then must begin to accommodate your welfare and needs. You have done nothing wrong, so please, it is not your place to feel guilty. If you have not taken what many believe is their right to take so many sick days off work without feeling ill, then your track record will speak for itself, so do not be afraid over work. Work is where we go to get money to enjoy life, there is little loyalty to employees these days and it is always unwise to do more than you are supposed to since you can leave yourself open to abuse and even ridicule.
Ring the doctor and get an emergency appointment to go and be open about your feelings, you do need support and far more than these pages, good as they are, can give to someone directly suffering as you are with what looks like a clear case of stress and depression brought about by so many sad and frightening events....please!
Further to my last: - I have three Labradors, they are our children and we love them dearly. One I have called the nurse for she always knows when I am feeling down and then stays close to me just to say she is there. Stress and depression can be a very lonely event, even within a family unit probably because when it first starts not even the patient knows what is wrong and everyone else says that "Oh its just a cold - you'll be better soon", or the real kick in the teeth is "Pull yourself together, theirs nothing wrong with you" We then, quite naturally turn to our furry friend. I really do understand and empathise with you however it is a reality that these things happen and why families get pets, to have their children experience bereavement - well thats what I have been told! It does not help but it is reality. No one really understands and even dealing with this sadness can make things difficult at work when one is feeling fragile.
Go see your doctor - you are not alone - only as much as you want to be!
Flicked through these posts and wanted to send a hug. Such difficult times. Don’t let others ‘diagnose’ ur symptoms as minor. You know your body. Let it rest if that’s what it needs. Stress affects the body and triggers everything else and a furry friend is still a ‘family’ member.
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