Hello all, I'm a 66 year old 'young' woman who works in a school. I have Atrial Fibrillation which is controlled by medication. I am expected to return to work on Monday 15th June into an enviroment with a large number of children and of course teaching staff. We have been allocated 'Bubbles' but I'm just not sure how safe this will be. I cannot find answers or anyone who gets my anxiety issues. Anyone else in this same position? Thank you for reading this.
Shirley
Hi there
I don’t have the same condition as you but I can completely understand the worry and stress you’re going through, I don’t work on a school but I normally work with people who are disabled, I haven’t seen them for weeks now and so worried about them as no one else sees them and some have no families, so I give them a ring when I can.
I wish I could help you more, but here if you need to chat, have you tried talking to the BHF nurses helpline to see what they suggest, look online there phone number is on their site.
And of course welcome 😃
Hi I have AF also controlled by medication,I work In a doctors surgery I have worked all the time I do wear a face mask when having any interaction with patients (we are a dispensing surgery and patients are also coming in for urgent blood test etc) I also wash or sanitise my hands after every interaction.
Obviously this is just me you need to speak to your employer and as other people have suggested maybe BHF nurse .
Take care
I am completely the opposite. The office that I work in is making plans to return to work but because I am "vulnerable " I am not going to be allowed to return any time soon. I am due to retire next year and the thought of staying home until then is making me very anxious to the point where I am very tearful. It seems like my life has just been stopped.
Hi
I am a 67 ‘young woman’ and have never had anxiety issues until the Covid 19. I had a bad experience at work with a customer who deliberately coughed over the counter !! That was 6 weeks ago and I have not been back to work since. I am on medication for my symptoms which are beta blockers , and I wish I had never taken them. So many side effects. Like you I don’t feel safe at going back to work. I have been told that Anxiety is not an illness ? But to me it’s the worst thing that has ever happened to me. So I know where your coming from. I have been told I need to get over come my fears but easier said than done. I’m trying get off my medication at the moment but my body keeps telling me I need it 😞
We find ourselves in a difficult situation regardless of how we act it's the others who think the virus is over! Our school is large and a lot of the staff young and quite blase about the whole thing. The bubble is a good idea but how can you insist children stay a safe distance. I'm dreading it
The bubble is where they will isolate year groups into classrooms. The bubble I will go into is of 10 children and 5 adults. I am the desigated first aider and our class is special needs! If there's an injury I will throw a plaster at them! We also have to get in and out of the school at varied times and not touch anything outside of our bubble!! Not going to be easy but my colleagues are back already and ironing out any issues.
Hi, I’m a SEN TA in a school with a similar heart condition. Our head has been really thorough and doesn’t want anyone who has any underlying health condition back until the infection rate drops. I do live in the North where the rate is still quite high and our council is clamping the brakes on the wider opening of schools. The risk assessment says due to the lack of social distancing (even in bubbles) and no ppe following the governments ‘stringent social distancing’ is impossible. I also do work in very close proximity with children and this is a major factor. I’m still hoping to return in a few weeks but that will be my choice and at my own risk. I agree with what others have said, the BHF nurses are really helpful and also talk to your headteacher. Hope you get things sorted.
I am. Just had an ablation after decades of Afib.
Brilliant reply, mind you I would think that seeing so we are on exactly the same hymn sheet
Stay well Stay safe
Hello
You pose some very difficult questions which will need answering sooner or later. One answer I think is relevant is if you took London as a Dense populated country of circa population around 9 million, and then the rest of the UK as a country I don't think we would look as bad as it does !!!
You can do anything with stats -)
Stay Well Stay Safe
Hi. Another teacher here but I teach outreach so fewer students to worry about. Have you checked with your union? It has been really helpful to a lot of people who are vulnerable or shielding. Wishing you lots of luck if you do return.
The one thing that I have found to help my anxiety is a mobile app. I've tried a number of them and I find that Ten Percent, Calm and Headspace are the best. Most of them include breathing exercises, some are more meditation directed and some involve cognitive behavior. The one that has helped me currently is Ten Percent.
Hi
I normally work going to clients homes, I’ve stayed away from everyone since the pandemic started as some people are very elderly.
However I do have one household that has 4 small children running around, it’s a difficult decision to go back there as they want me to ASAP, think it must be a decision I have to make and take precautions, difficult keeping a 2 and 3 and a half year old from rushing up to you and giving you a hug 😳
Worried
WORRIED.....
Worried. 
Worried 
Worried 
