Back at work Full time now but.... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Back at work Full time now but....

yellow731 profile image
43 Replies

Hi hope everyone is ok , well i did a full shift last night 7pm 7am since my HA in july , i went back to work in december on reduced hours and slowly easing into it , i work 4 on 4off every morning when i get up i take asprin bisoprol , ramipril , ezetembie, amlodpline and trigarleor ,and in the evening i take ramipril tigarleor and atovastin ( sorry if meds not spelt right) anyway got home this morning was shattered ,took my meds jumped into bed and that was it i couldnt sleep rolling over cat napping for till 2 so got up , anyway check side effects of meds and only bisoprol causes insonmia so should take it in morning , which i did but jumped into bed ,so would that be alright taking it when i get up in the afternoon ? It wont hurt taking it at 3pm when i normally take it around 9 to 10.30 am on my days off , so for the long post but im knackered was looking forward to getting back to normal and cant be doing with a restfull sleep .

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43 Replies
yellow731 profile image
yellow731

Sorry restless days sleep

KIMMY60 profile image
KIMMY60 in reply toyellow731

I think you should seriously be thinking is shift work suitable for someone with a heart problem you are going against your natural body clock and it's not good for heart health

Guitarlewis profile image
Guitarlewis in reply toKIMMY60

Think I would change my job an work part time sociable hours . 12 hr shifts an continental shift not good for you. I changed mine .

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toKIMMY60

You a right i gave it alot of thought today after only having 3 hours sleep and im moving to the day shift 7 am to 7pm which isnt to bad ,but in the meantime ive been applying for other jobs mon to fri ,its not good for anyones health nevermind someone with heart problems the dont call it the graveyard shift for nothing , in the meantime ive rang in sick tonight ,just holding off going to bed a bit longer

KIMMY60 profile image
KIMMY60 in reply toyellow731

Also 12hrs work is too much you don't want more than 8hrs five days a week at the most hope you get something better for your health good luck

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toKIMMY60

Cant do 8 hours or 5 days its 4on 4off , its not a stress full job , but the day shift will do till i find something else

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28-

Hello :-)

Well done getting back to work full time it is going to take a while to adjust :-)

I have always been told to take my Bisoprolol in a Morning along with a few more meds for my heart and then other heart meds at night

Bisoprolol actually make me tired within an hour of taking them in a Morning I could go back to bed again

I did ask if I could change the time I took it but because of other meds I take it had to be Morning for me and I understood why after they explained

But as a lot of us are all on similar meds but even so they do differ it might be alright that you can take it later but I would not start doing it till you have spoken to your Doctor or if you struggle to speak with them then at least the pharmacists where you get your repeats from

Let us know what they say and how you get on :-) x

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBeKind28-

Hi Thanks hope your well as i said i normally take them between 9 10.30 on my days off ,last few weeks i worked ,7pm to 3.30 am wasnt getting up till 12..1pm time and took all my morning ones then , they for when the body is awake arent they ?, i got my med review on the 16th so will mention it then i read that bisiporal reduces HR by 10 bpm my RH is 50/55 bpm i only take 1.25mg , and lack of sleep is worse than taking a tablet a few hours late x

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toyellow731

Hello :-)

I am glad you are due for a review :-)

Let us know how you get on and I hope they will say it is fine to do that :-) x

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBeKind28-

I will do , though thinking back to this morning i biked to work for first time so 3mile home uphill etc straight in the house tablets down my neck straight in bed maybe i should of let the HR settle for a hour before going to bed ,but i was knackered ,maybe im just thinking of reasons why no sleep , i wont be doing 12 hours tonight to knackered haha x

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toyellow731

Hello :-)

Well you certainly are fit biking up a hill 3 miles that is for sure !

They do say though when you have been on shifts you should wind down for a while before trying to go to sleep and after that shift and bile ride I certainly would have needed to wind down and switch of

Positive no 12 hours tonight but shift work does throw your body clock out but I am sure as you get used to things again you will find a routine that will suite you :-) x

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBeKind28-

Oh it wasnt a 3 mile hill ,they was some hills along the route , im fitter than ive ever been didnt exercise before now at the gym daily ,i bike i walk 4mile daily i swim , when i started i was wearing XL waist jogging bottoms now wear Small waist unreal the transformation in me , but it will be the car to work tonight as will leave early not got the energy for a 12 hour shift x

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toyellow731

Hello :-)

Still fit to me been able to do all that you have made a massive transformation you must feel so proud :-)

Yes the car does come in handy sometimes and tonight it is a good idea it has a trip out and you go to work in it :-) x

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toyellow731

Yes you should off yellow731👌Secondly you don't seem to work a regular night pattern either!

Thirdly it takes a few weeks to get used to going back to work especially full-time and have a healthy rhythm again!

I found shifts late afternoon to after midnight exhausting! So I only worked early days shifts in the restaurant kitchen! Mostly finished by 15 or 16 pm! That was 4½ years ago, I was 63, 2019, February when I experienced a heart attack! Late April I went back to work on reduced hours first, then more again August/September 👌

But I don't know if your employer would have done this!

I had to beg my management to come back to work!

I found Bisolprol made me very tired in the day 👌

When you get home, have a bath or shower first, eat some breakfast and then take your morning meds 👌

Blackout curtains or Blinds help go to sleep too!

I used to work night shifts in a nursing home 2009! Most of the time I needed to unwind first then then eat breakfast, bath and bed!

Didn't always work 😂

Anyway wait for your review and discuss any meds problems with your GP then 👍

🥰

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toSnowdrops_17

Hi my pattern is 4on 4off 7 pm to 7am since i went back 1st of december i did 7pm to 1am all through december had no problem sleeping through till 10/11am then in january worked 7pm to 3 30am again slept ok somedays was up at 10 somedays 12 but again i did sleep at least 6hours solid , but since going 7to7 i can not sleep as sunday 1hour sleep ,i thought it maybe certain meds , so finished at 1.30 last night as knackered no meds had a hour chill before getting into bed and 3 hours sleep so 4 hours since waking up saturday morning it isnt good so ive made the choice now im going on days or 12 midday to midnight , when your body telling you to change you got to listen and i think thats what its saying, these last 6 months ive got use to day mode eating 3 meals a day exercise etc and ive never felt better after 18 years of nights now i go back to nights i feel depressed again

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toyellow731

Well I think days if your employer lets you do this Yellow! Just be careful as nobody wants to lose their job! If you could go in days, I would 👍 Night working is hard, I always felt like a Zombie early morning at 7.30 am! I totally prefer days! Also your body needs to get used to the heart meds and I know it took me a while!

So hope you can still work 4 on and 4 off day shifts?

But I personally had to stop Bisolprol as I felt absolutely shattered throughout the day and heart rate dropped too low! God bless and good luck Yellow 👍🥰

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz

Hi I thought it was just me thinking I drank to much tea before bed but I've been having so much trouble sleeping must be tge meds tgen

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toYodayodz

I cut down on the tea use to drink 20+ cups a day before HA but now only first brew when i get up is normal then its decaff tea or fruit tea ,and a cup of horlicks a hour before bed dont eat or drink the last hour , maybe just my bodyclock is out will see tomorrow morning will leave the bisoporol till i wake up .

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein

This is exactly what im worrying about when i return to work as i work 4 on 4 off nights and day shifts. I struggled to get enough sleep before my heart attack as it was. If i dont get enough sleep i start to get issues with my mental health plus it makes me feel physically terrible. Its alright doing these types of shifts for so many years but it starts to take its toll on you after 10 years with most people ive worked with.

Im looking into changing jobs even if it means a wage cut because Im getting fit again and I think where I work is responsible, directly and indirectly for my health issues. Ive had sleep issues, mental health issues, varicose veins from being on my feet loads, musculoskeletal issues, sciatica and now my heart attack.

I basically dont want to undo what im doing now in recovery as I like feeling healthy and dont want to feel exhausted most of the time due to the pressures of my workplace.

devonian186 profile image
devonian186 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

night shifts are a known marker for heart problems. If you can get a job with regular daytime hours thereby enabling you to operate at set hours for meals, pills, exercise etc I suspect you would find that helpful

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

I finished at 1.30 am sat in the living room till 2.30 ,reading a book just relaxing before bed into bed and ,4 hours sleep i could cry im ringing in sick tonight i cant work on 5 hours sleep in 3 days , i think my body is telling me to pack the night shift so im going to swap to the day shift or see if i can do 12 to 12 , im like you my recovery has been good and i dont want to ruin that my health and its only a 25% cut in wages . I

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein in reply toyellow731

Dont blame you. Ive been in that very same situation many times myself where ive only been getting a few hours sleep over the 4 on. Its not only bad for your long term health it also puts you at higher risk of having an accident or making a mistake that could have serious consequences.

Lots of my colleagues have found themselves falling asleep driving home from work. I usually walk or cycle home but ive had to get a lift or taxi after nights because i havent the energy left to walk back.

It wouldnt be so bad if we just did 9 hour shifts but thats not possible as we are a round the clock operation

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

yes its hard on the body isnt it , think its a young man game , ive looked at the finances and thought to myself is it really worth it for about £90 extra after tax a week , and its not , i just applied for 5 other jobs on days around my area , and 3 of them all pay £1 a hour more than my day rate , yes we are round the clock 24/7 , i always cycle to work now but used the car last night so hopefully in 3 weeks i will be on days just got to use last of my holidays to book half shifts for remaining night shift rotas

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein in reply toyellow731

Lol. My fellow technician mates favourite saying that. "Its a young mans game."I used to laugh at him and think what an old fart but he is right. Its ok up til your early 40s but then your body starts to rebel.

I always took feeling crap and tired all the time to just something ive fot to put up with if i want the money. But now id rather just work days if I can, the odd nightshift wouldnt bother me though.

4 on 4 off seems great in that youve got 4 days off, but you feel knackered for the first one or two days usually, especially after nights. Plus your family and mates are at work so you can feel a bit isolated from and out the flow of everybody elses lives.

4 on 4 off is like work becomes your life to a degree and the time off inbetween is incidental and something to fill and count off until youve got to go back again.

You may get paid extra for unsociable hours but its getting so its not worth it.

Smitty1956 profile image
Smitty1956

Hi, yellow731,

Wow! You should feel proud of yourself for being able to go back to work full-time so soon after a HA. I was already retired when I had my HA, but I’m not sure that I could physically return to work. Some days, I wish that I had a part-time job, but I don’t think that I could do full time.

Your schedule does a number on taking your meds regularly, so I would really discuss this soon with your doctor. For some meds, it does matter when we take them.

I am also really impressed with how you have turned things around with increased exercise. I still need to make major changes in my life in this area. I am afraid that I am stilll too sedentary, but I plan to work on this in 2024.

Best wishes to you in your job and in getting your meds sorted! ❤️

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toSmitty1956

Thank you but after having 4 hours sleep im listening to my body and going on to days go to get back into routine with meds etc

Smitty1956 profile image
Smitty1956 in reply toyellow731

That really sounds like the best idea possible! Day shift should allow you to get into a normal routine with your meds! Best wishes to you! ❤️

Elsabounre profile image
Elsabounre

I interchange times of taking my heart meds according to my BP results ...if pulse is higher then I take my bosoprolol first...so morning time..if BP is a bit high or normal I take Entresto first...as Biso lowers the pulse mainly..so that is my reasoning..at first if I took Biso at night..also had problems sleeping..but not any more..suppose the body gets accustomed...however I use a small dose of valium at night as well..2.5mg...as I am a bad sleeper anyway..way before I had HF...so do what feels better..I do not think there are rules that say..one or the other must be taken in the morning or evening...I do not use other meds..so for you..you will have to pace the times between tYour other meds...good luck with your sleeping..it is very important to rest

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toElsabounre

Hi thanks for that , but ive just made the choice now to go on to day shift that way my body clock , my meds my routine all stay the same ,i had to make big changes in my life when i had a heart attack now i got to listen to my body and its saying after 18 years pack the night shift in its not good

Elsabounre profile image
Elsabounre in reply toyellow731

Always good to listen to your body...it will take a while after 18 yrs of nights for the body to adjust and your sleeping patterns...wish you all the best..

enitsirhc profile image
enitsirhc

I talked over when I should take bisoporal with my cardiologist. I now take it in two halves, one half in the morning and one in the evening. I am not nearly so tired. Cardiologist said that he did not mind how or when I took it as long as I had it . Not sure if this helps, but it did help me!

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toenitsirhc

Thank you , but im going to go on the day shift everything will stay the same then ,i dont have problem sleeping on my days off ,i go to bed around 11.30 and can sleep through till 7 30 /9.00 its just when i work my 4 night shifts everything goes out of sync ,so rather than be depressed and stresed its time for a change

yellow731 profile image
yellow731

Well last night no sleep again body is shattered cant cope now , very tired when i get into bed then thats it nothing, will ring the docs today see if they can give me something

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein

Looking at your posts i think im.going tonask about staying on days when i go back to work because i really dont want to go back to feeling terrible again. They cant really say no to me as they allowed one of our guys to stay on permanent days and another actually wanted permanent nights.

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

They got to do it if its effecting your health , i cant wait to get on days then everything should be same routine then tablets same time of day bed same time of day etc ,ive been on day mode since HA and it is actually alot healthier for you no stress etc , done 1 full night shift and look what its done to me 1 hour sleep 3 hours sleep then zero hours , im at the docs at 15.10 so hopefully he will prescribe me some strong sleepers just need 1 good night then the next night wont be panicing going to bed about sleeping , your health comes first mate

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein in reply toyellow731

Thats the problem you get into a frame of mind where you worry about getting to sleep before you get home then you cant get to sleep becuase you are worrying about it. I used to regularly only have maybe 7 or 8 hours sleep over the course of 4 nights at one time. Then i would sleep excessively to catch up for 2 days and only feel normal again the day before i was due back.

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

Well just been to pick my meds up and spoke to the pharmist he checked all meds and said i can have nytol one a night 50g from behind the counter, so i brought a box ive had thses before when bodyclock was out of sync before my HA and they use to wipe me out for 10 hours so hopefully they do the job ,but maybe doc will give me stronger ones , yes its a big problem worrying about it before you even get into bedv

yellow731 profile image
yellow731

Well been in with GP hes just prescribed me a month supply of zoplicone never had them before ,

yellow731 profile image
yellow731

well a quick update took the zoplicone at 8.30 and got into to bed out like a light woke up still dark thought ffs alexa whats the time .......the time is 5.57 that will do a good sleep happy days cant believe 1 nightshift threw my body out of sync , but im going on to perm days now

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein in reply toyellow731

After hearing your story and a couple of others i think im going to ask if i can go on permanent days as now im older im a light sleeper even on day shifts. Throw in the meds nights and a screwed up body clock which also messes with my digestion, i just think me, meds and nights and stress aint going to mix well at all.

Ive also been looking at possible new jobs away from what im doing now as well. May go back to IT support but at the hospital where I was treated. Give something back to the NHS. Ive had plenty out of it over the years what with the HA, reconstructive hand surgery,, a years worrh of physio and various other bits and bobs.

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

Hi i would go on days , plus giving back to the NHS is a no brainer ,wish i had gone on days before i went back, my body clock still out of sync from that one night , the zoplicone working wonders every other night but not sleeping the night i do have it , finished at 2am last night laid awake till 7am awake at 9 , but i go on days on the 6th march and have 12days off before so hopefully will get back into routine then ,in the meantime i just got to solider on its starting to effect my mental health now as in getting anxiety before i go to bed hoping i sleep so losing the battle already .

BaronFrankenstein profile image
BaronFrankenstein in reply toyellow731

I wouldnt want to resort to sleeping pills as ive got enough meds as it is cirxulating in me without that to deal with. You shouldnt have tonresort to them either.

As i daid ive been there regardingno sleep and what it does to your mental health. It really affected my relationship with my wife and friends as well.

yellow731 profile image
yellow731 in reply toBaronFrankenstein

But if i didnt have the pills i wouldnt sleep i was sleepless in 3 days well 6 hours over 3 , im off till 6th march now just booked the next 3 blocks off so back into the bed at 11 up at 7 routine i go 😁

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