Nights & Palpitations

[BaronFrankenstein]

Hi.

I had my first set of 4 on nights last week which seemed to go ok just working 8 hrs apart from feeling sick at the end of the first shift. I adjusted when I took my meds which I think caused this blip.

This week though, first nightshift, for the last 3 hours of the 8 hr shift i felt very fatigued even though i hadn't really done that much and i was experiencing palpitations as well as pains in my arm, wrist and hand like when i first had a heart attack.

This continued the next day, including the bad fatigue. I woke at midday, could only stay awake for a couple of hours and had to go back to bed until 5:45pm, but i didnt feel any better so i phoned in sick becuase I know feeling like that I wasnt safe to be at work.

Ive been back at work since April 4th, had my HA Dec 14th is it simply early days and im trying to do too much? Ive not done more than 8 hrs on days so far as well and even then i have felt not just tired but what Id call heart fatigue.

Its like my body itself is fit, ive got my muscle back, but my heart gets tired before my body does if that makes sense?

[fishonabike]

night shift can be very disruptive to your body rhytms, as you probably noticed when you first did them (possibly years ago?) - my first attempt at varied shift times was disastrous and i had to revert to a regular day shift - but several years later i took to nights much better - but i was not on any medication which needed a regular pattern of timing

i hope that what you are experiencing is your body adapting but it sounds rather worrying for you - the pain you describe is always a worrying feature and never feels like a good sign

i know you need to get back to this pattern of work but you also need your health, so i hope you can find a way through or round this

i understand what you mean about feeling like your heart gets tired befor the rest of you - in a way that is not surprising, it is a muscle and after the rough time it has had it needs to rebuild its stamina, this is a slow process - a change of routine can be much more upsetting than you and your employers expect - is there any chance that they can give you lighter duties on nights, or fewer night shifts at a time, just for a while longer, to help you adjust - it sounds like they really want you back at work fully and it's in everyone's interest to help you get back

but if that pain returns/continues you must not ignore it - get medical advice

[BaronFrankenstein in reply to fishonabike]

Thanks for the reply. Im not aure now if its because my blood pressure ia too low. Ive taken BP readings when im getting pains and ita higher than normal into the 145 over 85 region whn its normally now around 110 / 65 region.

I know its not a huge difference but maybe its because ive had months of having a lower BP and now going back to work and especially on nights has made it go up above what i have adjusted to as notmal the past 5 months.