Yesterday I got the results from a cardiac MRI that I had paid for following a very bad infection in stomach which needed hospitalisation so on discharge I arranged a number of checkups it as a part of an MOT
So I was shocked when I was told I had a thicken heart wall in left ventricle (dilated) a LV EF of 36% and fluid around the heart.
I am waiting to see own GP and hopefully referral to cardiologist. I am a headteacher of large secondary school and have no idea about working with this?
Anyone any advice?
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Poppy5734
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a lot depends on how symptomatic you are and how that will be impacted / made worse by the stresses and strains of working. It is easy to imagine being in charge of a secondary school is stressful.
until you’ve been seen by GP and later cardiologist it’s a difficult question for you to answer.
As you’ve paid already why not see a cardiologist privately before getting back to school fully while you wait for the NHS? They may be able to reassure re work issue.
Although it may be a time to review your work life balance and how you can best reduce stress. May include some hard decisions.
It’s going to be down to how you feel you’ll cope with work going forward and everyone is different on that score as lots here have heart issues but work. Might need adjustments like hours or duties. Occ Health assessment?
Also depends where in life you are, what support you have and what often unfortunately comes down to - money!
Again, depends on your support and diagnosis. I worked while waiting for my operation (teacher though not head) and waited for over a year. Up at 3am to take meds every day so that the need to use the bathroom and my feeling faint for first 3 hours wouldn’t impact the classroom. Had to take a full lunch break under Dr advice which was not easy. Stayed at school to complete marking etc as advised not to lift/carry. Went to bed as soon as got home and started again. Worked 7 days as couldn’t manage to do planning etc over my usual six. Time off for appointments was tricky at times although I was well supported with my 3 months post op absence.
Many thanks for your reply. . That sounds very challenging and a credit to you for juggling everything. I hope things have turned out well after your op. Thank you again for taking the time to reply.
It is a juggle and there are moments of despair. As people said to me, set yourself goals and keep going! Mine were my daughter’s graduation, return to work as normal and a foreign holiday. Feel very fortunate to have achieved all 3 just over 6 months after surgery. I returned to work in a phased return after 3 months and four weeks later was back to full time teaching. I have a lot to be thankful for. Keep in touch x
May i ask what your stomach problem was? I had helobacter pylori and became so very ill, thought I was dying. Medics couldn’t diagnose my pain etc until 2 years later crashed with AF and diagnosed with HF. I hadn’t been that well,for years but a pain commenced with that bacteria was told it is likely fluid in a sack beneath lung and liver filling with fluid.
They could not tell me what the gastro issue was, it was so severe and infection I was treated for 7 days with IV antibiotics as I had gone into Sepsis state. My blood pressure has not recovered as of yet and remains low. They are still monitoring.
I did wonder if all this is connected. I had little if any symptoms of HF before the MRI results.
Many thanks for taking the time to reply, I hope things have improved for you.
Hi,I'm in heart failure, LV ef has gone up to 40 % since starting a cocktail of meds also in permanent AF, have a 2 lead pacemaker fitted following pace and ablate and awaiting a treatment plan from cardiologist to upgrade the PM to a CRT 3 lead PM with cardioversion planned.
All in a space of 25 Month and as you can guess it's taken its toll on me physically and mentally.
I had a occupational health review at the start of this year, nothing much came out of it other than I could work at home more and my employer should consider putting in place a disability plan (this hasn't happened)
I battled on supporting work until a month ago and decided enough was enough when symptoms got a bit worse and decided too put myself first, instead of taking on board the stress and demands of work in addition to worrying about me health and struggling each day with SOB, tiredness, extreme fatigue and unable to carry out physical duties.
I made a docs appointment for reassurance more than anything else that the decision I made to take time off work was appropriate considering my my symptoms and condition, I also discussed with my GP I'll health retirement should things not improve.
Gp was very understanding and assured me that he would support me through this period with sick notes and evidence to support I'll health retirement should that be the route I need to take in the future.
Obviously money is a major factor if I'll health retirement came into play but I was pleased to discuss with the gp just to get some reassurance.
If I was you I'd make an appointment with gp then with occupational health, if your struggling mentally and physically due to your condition discuss with the gp about taking some time out from work.
Suppose it depends on how feel to support work at a good level.
I should imagine you will be prescribed meds which also can knock you sideways for a while until you get used to them.
Hi again. I can imagine a big shock for you, as for us all when it happens. So many signs not detected by physicians nor are we educated upon. Meds will likely improve your EF. Mine went from 10% to 16% to 25% within 5 months 4 months on from that now and I have no idea but don’t believe improved much more. However, every heart is basically different with differing symptoms. All the best.
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