Leaving Work

My primary care physician said that I work too hard and might consider disability.

I have had my device for 4 months today. I returned to my job  2 months after implant and ablation. I am working full-time but by Friday I am exhausted. I spend Saturday in bed giving my body the rest it seems to crave. Episodes of PTSD still exist but lessened. Though I am acutely aware of my heart beat. Because my issue appears to be genetic it's not going away, prompting me to dance between "safe activities" and going out in a blaze of glory.

It scares me to think of not working at the usual place of 12+ hours per week, but it is taking a toll. I am entering my 40th year of working and though I know working isn't supposed to define me, it does. The question becomes do I want to spend whatever time typing on a computer in a cubicle farm?

Has anyone else faced this type of decision?

4 Comments

Working too hard?

by AgentX86 - 2019-07-27 23:15:28

I don't know what a pacemaker has to do with working too hard but two years ago I was facing a similar decision.  The symptoms from my Aflutter had gotten so bad that I couldn't sleep so didn't see how I could continue to work.  I'm an electronics design engineer so have to be able to concentrate.  Lack of sleep was making it so I was worthless at work.  It took almost a year and a pacemaker to make things more or less right again (still get very sleepy at times).  I'll proably retire at the end of next year but I'm doing OK now.

Leaving Work

by Chowchowma - 2019-07-28 02:13:05

I now have a bit of insomnia as well. I fall asleep but wake up often. Other than fatigue, work is fine. I love working but I need fewer hours. We"ll see how it goes.

insomnia

by AgentX86 - 2019-07-28 16:28:11

My problem wasn't insomnia, per se, rather highly symptomatic Aflutter, caused by a Maze gone bad. It felt like my heart was doing somersaults all night, every night. My EP discussed AV ablation +PM several times but I didn't want to go that extreme. Instead,  I tried drugs, then ablations. The drugs caused SSS and asystoles and the ablations failed, so AV ablation and pacemaker was the only answer. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have jumped at even  the possibility of a pacemaker and saved a year or two out of my life.

To all of you facing the possibility of pacemaker implant surgery. there is a LOT worse that can happen to you (and may have already).

Insomnia

by Chowchowma - 2019-07-31 19:52:12

I consider myself VERY lucky. I wouldn't have chosen the pacemaker/ICD but after being informed and nearly dying 3 times, yeah I am glad to have the implant. I was also fortunate that so far my ablation has been successful..its only been 2 months but I was experiencing daily ventricular tachycardia attacks which have stopped since the ablation. 

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.