Back at work....
Well, friends this is my second week back at work. I've been getting in gradually. Started by working 10 til 2. This week it was 10 til 3 and the last 2 days, it's been 10 til 4. I'm going to try 09.30 til 4 next week and just gradually stretch it out as best I can.
I still get some stabbing pains and ectopic "flips" at times. I'm getting used to this. Who knows? Maybe they'll never go away. They may be due to the anxiety. I don't know. Just taking things day by day.
Im taking less anxiety tablets and using breathing and relaxation to aid the anxiety attacks. I hate it when there are too many people in my office - I feel like I need to take a deep breath or get some air. I feel the anxiety come on and sometimes I get light headed. I don't know whether this is a drop in blood pressure or the anxiety. I just try and concentrate harder on what I'm doing and ignore it. Hope that it will go away and I don't have a full blown anxiety issue.
Physically, I think I'm strong. I don't feel tired at the end of the day. I'm trying not to overdo things but I just need to be normal. I need to have my life back. I've lost more weight. People can see it in my face.
Im glad to say that my experience has made people sit up and take notice. One of my colleagues who is three days younger than me has a cholesterol level of 10! She's made an appointment with her doctor, bless her. My sister and niece, who are very over weight have both started to attend diet classes. They have now started to lose weight.
If nothing else, this has been a wake up call for not only me but people that I know. One in two people survive the MI that I had. One in 10 survive the cardiac crash that I went into. So in fact, I'm 5 in a hundred. That's scary. Makes me think that there is something I need to be doing. Something I'm meant to do. A purpose. I just need to find out what that is.
Love and health to all
Alli
X
I still get some stabbing pains and ectopic "flips" at times. I'm getting used to this. Who knows? Maybe they'll never go away. They may be due to the anxiety. I don't know. Just taking things day by day.
Im taking less anxiety tablets and using breathing and relaxation to aid the anxiety attacks. I hate it when there are too many people in my office - I feel like I need to take a deep breath or get some air. I feel the anxiety come on and sometimes I get light headed. I don't know whether this is a drop in blood pressure or the anxiety. I just try and concentrate harder on what I'm doing and ignore it. Hope that it will go away and I don't have a full blown anxiety issue.
Physically, I think I'm strong. I don't feel tired at the end of the day. I'm trying not to overdo things but I just need to be normal. I need to have my life back. I've lost more weight. People can see it in my face.
Im glad to say that my experience has made people sit up and take notice. One of my colleagues who is three days younger than me has a cholesterol level of 10! She's made an appointment with her doctor, bless her. My sister and niece, who are very over weight have both started to attend diet classes. They have now started to lose weight.
If nothing else, this has been a wake up call for not only me but people that I know. One in two people survive the MI that I had. One in 10 survive the cardiac crash that I went into. So in fact, I'm 5 in a hundred. That's scary. Makes me think that there is something I need to be doing. Something I'm meant to do. A purpose. I just need to find out what that is.
Love and health to all
Alli
X
Replies
Hi Alli,
Sounds like it feels good to be back at work, able to be there longer and longer, and overall feeling physically well. I\'m glad to hear it.
Now regarding that thing of getting symptoms when there are a lot of people in your office . . . are they supposed to be in there? Is there any sort of change with the physical space that can be made that would work better for you? I know that it may NOT be possible, but it\'s worth looking into. I have my own office in the prison where I work, but most of the time it\'s standard for us to keep our doors open so people can stop in with questions etc. Sometimes, probably not often enough!, I close the door and do some deep breaths, or have even done a standing yoga pose, or close my eyes for a few minutes, when I\'m stressed out. This is something I didn\'t used to do before my heart attack and I actually need to do more of it. Or sometimes I have also taken a walk outside when I need to unwind- we actually have somewhat pleasant grounds at the prison. Maybe you can further give yourself permission to do some things like this, and tell your supervisor your plan.
That\'s great that some people in your life are making changes because of what happened with you. It\'s good to find some benefits because of what happened. And I\'m sure that there are further purposes too, why you are among the rare survivors! It\'s been SO good to have you here in this group, and you help lift us each up as you share your story and your support.
Love, Sue