Occ Health Outcome + Question

• by Janey L
• 2010-08-12 10:08:36
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1278 views
• 0 comments

Hi all. Firstly, just to let you know how my appt went yesterday with the Occ Health nurse who upset me SO much last year. You may remember I was worried about seeing her & was going to take my husband with me.

Well, my husband did come with me & amazingly the nurse was quite happy for him to come into my appt with me. She was very nice to me this time (as my husband was there I think). She said I can return to work on 23rd August, on a phased return at first. So I'm working just mornings for 2 weeks, then my normal hours after that. Great news!

So now my employer can't keep threatening me with dismissal if I'm not back by Oct 1st...as I'm going back this month. HUGE relief that worry & stress is finally over.

So to my question...I am concerned about this. You may remember I posted last week to say my resting heart rate post ablation is 80 but on exertion it is only going up to 88-90. Before my ablation 2 weeks ago, my resting rate was about 96 & would shoot up to over 130 on minimal exertion. Now it is hardly going up at all.

I'm now concerned I may have "chronotropic incompetence", where the heart rate does not go up enough on exertion. This last week I have been feeling very tired & I'm not sure if it is related to my heart rate not going up. I've been going for walks & doing more activity than I could ever do before my ablation so I did think maybe I'm just doing too much too soon. But just after my ablation I seemed to be full of energy, now I just feel exhausted. Worried about this happening at work...but I've GOT to go back to work & get on with it to avoid the dreaded threats of dismissal on the grounds of incapability. I did not tell the nurse about this yesterday as I have no proof I have this.

Also, my GP checked my BP yesterday & it is 85/50!! I do have low blood pressure but that is very low for me!! I've never had it that low. It did drop to 89/53 after my ablation but the nurses in hospital told me to drink lots of water, which did bring it up a bit. My GP said to make sure I stay hydrated at all times. I have been feeling dizzy on standing too quickly, which is why I asked my GP to check it.

Does anyone have/had chronotropic incompetence? I've read the only treatment is a pacemaker...having just avoided having a pacemaker 2 weeks ago when I didn't have to have my sinus node ablated after all (EP found/ablated a focal atrial tachycardia).

I'm just worried I might not be "cured" after my ablation after all. Not seeing my EP until Nov 15th. Having treamill/exercise test on Oct 28th.

If anyone can help..PLEASE do!

Best wishes
Janey