Back to work - hit the wall

I finally went back to work this week after being gone for 2 1/2 months following PM implantation and repair of a lead that peirced my heart. I trim tres out of electric lines, go the job is very physical, but I've been doing it since '98. I'm 57 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken any more, but they don't expect me to perform at the level of a 20 year old anyway. Experience is more important than production in a scenario that can blow the fillings out of your teeth with one mistake. And I was really looking forward to going back to work.

Problem is, I don't have any energy or stamina. The first two days, I stayed on the ground and did easy work (I'm a foreman so I can do that). The third day I climbed and trimmed one tree for about three hours. The fourth day, I was so exhausted I had to take the day off; complete and absolute bone hurting, body aching, muscle cramping, can't sleep, "holy shit how do I get out of this bed", wore out from head to toe exhaustion. This is very disconcerting as I really need to work. I have no retirement or slush fund, and I'm miserable sitting around anyway. I feel like I aged 20 years in 2 months. Crap, I would have been better off to just die of asystole than to freeze to death starving under a bridge somewhere. They told me I would be close to 100% recovery. They lied. I'm pissed off.

14 Comments

slow

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-18 04:10:53

Have you been doing anything while off work? Because if you spent most of the time unable to do anything, and I'm pretty sure that's what happened, it's going to take some time to get your stamina back. Can you start with mostly supervising and limit the climbing to an hour or so to you get some energy back?

Muscle cramping can be lack of potassium.

Have you had an echo since recovering from the lead problem? Double check to make sure your EF is what it should be.

Don't give up yet! It takes some time to bounce back. It's annoying and frustrating but it's also normal.

My thoughts exactly Tracey

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-19 01:10:06

Ya can't lay around like a wet noodle and expect to go at it after 2 1/2 months.

Top it off with the pierced heart wall and...well you get my drift.

frank

Witchita Linesman....

by Tattoo Man - 2012-10-19 05:10:45

......now then my friend. i know that you always dish out without compromise ,..so lets look at the evidence :

2 1/2 months out of a physical job.

A very driven personality with just a touch of impatience in there.

A very real, and serious recent medical history.

Lucky to still have a job.

Sure you need time to get back into the swing of things, but heck,..I'm pretty sure that if you were writing to me right now you would tell me to 'Man Up' and dig in.

Is Patience one of your qualities ?..if not, this might be a good time in your life to try a bit of it

Take care...Tattoo Man

Hey, Witchita lineman...

by donr - 2012-10-19 08:10:57

...TM has it all correct.

Let me add one little aside - you are now in your mid-late 50's. You don't snap back as quickly or easily as you did when you were 30! That SECOND surgery did you in physically far more than you think. Wait till you get to be 75.

You will be amazed at how far downhill you can slip in just a simple bout of flu lasting a few days.

Just feel fortunate that you have a personality that did not permit you to slip into depression over the situation. Now that you have recovered from the immediate effects, it's time to start building up gradually.

You just discovered that you are mortal!

Don

HI Lineman!!

by donb - 2012-10-19 09:10:06

Sounds like old times as I've been a glutton for punishment stretching my body as far as I can all my life. With 4 PMs' over the past 20 years for basically bad electrical conduction in my heart with no tree branches in my heart wiring. Rehab programs for heart problems is a good method of getting recharged with energy as I've had years of it. I'll soon be 81 years old & get yelled at daily to quit going at doing bullwork. I have found doing some deep breathing while exerting keeps the energy up.

I just had my Cardiologist visit this Thursday as my 4th PM now in my right chest which is under my muscle has been giving me fits. It swoll up & hurts, so he tells me to lay off with lifting, reaching & pulling objects as heavy as my body weight. Also gives some Motrin. Also, enjoyed your posting, you will do OK, give it time & then "go at it"

DonB

Hi :) from Kansas

by pacergirl - 2012-10-19 10:10:41

Firstly it is "Wichita" lineman.... I know because its where my office is. :)
Now.... If I laid around for 10weeks I wouldn't be much use to anyone either.... Just sayin'
Wishing you nothing but good things.
Pacergirl

Okay - I deserved that

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-10-19 10:10:52

I've given out enough butt kickings to get a few. LOL. Maybe I am being a little unrealistic in my expectations. I just hope I do recover before they figure out how worthless I am.

Thanks for the advice and well wishes guys. You're the best.

Dave

cardiac rehab!

by ldebaugh - 2012-10-19 11:10:02

Call your doc and tell him what happened and ask for script for cardiac rehab. My class was 12 weeks, 3 times a week. I wore a 3 lead portable pack ECG and the nurses took my BP frequently at first and then less as time went on. It really helps if you want to get back in shape. I did 25 min on the treadmill doing increasing difficulty (slope and speed) and then a stationary bike and ergometer, weight machines and free weights.

It's work and it works!
Good luck,
M'Liz

Thanks for the spellling lessson!

by donr - 2012-10-19 11:10:05

That'll teach me to copy from a furrinur!

Dave: Let me give you a data point. I have a Son who just had a hip replacement on 2 August. He was down & out for a grand total of three days before he started seriously walking around again. By the end of a week, he could rip off some pretty long distances. Every day he walked as far as he could, increasing at a comfortable pace.

This weekend is the first we have seen him post-op. He walks w/ a normal gait.

I asked him how much the three days really set him back as far as stamina was concerned. He has always been a fitness buff & just retired from Uncle Sam's Army, as you did, so was in pretty good shape. He's just about your age. His comment was that it really set him back a lot & it took several weeks to feel as strong as he did pre-op. He laughed at your situation - not for the derisiveness, but for your unrealistic expectations.

Don

I'm pissed off.

by shaybill - 2012-10-20 01:10:18

Give it time to get back to your normal or almost normal self. A heart is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and it won't happen over night. I am so surprised that you are back to work so soon, despite the need to make money.

Loominator.......

by Tattoo Man - 2012-10-20 06:10:47

.......this just might be a good point for you....

This is me and you , Dave..

A few week back we were scrapping with words, but were still in the same predicament, with some others,...getting to grips with the PM **** that we had been dished with.

Is it me.,.. or do you, Dave, find yourself amazed to be, part of this fantastic Forum..?

I think we need all sorts, and no less those , who, like you ,come in with 'guns blazing'

Dave..Alongside you..and will be with you

Tattoo Man

A sense of humour, I'm sure you will agree, might be usefull as a kind of safety belt

I got a tail?

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-10-20 11:10:35

There's an old adage: "if 10 people tell you you have a tail, you had better turn your head around and look". Maybe I ought to take off my Superman cape. LOL

Witches

by pacergirl - 2012-10-22 07:10:08

Most people don't spell Wichita right the first few times... I actually find it quite funny. Considering the story of the Wizard of OZ and all. "Witch"ita hahahahahha However we are not all witches, except around Halloween and now that I think about it.... I am dressing as, you guessed it, a witch for halloween!

I brought my sense of humor out and dusted it off.... don't know why it was put away in the first place!

Witches

by pacergirl - 2012-10-22 07:10:09

Most people don't spell Wichita right the first few times... I actually find it quite funny. Considering the story of the Wizard of OZ and all. "Witch"ita hahahahahha However we are not all witches, except around Halloween and now that I think about it.... I am dressing as, you guessed it, a witch for halloween!

I brought my sense of humor out and dusted it off.... don't know why it was put away in the first place!

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

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