Do you think my GP would sign me off for this?

[hairgrips]

DH taken seriously ill very suddenly last week and following a spell in hospital is now home but very unwell and suddenly our whole future is up in the air. DS is stressing about his exams, our inadequate internet and so on.

I have my own health niggles, nothing serious but they mount up. Since DH's illness my IBS has flared up and the implications of this at work - well, you get the picture.

Nobody is getting much sleep.

I have a very full-on job, keyworker so still going in as usual.

I can't cope and something has to give.

I haven't had a sick day in 7 years and I'm worried about having stress on my records. Would the sick note say 'stress'? Would a GP even consider signing me off?

I don't know what to do.

DH's illness not covid related by the way.

Of course you can be signed off with stress related MH problems. You should talk to your GP. You have a lot going on

Your first seven days of illness would be self certified.

Yes, I think there's a very good chance that your GP would sign you off for stress and anxiety. Don't be afraid to ask them, and I hope things settle down for you and work out as well as possible

I sympathise. If you don't want to get signed off with stress, do you have any annual leave to take?
Can you also call on family and friends to help lift the load? Is your DS old enough to check if an internet booster would help with your broadband issues? Does he know that if he cables into the router it's more robust than wifi? He can get a cable diverted from Amazon. If he's 12+ ask him to step up on this and helping out with housework and making meals for him and his dad. Basically, ask for help from friends and family.

BTW I think my GP wrote 'family problems' on my sick note when they signed me off some time the year before last.

Try not to worry about having 'stress' on your sick note, but definitely bring it up with your GP to see what he/she might be able to do.

You can self certify the first 7 days. A GP won’t provide a sick note before that period.

You need to self cert for a week first then you could see your GP about your IBS and stomach pains and get signed off for that?

Thanks. I completely forgot about the 7 days.

You can of course be signed off with stress but ultimately it is something your GP needs to agree with you on after a conversation about how it's affecting your mental health. If the IBS symptoms are the actual reason you feel unable to work can these symptoms be controlled with medication? I should imagine that would be your GP's first port of call there.

If you are expressing that the main reason you feel unable to work is stress/mental health then yes that is what will be put on the sick note. It needs to be a named medical reason.

You don't require a doctors note for the first 7 days of sickness anyway, you self certify, providing an sc2 form if your employer requires one, then obtain a doctors certificate for any sickness days after that. This states the reason as given by you, and a time frame (which can be extended after a follow up with the GP if you need it).

Hope things improve soon OP.

If you can make it in tomorrow you can take the weekend, then five self cert days next week, and the following weekend - you'd need a doctors note for the Monday.

Do you have a paid emergency leave policy at work? Carers policy etc? That may be an option as well.

Self certify for 7 days.

If you are going into work tell them you are having an IBS flare up and cannot leave the house/be away from the loo.

If you are WFH tell them you have the IBS flare up and cant sleep/dizzy/not getting enough substance from food/painful.

Do not be ashamed of admitting you suffer from IBS. Stress may have caused the flare up but IBS is the symptom that is stopping you from working. Tell them it is usually well managed as you have for years and never had to take time off for it, but this is worse than before.

If by mid week you still need time off phone the GP and tell them your IBS is flaring up and you cant get to work/sleep/are exhausted, and they might prescribe something to help or give you a fit note.

IBS can be debilitating at times, it is a genuine illness and nowadays people understand that much more.

You are clearly in need of a break OP. As others have said, self-certify then GP's note. IBS sucks and stress is definitely a huge factor.

Could you not be signed off for IBS?

Absolutely take the time you need. Your own 7 days and then the Dr's note. I was amazed how supportive my gp was when I needed a time out.