Always ill colleague

[lightisnotwhite]

I’m on here a lot but this is a genuine request for help.
I work closely with a woman only a year older than me. She’s amazing, great at her job and easy to work with aside from this one issue. She always has a health aliment she needs to share every day.

She does have an ongoing hip problem but she hardly talks about that. It’s a headache, her anxiety, her stomach issues ; constipation or diarrhoea, literally everyday. I listen but it’s hard work not knowing what to say. It’s like Groundhog Day and if I just listen and look interested I feel like I’m lying to her because there’s clearly more going on than the problem she’s moaning about.

If it’s not her it’s her adult children or husband. Everything from styes to being bi polar. Every day. At least once a week she will have to be on phone booking a GP or speaking to one. Do I just put up with it or is there something I can say that will help.

I work with one too. Its draining.

Nice enough girl, younger, bit great at her jib because of her anxiety etc. will often call in to say shes anxious about walking to work/what to wear etc. then waltzing in at 11am full of beans.

Play her at her own game and trump her ailments by declaring you have an ongoing ear infection that renders you deaf on and off during the day so it’s pointless her talking to you as you won’t be able to hear her.

If anyone in work stated telling me about their bowel movements I wouldn’t be slow informing them that’s it not appropriate.

I feel your pain.
We are a very small team of five but every colleague has health ailments, off sick a lot, numerous hospital appointments etc. I know they can't help it.
This week I have had to read private messages from one colleague telling me she has been prescribed medication to clear her bowels out, and detailed description of how many times she has been on the loo overnight, one droning on about after effects of covid jab, holding on the phone in work time for a routine diabetes check, his mothers hospital appointments, another how she hasn't slept, how she's so ill her neighbours have to bring her food round ( yet works full time with no problems ?? ). It's just endless.

@lightisnotwhite

I’m on here a lot but this is a genuine request for help. I work closely with a woman only a year older than me. She’s amazing, great at her job and easy to work with aside from this one issue. She always has a health aliment she needs to share every day. She does have an ongoing hip problem but she hardly talks about that. It’s a headache, her anxiety, her stomach issues ; constipation or diarrhoea, literally everyday. I listen but it’s hard work not knowing what to say. It’s like Groundhog Day and if I just listen and look interested I feel like I’m lying to her because there’s clearly more going on than the problem she’s moaning about.

If it’s not her it’s her adult children or husband. Everything from styes to being bi polar. Every day. At least once a week she will have to be on phone booking a GP or speaking to one. Do I just put up with it or is there something I can say that will help.

I have this too and whenever they bring anything up I just brush over it and start a new topic. Sick of hearing people moan first thing in the morning. These people never think to ask about anyone else, just talk about themselves. Draining and a bore!