Time off sick for period...

[TealDoor]

I started my period at 3am. Its really heavy. I've already been up twice to change everything.

I've got to go into work this morning because I don't really have any choice but I feel like shit. My back is aching, I feel like I'm in early labour with cramping and dragging pains in my body and down the front of my thighs. I've had ibuprofen and it's not helped.

I'm light headed, shivery and feel nauseous. I've got diarrhoea.

All I want to do is curl up and stay in bed.

I'm 48 so well aware this is perimenopause. It's not this bad very often and, when it has been previously, I've been really lucky that I've started at the weekend or during holiday time so it's not affected work.

I've got to go in this morning but I'm going to have to review it at lunchtime because I honestly feel dreadful.

I know it sounds stupid but I've no idea what to say to my employer at lunchtime if I still feel like this. I've got a bad period doesn't really feel like 'illness'. But, due to the nature of my job, I'm on my feet all day and don't get proper breaks. Yesterday, I went to the loo at 7am before I went in and didn't get chance to go again until nearly 1pm. I can probably make sure i get a break around 11 today but I can't just nip to the loo when I need to.

I'd just like some feedback from other people on how they've managed this. I suspect it's going to start happening more often now due to my age ☹️

Go with this I'm light headed, shivery and feel nauseous. I've got diarrhoea. must be coming down with something, need to stay home.

I can't not go in at all. I'm just going to have to muddle through this morning.

You shouldn't go to work with diarrhoea and you don't sound fit to do your job today. Give your employer those symptoms as pp suggested rather than saying it's your period.

If you’ve got diarrhoea and flodding, then it doesn’t seem possible that you can go in. Have you seen your GP as it sounds like you should discuss whatever is going on

I'm obviously going to have to go to the doctors which I can try and do if I come home (new appointment system means appointments are pretty much impossible to get on work days).

You'll get no bonus points for being a martyr. Presumably if you had covid or norovirus you wouldn't feel so obliged to go in?

Does the diarrhoea, nausea and shivering (fever?) happen every period? If not it sounds like a badly timed coincidence, period and one of the multiple viral things going round at the moment.

Take the day off and feel better soon

You should not be going in with diarrhoea.

Ok, I get flooding fairly regularly and quite bad pains. GP was useless. Super tampon, plus night time towel, plus period pants, change the first two more regularly than you would usually. Feminax the ones you get over the counter from the pharmacist not off the counter, maybe ultra or something? Gets me through the worst days of pain. Hot baths and hot water bottles in the evenings. Sometimes I take a hot water bottle to work, but that will depend where you work. I also get an upset stomach every month, it's the hormones.
I get people saying not to go in, and I would agree if this is unusual for you, but this might be part of your ongoing pattern until menopause. If so you need a plan B. I can't take several days off every month.

You don’t need to go in at all. If you go in in the morning it makes no sense for you to go off from lunch time onwards… they can function without you. Rest up and hope you’ll feel better soon

Thank you for the tips!

I asked for feminax over the counter before and they told me it was prescription only. I was prescribed the same drug under a different name for something else and it was the only thing I've taken that worked tbh.

No, I don't get it this badly every month but its exactly like this when I do. So I know it's hormonal. I quite often get an upset stomach but I don't often feel (this) 'ill'.

They don't really have the staff to cover me this morning but they will do this afternoon.

I just wondered what other women's experiences of taking time off work for this was. Obviously, I couldn't (and hopefully wouldn't need to) do it every month but today I feel rough and might not he able to last the whole day.

Don't be ridiculous and as pp said a martyr. How can you even get to work with those symptoms?
Are you planning to drive in that state? That would be irresponsible and dangerous.
Are you planning to get the bus? With diarrhoea? Seriously?

I don't think I would want to share toilets at work with someone with diarrhoea. You shouldn't go in. Also you should see your GP as there might be more going on. My heavy periods were due to fibroids and I ended up having a hysterectomy at 46.

You're being ridiculous. You're not well so take the time off. Not your problem if it leaves them short staffed, you're not well enough to be there.

You aren't well. It doesn't matter the cause. Do you think your going to be able to make appropriate decisions feeling as you do?

Have the day off and try and get a GP appointment.

You shouldn't be going in as PP have said but if you do, just say at lunchtime that you have terrible cramps and feel sick so need to go home.

I had terrible periods all my life OP and it is really difficult. The only things I found that helped (and sadly I didn't discover these till late) were:

Raspberry leaf tea - not a shop bought one but buy the dried leaves and make a brew. I used to keep mine in a thermos and keep sipping. Really helped cut the pain.

Agnus Castus and Black Cohosh tinctures - take a few drops every so often.

Sorry you are suffering!

Their staff issues are not your problem, OP.
And I mean that in the gentlest way possible.
I have been there, going in because there is no one to cover, but please put yourself first.
Ring in sick and take a hot water bottle and a bottle of water back to bed. 💐

I’m retired and also suffered like this, diarrhea from uterine cramping not gastro, heavy legs, general malaise.
I brought supplies and attended the bathroom regularly. Or like others suggested just called in that I was unwell and unable to go in, no need for symptoms to be divulged.
good luck, pad up, protect the mattress and don’t wear white.

You're not needing to be off with just your period, you're needing to be off due to the extreme symptoms. After what you've described, I couldn't imagine trotting off to a workplace (especially one where access to a toilet is limited).

I used to get really bad period cramps and symptoms similar to yourself every so often with my periods (managed to reduce it once I cut out dairy), and I would just call in sick if I really wasn't well enough to be working. You don't need to tell them it's because you have your period. Just say you are feeling really unwell and not able to work today. If they ask for details you can tell them your symptoms, but I've never been asked for that in the past.