What can and can’t you do while you’re off sick from work?

[StillChangingForTheBetter]

I had a laparoscopy for suspected endometriosis on Friday. I’m still exhausted and generally uncomfortable, but also feel a little more up to doing something gentle - like popping out to return some parcels, or maybe going to get my nails done. We’re also set to have some family visitors mid week next week.

Im off for the next two weeks. No way could I be back at work- I’m exhausted from doing the most basic of things. But is it okay to do small things like that, or is it bed rest only? I obviously don’t want my work to be angry at me, but there’s no way I could be at work right now. I’ve been signed off for a week.

I've had a hysterectomy and I had about three weeks off work. I'm in a caring role though which requires a bit of heavy lifting. I have to say that I felt utterly exhausted and spent most of my time off either in bed or lying on the sofa downstairs as I didn't actually want to do anything more than that. For me, when I'm feeling exhausted, I don't actually crave leaving the house, nor am I itching to do anything because I feel lazy. It's the exact opposite.

As for what you're allowed to do and not do, you're technically signed off work sick and unable to do your job. You are certainly technically allowed to leave your house.

A lot would depend on your work place and whether you care if you are seen by an employee out and about. Years ago I worked in an office with quite a few bitchy women who would definitely gossip about you and your sickness if you were seen returning parcels or sat in a nail shop. Someone was off sick one time and was seen by someone walking through town. It was reported to the manager that she was seen out shopping while signed off sick, whereas in actual fact she had dragged herself out to the chemist to pick up her prescription. If you are seen out and about, are they the sort of people who would know the story behind the fact you are wanting to make one outing outside the house to go and have your nails done, but will be returning home to put loungewear back on and resume recuperating at home?

See I find this mindset sad. We only have one life, and our health is all we’ve got really. So we shouldn’t be shamed into not looking after ourselves

she might not know. The surgeon ran through stuff with me after, I’ve no idea what she said as it was about 15 mins after I woke up
I knew I didn’t have a stoma but that was it
I found out when I got my discharge letter in the post

i also knew that I would need to extend my fit note very quickly as I felt like I had been hit by a bus

That’s pretty much exactly what happened to me. I was literally just conscious (and done coughing my guts up from having the tube out!) when he came round, said it was a success, he got rid of some cysts and adhesions and then a load of other stuff that I can’t remember because I was given painkillers. I literally cannot remember much from that point to getting home! I’m waiting for my letter now to show exactly what was done

Well that answers your question!

I just feel like a phony and a bit of a failure. I’ve gone from being so active to nothing, to the point where I’m ready for bed at 9:15, after napping 4 hours ago! It’s crazy. I’m second guessing everything about my body

We’re in the same boat OP, I’m 3 weeks post laparoscopy and had my ovaries and tubes removed with endometriosis excision and I am knackered, not to mention feeling like I’ve been hit by a brick with surgical menopause! To top it all off the dog has slipped a disc in his neck and I’m having to carry him out to toilet multiple times a day, which is not helpful. I’m aiming to go back next week (NHS) which will be 4 weeks off but I am still sleeping for hours every afternoon. Luckily I can arrange to wfh next week so will be a gradual return to work. You have my sympathies.

Im really confused what you mean by mindset? Especially when I totally support someone staying off if they physically don’t feel they can actually do their job because of illness etc (in your case, after surgery).

I’ve not had a sick day in 5 years as the most ive had is a cold and could absolutely do my job. I might have given 80% that day but nothing that could keep me off work. If I was horrendously ill and couldn’t eat/get dressed/barely function etc, i’d stay off work. Im lucky thats not happened to me in the last 5 years.

Sick days are to be taken when sick or in your case are recovering. I would never willingly take one if I didn’t need it.

The point I was making is that you shouldn’t have to post on Mumsnet to check if you’re allowed out for a walk and wondered if you had done that because so many people do take the mick (its well documented sickness goes up after bank hols etc) and you expect to be in trouble if seen? No one should fear ‘being in trouble’ for getting exercise, fresh air, completing tasks they need to do etc, stopping to sit down for a coffee etc. Im sure any reasonable workplace would see that as building up strength.

I think its clear from replies what would be ridiculous to do on 2 weeks signed off sick after surgery (being seen clubbing till 3am by your boss wouldn’t go down well on first day back I imagine!).

You did ask in your original post what you would be expected to bd allowed to do and that’s exactly what I posted.

I really feel for you! I hope you (and your dog) feel better soon!

It’s because people have so many different standards and I genuinely have no idea what’s right or wrong with this - I’ve only ever been off for a week before, and that time I was genuinely bed bound!

I think you got a good set of replies about what would generally be ok.

I’d say small tasks building up strength are completely reasonable on 2 weeks signed off. I think its great if you’re seen by any of your colleagues out for fresh air etc. It shows you’re trying to build up strength day to day and keep mobility up.

I do take pride in going into work and not going sick unnecessarily. I know I could have phoned in for a cold in the last 5 years, but wouldn’t as im well enough to work. We also never know what is coming so i’d rather only go sick when absolutely needed (and I know this can happen to any of us at any point).

Ah ok it sounded worse than it is then!

Some jobs it might be ok to go in when you're ill and only give 80% but there are some jobs where its just not safe to work when you're not well enough to focus fully - in my job even little mistakes, which are easy to make when you're not 100% focused, can have very serious consequences, so I take sick leave whenever I'm ill, even if I would be well enough to do normal day to day things.

Yeah the likelihood is I won’t go at this rate, I’m still feeling floored this morning! I don’t know what’s wrong with me

Well I managed a walk, got home, and got straight in bed for an hour and a half 🤣 this is shameful

You’re recovering! You can’t expect to be back to work and then running a 10k then off to a club
recuperating is a thing, you need to heal and it’s tiring

I’m genuinely staggered by how tired I am though - honestly I’d do this walk on top of a couch to 5k run or a gym session. Not spend my day working up to it, and then go for a nap after!

But that’s when you’re not post op?

I know, but I’ve never experienced this before. It’s totally new to me, and my body doesn’t feel like mine.

Try scheduling yourself really basic stuff
so get up, shower, nutritious breakfast, vitamins, pint of water, 15 min walk then 30 min TV/book then lunch, then a 90 min nap…

that type of thing, then you feel you’ve achieved a bit more and you’re giving your body what it needs