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Could the GP give me a sick note?

5 replies

Littleanchor · 17/02/2026 18:43

I have never been off sick from work (apart from the odd week for a cold) so not sure what is reasonable or not and how to go about it.

a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with ME but I have managed to live pretty normally and work etc. 4 months ago after some worrying symptoms and tests, I was diagnosed with an Atrial Septal Defect (essentially a hole in my heart) which has caused the right side of my heart to be enlarged and I am awaiting surgery to close it. To top it off, I also have endometriosis.

Over the past few weeks I have felt extremely unwell and not myself but I don’t know the cause. It seems like an ME crash, extreme fatigue, waking up feeling groggy and hungover, not being able to get through the day without going back to bed, a constant headache, and I fainted a couple of times last week. I haven’t been able to go into the office. I am incredibly stressed at the moment because I don’t know what’s wrong with me. If it is my ME, I feel I need to take a few weeks off completely to rest and not worry about work. And try to ease some of my stress because I feel like I am in a loop that I am unable to get out of. I have started to feel incredibly depressed and have dark thoughts because I can barely function day to day and am spending most of my time in bed.

Work see very understanding but would it be reasonable at all to ask a GP for a note? Would they give one for this or am I likely to be refused? I don’t know what to do

editing to add I have had my bloods done and everything has come back normal

OP posts:
ChipDaleRescueRangers · 17/02/2026 18:44

I have ME and a few years ago I was signed off with a relapse. Just get a GP appt and tell them exactly how you are feeling.

Littleanchor · 17/02/2026 18:45

ChipDaleRescueRangers · 17/02/2026 18:44

I have ME and a few years ago I was signed off with a relapse. Just get a GP appt and tell them exactly how you are feeling.

How long were you signed off for and did it help? How are you feeling now?

OP posts:
name0284629505 · 17/02/2026 18:46

If these symptoms are new then it's probably worth a check up anyway, but yes, if you cannot work due to your health, which this is, then your GP will write you a fit note. That's part of their job. Hope you are feeling back to baseline soon.

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ChipDaleRescueRangers · 17/02/2026 18:53

Littleanchor · 17/02/2026 18:45

How long were you signed off for and did it help? How are you feeling now?

I was off for about 8 weeks in total. I had to completely rest, get back to pacing and try and build up again. I have had 1 relapse since but managed to keep working from home and doing it in chunks with my bosses approval.

Littleanchor · 17/02/2026 18:54

ChipDaleRescueRangers · 17/02/2026 18:53

I was off for about 8 weeks in total. I had to completely rest, get back to pacing and try and build up again. I have had 1 relapse since but managed to keep working from home and doing it in chunks with my bosses approval.

I find the whole baseline and pacing thing confusing and overwhelming. I don’t know what I can and can’t do. My partner works very long hours and often isn’t home until 8pm and sometimes he works away. So there is a lot that I have to do myself

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