AIBU for thinking this is not an excuse for calling in sick?

[BlueCat2010]

In an office job, small company, with a relaxed environment - the excuse given was heavy period. Bearing in mind this is the busiest time of year for us would I be unreasonable in thinking this is a bullshit excuse?

I have fairly heavy periods but deal with them by visiting the loo frequently, so can't see how this can be used as an excuse for not turning up to work.

I genuinely want to know what the mumsnet jury think please

I have had periods so heavy and painful that I was literally rolling around on the bed in agony.

YABU.

YABU.

My mum has had to do this and was always mortified. In her case, she literally COULDN'T move off the toilet for a whole day. I recognise that's a severe case, but your colleague's sickness has absolutely nothing to do with you. How do you even know that's why they're off? I'd be fuming if my personal details were being gossiped about around the office.

Ok, thanks squeaky. Is it every month or can this be a complete one off?

YABU. Have some sympathy

I used to teach and after I had my first dc this was a huge problem for me.

I will never forget my headteacher's lack of consideration with this issue. (She had no children)

I didn't take time off work but I did refuse to be away from toilets when we had field trips etc.

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions tbh.

Bubble makes a good point - she might be saying it's a heavy period when it's something else she doesn't want to talk about.

I used to pass out! The pill helped.

Sorry YABU.

My periods used to make me vomit and pass out.

I once had a period where I couldn't walk due to the pain and no form of sanitary wear could contain the flow for more than 10 mins. It was a bloodbath.

I sat on the loo for nearly 2 days with a hotwater bottle and blanket around me crying.

I couldn't get to work for 2 days. I had no energy for a week after.

I hope I never ever have a period like that again. I hope they are very unusual and hardly anyone else has to go through that.

It's not a colleague, it's a member of my staff so I'm not gossiping. I'm genuinely trying to find out if it's a plausible excuse.

For me personally it varies. When I was younger (teens to mid 20's) they were almost always horrendous each month. I am 42 now and only have a really bad day probably once every few months. It still renders me physically drained and unable to do much apart from rest. My husband says that on the day I am bad, my face literally looks grey.

I have every sympathy for someone who suffers like this as it is often mocked as being a bit of a pathetic excuse, but for some women it really isnt.

It depends.

I know someone who had to do this every month as she had severe endometriosis. She was in absolute agony and ended up having a hysterectomy just after her 30th birthday :(

However, if it is just a one off then it is likely to be lead swinging as people who genuinely suffer, tend to suffer every month. My friend didnt have good months, she just had the odd month that was still appalling but not quite as bad.

I have had periods so heavy and so painful that it felt worse than labour

Have a heart OP

I used to lose about 2 or 3 days a month to vomiting, fainting & general agony (thank god for the pill & childbirth both of which have helped to some extent). It was really mortifying to have to explain to HR.

In a tangent... One job I had (in Japan) actually had a certain number of days per year where you were allowed take 'menstruation leave'. mind you, I never took it & never heard of another female staff member who did either.

Yes, it's a plausible excuse.

Just had another thought.

could she be pg and maybe has had a m/c or termination that she doesnt want you to know about? Tread carefully if you think that it is a possibility

Heavy - if it is extremely heavy you might not make it into work

Painful - yes of course

So Y are probably BU

YABU. It may be pretty awful if she is actually willing to say that's the reason - many would be too embarrassed :(

If she was bullshitting maybe she'd just say 'stomach bug' or something?

Yabu. Niagras are soul destroying.

Very unprofessional of you if it IS a member of your staff

Have my first

Until I had my DD I didn't realise my pains were exactly the same as my worst labour contractions. I take a combination of THREE painkillers to try and get some relief.

I daren't hold my DD in case I drop her

I once had a period so heavy that i flooded thruogh my jeans and ruined a sofa. despite wearing a tampon and liner.

I had to get changed and wear a pregnancy style pad.

an hour later i flooded through the clean jeans!

there is no way i could have gone to work that day.
I actually felt shaky and nauseous.

It was horrible and i thought i was going to die. I genuinely could not have gone to work.

Thanks, that's useful info squeaky. This person has a really bad absence record and has never had problems before, so it came out of the blue a bit and I really want to hear how it can affect people so I can try to work with her.

Bogeyface that crossed my mind too.

I used to pass out from the pain; the GP told me to get on with it - so I did

Until my dad found me cold on the bathroom floor I was at the hospital seeing a specialist 2 days later - but I suffered for years; pain, vomiting, passing out, flooding but not every time