To consider not going to work tomorrow?

[Dramajustfollowsme]

I feel terrible, have a very high temperature of 39.3, aching limbs and sinuses full of snot. I'm considering not going in tomorrow but as we have quite an important morning I don't want to let people down.
I don't want to give any horrible bugs to the children (although probably one of them passed it to me in the first place). I am a teacher.
Colleagues in the past have commented on me being off a lot, not management, just one particular co-worker.
I've been there 6 years. I had a day off with conjunctivitis, then 5 days for noro virus my first year.
2nd year my appendix ruptured and due to the surgery and the fact I was in the nursery, ie lifting I had 5 weeks off.
No days off in my 3rd year.
4th year I was put on bed rest half way through my pregnancy. My DS was still born and although I technically could have taken maternity leave I came back after a month.
I got pregnant again, and didn't have so many problems but had time off to get checked by the consultant due to my history. I then went on maternity leave for a year.
I've been back since September with no absences.
I can't make up my mind if I am being paranoid about being off too much. I feel that my record isn't too bad but she constantly bad mouths me and I know if I'm not there tomorrow, she will just have another dig at me.

[DontmindifIdo]

you have a chest infection, you are proper ill. also, as she's not your boss and I assume not having to cover for you, it genuinely doesn't matter what she thinks or says. In fact, if she says anything to you, I'd ask her straight out why she thinks it's anything to do with her?

People like this get you justifying yourself to them and act like they think they are entitled to be incharge and important and just because they act this way, everyone else falls in with it. It will be bug the hell out of her when she asks what's wrong and you do'nt start a whole story about having a chest infection and sick note etc but just tell her it's none of her business.

Repeat to yourself "this person is unimportant"

(And start looking for a new job)

[Dramajustfollowsme]

Update: just got a message from a friend at work saying the bitch was sniping to anyone who would listen about me being off again. She has apparently said she sent me an email too.
Actually hope she has because it would help prove the bullying if there is written evidence.
Instead of going to school I got a gp appointment and now must be shaking with antibiotics. Chest infection on both sides. I'm going to have a great weekend.

[SantasComingFace]

You are doing the right thing staying off. I have a 'warning' from my employer as I have had 2 instances of sick this year and a period of long term sick last year, all completely unavoidable. I'm going in today feeling like crap but can't risk losing my job.

Tell the woman to piss off and mind her own beeswax!

[ENormaSnob]

Virginia you are completely wrong, 39.3 is a high temp and would warrant blood cultures if in hospital.

[DontmindifIdo]

good, glad you're staying at home. Now, wha'ts this cowbag's sick record like? Does she ever have a day off?

If I was you and the head is backing this bully, then you need to start looking round for another job. Eventually she will bully someone who will give as good as they get and totally distroy her, but that's not you, and in most areas there are teaching jobs, so why make yourself ill dealing with her when you could go elsewhere and she can be someone else's problem? (oh and sick records will be bad with someone like this in the team, stressed people are more likely to catch other bugs, might be worth someone pointing that out to the head as well)

[Groovee]

Stay home, I work in nursery and have been off all week with pleurisy. Last week I had a pain in my back and thought I'd pulled a muscle as it wasn't constant. Turns out I had a very low down chest infection, which left untreated has me off sick. I didn't even feel ill.

Ignore the colleague and leave her to bitch. One day karma will bite her bum x

[EvenIfYouSeeAPoppy]

As a manager or colleague, esp in your setting, I'd be cross if someone turned up with a fever and send them back home. Not just because of the risk of infecting others - also because of the risk of making yourself more ill by not resting when your body is telling you it needs you to.

Get better soon.

[LittleChimneyDroppings]

No definitely don't go and spread it around. Tell your colleague to mind her own beeswax. In fact I'd take every opportunity I could do be rude to her, she sounds like a vile individual.

[FolkGhoul]

Glad you're not going in.

There's no way just dosing yourself up with cold and flu remedy would be enough!

It's alright if you're working in an office and can just get on with the mechanics of your job and ignore everyone else, but sorting out children's squabbles and being on the ball mentally is so difficult when you feel like shite!

I know, because I have experience of both.

[Dramajustfollowsme]

I'm not going in. I got up to have a shower and passed out on the bathroom floor. I can't be doing that in a classroom - I could squash a little person. Seriously though, I don't think want to pass things on to anyone. I've had an awful night and wouldn't wish it on anyone. When I go in next I'm going to speak to the head again about the bullying behaviour.
Thank you for all the comments. Tbh, when my appendix ruptured, if I had gone to the doctor the day before they probably would have been able to give me keyhole surgery and I wouldn't have been off so long.
As I write this though, I feel incredibly guilty and am fighting the urge to go in.
Back to bed with a flu plus drink, I know how to live.

[Tiredtrout]

Stay home, have a lovely duvet day with lots of juice and soup and naps

[Haemadoots]

Stay at home, I have been off for a week with tonsillitis/viral thing felt so bad (have asthma too) I am ill so I am not going on to pass this around colleagues and vulnerable people.

[Pitmountainpony]

Stay home. I am so sorry about your ds.

[flow4]

Stay at home if you still feel rubbish. Tbh you probably aren't safe to drive, and your DH is right to hide the keys.

39.3C is 102.7F - that is high. If it got as high as 40/104 you would probably be fitting and/or hospitalized. General advice is to consult a doc if it goes above 38.5C. BBC website info .

I like the NHS24 self-help website which takes you thru' a series of questions to help you decide what to do and whether you can look after yourself.

[ThatVikRinA22]

....And another thing!

do you want to just pass the flu around the kids?
its attitudes like 'carry on regardless' that spread the bloody flu/noro virus/ colds/ each year, because some fool thinks you should go to work while ill.

stay home. get well.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Fill up with cold remedy and carry on with a 39.3C temp?

Yes if you want to pass out!

Don't feel bad about being off, that is a high temp for an adult and you wouldn't probably manage the journey.

[ThatVikRinA22]

this, quite frankly, as the saying goes, boils my piss.

OP - you are ill. End of. stay home.

i wish i could follow my own advice because last week, when i had a chest infection, i used my bloody annual leave rather than go sick.....

i get digs about my sick record.
before i joined the job i am in i had no time off.
since joining the job, ive had a few absences but its been circumstances and beyond my control - im quite sure the stress, hours and shifts have contributed to making me ill, plus i broke my coccyx and needed about 5 weeks off with that.

i get sick of the pissy comments and i see no point in being a martyr - who thanks you for it?


and yet....i find it hard to take time off when ill.

[Walkacrossthesand]

Trouble is, sparkleyangel, we often dont look too bad when we are hot & viral, so going in to work will mean a day of feeling rubbish & underperforming - unlikely to get sent home unless (eg) vomiting! OP, it sounds like your sickness record is more to do with a few significant life events (so sorry to hear of your SB) than frequent single days off for viral illness. Is it worth talking to HT about it when you are better, to check that he isn't concerned about 'sickness record' - then the sniper will have less power over your decision making in future! Is she squeaky clean BTW? Hope you feel better soon.

[sparkleyangel]

Well it will matter when she phones in and they think well its not that high skiver.
The point is OP feels people think shes a skiver already because of her collegue.
Better to go in and be sent home, that way they cant say a word can they.

[TanteRose]

well, it doesn't really matter if its defined as moderate or high, the OP feels like shit!

I know that when I got mastitis, I had a fever of about 39C and I really felt like I was dying.

when my DCs got fevers of 39C, they were sometimes running around like nothing was wrong

[sparkleyangel]

Low-grade 38-39C, mod 39-40C, high-grade +40C. NHS Direct: