To take time off work (not a thread about a thread)

[Troubledtimes]

Hi all. I was about to post about my work issue when I saw a very similar thread title! My situation is slightly different so rather than hijack hers I'll start my own!
Erm... Its quite long winded, I have ongoing physical and mental health issues. The physical issues have always been there and are degenerating as I get older and especially since having my children. I have anxiety disorder and have chronic pain which is not managed well because I'm still being diagnosed and nobody is taking control of my case (ongoing referrals and tests)
I'm not a manager but am the sole person in a department and I have huge responsibility covering a large geographical area and only work part time.
I have said hundreds of times that the work is too much for one person and today I have found out that another (higher paid) colleagues coming on board to support me which is great but means I will have to teach them as well.
My issue is that I suffer every day with pain and drag my sorry arse around trying to do a good job whilst feeling mega stressed.
I have woken up today feeling dreadful with a flu-type bug. I tried to work but I couldn't make head nor tail of anything let alone communicate with colleagues so I have come home sick. I am very tempted to get signed off for a period of time, maybe a couple of weeks. I'm sure that my GP would support it but of course I'm worried about what people will say!
I haven't been doing particularly well at work, although I'm holding it together I have made lots of minor mistakes and forgot lots of things despite having lists!
I guess the point I'm trying to get to is aibu to take time off or should I continue to go in to work despite the pain, stress and poor performance?
Also if it were you, would you take the time off with pain or with stress/mh issues? I feel it's safer to use the pain option, it does affect me 24/7 and disturbs my sleep etc.
Thanks for reading I think I may have waffled somewhat.

Take the time off life is too short x

Take the time off and discuss with your GP going back on reduced hours when you are feeling better.

If you're so ill that it's affecting the quality of work you do, then you need to have some time off to recover.

If its stress, then you need to discuss with your manager how to change things in the office so that you won't just get stressed again when you go back to work.

Also, if it's pain, then is there anything work can do to help alleviate the pain? Different style of chair, working from home, more frequent breaks etc etc?

Take time off work.
Good luck with everything.

Thanks so much for your kind replies. They have done what they can at work with regards to seating etc, because my condition is getting worse the support at work isn't really helping. I think part of the problem for me is the anxiety and worrying what they'll say behind my back and that I won't be considered for future promotions. Plus we have regular redundancies and those with a poor attendance record are first out of the door!
I don't want all the responsibility for bills to be on my dh who is also unhappy in his role but can't find anything new because his role is very specialist.
Also if I am jobsearching which I plan to do next year will extended sickness go against me?

If I get signed off do I have to wait until I've had a certain amount of uncertified sickness? Do I have to see the GP or can I do it over the phone?

Thanks again sorry if I appear dumb I'm really unwell today!

Oh Ps I do try to work from home but the nature of my role means I need to meet customers and colleagues as well as extensive administration.

Realistically, getting the pain better managed is at the bottom of all this. Looking for a new role, worrying what others might say about you, making silly mistakes- all of it will be so much easier to resolve if you are not in pain.

So I would make the time off about pain management, because then if future bods ask you can say that it is now controlled and resolved. But then I would make a big push to get that pain managed.

So, in your shoes, I would go to the GP about sorting out the referrals etc. As part of that consultation, say that you need some time away from work to rest. let him/her prescribe it as part of your pain management and in the context of you having time for more investigations etc.

While you wait for this, use the time to hand over to this other colleague and say, you know that something will have to give in the pain management, you may need to take some sick leave to resolve it, you will feel so much better knowing that you have trained someone competent to cover for you. Make it clear, though, that you expect to come back.

Hi beastofburden thanks for your reply. It makes perfect sense, the gp has made a hospital referral so I can't really ask him for anything else as the diagnosis still isn't 100% clear. I will contact the gp to make an appointment to ask for time off and as you suggest I will offer a good handover to the new colleague then I won't be so worried about what I'm leaving behind. I have already used so much holiday entitlement to try to manage the problem, it is heartbreaking for me as it's not just my work that's affected but every area of my life.