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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get my haircut whilst I'm on sick leave?

28 replies

tangledyarn · 11/04/2015 23:17

I've namechanged for fear of outing myself.
To cut a long story short i've been on sick leave from work with vertigo and migraine for 5 months. I'm just starting to feel a bit better and be able to go out a bit although..so far just to local shops etc..but I'm still unwell and spending most of my day doing physio, sleeping, etc.
I'm just wondering if it would be unreasonable for me to have my haircut? I'm still waiting to see occupational health so can't talk to them but feel really concerned about being seen out and about doing 'nice' stuff and know that people can be really judgey when actually i've just had the most awful few months ever but on the flip side I don't think being a prisoner in my home is going to help me get better any quicker..quite the opposite (and I desperately need a haircut) AIBU?

OP posts:
thetroubleis · 11/04/2015 23:19

YANBU to get your hair cut any more than you are to have a shower or shave your legs.

A Spa day might be pushing it, but a haircut seems reasonable to me.

Totality22 · 11/04/2015 23:22

Aside from the whole "should I" aspect, is anyone you work with actually going to know you had a haircut?

RuddyHellItsSoftCell · 11/04/2015 23:24

Ywnbu at all but I kind of understand what you mean. It shouldn't matter but it might spoil your enjoyment of it iyswim. An alternative might be to get a good mobile hairdresser to treat you at home?

I'm sorry you've been so ill and pleased that things are starting to look up for you Thanks

WorraLiberty · 11/04/2015 23:25

Where do you normally go when you leave the house?

Surely you haven't been housebound for 5 months?

Minerves · 11/04/2015 23:25

Yanbu of course you can get your hair cut its not like it's the same as going to work you just sit there, is this soem thing people really have a problem with !?

Original poster
tangledyarn · 11/04/2015 23:26

I suppose the fear is that i'm seen by an unsympathetic colleague leaving the hairdressers and they assume i've spent the last god knows how long having beauty treatments every day.

OP posts:
Original poster
tangledyarn · 11/04/2015 23:28

I have basically been housebound other than gp, hospital, physio appts and more recently a daily walk around the block and to local shops.

OP posts:
chocolatelife · 11/04/2015 23:31

you can, when I was workign in occ health we went for a pub lunch and saw an off sick member of staff, also having pub lunch, he looked really guilty - but for goodness sake, you need some enjoyment in your life. it is not a daily occurrence. I went out for meals with my family while off sick. it does not mean you have to be in your sick bed.

WorraLiberty · 11/04/2015 23:32

You have every right to get your hair done.

If colleagues are unsympathetic they will be anyway, so fuck 'em.

RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 11/04/2015 23:33

5 months?! I have the same, I'm on 3 weeks and panicking that I need to get back to work - is it really likely to be 5 months? Sad

Oh goodness tangled can I ask you some questions? I'm wondering about going to a funeral? my mum has agreed to come so we can leave instantly if I need to but I don't know if it's a step too far for work! I can currently be outside for about 45 minutes (although that does lead to several hours laid flat ) so long as I avoid my triggers.

5 months? I could cry, sorry you've been through this too, it's horrible.

chocolatelife · 11/04/2015 23:33

look after yourself, you need pampering, you deserve it, it is good for body and soul.

irishamy89 · 11/04/2015 23:33

YANBU, enjoy yourself! Grin

HermiaDream · 11/04/2015 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

oneofthosedays · 11/04/2015 23:37

Surely getting out and about should be seen as getting back to normality, part of the process of becoming well again and therefore easing the transition back into work when you are ready for it/are signed back on. You shouldn't feel guilty about going for a haircut.

Original poster
tangledyarn · 11/04/2015 23:37

Oh I'm sorry redrug..don't panic my situation is quite complex..pm me. I don't know about the funeral I guess it's all sitting down..I missed a wedding if a good friend recently but that's a different kettle of fish. Sorry for your loss x

OP posts:
RedButtonhole · 11/04/2015 23:39

Yanbu. I was signed off work with a spine injury for several months last year. When I was mobile again I went out for lunch and did things I would normally do. There's a massive difference between being able to go and do a couple of normal, relatively relaxing things at your own pace and having to get through a day at work without rest.

Original poster
tangledyarn · 11/04/2015 23:39

Thanks. It's a good point about the transition back to work..I don't know when i'll be well enough to go back but I'll need to prepare myself by doing more stuff outside..i've been in a weird vertigo bubble for months.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 11/04/2015 23:39

Get your hair done.

Poor you being that long off work Sad

Hope you start to feel on the way to ok soon.

x

BackforGood · 11/04/2015 23:43

When you have been off work for a considerable length of time, then you should be actively encouraged to take small steps back towards normality as you become ready. Doing something like going to the hairdressers is an early step in that direction. Nobody would be expected to move from 'not leaving the house' to 'being back at work' in one step.
I have a colleague who has been off work for several months and we have been actively encouraged to see if she'd like to pop out for a coffee or lunch or go for a walk or something, so she is a bit more 'in touch' and it's not such a huge step on her first day back at work.

musicalendorphins2 · 12/04/2015 09:13

I think it is ok, I would be more concerned about tilting your head back in the hairdressing chair, in case it triggers a vertigo or migraine attack. But maybe if you just skip a shampoo and just get your hair wet with spray it will be ok.
Good luck, hope you recover soon.

manchestermummy · 12/04/2015 09:43

Sorry you're unwell. I had three months off with labyrinthitis years ago and I did venture out once I could leave my bed. I had been so ill that I was panicked about even going out, so the odd walk to the local shops was important.

Get your hair done if you feel up to it. It's getting a haircut, not staying up all night dancing while claiming to be off with a back injury or something.

Flowers
Original poster
tangledyarn · 12/04/2015 11:05

Thanks Thanks

Whether I'll feel well or brave enough to go I don't know but it's good to hear it's an ok thing to do...It's been so long since I did anything normal I think i've lost my sense of perspective a bit x

OP posts:
sonjadog · 12/04/2015 11:22

It is absolutely okay to go out and get your haircut. It shouldn't be hard for anyone to understand that there is a big difference between being able to go out for a while for a haircut and being able to do a full day's work. I think if there are other things you would like to go out and do, you should do them too.

I would hope if any of your colleagues should met you, they will be pleased to see you and see you are doing a bit better. I met a colleague of mine who has been off with depression for a few months in the shopping centre last week. I was really pleased to see him and hear that he is doing a little better. It didn't cross my mind to think he should have been back at work if he was out and about.

sashh · 12/04/2015 12:54

If someone sees you they may well 'tell tales' - I had that when I was off long term ill, but no one was offering to do the shopping for me.

I was even criticised for 'sitting in the garden' on a day I was 'sick', I'd actually gone to a hospital appointment and the waiting room had doors open to the outside and I'd told someone how nice it was.

I was also apparently seen 'running'.

Christelle2207 · 12/04/2015 13:25

Absolutely ok. Going on holiday and posting pictures having a great time on the beach/ in the clubs would be pushing it IMO but not having a haircut! Perhaps avoid saturdays and lunchtimes if you're worried about bumping into colleagues but I personally don't think you'd need to justify the trip even if you did.

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