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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to call in sick with this?

32 replies

justalittlelemondrizzle · 07/07/2015 12:04

I was bit by an insect on Saturday, my leg went red, swollen, got and painful when I walk. DH convinced me to go to a&e last night and I'm glad I did. They diagnosed Cellulitis and have been given antibiotics. I've been keeping it elevated last night and today as all the info says to do. I'm working tomorrow and will be on my feet. I don't like taking days off, we are made to feel like we are taking the piss. It's like guilty until proven innocent there and even if they believe you, they really don't. I'm on a written warning for an unrelated matter from a few months ago, nothing serious. I'm worried they're going to sack me if I am off sick because of a swollen leg.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:

RobotHamster · 07/07/2015 12:06

Can you get signed off?

MagratGarlik · 07/07/2015 12:06

My dp got cellulitis earlier this year. It infected his whole internal system, his kidneys failed and they came very close to amputating his leg.

It is not a trivial condition. Take the time off and get better.

Welshmaenad · 07/07/2015 12:08

I've had cellulitis twice, it's evil, and I was nearly hospitalised both times.

You absolutely should not be on your feet, call and tell work now you will not be in.

GobblersKnob · 07/07/2015 12:09

Cellulitis is not just a swollen leg, it is potentially life threatening.

Maybe check with your gp over the phone wrt what they would recommend, but you are hardly malingering.

Much sympathy sent and I hope it clears up soon

Debinaboat · 07/07/2015 12:10

I just posted on a question in health ,where someone was asking whether to go to hospital about an insect bite .
I thought cellulitis straight away .
I have had it ,and you are definitely nbu .
It's a very serious condition .
And the antibiotics given ,can have pretty bad side effects ,
Take a few days off ,rest and let the meds do their job .
20/30 years ago you would have been hooked up to iv antibiotics and spending a few days in hospital .
Look after yourself :-)

partialderivative · 07/07/2015 12:11

Good grief, what sort of insect was it?

GobblersKnob · 07/07/2015 12:16

You can get cellultis from any insect bite partialderivitive, or any cut or scratch for that matter.

Original poster

justalittlelemondrizzle · 07/07/2015 12:26

Thanks for the replies. Wow is it really that serious? I'm quite worried now. The doctor I saw really played it down and said I should see an improvement in 24 hours!
I started taking the antibiotics within 2 days of the bite, is this soon enough do you think?
I could request to sit down at work. I may do this over phoning in sick. I don't know what to do. I'm panicking the swelling won't go down and I will be scared

OP posts:

MsMcWoodle · 07/07/2015 12:29

I had a really bat case, leading to thrombophlebitis and being at hospital on a drip.
Rest and keep your leg up.

MsMcWoodle · 07/07/2015 12:30

Bad case. Duh!

Debinaboat · 07/07/2015 12:41

My gp was an older man ,he had seen cellulitis before ,and really emphasised how dangerous it could be .
He said that younger gps don't really see the condition as it's not a common thing to see nowadays .
It's not something to underestimate ,take care of yourself ,and rest .

GobblersKnob · 07/07/2015 12:43

Aw no don't be scared, it can get really bad if not treated but you are on antibiotics which is what is needed, so you will be fine.

But you should do like MsMcWoodle says and rest and elevate, and phone in sick!

SoupDragon · 07/07/2015 12:46

When DS had this it was clear within a day or two of starting antibiotics that it had got worse. If your leg is improving then I wouldn't worry. If it gets worse, I would go back - we were sent off to A&E with DS when we went back to the GP.

Having said that, you should stay at home if the alternative is to be on your feet all day at work. Is there no way they can change you to a sedentary job?

ChilliAndMint · 07/07/2015 12:57

It is a life threatening condition. I had it many years ago ( hand and forearm) and was in hospital for 5 days.
Take as much time as you need to recuperate and please keep your leg elevated at all times.
As previous posters have said, if you don't see any improvement don't hesitate to call the doctor.

gatewalker · 07/07/2015 12:59

OP - If it's not contraindicated, I would apply tea tree cream - or a drop of oil in a suitable carrier-cream - topically every two or three hours. I prevented a similar infection from a spider bite doing this and using a bicarb paste too. I'm not suggesting coming off the antibiotics at all, btw - but tea tree might be an effective addition to your treatment.

And, no, I absolutely would not go to work.

DancingHat · 07/07/2015 13:04

Can you take a photo of your leg, send it to your boss and ask for a sitting down role. If I was your boss I'd tell you to stay at home and that way you've shown willing but don't have to make the too sick to work call.

Radiatorvalves · 07/07/2015 13:14

I have had a couple of very nasty bites....the Dr thought it was a tick. She said, "yuck that looks awful!"

The risk is also Limes disease.

I was treated with antibiotics once, and steroids another time. It improved quickly....the pain before I got the drugs was awful. Leg was angrily red and swollen to about twice normal size. I felt like it would explode.

Follow GPs advice!

Howmanywotwots · 07/07/2015 13:19

Oh yes it's very dangerous potentially, my DH had it last year after being bitten by a bug and had to be on a iv antibiotics in hosting for weeks. Definitely stay off and keep an eye on it

Howmanywotwots · 07/07/2015 13:20

Draw around the lump so you can tell if it's growing and go to a and e if it does grow

helenahandbag · 07/07/2015 13:23

Do you work for Royal Mail by any chance? DP is a postie and his work are bastards about sick leave, they're treated like criminals and management will haul you in for an on-the-record meeting if you're off for two separate short periods in a year

Wittynewnameifonly · 07/07/2015 13:23

I am one who usually struggles into work if I'm not well but also think you should call in sick. I had cellulitis on my foot once and it was incredibly painful, the antibiotics did work within a few days though.

You do need to be careful as others have said.

RocknRollNerd · 07/07/2015 13:59

Another one who has had cellulitis adding to the chorus of 'stay at home until you are better'. It is seriously not something to fuck around with. You need to keep your foot elevated as much as possible and give the anti-biotics and your body a chance to fight the infection. Not sure what guidance you were given at A&E but if you don't see a marked improvement in symptoms within 48 hours you must go back to the doc/A&E (out of hours if necessary) and get more/different treatment.

I recognised it starting (thanks to MN) within 24 hours of being bitten, the first lot of anti-biotics didn't touch it, 48 hours later I got another set from OOH (the doc on the phone took it very seriously, no question of leaving it til morning) and then 48 hours after that (a Saturday) I was at OOH again with instructions that if it spread any more I needed to go straight to A&E and would need admission and IV antibiotics. Thankfully the third set (Clarithromycin) started to treat it.

Based on my experience I think you'll struggle to be on your feet in any case - I could hardly bear weight and it hurt as much as a broken bone.

Take it easy and hope you start to recover soon.

Skiptonlass · 07/07/2015 14:16

Don't mess with cellulitis ! It can be very serious indeed. Key is early treatment with antibiotics, which you've got. If it gets worse or doesn't improve with the antibiotics you need to go straight back to the doc!

It's good practice to fab a bit of antiseptic on an insect bite - the bacteria naturally on your skin can cause issues of they get In to the bloodstream.

So no, yanbu. Stay off work and if they give you any grief you need to let them know that you were off with something that isn't just a bug bite - it can lead to septicaemia. (But you're on antibiotics so you're going to be ok! )

whois · 07/07/2015 14:20

Call in sick, take photos of your leg.

SmillasSenseOfSnow · 07/07/2015 14:25

Sitting down is not elevating your leg. It needs to be above the level of your heart. Unless you can do that at work, call in sick.

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