I had a dentist appointment a couple of weeks ago. He noticed something unusual in my mouth, which he told me about, and said he wanted to send me to have a cancer screening about to make sure it wasn't anything bad. And he gave me a lecture to say if he was making the referral, it was REALLY important i went along [which I guess is a thing about the NHS and costing them money on people missing appointments].
The thing is, half-an-hour later, I realized what it was.... I chew nicotine gum, and I've only been chewing it on one side because of toothache on the other side. I rang the dentist, but he still wants me to have anything more sinister ruled out. (do tongue biospy's hurt???)
Last Monday I said (all bright and breezy) to a colleague "how was your weekend?" and she said "fine" but looked a bit off, so I gave her a 'Paddington' stare, and said 'are you ok'. At which point she broke down. Very upset. She's had some kind of dodgy test, and has to have it checked out for cancer.
No one else at work knows except me. I don't want her to know about 'my' thing, because I know my 'thing' is a nothing. So I don't want to tell my work why I'm off, because she'll get to hear about it (she's on the senior management team, and they share information like staff absences).
I work in a school (not a teacher!). You're not allowed to take time off in term time without a good reason.
What should I do? Should I just lie? Should I tell the Head the truth and that someone on her senior team has a health anxiety that only I know about? (which kind-of is like a stealth boast IYSWIM???? )
I have to miss an important meeting to go to my stupid biopsy.