To feel so unreliable at work

[ElizabethSwann17]

I suffer from quite severe aura migraines, so as a start that means I have a couple of days off, maybe up to three times a year.
When I first started work in September I got an ear infection within a few months. It ended up being so severe that surgery was considered and I was hooked up to an IV machine for a week for IV antibiotics. That probably totalled 4+ weeks off.
We rotate around departments, and in this department (since March) I had to take two days for a migraine and another day for blood tests.
Both these problems are massively exacerbated by stress.
I started having ear infection symptoms again last week, and yesterday I lost my voice as my throat had been infected. Today, I don't feel better. I was planning on taking the morning to sleep and then seeing how I feel.
My problem is that I get so paranoid about the impression I'm giving at work that I genuinely think I hamper any recovery. I'm so so junior and I just don't think I'm in a position to be having so much time off, even knowing that I've genuinely been ill. I struggle a lot with anxiety and I overthink everything. It doesn't help that I'm not enjoying my job as it is, and I'm mostly just hoping for good references when I can finally leave.
So, my question is whether, if you were my supervisor, would you be thinking I was unreliable? Or if you were HR? Does anyone have any advice? My Mum always tells me to be kind to myself but in this industry I'm not sure it's possible...

It is a lot of time off, but it sounds genuine. People get more frustrated with people that suffer mondayitus who call in sick every Monday after a weeken partying. People generally feel sympathetic for real sickness.

Have you pursued preventatives for your migraines? Keep a diary to look for patterns including stress, food, sleep and hormones. I found mine were more hormone triggered than anything else and going on the pill which removes your cycle worked for me. Instead of 3 a month I now get 1-2 a year.

I hope you're feeling better soon

What do you mean when you can finally leave?
I do sympathise but ultimately if there is work that needs to be done and it's not being done then that will be a problem for your employer

Can you work from home? I get recurring chest infections & visual migraines - sometimes find that although I'm not well enough to go to the office/commute I can work.

Can you speak to a senior you trust at all?

Slightly different but when I had my twins I seemed to be off every other week with one or the other being ill. I broke down to my manager and said that I hated letting people down and felt like it really reflected badly on me.

He was really kind, and said that although they have specific processes to follow, my work was great and I was an asset to the company so while they would go through the motions I shouldn't be worried.

I'm in a different role now where I can flex my schedule if I have a migraine or something, or work from home. This may not be an option for you but could you ask? At least show that you recognise the issue and want to try and find ways to work round it.