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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to call in sick?

66 replies

SplodgeBear1988 · 09/10/2017 06:36

Today I have woke up and found I have flooded a ST, this is my first proper AF since I was 15 due to contraception of various sorts.
AF used to make me throw up on the first day.
Today I feel a bit sicky.
I work in a job that when I'm there it will be hard for me to come home.
WIBU to phone in sick today?

OP posts:
Weebo · 09/10/2017 07:23

My inner pregnant, HG suffering woman has just thrown a mug across the room at the mention of ginger biscuits.

gingerh4ir · 09/10/2017 07:25

you are taking the biscuit, sorry. this is just ridiculous.

you feel sickly not sick. you haven't had an AF for ages and just because you ended up throwing up as a teen there is no way if knowing if you will now.

Mary1935 · 09/10/2017 07:26

Have a day off. Put your feet up and binge on Netflix!!!! Hope you feel better soon. (Runs away in case I get flamed!!!)

SleepingInYourFlowerbed · 09/10/2017 07:31

Ginger biscuit and a cup of tea, you won't be sick.
How on earth can you know that?!

Agree with some PPs. Go in and see how you are. I can understand you're feeling anxious about it though.

jaseyraex · 09/10/2017 07:33

I wouldn't phone in sick unless I was actually sick. Even then, if you do vomit it will be just because of your period not because you have a bug or anything. So TBH I would probably still go to work. I had terrible morning sickness for 5 months solid with my first, I still had to go to work or else I'd be calling in sick every day! Are you going to call in sick every month? Go to work, if you feel shit later then go home.

icelollycraving · 09/10/2017 07:41

Come on, it's grim but you can't phone in sick for that.

TammySwansonTwo · 09/10/2017 07:42

Grr at the comments here saying it's "just a period". For many women "just a period" means agony, heavy blood loss, dizziness, nausea, worse pain than early labour.

I don't know whether the OP has stopped her periods since she was 15 deliberately with contraception because of their severity, as I did (well actually I couldn't stop them but I was on various hormonal meds from the age of 13 to 33 for this reason) or whether it was an unintended consequence of contraception. Only she can know the severity of her periods, and it will be hard for her to gauge this if it's been years since she's had one. Certainly my periods immediately after stopping various types of contraception have been particularly severe. It's a shame that women do not discuss this and think that their experience of periods is more or less universal. Perhaps the average endometriosis sufferer wouldn't wait 9 years for a diagnosis if they knew from the outset that their experience wasn't normal.

OP, in your shoes based on what you've said I personally would go in - you might be okay today but you may not be tomorrow or the day after. If you become unwell you can go home, even if it's difficult - I had to take a lot of time off due to periods and pelvic pain, and I always feel it's best to show willing and go in when you can, better to try and go home than not try if you're able to do so. However, you know your body better than anyone else, so if you are certain that sickness / severe pain is coming then call in sick, especially if it's hard to get home. If you can, get to the doctors - they can prescribe you anti sickness medication for your periods, I take it every month. At a push, if you can't get in, there are things you can get over the counter - the stuff in night nurse that makes you sleep is actually promethazine which is prescribed to (usually) pregnant women for nausea and the paracetamol in it may help any pain too. Don't use it at work though as it will knock you out. I've bought it once when I was visiting family and accidentally left my sickness meds at home and my period started - I was completely useless for the day but it helped. Obviously ensure anything you get is safe with other medications first.

Catsize · 09/10/2017 07:56

People go in with morning sickness, so they anticipate being sick. yabu.

FitnessFad · 09/10/2017 07:56

I really don't understand why so many of you are so worked up about someone calling in sick when they are feeling unwell?!
You are acting like it's coming out of your personal pocket!
Why should people force themselves to work if they feel ill??

Looneytune253 · 09/10/2017 07:57

I would go in. Even if you’re vomiting it won’t be contagious. But it doesn’t sound as if you’re at that stage. It does depend a lot on what your job is though. And you will have to let your boss know the circumstances.

Jasminedes · 09/10/2017 07:59

Hope you feel better soon OP, do what you need to do today, keeping the long term picture in mind.

deepestdarkestperu · 09/10/2017 08:00

@FitnessFad - people worry because often they don’t get paid and can’t afford a day off, and in a lot of jobs, too many absences can result in warnings/disciplinaries.

Not saying that’s right, but it’s reality for a lot of people. Being sick is expensive!

Binkybix · 09/10/2017 08:01

When I had HG I was in fact signed off for weeks on end. Just vomiting doesn’t really cover it when you can’t move your head without heaving.

But in your shoes OP I’d go in and see how it goes.

SusanTheGentle · 09/10/2017 08:04

I would personally probably go in and see how I feel, letting my manager know at the start of the day that I wasn't feeling great.

But. I have had bad period symptoms occasionally and thought "fuck this" and gone back to bed with a hot water bottle and Netflix. I think I suffer about average with the occasional appallingly bad one for no reason.

There's also a big difference between "feel a bit sicky" and "so nauseous driving will be a problem". Are you downplaying it in your original post?

I guess only you can answer that. Also, I wouldn't take the day off if I had a history of mysterious illnesses on Mondays, that's just asking for work trouble.

Gazelda · 09/10/2017 08:05

FitnessFad I think it’s the phrase OP used - feeling a bit sicky - that is causing posters to say she should go in. It implies that she feels a little bit under the weather, rather than unable to move 2ft away from the toilet.

Haudyerwheesht · 09/10/2017 08:08

I'd go in - I think you should too. Be mindful that you can come home if you're unable to cope.

Hormones make me sick - periods , HG pregnancy, post partum but it's not contagious and it's different from stomach cramps etc. (Obviously not in the case of HG any the way, I worked for a few weeks with that but by time it got really bad I couldn't stand never mind work!)

catlover1987 · 09/10/2017 08:13

OP, if you are feeling unwell, don’t go to work. Period or otherwise, if you feel sick enough to not be able to do your work, you are not fit to be there. I absolutely hate the stigma surrounding periods and women feeling like they can’t call in sick because of one. I tried to go to work on Wednesday despite having excruciating cramps. I ended up vomiting in the street and passing out on the way to work. I wish I’d just stayed in bed.

timeisnotaline · 09/10/2017 08:16

Love all the martyrs who wouldn't take a day off for a period. I guess they don't know anyone who spends a couple of days a month in bed in pain because ... every woman isn't the same? Shock!
If you need it take it, if you don't dont.

timeisnotaline · 09/10/2017 08:18

Oh and the heros who throw up in the office all day when they are pregnant. Good for you. If I'm going to be throwing up all day I am also going to be feeling completely hit by a bus, struggle to sit in a chair and look awake, and not do any work. This is when it's pregnancy sickness. But again, we all experience pregnancy exactly the same and everyone loves a martyr.

BillywilliamV · 09/10/2017 08:19

If you really cant take time off ( and I think I would) incontinence pads with a tampon are good for really heavy periods; don't wear your skinny jeans though.

ifonly4 · 09/10/2017 08:24

If you know you will be sick or have been sick, then I'd stay at home. If it's a case of feeling sick most of the day (which I feel for one day with every period) then I think you'll have to go in as you can't keep being off because you're feeling sick.

I also have heavy periods. Boots have started doing a superplus+extra tampon which I've found does make a difference - I can go a couple of hours without have to change (although always have the back up of a towel or liner)

MessyHouse91 · 09/10/2017 08:30

So much depends on what sort of work you do. If you’re going to make things difficult for your colleagues because they need you (ie retail or healthcare) or they’ll have to scramble to find cover I’d probably go in but make them aware of how you’re feeling.

In my current job I travel a lot so I’m not necessarily required in the office. I call in sick very very slightly more often at this job than when I worked in retail, because I know if I perk up through the day I can work from home for a few hours, rather than knowing I’ll be stuck at work if I get worse.

HornyTortoise · 09/10/2017 08:31

If I felt like I was going to be sick I would take the day off. BUT I am a little different to most people. I suffer emetophobia so would be absolutely no good at all and if I did end up puking at work I would be extremely likely to have a panic attack and freak everyone out.

I don't get those taking the piss about it just being a period? Some people suffer horrendously during periods, I used to until I got the implant which stopped them alltogether. I had 3 days a month where I could do not much more than lie in bed with ahot water bottle and take a shitload of painkillers

RemainOptimistic · 09/10/2017 08:39

Only on MN do people get so worked up about someone taking the day off work because they feel ill.

NerrSnerr · 09/10/2017 08:41

Ginger biscuit and a cup of tea, you won't be sick.
As a fellow former HG sufferer I plead with you not to offer this advice to people who feel sick.