Oh fucking hell, I am going to have to call in sick on my NYE night shift!

[HTKB]

I've got tonsillitis. I am probably feeling as ill as I have ever felt as an adult. Temp intermittently going up, along with shivers and shakes. Agony speaking or swallowing. Incredibly weak. One side of throat visibly blown up.

I have penicillin, I am gargling with Corsodyl every couple of hours. I am taking cocodamol and ibuprofen.

I am supposed to be working tomorrow night shift on labour ward. I got the whole of Christmas off in return for doing this shift. I also had two days off three weeks ago because of that crappy virus going around.

Fuck! Any ideas what to do?

It does happen! You're ill. You don't want to put anyone at risk. It's not a job you can do from home!

@TeaAndToast85

It's a term I've only ever encountered on Mumsnet - describes someone who enters a thread just to plop down a bitchy little nugget or two

As someone who works in health care I would give it until tomorrow before you phone as there is a prevailant attititude of " how does she know she is going to be feeling unwell tomorrow?" and if they are not going to find cover for you then they don't need that much notice.

I've had antibiotics for tonsillitis and after a couple of days I suddenly felt loads better! So fingers crossed.
will you still be contagious though? I'll bet the last thing a new mother wants is to be so ill.

Tonsillitis is the worst! I’d let them know now OP. It’s unlikely you'll be feeling better by tomorrow. It’s not your fault. Get well soon.

I had tonsilitis a couple of weeks ago. Within about 12 hours of taking penicillin i felt soooo much better. You might wake up tomorrow feeling much better yet. Don't phone in yet.

For one thing, I wouldn't want an infectious Nurse on antibiotics etc near my newborn

Exactly what I was going to say!

Op, call them now! Scan ur prescription for proof to them. Apologise profusely (even though you can't help it) then try to get some rest and feel better!

Yeah, I would be very pissed off if a nurse/HCA had tonsillitis and was around my newborn.

You simply can't go in.

I hope you start to improve soon

You poor thing. Such an awkward situation when you’ve had the time off in lieu. I would take pics of the swelling and any other visible bad stuff to show when you do go back, just to make myself feel better.

Eek, what a horrible position for you to be in.

At least they won't be calling someone else in to cover so nobody will lose their NYE plans at short notice. Maybe most people won't even clock that you were supposed to be there and aren't.

Is there an area (sign in, staff area etc) where you would be intercepted before coming into contact with patients and babies? If so, I would probably go in and get sent home - nobody can then claim that a) you weren't ill and b) you didn't try your best to work.

Having said that, I don't know how long the exposure to others would have to be before they were at risk so that might be a very bad idea. I think you have to be sneezed/coughed on or touch belongings of the sufferer but I'm not sure.

Tbh how you FEEL is secondary to the fact that you shouldn’t be in contact with newborn babies & their vulnerable mothers. You need to stay home & get well 💐

Sorry not convinced

Good job she doesn't have to convince a non-entity on the net isn't it?

OP - you need to be sensible. Carry on with the ABs but I would actually call and speak to someone at work and get their opinion about working when potentially contagious

what a sad state of affairs is it if a midwife who is clearly unwell with bacterial infection is under so much pressure to show up and work in a role which involves dealing with newborns.

Op do what you have to do! I am also a LW mw and there has been so much sickness the last week or so, everyone knows it cannot be helped!!!

I am very jealous of your off duty though I had to work xmas AND new years!

It's terrible timing but you're genuinely ill op. I'd ring in now and give as much notice as possible, you're unlikely to feel much better by tomorrow.

I know how horrible tonsillitis can make you feel and how difficult it is to concentrate. If you worked in an office I'd say go in but take it easy, as a midwife who could be in a life and death situation I say stay home, it's not worth the risk of passing it on to newborns and new mums not to mention the difficulties in concentrating when you feel really ill.

Well, it depends on your work.

Are their usually a lot of people throwing sickies?

Are you the sort that would usually have plans/parties for NYE? ( not saying anything by that).

But you can see why this would look suspicious. Call in tomorrow as early as possible and offer to cover extra shifts in the future if someone else is ill. Have you got a sympathetic colleague who might help you out?

Look after yourself and don't try to struggle in until you are properly healthy.

Make plans sooner rather than later to have a fun "early Christmas" next year perhaps on the 23rd and volunteer to work the least popular shifts then in order to take your turn.

You won't need a sick note. You self certify for the 1st 7 days.

I had tonsillitis last year. I too was hallucinating with the fever.
It was horrid.

Phone them and warn them, state what medication you are taking, then if you feel better you can go in, if not they can have it covered.
So sorry you are so poorly, hope you are better soon

So, @Viviennemary - you cannot see any difference in the energy and fitness needed to a) post on a website and b) work a full night shift, doing a stressful and physical job like being a midwife on a labour ward? And you are happy to advertise such ignorance? Blimey!

You have a duty of care to your patients, yourself and your colleagues. Your resistance to infection may be low on antibiotics. Don't risk it, you are genuinely sick, it happens. If work get funny they can refer you to occy health. Hope you feel better soon.

I overspent so much last month I'd positively welcome being offered a shift tomorrow.

I'm an IT bod though so probably not much use on a labour ward

Someone else though with whatever healthcare/maternity-type skillz you have, and the woeful money-management abilities I have, might be chomping at the bit to pick up that shift. What seemed like a good idea a couple of months back (NYE off - yay!) might not seem so appealing now, basically.

Gargle on Paracetamol.. worked wonder for me last week...