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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think no wonder I'm bloody ill?

78 replies

BoldComicSans · 05/02/2019 01:01

On Friday I came down with a cold. No biggy, we all get them.
Saturday night I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop sneezing. Constant coughing and sore throat.

Roll on Monday and I drag myself into work because they are very strict about time off.
I end up taking more than the recommended daily dose of painkillers because I just feel dreadful.

At lunch time instead of eating I go home and have a nap. I feel too hot yet am shivering.

I ask my boss if I can finish for the day because I'm not well and staff around me are complaining that they will catch it.

I am told they can't send me home because other members off staff are also ill and they have not been allowed home.

Is it any wonder we are all bloody ill being forced to come in and share our germs?

Anyway, I now have a temp of 38.4 after paracetamol and am wheezing. My poor chest / stomach seems to be working very hard just to breathe and yet again I can't sleep.

My head feels congested and even my teeth hurt. My upper body feels too hot yet the rest of me cold.

But I have to get my arse into work as usual in 7 hours.

Rant over. Feeling very sorry for myself. Meh.

OP posts:
Tolleshunt · 05/02/2019 01:04

You are too ill to go to work. Stay at home, and tell them you are just too ill to come in.

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 05/02/2019 01:19

I don't want to face disciplinary for taking time off for "just a cold".

OP posts:
StoppinBy · 05/02/2019 01:35

38.4 is a fever, if you have taken paracetamol then your temperature would actually be much higher without it, you have a viral infection fro the sounds of it and the only solution is rest/fluids.

Tell them you are too sick, you can't get out of bed and that they can F off

PerspicaciaTick · 05/02/2019 01:37

I'd be looking to get an emergency GP appointment - because you sound like you may have pneumonia or something that needs more effective treatment than painkillers and a nap.

halfwitpicker · 05/02/2019 02:02

If you're having trouble breathing please call 111

artisanscotcheggs · 05/02/2019 02:11

That's not just a cold. You need to see a doctor.

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 05/02/2019 02:26

I just want some sleep :( I have been up and down all night.

I can breathe fine I just have a chesty wheeze. Have lost count of how many paracetamol of lozengers I've had now.

Will ring the doctors when they open and see if they can fit me in.

OP posts:
4catsaremylife · 05/02/2019 02:27

I think the reason I have just been ill for most of my recent annual leave is because drag myself into work when I'm ill just like my colleagues, meaning that there's always some bug doing the rounds. So when I finally get chance to relax my body just gives up and I'm ill.

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 05/02/2019 02:29

Call in sick, they have a mandatory sick policy for this reason, if they use it against you they are being unreasonable

Balaboosteh · 05/02/2019 02:37

Call in sick.

Smotheroffive · 05/02/2019 02:44

Also think you should ring in sick, as you are!

They cannot keep you in work, its you that igns you off, not them.

You can just say you are a lot worse, they can't see you to judge and have no right to,but you sound as if you need to get to the docs, or at least have an ooh call from a doc. Get well soon! Flowers

Donmesswime · 05/02/2019 02:44

You sound very ill.

jessstan2 · 05/02/2019 02:51

I feel sorry for you. There are colds and colds. My husband had one around Christmas time but it was gone in a couple of days. I caught it and it lasted a fortnight, I felt dreadful but it was a cold. Nevertheless, has I been working, I would have had to have some time off.

Sometimes best not to ask and just phone in sick.
Flowers hope you feel better soon.

Balaboosteh · 05/02/2019 02:52

And I hope you feel better soon.

Teatimeted · 05/02/2019 02:56

Why would you face a disciplinary? Have you had a lot of time off already?

I had to take a day off before Christmas as I had a cold. I felt awful and there was no way I was going to be able to produce any kind of meaningful work. Zero guilt.

greensnail · 05/02/2019 03:02

I have the same symptoms and have told work I won't be in at least the next two days. There is no way I'm capable of work tomorrow.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 05/02/2019 03:09

No YANBU OP

As others have suggested, call in sick . Never heard of such a policy that won't allow anyone sick to go home and, as you rightly state, its just passing round illnesses .

Coyoacan · 05/02/2019 03:10

PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T TAKE ANY MORE PARACETEMOL!!! It is very dangerous to overdose on paracetemol.

Tattybear16 · 05/02/2019 03:47

This really does my head in, I have auto-immune problems, do the best I can too look after myself and regularly use anti-bac hand gel. Yet I’m constantly subjected to other workmates coughing, wheezing, sneezing touching door handles, the printer, the coffee machine, the fridge and kettle. They get over the bugs in days, I’m subjected to at least 2 weeks of miserable flu, colds and snot, with chest infections galore.

Stay home, and get well, you’re too ill to be in work. Book that doctors appointment.

Also for those people who work on a checkout I don’t need you coughing and sneezing over my shopping as you scan it. Thankyou.

User383673 · 05/02/2019 06:36

A fever always means you’re ill. Don’t go in! It’s not fair on your colleagues. And your work might moan but they can’t actually discipline you for being ill.

Feel better soon! BrewFlowers

endofthelinefinally · 05/02/2019 06:48

I am immunosuppressed and I am just about recovered from the current cold. The last 48 hours I felt like I was dying. All because I sat near someone on a train who was sneezing everywhere
No attempt to use a tissue.
OP you sound really ill. Phone in sick and spare your colleagues.
If you can get hold of some fresh ginger root, peel and chop some. A tablespoon per cup of boing water makes a good tea. Sweeten with honey, inhale the steam and sip the tea. You can drink as many cups as you like. It really helps.
(Chinese medicine).

KingBobra · 05/02/2019 07:14

As PP said DO NOT TAKE MORE PARACETAMOL THAN THE PACKET SAYS!! You can take ibuprofen or aspirin or something else that's not paracetamol if you need to, but if you OD on paracetamol you can do permanent damage to your liver.
From this article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-43867640 -
[Consultant] said: "People are saying, 'I will exceed the eight tablets-a-day because my pain is not being controlled' and take two, and another two and another.

"But that additive effect was causing more problems than a single big dose - and the damage can take several days to have an effect."

Quartz2208 · 05/02/2019 07:20

Yes no more paracetamol, neorufen works as well
Doctors appt as well they can’t discipline you for doctor sanctioned time off people get ill

MyEyesAreNotDeceivingMe · 05/02/2019 07:21

You’re clearly not fit for work.

You must be really careful about the amount of paracetamol you’re taking. No more than 4000mg in 24 hours. So 2 x 500mg tablets 4 times in 24 hours with 4 -6 hours between doses. And don’t forget paracetamol in other cold flu remedies is included in the 4000 mg.

There’s a small margin between a safe max dose and a toxic dose.

You could end up horribly ill and dead in 4 days with liver failure if you accidentally overdose.

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 05/02/2019 07:45

Thank you for your replies.

My temperature is finally coming down. I am going to avoid paracetamol completely today.

I have phoned in sick and am going to try and get some sleep. My chest doesn't feel as bad as the wheezing has improved, but the cough feels worse.

OP posts: