AIBU to call in sick?

[madamedesevigne]

I had a big work event last week and spent much of the year working up to it. Immediately afterwards, I came down with a heavy cold. Tried to ignore it and work through as I have plenty to do. But I’ve been making mistakes as I don’t feel well and then I feel bad for making mistakes so then I try to work harder but then I make more mistakes and...

Today I had to go home after two hours because I felt unable to concentrate and woolly-headed. Emails that would normally take me five minutes were taking ages. I had a good sleep and feel better but not 100% and don’t think I will feel well enough to go back tomorrow. If I take tomorrow off I can then have three clear days to recover but I feel terrible about it.

Nobody can really pick up my stuff while I am away. I also have to commute for an hour and 20 minutes each way. I suppose I’m probably known for wanting to be efficient and for being a bit of a perfectionist which is affecting my thinking. I feel I have a reputation to uphold. I really love my job and deeply care about my work. I feel pathetic having to take time off for a cold! The last time I had one (in September) I worked through and it lingered for weeks. So am I BU to call in sick tomorrow?

How are you feeling today, OP? Any better?

hope you're feeling better, OP.
If you've been really working hard to this one thing, I find it quite normal that when the pressure is off you get the colds or viruses that your body was supressing while you were working (too) hard. It often happens to me and my colleagues when we go on holiday - once the pressure of work is off your body allows itself to do what it would have been doing if you hadn't forced it to work.

I had a similar sort of thing today, just got back from a long biz trip to Asia and came over all useless due to jet-lag so took myself home. The only thing my boss was concerned about was that I was ok to drive (or he'd have driven me)