AIBU to get signed off work?

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I’m coming to the end of an eighteen month secondment, which was a massive step up from my previous post. I finish on may 01st and begin handover on 12th April. However I’m pregnant & really suffering physically and mentally.

I have history of hideous migraines which have always been much worse during times of hormonal change, such as during my period, when I started puberty or when I have changed my contraception, as well as during times of stress.
They’ve become increasingly frequent, and as I can’t take the usual medication for them they’re more severe and enduring. The accompanying physical sickness is increasing and I’ve been hospitalised more than once with dehydration due to the sickness & not being able to keep anything down.

Additionally I have a diagnosis of bipolar type 2.
(It’s generally a slightly milder form, and it’s well managed. But, it does come with massively increased risk of ante-natal and post natal depression.) I am showing very very mild symptoms of relapse, however I also had a hypomanic episode during my last pregnancy at around this gestation that led to a suicide attempt and an end to the pregnancy.

As well as this I was the victim of violent crime about 8 weeks ago that has had a bigger impact on my confidence than I initially thought and my concentration has started to wain.

The perinatal consultant, my social worker and the midwife have all recommended to the GP that I have a period of 4 weeks off work. But I feel like I probably could work, I’m not at my peak performance, my concentration is bad, I’m physically a little bit sick and my anxiety is increasing, but I’m a one man band and lead my department, and I would feel like such a let down if I took the time off. The other areas would have to cover, and I am already a behind after my assault. I don’t want to let anyone down.
I just don’t know what to do. I’m pregnant not poorly.
Help!

WIBU to take time off? 😟

Your job is not that important.

You on the other hand are very important.

Take the time off.

I got about two paragraphs in thinking 'Oh my god, get signed off!'.

I read to the end and now I'm shouting it in my head.

Any one of the things you describe would be reason enough.
You don't have to be on your deathbed to not be able to work!
If you think some work would be good for your mental health and wouldn't affect your physical health then that something to discuss with the doctor and your line manager.

You are poorly AND pregnant. Take the four weeks if you feel amazing you can always go back earlier x

Thank you.
It’s hard to see the wood for the trees. I work in CAMHS and do adult education in the hospital, a really stretched part of the NHS and we have a lot of crossover with other agencies and units. I guess it’s been easy to say I’m not as sick as those people, or whatnot.
Thank you all, hope you have a wonderful Saturday night. 💓

I have bipolar type 2 as well, also very well managed. I can only talk for myself, but I know I start going hypomanic when my stress levels start going up. I’d be concerned that working on top of everything else could elevate your stress and lead to relapse. But like I said, that’s just my experience, we’re all different and have different triggers. So what’s yours and can you do anything to prevent them happening? I think that’s where you need to be looking. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

100% yes definitely take it off. You need it. You need to take care of yourself before you can even think of taking care of others. You cant risk any other option.

You know yourself so well. It’s awesome to hear how well you understand the impact of various things on how you feel.

If you were one of your patients, what advice would you give them?

Physician heal thyself. I would say - Take the time off and look after yourself and your baby as well as you can.

I would think you could reasonably be signed off for any one of those never mind all of them at once. You should absolutely take medical advice and get signed off. Good luck

Definitely get signed off! It’s not letting people down - if a colleague told you they had all this going on would you not gladly pick up some slack for them to have a bit of time to reset? Your health has to be your number one priority.

I think you need to trust the professionals around you that think you need to focus on your physical and mental health. For many people just one of the things you are dealing with is a lot.

Rest and look after yourself and the baby.

OP, please listen to the doctors and take the time off! Work is nothing compared to your health

You come first.

The end. Now get to the GP my friend.

Absolutely take the time off. No question. And if I were your line manager I would be quite insistent that you did for the following reasons:

1. Migraines are debilitating and even more so when pregnant. As they are increasing in frequency I would be concerned that they are exhausting you, and the fact that you have been admitted to hospital would make me consider how best to support you.

2. Coping with a violent crime. The emotional impact of crime isn't always evident immediately. But you were assaulted. That's a huge thing to cope with.

3. The loss of a child. The pain of that is unfathomable, and again I would want to make sure that you were able to access all the support you needed.

You and your baby are what matters most. Take the time off.

Take the time off, look after yourself x

Thank you all. ❤️
I’ve got an appointment on Monday at 12 thanks to the online booking system.
Hoping I can regroup and refresh, and bond with baby.
Thank you again x

HR here. I’ll say to you what I say to my employees. You are more important than any job. You won’t be letting any body down and you and your baby come first. Please take the advice of your doctor and rest and get better. Nobody will think badly of you (and if they do then they don’t deserve your hard work and dedication)

I am bipolar II and just had a baby. I know what a fine line it is between being mentally ok and not ok. Take the time off.

I think it would be helpful for you and your unborn baby to have the time off and get better