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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call in sick for lack of sleep

142 replies

giggly · 01/04/2022 05:32

I suffer from insomnia which is well known in work. I probably average 4-5 hours a night every night and permanently exhausted. It’s now 5.29 am and I’ve not had a worse long sleep yet and have a full diary of patients tomorrow. Until now I’d never cancel anyone but would just struggle through the day sometimes giving a no doubt less than good service. My but here is that so many patients cancel at the last minute with no reason given, which is fine so why is it so difficult for me to make this decision.
I just want to go to sleep before the alarm goes off at 7.30.

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 01/04/2022 07:21

I think it depends if there is a safety issue? If there is then yes cancel w another excuse.

If not then will adrenaline allow you to make it through?

Are you getting treatment for this? That seems like the priority.

OTTExpectations · 01/04/2022 07:21

Do you have to drive into work? That would be a no from me. But you should show work you're trying to do something about it. Go to the GP, they should be able to refer you to a sleep psychologist. DH had this, was prescribed a course of sleep tablets to help reset, he had about a week signed off work.

LondonQueen · 01/04/2022 07:26

Say you have sickness and diarrhoea rather than insomnia, sadly lots of people think it's just staying up late as a choice!

WonderingWanda · 01/04/2022 07:27

Not sleeping well on a regular basis is so draining and exhausting. I know there are many reasons for insomnia but in case this helps anyone on this thread, I discovered mine was hormonal, 10 yrs on the pill and night after night of poor sleep and then it just went away when I came off the pill. I'd thought it was the stress of my job.

Egghead68 · 01/04/2022 07:30

I had 3.5 hours sleep last night and have a full clinic of patients today too. Hit the black coffee. You can get through it and will probably sleep better tonight.

LunaTheCat · 01/04/2022 07:34

I am a health care professional too.
There is no obligation to tell your employer why you are unwell.
Yes, I would take time off too. If you are too tired to make safe decisions you are best to stay home.

Crawfishspots · 01/04/2022 07:35

My GP recommended the Sleepio app and good sleep hygiene- set routine bedtime , no caffeine after 2, cool dark room, getting out in daylight in the morning.

Marvellousmadness · 01/04/2022 07:37

Yabu. You sound like you are overworked and need a new job honestly.
That will keep you up at night for sure.
But not a reason to call in sick.

I sleep 4-6 hours normally but that's just because I can't fall asleep and takes ages...
I wouldnt call it nsomnia though... but I do have issues I guess..😆

Coffee is my bestie.

Bluebirdofparadise · 01/04/2022 07:39

I considered the same this morning, my fifteen month old let me have the grand total of three hours sleep. I think I’m just managing as I know it is Friday.

Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 01/04/2022 07:47

Like you and lots of other posters I suffer from waking and staying awake. I guess some of us unfortunately are just given this ability, it can be useful I suppose but I saw it as a curse for many years. I have been in your position many times and if you can't go to work don't.
You are probably doing everything you can to help yourself. You have my support and sympathy. The thing that worked for me was sleep restriction in the end. I signed up for a free course online with a sleep expert Martin Reed he is british but is based in USA.

lborgia · 01/04/2022 07:48

Melatonin. My child and I have a familial sleep problem, that means we don’t get a proper sleep cycle after about 2am.

The only thing that works for us, without side effects, is melatonin.

Worth finding out if you are allowed to try it. Obviously it’s OTC in the US, but you can get it on prescription.

I find the headspace (I think it’s called) app useful when I wake up and can’t get back to sleep again. The melatonin helps with both getting asleep, and staying asleep longer in the first place. I’ll still wake up at 4am with it, but 10 - 4, rather than 2-4 is a complete win for me.

AngelinaFibres · 01/04/2022 07:49

@fizzyfood

Hi. My partner suffers terribly from insomnia when he went to the GP not much help was offered, for anyone who's had help from the GP what was it?

Thanks

I have had periods of insomnia all my life. Sometimes I sleep well for a period of time. Other times the insomnia hits and it is exhausting. After my father died it was very bad and I went to my gp. She gave me zopiclone sleeping tablets. They are for short term ,severe insomnia. I needed to reset my sleeping pattern. They don't work for everyone, but for me they were heaven. I felt human again. I was given 28 tablets. I used a whole tablet for 3 nights and felt so much better. The effect wears off over time so I tried to go back to no tablets when I felt I could sleep naturally. I made the pack last nearly a year by cutting them into halves and quarters to give my sleep a little help if I could feel ,in my head, that it would be an insomnia night. They aren't something to take long term as the effect wears off if you take them every night. I knew I only had the one box, so after the initial reset I kept them as an emergency. I would very much recommend them as a way to deal with insomnia.
Calandor · 01/04/2022 07:50

I have insomnia and I've done it 2-3 times in my career. Usually after no sleep has lead me to feeling insane and vomiting.

Do it. It's a valid issue.

lborgia · 01/04/2022 07:50

Oh, and having insomnia is absolutely not the same as being sleep deprived as a one off, saying “I only got a couple of hours last night”, or because of night feeding etc.

I’m assuming the OP has had many years of this before considering taking a day off (to which is the answer is yes).

Calandor · 01/04/2022 07:53

Oh and order some melatonin online. It's a miracle. I despise the UK for not selling it.

MintyGreenDream · 01/04/2022 07:53

I ordered melatonin from an online pharmacy I think it was £20 for 20 3mg tablets.

MintyGreenDream · 01/04/2022 07:53

I'm in the uk

twinsetandpearl · 01/04/2022 07:54

Not wishing to be funny but most parents are lucky to get 4-5 hours of sleep a night and still have to get up for work and couldn't make a habit of ringing in sick due to lack of sleep? My twins have been a nightmare the last 12 weeks I have averaged 2-3 hours. I'd be sacked if I didn't work during that time. One off yeah ok but sounds like you have no long term treatment / strategy for the insomnia so it could become a regular occurrence?

RichardMarxisinnocent · 01/04/2022 07:56

@LunaTheCat

I am a health care professional too. There is no obligation to tell your employer why you are unwell. Yes, I would take time off too. If you are too tired to make safe decisions you are best to stay home.
The sickness self certificate where we work needs a reason for absence recording on it (you tick one from a list, things like cough /cold /flu, headache/migraine, gastrointestinal problems etc) so yes in some or even many cases the employer does need to know a rough reason why you are unwell.
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 01/04/2022 07:56

I'd call in sick to be honest

I called in sick once due to insomnia in my old job and I only worked in a supermarket (I say "only" as you mention patients which implies your job has a safety to yourself and then element) I would have been dizzy and vomiting part way through my shift which wouldn't have been practical.

I did however say I had D&V due to the judgement factor.

I hope you feel better soon and manage to get some rest

Ohpeequeueare · 01/04/2022 07:58

@twinsetandpearl

Not wishing to be funny but most parents are lucky to get 4-5 hours of sleep a night and still have to get up for work and couldn't make a habit of ringing in sick due to lack of sleep? My twins have been a nightmare the last 12 weeks I have averaged 2-3 hours. I'd be sacked if I didn't work during that time. One off yeah ok but sounds like you have no long term treatment / strategy for the insomnia so it could become a regular occurrence?
Insomnia tiredness is completely different from parental tiredness. Also there isn’t an easy treatment or strategy for most people who suffer from it, you just have to suffer with it.
gogohm · 01/04/2022 07:58

I have chronic insomnia, I regularly go to work on 2 hours sleep occasionally none but I'm not customer facing and can cope ok on no sleep. 23 years parenting a child with sn means you just cope. I know I'm not as productive but despite the fact she doesn't live with me and she's ok sleep wise now, I still don't sleep, menopause now!

Calandor · 01/04/2022 07:59

@MintyGreenDream

I ordered melatonin from an online pharmacy I think it was £20 for 20 3mg tablets.
How do you know it's real/not dodgy though? It stresses me out
Calandor · 01/04/2022 08:01

@twinsetandpearl

Not wishing to be funny but most parents are lucky to get 4-5 hours of sleep a night and still have to get up for work and couldn't make a habit of ringing in sick due to lack of sleep? My twins have been a nightmare the last 12 weeks I have averaged 2-3 hours. I'd be sacked if I didn't work during that time. One off yeah ok but sounds like you have no long term treatment / strategy for the insomnia so it could become a regular occurrence?
Don't be a knob. 5 hours sleep? Yeah of course they can work.. they've slept a decent amount! If you've never had insomnia you have no idea. You feel like a zombie. I've literally thrown up multiple times at work because of an insomnia night. You do not feel human!
DoingAway · 01/04/2022 08:05

If it is going to significantly affect your performance at work you should stay off. Insomnia is so horrible I feel for you.

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