First time I got my GP to sign me off

Richtea2 · 2022-04-04T21:08:46+00:00

I have fibromyalgia but also I been told by physio I got carpal tunnel in both hands. So today I had to go and get signed off work for a week. I went before Christmas to get my manager to put me on reduced hours during Christmas period. I had it was too much for me. Today first time got sick note saying not fit to work it feels weird. Anyone feel guilty when they get signed off? Or do you feel work resents you for taking time off?

womaninatightspot · 04/04/2022 22:14

I got signed off for the first time last year and it felt weird ( I had bells palsy and awful headaches and wasn't fit for anything) was towards the end of a seasonal contract so it ended after I'd had a month off sick.

They can't of minded that much as invited me back to work for them this year.

Original poster

Richtea2 · 04/04/2022 22:17

@womaninatightspot

I got signed off for the first time last year and it felt weird ( I had bells palsy and awful headaches and wasn't fit for anything) was towards the end of a seasonal contract so it ended after I'd had a month off sick.

They can't of minded that much as invited me back to work for them this year.

That's good.

I feel guilty although my manager probably was expecting this sooner. He knows I have struggled. It's just one of them things I suppose that cannot be helped.
I got op in May so not sure how long I will be off for that too.

OP posts:

WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 22:20

Tbh the only times I've been signed off are when I've been so ill I genuinely couldn't even care about work

WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 22:21

I know my sister struggled when she had an op on her leg though as she still felt like her self and like she should be doing something.

SmellyOldOwls · 04/04/2022 22:25

I could feel ante natal depression coming on when I was pregnant, working during lockdown with a child at home and it was all too much for me. I didn't want to take medication so the GP and I decided together I would take work out of the equation for a couple of months. I felt like a right old fraud but looking back I was in a complete state, making constant mistakes at work because I wasn't fit to cope and I don't regret it a bit.

wardrobewarrior · 04/04/2022 22:36

No I don't feel guilty. You should only feel guilty if you don't have a good reason to be signed off.

If you're genuinely unable to work, why feel guilty ? You can't help it and didn't do anything on purpose.

Think of yourself. Work would replace you in a second and not bat and eye lid.

Original poster

Richtea2 · 04/04/2022 23:08

@wardrobewarrior

No I don't feel guilty. You should only feel guilty if you don't have a good reason to be signed off.

If you're genuinely unable to work, why feel guilty ? You can't help it and didn't do anything on purpose.

Think of yourself. Work would replace you in a second and not bat and eye lid.

That is true

OP posts:

707smile · 04/04/2022 23:19

@wardrobewarrior

No I don't feel guilty. You should only feel guilty if you don't have a good reason to be signed off.

If you're genuinely unable to work, why feel guilty ? You can't help it and didn't do anything on purpose.

Think of yourself. Work would replace you in a second and not bat and eye lid.

This ^ . People in the UK describe feeling guilty for reasons that they really don't need to feel guilty- if you've wronged someone then feel guilty, if not, there's no reason for it.

Mangogogogo · 04/04/2022 23:19

I felt guilty when I broke my pelvis! I literally couldn’t move so I definitely wasn’t fit for work (in a bar!) looking back I really shouldn’t have but I still did!
When I had glandular fever and no one to run my hotel I powered on and set up a bed behind reception and was just there for the staff to ask me what to do. Silly silly woman. I look back more at that and think ‘what a dick I was!’

If the gp says you’re unfit, you’re unfit it doesn’t matter if other people think you need to be ‘more ill’

KitKattaktik · 04/04/2022 23:34

I felt guilty when I returned to work after a holiday with a broken ankle and they sent me home as I was a safety risk as I had crutches to support me. I was off for another 12 weeks on full pay so I didn't go back in with crutches (at their request)

It didn't go on my sick record either!

GreenNewDealNow · 05/04/2022 03:38

It's because there's so little slack in the system. Sickness should be expected and built into business plans etc.

Original poster

Richtea2 · 05/04/2022 05:47

@KitKattaktik

I felt guilty when I returned to work after a holiday with a broken ankle and they sent me home as I was a safety risk as I had crutches to support me. I was off for another 12 weeks on full pay so I didn't go back in with crutches (at their request)

It didn't go on my sick record either!

They can't say nothing about that.

The reason I feel guilty is it feels beginning of me doing this a lot now. It's only a week but 1 week holiday too. Then op May and already have to take time off. With this carpal tunnel hoping I don't need surgery.
I had been struggling and my body is tired. Well because of doing a lot of hours I had my fibromyalgia flare up. As more I work the more intense pain is plus carpal tunnel on right side I can't serve people.
I know my manager can only take so much. I suppose I shouldn't care.

Have your work made you feel guilty when you gone back to work? For the time you taken off or colleagues being funny?

OP posts:

Rosehugger · 05/04/2022 05:52

I was signed off for two weeks after keyhole surgery. Definitely needed the two weeks, I went in for an afternoon for something after a week and felt dreadful, really tired. After another week off I felt much better. Take all the time you need.

OhSoStranger · 05/04/2022 06:32

Any sickness I have that is related to my disabilities do not go on my sickness records / does not trigger warnings. I had a month off in 2018 and three months off in 2019.

Felt incredibly guilty.

Theredjellybean · 05/04/2022 06:38

You should not feel guilty, you can't help it.
But the problem with being signed off with fibro myalgia is its not a time limited issue.
And your employer, quite rightfully, maybe wondering how long this will be for.
Are you going to have your carpal tunnel operated on? As that would solve that problem at least.

UniversalAunt · 05/04/2022 06:39

OP, if you are signed off sick then your employers may jig the staffing levels or raise a temporary hire so that the job gets done.

It is no fun watching a colleague struggle on ill or in pain to keep up their usual workload. Better that people are signed off, away from work to rest & recover, come back restored & fit for work.

If your op is scheduled for May, your employers will know that you have a serious condition & seen you struggling.

Take this time to rest & recover, your fibromyalgia is telling you to ease up. Build up your rest/sleep reserves & eat well so that you are that bit fitter & healthier for your op.

Ask your GP or surgeon’s team - have you had your pre-assessment appt? - what the recovery protocols are for your op & condition? If you can give your employer an idea of what the core recovery time is before you are back at work and the temporary adjustments you will need until you are fully functioning, then work can make plans around your duties & how to support you. That would be helpful.

GeneLovesJezebel · 05/04/2022 06:41

Have you had your iron checked recently ? The reason I ask is because I thought I had carpal tunnel in both arms, but turns out it was low ferritin.