To be off work sick with a cold for a week?

[doi24]

I feel like I'm being dramatic but I still don't feel well and I'm meant to be due back at work. I've still got the cold, just obviously not as bad as it's been a few days, but I feel absolutely knackered and wiped out from it. The thought of doing a full days work right now just makes me feel worse. My head feels fuzzy and I feel exhausted.

I'm convinced it's possibly been covid I've had, as I've never been this ill from a cold before. Was actually debating whether or not to go to the doctors but obvs don't want to waste their time if it's just a cold.

AIBU? I feel like I just need to suck it up and get on with it.

I had this in August. It wiped me out. Ended up in bed for 3 days! Used an old test, and I actually had covid! Most of my daughters friends had it too in September. It's doing the rounds. Don't go back until you feel better.

Can't get through to doctors whatsoever, suspect they must have turned phone lines off. Wondering if my midwife can help?

I'm in Australia, but this is going around my workplace. I normally shrug off a cold after a day or two, but was floored by this for a week and then had a persistent cough for another week. Not sure if its a problem in the UK, but out of 10 people in my workplace, 8 caught it so it appears very transmissable.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/human-metapneumovirus-is-surging-in-australia-what-is-it-and-should-we-be-concerned/opyahfgn3

Don’t go in if you’re not well. If you’re pregnant it won’t count against you and it’s discrimination if it does. Pregnant women can’t take medications for cold and flu that non pregnant women can so it’s not fair to expect the same of you iyswim

It isn't only GPs who can give "fit notes" now, try your local pharmacy.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-carers-and-long-term-conditions/can-i-get-a-fit-note-without-seeing-a-healthcare-professional/#:~:text=A%20fit%20note%20must%20be,in%20person%20to%20get%20one.

I am having the same issue but I did have Covid. Have been off since Thursday, test is negative now but feel incredibly weak and dizzy still, I work in a school so am on my feet all day and don’t know how I would manage it. Hope you feel better soon OP.

Unless they're an ICU nurse or something, most people would go to work with a cold or Covid. If it's an office job, then we can push on through.

@Hbh17 I literally can't "push on through". My job takes up a lot of mental energy which I don't have at the moment on top of feeling physically shite

I took two days off with a cold last week because I felt awful. I was ill all over the weekend, and then Monday and Tuesday I was so fatigued I just couldn't even sit at my desk without nodding off.

I needed that time to recuperate and I'm not pregnant.

If you are feeling unwell don't go to work rest until you feel better.

What's the point though? It's presenteeism. Sitting at your desk being barely capable of work for the sake of some macho idea of never missing work.

And if it's about physically going to the workplace, you're going to make colleagues sick so the whole organisation will end up working on half speed.

I was once in a very stressful job, felt unsupported by employer but knuckled down and tried to put a brave face on it. I got shingles brought on by stress, spent 2-3 weeks off work in horrendous pain, barely able to get out of bed, got scars from the shingles rash on my face. When I got back to work I was told I'd have my pay docked as I was only owed statutory sick pay. At that moment I realised it's not worth sacrificing your health for your employer.

They might send a fricking cut-price wreath to the funeral of someone they've worked half to death; it's better if that person prioritises their health and stays alive. I know that sounds dramatic but there are plenty of people whose lives are cut short through stress, overwork, not letting their body have the time to recover from sickness. It increases risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and associated illnesses. Fuck that.

And helpfully pass the covid on to their workmates who may not be able to “push on through”. I ended off work for six weeks when I caught covid in pregnancy. If it’s an office job that can be done from home, stay home; if as OP says she’s too poorly to wfh, she shouldn’t be “pushing on through”.

As a pregnant sick mother, you take care of yourself.
Work is not as important as your health and well-being.
A decent workplace should accept that.

I had covid when I was pregnant. I WFH but absolutely could not 'soldier on' I was stuck to the bed. A bad cold/ flu can do the same with out the label. I think people can be dismissive of colds because we think a little snuffle. But they can be very bad.

You are pregnant, your priority right now is making sure you and your baby are well. You're employer will get over it.

Covid is rife. I would definitely test. I had it last week and worked from home. I discussed with my boss and he said not to come back in until I tested negative.

But your immune system is lower when you're pregnant - so can easily be argued that the reason you're so poorly with a cold/covid/whatever is because you're pregnant. They should not count it.

Please don't go to work. Even if it's not Covid, my family's had both a close relative and, ironically enough, our GP die of what they thought was a lingering cold but was really an inflamed heart muscle, possibly as a follow-on infection.

I am not sure if your midwife can write a sick note, but it is definitely worth phoning them in you can get through to your GP just for peace of mind. It also means when you do return to work you can say you consulted a medical professional for advice.

Please don’t be hard on yourself. Rest. If you go back to work too early you’ll just end up sicker for longer.

@GrumpyPanda That's awful, I'm so sorry

It could be flu rather than just a cold - if you can't work effectively there's no point going in, it'll prolong your illness and could infect others.

Hi OP

Your immune system is reduced in pregnancy, which means you tend to get more sick. This is why pregnant women are advised to get vaccines for flu and covid.

Don't be worrying, your employer cannot use this against you. Take as long off as you need, and take care of yourself and wee bump.

You need a sick line from the GP though, as others have said.

Totally get about testing, but at this stage OP could now be negative. I tested positive last Saturday (23/9) and I was negative on Friday. I've had five working days off and went back to work yesterday. Luckily I did feel better in the afternoon, but started the day off with a bad headache and all morning I was really wobbly (on feet rushing around though). Feeling a bit fuzzy to day.

They can't. Has to be a doctor

You can self certify for the first 7 days OP so no need for GP Fitnote

It's all very well to say stay home if you're still feeling sick, but lots of companies would frown on someone staying off work for a week with a cold.

Only you know how your workplace will react. They probably won't say anything but it's remembered when appraisals are due.