Going back to work when I'm still unwell

[Fantasia99]

I've had a bout of bronchitis. I didn't realise how severe it can be. I've had antibiotics which haven't helped however the inhaler I've been given has helped with the breathlessness. The last few days I've been coughing up blood, which the doctor said isn't uncommon with bronchitis and to go back if the amount of blood I'm coughing up increases. It hasn't. I've been off work for two weeks, I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I'm exhausted and have a stabbing pain in my chest. I HAVE to go back to work on Monday as I only get two weeks of paid sick leave. My manager has been wonderfully supportive and has told me to take more time off if I'm still unwell, but i just can't. My oxygen levels are just about back to normal however I'm wondering how I'm going to get through meetings and calls with clients when I'm hacking my lungs up and having to go to the toilet to dispose of bloody tissues. I work from home most days so am considering asking if I can avoid coming into the office, however am scared I will be forced to take more time off when I'm only just making ends meet at the moment and won't be paid.

Anyone any tips on how to manage working when you're not feeling your best?

Not sure I'll gain much from this post. Just struggling as a lone parent who hasn't been able to rest properly as I've been up doing school runs and still have a house to keep tidy, which is difficult when you have pets and a 4 year old.

And if anyone else has had bad bronchitis I'd love to know how long it took you to recover as it feels relentless!

I'm really sorry, OP. It doesn't sound like you're well enough to work but I understand if you feel like you can't afford the time off. Are there any family members who could help with money in the short term, just to give yourself a bit more time to recover?

Unfortunately not. I take home about 1800 a month so I'd lose about £450. This would be a lot to ask my family who also don't have much money going spare.

Yeah, I understand that. 2 weeks sick pay is pretty crap tbh. I hope you find a way to manage and that you feel better soon.

Ask to work from home. Just say you are able to do your work, but the cold aggravates your cough and chest pain and you get tired easily (that's what my bronchitis was like).

I can't remember how long it took me to recover properly, it was a long time ago, but definitely more than 2 weeks, and I wasn't coughing blood!

Genuinely, be careful @Fantasia99 . I absolutely appreciate the money issues however several years ago (when at uni) I had a bad chest infection. Lucky it was at the start of a holiday so went home feeling like hell, went to OOH on a Sunday for a nurse to huff at me but did get antibiotics. They also barely worked and I spent three weeks on my mothers sofa as I could only shuffle between there and the bathroom. Pigheadedly insisted on going back to Uni, nearly passed out getting some shopping. Back to the doctors who was shocked at the state I was in - I had pneumonia and pleurisy. I should have been in hospital, I ended up having to go home for months as I physically and mentally burned out. Just make absolutely sure you’re on the mend before returning to work.

if your manager is supportive can you ask if your role can be modified while you recover? Obviously it depends on your workplace but perhaps someone else could attend meetings for you and you could do paperwork for them? or other admin tasks for the team? minute meetings over teams and fill any gaps that you missed from the recordings?
When I've had chest infections going out in cold air and talking both make my coughing far worse. I would definitely your best to work from home until you feel well.

Can’t you get signed off for longer by your GP and get more paid sick leave? With something like that you shouldn’t go back to work until you feel well, not just better.

I presume that the OP means that she would go down to SSP for any longer absences, and SSP is a pittance.

I've been signed off for two weeks by my GP. I had to have the sick note changed to one week so I could go back. Sadly a GP note won't change the sick policy. It is because I've been there for less than a year (annoyingly, 11 months).

Do you claim universal credit?
Check if your council have a benefits advice service and get them to check you’re not missing out on anything. Or look at www.entitledto.com
Also speak to your dcs school as they often have hardship funding or can help in referrals to other help.
Im sorry I don’t have any experience of bronchitis but it sounds awful and you’re certainly not well enough to return to the office. Your boss sounds approachable so perhaps ask if they can help with finding work around a to maybe give you some holiday time even if it means you have to make up the hours when you’re back on your feet again.
The company I work for also has hardship funds available so ask if yours does.
If your family/friends can’t help you financially, maybe they could do other things to help. I know if you were my friend I’d try to help by doing a shop for you or coming round to clean or cook or take your dc to school dog for a walk if it helped you rest and recuperate.
I hope you get better soon x

Has the GP seen you in person in the last couple of days to check you out properly?
If not, they need to.
Can you ask your boss if you can work from home and do 4 days or slightly shorter hours? So in effect a phased return?

Ok some practical advice - I find change in air temperatures set me off coughing so have a snood round your desk to pull up if you’re going anywhere where you’ll get a change in temperature suddenly ( eg opening front door to postman, going into a cold bathroom/toilet) then before you do that particular activity pull your snood over your mouth and nose and you’re breathing warmer air.

constantly suck boils sweets/cough sweets - I find it really helps. Do not crunch on them though - that cost me £600 in having a crown fitted on my broken tooth 🤦‍♀️

constantly sip a hot drink

also sounds weird but rub Vicks on your chest and back ( don’t forget the back it really does help) but go easy on it if you’re in the office 😂

I saw the out of hours on Sunday when i was wheezing and had low oxygen(only slightly low) and they gave me an inhaler and antibiotics, then was in hospital as suggested by 111 on Tuesday due to the presence of blood when I was coughing. They listened to my chest and said I was extremely congested but they couldn't hear any wheezing (I couldn't distinguish between the sound of mucus on my chest and wheezing as I'm not medical) so they sent me on my way. Haven't improved but won't get a GP appointment today and feel like I'd be wasting their time constantly going back and forth when I'm not getting worse. Out of hours said I should have an xray if no improvement but hospital said no need.

Literally in the last hour I've developed a runny nose and started sneezing. It's like my body has just said no to being well. Think I'm coming down with a common cold on top of the bronchitis. Work is going to be hell next week.

This sounds awful, sorry OP.

To be honest I don't think your colleagues or clients will appreciate you coughing, let alone coughing up blood! Can you work from home?

Not to scare you but there has been a rise in TB this year, to be honest I'd bring this up to your doctor, worth getting checked out as it's extremely contagious.

As for your new sniffles, there's a very high possibility you got exposed to COVID in hospital on Tuesday, given current rates of infection. I'd keep a watchful eye and test yourself (swab throat and nose, be aware many tests don't show positive till day 4 of symptoms) and don't delay in going to hospital if you don't feel well because your lungs are already wrecked.

Good luck! Get lots of rest!

PS I'd push for x-ray like out of hours suggested.

Your GP can issue a fit note which says you are able to return to work but will require adjusted duties and workplace assessment. If your manager is supportive so far, I don't see why they would agree to WFH until you are fully recovered.

That's actually a really good idea I don't know why I didn't think of that.