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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To miss all of my lectures and seminars this week?

8 replies

illll · 08/01/2024 12:26

It's my first week back at university, and over the weekend I've come down ill with a cold. I've been in bed on Saturday and Sunday, but have managed to get myself up today (albeit not dressed...) as I have an exam next week, as well as a big essay due. I feel awful, my chest feels congested, I've been getting hot flushes, dizziness and headaches, coughing fits with a wheezy cough and keep sneezing. My feet and back are achy too. Someone I spent a lot of time around last week before I got ill has been diagnosed with flu, a chest infection and an ear infection.

I'm feeling really stressed about everything. I've got 18 hours of lectures and seminars this week, including 9-6pm tomorrow of lectures tomorrow, and I don't think I'm well enough, although I feel like not going in is an OTT reaction for 'just a cold'. I don't know how I'm going to study and finish my essay, and just feel like I want to go to bed. I've also got my first placement at the end of next week to prepare for, although I'm sure I'll be better by then. It's an NHS course so our attendance is monitored, but I know I'll spend the entire time in lectures having coughing fits. But at the same time I can't really afford to miss the seminars as they're important for our exams and assignment.

If I was at work, I would call in sick and my project deadlines would get handed over to another colleague or extended. But obviously that's not an option for a university student except in much more serious situations than a cold.

I don't know why I'm even posting on here, just feeling stressed I guess and annoyed that I didn't catch this virus during my long Christmas break when I could have rested as much as needed, but at the very end when I've got a lot to do.

OP posts:
Springcleaninginsummer · 08/01/2024 12:31

You sound ill. Send a message to your Tutor and ask about an extension on the assignment. You might have to miss the start of your placement. No-one is going to want a student coughing and spluttering on their first day. Get some rest and do some light studying if you are able to. I'm sure things can be sorted when you are feeling better.

IKnowYouBetterThanThat · 08/01/2024 12:35

I would. If you're ill, you're ill. Just email your personal tutor to let them know and email apologies to the individual tutors for the sessions if you know who is taking them. The resources will be on blackboard (or whatever your uni uses) so you can go through them

Your classmates/tutors probably won't want you sat coughing and potentially infecting them.

If you can't get your essay done, you can apply for a short extension - usually quite a simple process - for a week or two. This is a perfectly reasonable thing to do when you're genuinely ill.

If you attendance is normally good, this wont be a problem as long as you keep them updated. Don't worry.

Back to bed with lots of fluids!

iamstrugglingalot · 08/01/2024 12:38

I would if I felt as unwell as you describe. As PPs said, I'd be emailing my personal tutor to explain and ask for deadline extensions where possible.

I say this as someone who has completed 3 uni course and pretty much had to do this at points for all of them, including one NHS funded. I still got through them, and you will too, OP.

Hope you feel better soon. Flowers

noctu · 08/01/2024 12:58

I'm a university lecturer and teach on NHS-related courses (including accredited ones with attendance requirements). If you're ill, you're ill! My advice in this situation is - inform your personal tutor, submit a sickness absence form (or whatever the procedure is at your university), and even consider asking for an extension on your assignment if you're still unwell towards the end of the week.
Your lecturers won't bat an eyelid - it's flying round at the moment and I have several students poorly and unable to do their assignments.
Hope you feel better soon.

illll · 08/01/2024 19:24

Thank you all. I'm a bit worried about my attendance as I did miss some lectures and seminars in the Autumn term due to having a stomach bug and then another illness.

However, I'm still feeling awful, so pretty sure I'm going to email in unwell tomorrow and then evaluate it each day. It feels like it's going to my chest now so probably the right decision

OP posts:
Springcleaninginsummer · 09/01/2024 12:41

How are you today? Hope you're in bed resting and getting some fluids. Taking it day by day is a good plan.

illll · 09/01/2024 15:23

I got up and emailed my tutor and lecturers and then got back into bed and ended up sleeping until 3pm! I've never slept that long before, must have definitely needed it!

I'm feeling better so think I'll go in tomorrow

OP posts:
Springcleaninginsummer · 09/01/2024 17:57

That's good, you needed the sleep. Glad to hear your feeling better. Hope all goes well with your course.

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