To stop working and focus on health?

[cantthinkofausername26]

Has anyone ever given up work due to illness? I've got t1diabetes and chronic anaemia. 75% of the time I feel poorly. I'm waiting for an op to help with the anaemia. I feel like I want to stop working for a while as we can afford for me to do that. However my children are 8 and 10 so I wouldn't be a stay at home mum, just someone that doesn't work. It feels weird, AIBU? I've worked from the age of 16

If you can afford to do it and you think it will help you recover then I’d do it

I didn't get a choice I was dismissed on ill health grounds and taken through the ill health retirement route.
It's not something to be taken lightly giving up work but also staying in work and making yourself worse is not something you should do either.
My mental health deteriorated, lack of routine when dc were at school. Financial worry (due to being a single parent loosing my only source of income was/is hard).
I did apply for esa, pip, u/c and pension but fighting for everything and repeatedly having to refight for these every fee years is a constant worry.
However I realise I couldn't continue working and it was not doable for me or my dc.
I think in your shoes I'd look at taking long term sick first (it will help support an esa/pip claim in the long run). You need to claim esa (even if you can't get any money) because it counts as NI contributions. You might also get support from occupational health (counselling, referal for ot etc). You can then let work go through the process of ill health dismissal or you may feel well enough to return/work with a few adaptions. Having that breather from work will help give you time to assess and see what you need, what you can and can't do and look at what will help and hinder your health.

I've got both of those and then some and I go to work in a physical job. Feel awful most of the time BUT working helps the diabetes to stay better controlled. Up to you but I find working, although hard, helps more.

Could you drop some hours?

Thank you for this advice

I'm already part time and in my profession (teaching) there is a minimum amount of days the school will accept

How would you manage financially? If you’re relying on a partner, be very cautious if you’re not married as you have no financial protection if you split.

As a teacher, you're not leaving before Christmas now - but if you aren't well enough to continue at 0.4, it's probably better to be signed off sick now, rather than have disruption to classes when they're already getting used to you and when replacements are harder to find.