Will GP think I am BU to ask for 2 weeks off sick?

[Rumors1]

I work a very busy job (including lots of unpaid overtime), been covering for a colleague who has been on extended leave for 7 weeks. Hopefully will be back next week.
I have an auto immune disease that has been flaring for months, I keep telling myself next week will be better.
My meds have been increased to treat the flare, but I am having side effects - nausea, headaches and fatigue.
My mother is in hospital, keeps developing new conditions - very stressful, father has advanced COPD and is requiring a fair bit of minding as mother not there. I am dealing with the hospital and attending meetings with Dr as mother cant hear. Have to bring dad to Dr this week as he is deteriorating.

I am burnt out and have been considering some sick leave to try to help everything settle. My condition is worsened by stress. I could keep going (I have been) but things are not improving. One week wont be sufficient as my work will build up and I will be twice as busy when I return. If I go for 2 weeks, there is a better chance the work will be covered.
Nervous about asking GP for 2 weeks off in case he thinks I am taking the mick.

Sounds a reasonable ask! You might even need longer, autoimmune stuff is no joke

I don’t think YABU at all.

But equally your work don’t sound great - they need to do more to make your workload manageable, including bringing in temp cover for the person on long term sick if needed. They can’t just expect you to do the work of two.

OP, the GP will not think you are being unreasonable. I also do not think that you are being unreasonable. You need to stop whilst it is still in your control to make a decision to stop. Otherwise your body will shut down and you will stop anyway. I speak from experience of horrendous long-term work stress. Hope things work out for you and your family.

Thank you, I just feel guilty because I could keep going, I am not so ill I cant but worried I will get to a point where I cant!

Mum is in hospital with inflammatory/autoimmune conditions that are out of control, getting worried if I dont get my health sorted, I will end up like her.

I think given the circumstances your GP may recommend more than 2 weeks off work however I know not everyone has an employer with decent sick leave pay.

You are unwell and likely to get worse without intervention now. You can tell the Dr you are struggling and need 4 weeks off work, self very for a week and request a for note to return when you are ready. Don’t feel bad about it your health can’t be replaced.

OP, are you saying that you've basically been doing two people's jobs for 7 weeks? If so, then I think you should be talking to your employer, and telling them that it's too much, has made you unwell, and you need some time off to recuperate.

No one should be expected to do the work of two people for more than a few days, as if you do what you've done (assuming I've understood it correctly), what's to stop your employer expecting you to carry on, and making the person who has been on extended leave redundant, because there is no work for them? I really think you should have spoken up long ago, rather than being a martyr, and doing a load of extra work, on top of all you have going on at home. You say yourself that your condition is worsened by stress, and that you 'could keep going', but does your employer REALLY appreciate what you've been doing? Have you been paid the wages of TWO people? Please don't be one of those people who fool themselves into thinking that the company can't get by without you, if you dropped dead tomorrow, they'd be forced to pay someone else to do your work, so speak up for yourself, tell them that what you're doing is making you ill, and that you now need a couple of weeks off, on FULL PAY to rest up and recover from doing the work of TWO people!!

Your GP can either sign you off or not. And it is based on what you tell them.
What they think about your character in the privacy of their own head is irrelevant.
If you feel that two weeks is best, then you tell them.

PS. I hope I haven't upset you by being so blunt OP, only it makes my blood boil the way that employers will take advantage of people's good nature, and this sounds like what's been happening with you, so please DO stand up for yourself. I hope things improve for you soon.

look like the caring responsibilities are tipping you over. A sick note is a short term solution to a long term problem. looks like you need to make some more changes. I hope you have a sympathetic GP. I have 2 disabled children and when I was still working, I was nearing breakdown and asked for a sick note and was refused and offered counselling instead (the logic of the GP was that a sick note won't make the problem go away - I was eventually forced to change my work/hours).

i think you also need to set boundaries. if you cannot cope with the unpaid overtime, refuse to do it).

I’m a doctor and would think this was very reasonable. Might even suggest a phased return to work afterwards. I would also suggest that you talk to your employer about them getting some more help to prevent you burning out again.

I don't think you'll have a problem getting signed off but I think you have to self certify for the first 7 days - so go off sick and speak to your GP during that first week to get signed off for longer. They might recommend you have longer than 2 weeks off, or come back to follow up at the end of the 2 weeks to see if you need longer.
You should also do a return to work interview with your employer when you do go back because it sounds like changes are needed and you might need to do a phased return.
Remember MH/burnout are just as valid reasons to be off work as physical conditions x

Your health comes first. Work can wait. Explain all of this to your GP about how unwell you are, the level of stress you are under etc.

My GP signed me off 2 weeks with depression. They actually asked me how long I wanted and could have taken more! Worth booking an appointment and just asking. Your health comes first.

Yes you should! But you also need to make changes to work and life as you will just end up back in the same position.
my husband actually took 2 weeks a few years ago at his old work place as he was so stressed we actually booked a last minute weeks holiday the doctor said it was a great idea. He went back to work less stressed and got a new job so resolved the stress situation

I have IBS that is hugely triggered by stress, normally in my own workplace I manage okay and rarely have to take tablets as I can get to the toilet quickly. I was seconded to another office for 3 months hugely stressful tasks no easy access to a toilet, I was taking 6 - 8 tablets just to get through the day and then having horrendous stomach problems at the weekends when I didn’t take the tablets to let my innards function as normal. I was in a desperate state after 2 months, my GP signed me off for 2 weeks ( would have signed me off for more if I had needed it) til I could get back to my usual post.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your GP. Just be honest with them and don’t put a brave face on.

Work will still be there when you're feeling better, take the time you need. The GP won't judge you, not only is it more than reasonable to need some time off with what you've got going on, they won't judge.

You will probably find the minute you take time off your body will shut down and you WILL need the time off to recuperate.

If you are able to take sick leave you should ask for a month sick note. Your gp will give you what he feels you need and you definitely need some time to let your body rest.
Maybe even take the first week off JUST to focus on you. Otherwise you're gonna make yourself really genuinely poorly.

You don't ask for sick leave, if you're sick (including stress), you get your GP to sign you off and then you tell work you'll be off for a week, or 2 weeks, or whatever the time period is.

Sounds like something has to give and work is the thing which can give. Look after yourself.

Honestly, my GP offered me time off work for less, when I wasn't even asking for it.

I don't think your GP will think YABU at all.

Please, please, please from someone in a similar position who did nothing and suffered the consequences go to your GP and ask to be signed off.
Your stress levels will be off the scale right now so please don't let things get any worse. You need some time out so make sure you get it.
Remember you are important, you matter and you cannot carry on as you are trying to do.
Your employers will let you carry on with the unpaid overtime and going above and beyond with no thought for your wellbeing or your circumstances, please put your health first.
My heart goes out to you OP, the situation you are in is beyond difficult.

Two weeks doesn't sound at all unreasonable to me. I'm sure that the doc (and your employer) will understand that too-short a leave period will achieve nothing, and in fact may be counterproductive.

Thanks so much everyone. @Elektra1 you are right, work is the only thing that can give at the moment. I cant pull back from my parents just yet as they are so poorly.
Work will get better, my colleague will be back and there will be a new person joining, it will just take some time.

Not unreasonable at all. It's a fine and common request.