To phone in sick tomorrow due to a UTI?

[HealthConcerns]

Im on day 2 (possibly 3 but symptoms weren’t that bad first day) of a UTI, the worst day so far which triggered a visit the pharmacy this afternoon and I have been given some Nitrofurantoin.

I barely slept last night as I was up and down to the toilet, currently I’m up and down every 20 mins or so to the toilet. My lower back hurts, I can’t sit comfortably as my bladder constantly feels full and I’m feeling quite sick and have the dreaded burning when I go.

I work in a GP surgery as a receptionist. I’ll be on the phone for about 9 hours tomorrow (obviously not continually but whenever the phone rings it needs answering).

It would be quite disruptive for our patients (having to wait longer for phone to be answered) and for my colleagues, plus last time I had Nitrofurantoin it made me feel really sick and on top of how I’m feeling now I’m dreading it make me feel even worse.

Would I be unreasonable to call in sick given it’s just a UTI? If it makes it seem more reasonable, ive not had sick leave in almost 5 years.

Not at all. If you're sick and can't do your job, don't go in. Doesn't matter what the cause is.

I would! Sounds like absolute hell, particularly to be sat on the phones all day!

Hope you feel better soon

You are ill, of course you ring in sick.

A GP surgery of all places should understand a UTI!

I can never get my head around these threads (and there are so many of them).

If you're unable to work then of course you call in sick?!

Wishing you better soon OP

@Random321and @OoooopsUpsideYourHead

Sadly, we have a few of our team who tend to phone in sick quite a lot with various issues and other members of reception get fed up of having to cover all the time and then the rest of us feel guilty about phoning in sick to work 😣

Absolutely you should call in sick! This is a real illness as much as any other.

Other thing is, Nitrofurantoin doesn’t agree with me either. It’s on my medical records that I can’t take it and they give me something else if I have a UTI. You don’t have to put up with a medicine that makes you unwell!

Even if you’re part way through a course you can move to a different type of ABs - I didn’t know that when I had it and finished the course even though I was seeing double!

UTIs are incredible painful so yanbu at all!

Definitely call in sick. I recently had one after not having one since I had my youngest 10 years ago . And it was awful. I had forgotten how bad they can make you feel .

The 23% of people that said YABU have clearly never had a bad UTI!

Right, so you're going to go in then?

I’d not be deciding today, wait until the morning and see how you feel when you wake up.
I hope you feel better soon.

@OoooopsUpsideYourHead probably not as I feel dreadful right now. I just feel so incredibly guilty at the thought of phoning in.

I wouldn’t go in, they are so painful. I hope it clears up quickly for you.

You must phone in sick - UTIs are the most horrible, debilitating things and you must be exhausted. I am a long time sufferer and have always had to do pee tests to find the right meds to clear them up. Take care.

As some someone who has had 30 years of UTIs, I’d probably wait until the morning and see how I feel. You’ll be surprised how quickly that medication works. It also sounds weird like when you can’t stay off the toilet, are you drinking enough? I’ve managed to get through many a UTI by literally downing pints and pints of water, one after the other, until I can get medication. I’ve also gone into work later so I don’t know if that’s an option for you.
At the end of the day though, if you’re not well enough, you’re not well enough, only you can make that decision.

UTIs are AWFUL. Call in sick and rest up. They’re just horrible - as a PP said, so debilitating. Running yourself into the ground trying to work will NOT aid your recovery!

You really sound unfit for work considering the symptoms you are experiencing.
I'm surprised you don't appreciate "only a UTI" isn't reasonable as a GP receptionist ,you must have encountered pts who minimise and end up in worse situation. Take care of yourself.
Trust your judgement but no one is indispensible .

@allthingsinmoderation that’s very true. We’ve had patients who turned up very unwell due to not getting help sooner.

It’s more the attitude from some of my reception colleagues I worry about as a certain few judge us whenever we call in sick, no matter what it’s for

I've been a nurse for 30 yrs and i know the phenomena you speak of in health care workers. But, honestly your health is more important than the judgement of those who are meant to understand health is a priority.
Please look after yourself because if you don't you wont be able to help anyone else.
In addition to the treatment you mentioned rest, hydration and pain management are key.
Good luck.

Have the day off please x

From someone who wonders if a UTI last March had been treated sooner they wouldn’t have a mutilated foot.

Goodness just call in sick. Your colleagues will know you aren’t someone who takes the mick.
And get on the tablets- I felt better within hours of taking them!

Absolutely have the day off. UTIs are horrible. I have an embedded infection, suffering since August. If you don't feel better soon please ask for better antibiotics so you don't end up like me!

I can't imagine how many bugs you must be exposed to every day just doing your job. Probably more than the GPs who have the option of using masks and gloves!
In general you must be very tough. Very, very tough and REALLY germ - proof IMHO.

If you don't regularly call in sick it's fine. I did have a colleague once who had time off for this every 3 months or so- not so fine, mind you she covered with other excuses, but eventually they insisted on med certs.

Op don’t let your judgy colleagues stop you getting better no one likes colleagues going off sick but it happens so tough. Bit mad your in a surgery with sick patients but not empathetic to there own team. Wrong job maybe for them?..