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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take a few days off work sick?

49 replies

pavlovthepregnantcat · 26/04/2009 19:07

I have horrendous morning sickness. In case for some strange reason some of you might have missed my constant moaning about it.

I am hardly keeping anything down. I have lost a little weight, I feel constantly sick and am sick about 3-4 times a day. I am holding one small meal down, if I am lucky. I had a break of a few days about 10 days ago when I felt better but it came back with force.

My job is demanding. Emotionally. And physically I am having to work until 9pm two evenings a week, and then start work the following morning at 8:3am latest (ideally 8am). I have to be on the ball in my job, due to the nature of it. I can't just slope off to be sick, and by 6pm I am so exhausted I fall in to bed atm.

Last week, out of 2 evenings, I only managed one, and the next day I was even more sick and struggled into work, late. I am struggling to cope with my hours, I am struggling to not be sick within earshot of colleagues in the loo and I am struggling to do my work.

On the other hand, my current role cannot be filled immediately by another colleague. I can be done so/or postponed/put back but immediately it will mean letting people down, in particular my clients.

Now, I told my manager I was not sure I could manage this a few weeks ago and she said 'see how it goes' and on thursday a colleague and I both said it needs sorting. But it won't get sorted immediately and I can't wait for my boss to sort it.

I have acupuncture on tuesday, and I am hoping it will ease the morning sickness.
IABU to ask my Dr for a few days off to get some strength back/wait for acupuncture to work/get work stuff sorted, or should I just go in given I am 'pregnant not sick' (as people like to remind me).

OP posts:

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 26/04/2009 20:10

And thanks everyone, you might be strangers, but you are supportive strangers

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PussinJimmyChoos · 26/04/2009 20:11

Pav! I've text you - will you sort your mobile out woman!! lol lol (no am not pg this month btw!)

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 26/04/2009 20:14

Jimmy I wondered where you been! My mobile is broken, and I am so slack/puking I have not bothered to call 3 to sort it out. DH thinks I should never have got it! So, sorry...I will cat you DHs one which I am using right now..

Its DSs birthday soon isn't it? You must send me your address as we won't be able to make his party at the weekend as we are yurting...

I am sorry you are not pg lovely, fingers crossed for soon xx

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/04/2009 20:15

YANBU, pathetic, lazy or anything else apart from pregnant and sick.

Take some time off until it eases to a point where you could contemplate being able to return to work and feel relatively well again. Feeling tired when pg is par for the course, but constant nausea and vomiting with the type of weakness and tiredness that it entails is not.

Hope you feel better soon

PussinJimmyChoos · 26/04/2009 20:18

I had hideous sickness with DS (I think you are having a boy btw!) and I found eating little and often helped, along with the sea sickness bands you get from boots - I lived in them! Its just time really, you wake up one day and think hey, I feel ok today!

Take it easy and get lots of rest - that helps

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 26/04/2009 20:21

Jimmy - I got the wrist bands, they helped on the days when it was just nausea, but stopped when I stopped being able to hold down breakfast - you think its a boy? A few people have said that, but don't think its because of the sickness as I had it all through with DD too, but am sure it was not this bad .

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PussinJimmyChoos · 26/04/2009 20:26

Well, I always think people are sicker with boys but that's just my experience so could be wrong...really do sympathise...it may just be the worst bit before it settles down for good - I mean I should imagine all the hormones are in overdrive at the stage of preg you are in now...

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 26/04/2009 20:27

I am having acupuncture on tuesday, that is meant to work a treat, so am quite looking forward to it.

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Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 27/04/2009 09:44

Done it. Called in sick, said 'a few days' and will confirm how long once I have seen the gp this morning. I feel much better already, although ready to puke, as normal!

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wingandprayer · 27/04/2009 09:57

My sympathies as I had bloody awful MS with both my kids. Accupuncture absolutely did make a difference so I hope its as successful for you. The other thing I found was eating something very high in sugar as soon as I woke up before even getting out of bed, getting my blood sugar up. In my case was chocolate biscuits but depends on what you can bring yourself to force down. Still felt nauseus but no more throwing up to point of collapse.

If you had any other illness which meant you were so poorly for up to 9 months you would be getting proper support and treatment from doctor. Because it's pregnancy we just supposed to shoulder on. Is utterly shite and very hard to explain to none sufferers who sailed through their pregnancies. I thought I would strangle next person to recommend dry toast and Ginger biscuits.

Peachy · 27/04/2009 10:00

hyperemesis yes?

I used to help out with a hg charity and itwas recognised tat tirednessexaccerbateshg so certainly yabu

I ended upwith ds1 seriously ill on a drip, its not to be massed with!

anti emetics helped butsome gp's say they're not available in pg (they're wrong, btw)

muppetgirl · 27/04/2009 10:07

I have 2 boys and no sickness ever. Am prgt with ds 3 and still no sickness. I had a mmc in between the first 2 boys and was sick as a dog. Girl??

Peachy · 27/04/2009 10:24

On the helpline I used to work on I kept an unofficial tally in my head when I knew gender

No correlation at all AFAICS

I ahve 4 boys, HG with all.

muppetgirl · 27/04/2009 10:43

friend I spoke of earlier had sickness with 1st and then this one -2 boys also

messymissy · 27/04/2009 10:50

When i was pregnant i had horrendous morning sickness - well all day sickness actually, it could strike at anytime and I often felt quite dizzy and unsteady with it - like sea sickness!

I was lucky as I was not working at the time - there is no way I could have gone to work - I would have spent most of the day in the loo, or worrying where the nearest bin was to be sick in!

So i can sympathise entirely and if you can take some time off - do so - and work out strategies to cope with it when you get back - ie, can you work a short distance from teh ladies loo, can you get fresh air, be away from any smells that might set you off - can you munch biscuits at your desk to stave off the sickness, etc.

also can you change your journey in if that is a problem. my sister had to get off the train two or three times to be sick in the station loos on her way in! She then took loads of plastic bags and was often sick in those! oh dear, the things we do!

MaureenMLove · 27/04/2009 10:54

Glad you stayed at home Pav. Strangely, I feel like you today - NOT PG!! - but DD hurt her foot yesterday and can barely walk. I diodn't want her at home all day, without an adult, in case she fell over or down the stairs! I had to go in first thing to do my stuff and I've come home now! My boss has been on the phone twice already. He CAN cope without me, but I feel really bad for being at home now!!

mrsgboring · 27/04/2009 10:58

Until they worked out how to give IV fluids, women used to die of pregnancy sickness in quite significant numbers. It is what killed Charlotte Bronte (after she survived TB, typhus, dysentery etc.) I hate this "you are pregnant not sick" shite. Just another stick to beat women with IMO.

Peachy · 27/04/2009 11:00

Yep, Dh found me in the early satges of a coma with DS1, fluids are remarkable things!

Anti-emetics are pretty amrvellous also, but you hve to try a few often to get the right one- I had several adn it was common or garden avomine that worked in the end, took it at first signs of wories with other three and nly had a few terrible days, instead of 4 months of it before meds.

lal07 · 27/04/2009 11:03

Just wanted to send you sympathy - I had HG this last pregnancy (having been completely fine with first). Is horrible - and definitely a 'real' illness. I was signed off work sick for 5 months. Do look after yourself - tiredness definitely makes it much worse. Acupuncture did help me - but only alongside anti-emetics by the bucketload.

On upside if you've been that ill when pregnant even coping with newborn and toddler feels like a breeze

If you're really struggling to keep anything down might be worth trying to eat some nuts if you can - not that they're particularly easy to eat, but that you get a lot of nutritional value from a small amount of food. Good luck

FimbleHobbs · 27/04/2009 11:15

Take the time off!
I would rather give birth 10 times than go through early pregnancy - I know how hard it can be. In fact second time round I fainted one morning through too much slogging trying to be useful at work.
You are NOT pathetic. You are growing a baby - that is a job in itself.

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 27/04/2009 11:53

Thank you everyone. I saw the gp, he took one look at me and signed me off for a week to start. He put down Hyperemesis as the reason. He said that he is able to prescribe anti-emetics but really does not like to do to it before 12 weeks, so if I can hang on til next week when I will be 12 weeks, that is preferable, and if by next week I am no better he will prescribe for me. He echoed acupuncture and also rest, he said my body is telling me it needs utter rest and that is what he recommends. He was quite sweet actually. probably the hollow bloodshot eyes and the look of despair!

I also talked about not keeping down my folic acid, and he said this is fine, it is needed specifically in the early weeks and I was taking it before I was pg so I had enough there when it was most needed, he said by next week my body will not need the additional dose, so that was a relief.

I also texted by colleague who I run a group with, meant to be doing it this evening. She is lovely and hard-working and takes the flack for people so I wanted to let her know first from me I was not going in. She appreciated that.

I am glad there are people here who have experienced it, not glad that you experienced it of course but glad that some people understand. I only know one person who had it, everyone seems so full of 'advice' on how to make it better and how it will pass in a week.

OP posts:

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 27/04/2009 11:54

Oh and I had MS all the way through my last pg too (perhaps not quite this bad, only puked once of twice a day!) and I had a girl

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MaureenMLove · 27/04/2009 12:09

I just bet you feel better already, knowing that the choice of staying at home has been taken away from you!

Now, do as you are told, forget work, they will manage without you, sit with your feet up and MN all day! Catch you later.. X

Original poster

pavlovthepregnantcat · 27/04/2009 12:23

Mo, i do feel better. exhausted and going to sick any moment, but not been so far this morning, so thats an improvement already.

i am going to head off for a nap x

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