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Covid

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Original poster

how many days did you need off work with covid?

54 replies

ArianaG · 19/09/2021 08:02

I have just finished my 10 days isolation following a positive PCR test.
I have felt quite poorly with covid and although starting to feel better I am still very exhausted with a cough. I work part time in a job supporting students who have learning disabilities which involves a lot of physical work. I don't feel ready to go back but will it look like I'm taking too much time off? I wondered how long others have had off?

OP posts:

MrsLCSofLichfield · 19/09/2021 15:37

13 working days. I then did a phased return over the following month as I still wasn't very well. It was probably too soon and I only coped because it was quiet: just sitting at my desk at home for a couple of hours wiped me out. This was pre-vaccination, I was then 44 and had no pre-existing health issues.

whittingtonmum · 19/09/2021 16:03

Go back when you feel well enough to work. If you need longer to recover than you need longer.

I read in a news article somewhere that a doctor said that one of the risk factors for long Covid appeared to be rushing back and overdoing too soon. That was in an article about long Covid in children but makes sense to me and an extra insensitive to ensure full recovery before going back.

This is a nasty virus and it takes as long as it takes...

whittingtonmum · 19/09/2021 16:04

Incentive - excuse the autocorrect.

IWishTheBishopWell · 19/09/2021 16:31

I've been off for 7 weeks now, going back on a phased return next week. I've had a secondary chest infection plus a UTI and kidney infection.

I am relatively young (early 30s) but have quite a few underlying health conditions, albeit not any which put me in group 6 for a jab. I also was taking an immunosuppressant at the time I caught Covid.

Stasiland · 19/09/2021 16:35

@Talktalkchat heard of pots? On beta blockers for it, ended up in a/e. Can’t work 12 or even 6 hours in ICU. That answer your question ?

Gazelda · 19/09/2021 16:57

I was in bed for 2 days, then worked from home for the rest of of the 10 days isolation. I'm still coughing and exhausted with the occasional headache.

I'm due back in work tomorrow (M-F) and am scheduled to work next weekend too (an event for which I'll get TOIL).

I'm tempted to take a few days AL as well as the TOIL otherwise I'll be working every day for 12 days. It doesn't make sense to push myself to work Ft plus overtime, that'd be asking for a relapse.

I think this thread shows that people have different experiences, there isn't a typical covid experience. You know your body best, listen to what it's telling you. Don't take time off if you don't need it, but don't push yourself before you're ready.

Talktalkchat · 19/09/2021 17:27

[quote Stasiland]@Talktalkchat heard of pots? On beta blockers for it, ended up in a/e. Can’t work 12 or even 6 hours in ICU. That answer your question ?[/quote]
No I haven’t heard of pots…

Original poster

ArianaG · 19/09/2021 17:36

Thanks for the replies, I think I need another week off, chest still sore and have asthma so it seems to have made it worse. Frustrated though as hate being ill and desperate to get back to normal.

OP posts:

Inforapenny65 · 19/09/2021 18:50

Hey- We tested positive at the end of August- home test and pcr test-it was rotten- my partner went back to work after ten days- He is 60 and Im 57- I am still struggling with fatigue- body fever and aches- I sleep much of the day and night- no sense of smell or taste- unable to stand up for too long due to dizzy spells- doc has signed me off for another two weeks- I have a stressful job which I can do some from home but right now I’m struggling to sit upright- I know that once I do return to work, I will have a serious backlog to attend to- I’m feeling overwhelming just thinking about it!

Stasiland · 19/09/2021 19:04

@Talktalkchat maybe read up on it then ?

Lindy2 · 19/09/2021 19:13

DH was off for 3 weeks.

I work from home. I did the odd short phone call here and there but didn't do anything like normal work for about 3 weeks.

It takes time to recover - much longer than any other illness I've had.

SheWoreYellow · 19/09/2021 19:16

I was 6 weeks. It would have been longer if I wasn’t wfh. Oh and my time off ran into Christmas too, which I needed.

LastToBePicked · 19/09/2021 19:21

Half a day (was working from home through isolation). Have had worse colds.

But I’m still not fully better 18 months later, and have lost a handful of days when I’ve just been too exhausted to work. Long covid is weird.

Talktalkchat · 19/09/2021 19:59

[quote Stasiland]@Talktalkchat maybe read up on it then ?[/quote]
Why. I’m not a doctor and in seems to be a pre existing issue

peachpearplum01 · 19/09/2021 20:13

I had about a week off - worked the first few days from home (I shouldn’t have) then took a week off sick. I have been working from home since but still tired and other symptoms come and go a month th later. I need a nap or decent rest every day. Wondering whether I should reduce my hours for a bit or get signed off.. definitely worried about long covid.

WoozySnoozy · 19/09/2021 20:25

Do you have to go to the GP to get signed off longe r than the 10 days?

Maverickess · 19/09/2021 20:31

I went back after 10 days, wasn't ready, had to have one random day where I needed treatment for a secondary chest infection, still don't feel right, but don't have a choice. If I had one I wouldn't be there!
I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to think the 10 days is 'enough' because that's what we have legally to stop spreading it around, and if you don't actually recover in time you're taking the piss. That was definitely the feeling from my job.

DemBonesDemBones · 19/09/2021 21:31

3 months. 16 months later there's no way I could hold down a full time job.

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 19/09/2021 21:54

4 months, and a year later I still need to manage my energy very carefully.

Hidingattheback · 19/09/2021 22:03

@WoozySnoozy

Do you have to go to the GP to get signed off longe r than the 10 days?

I didn't because my workplace has made an exception for this if it's Covid related and they have the copy of your positive PCR test. I would check with your employer.

WoozySnoozy · 19/09/2021 22:07

@Hidingattheback thanks. That makes sense.

Backofbeyond50 · 20/09/2021 00:27

@Talktalkchat what do you mean pre existing condition?
It looks like a post viral thing to me which was triggered by COVID. I am sure @Stasiland can confirm I haven't misunderstood.

how many days did you need off work with covid?

Backofbeyond50 · 20/09/2021 00:30

Hope you improve @Stasiland.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 20/09/2021 00:41

oh @Stasiland that sounds frightening., best wishes

SleepyMathematician · 20/09/2021 01:23

I was in bed for 7 weeks. It took that long to have the energy and ability just to walk downstairs. However, I managed a small amount of work after 4 weeks by working remotely from my laptop in bed.

18 months on and I’m back working my full schedule (which isn’t full time) but still utterly wiped out by it - working means I have no energy for anything else. I’m lucky I can wfh though. If I had to go into a workplace it would probably be beyond me.

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