About 18 months ago I was borderline burnout - pressure/stress from work, not sleeping due to non-sleeping DC, very frequent migraines (every 3 days), crying before going to work.
I saw my Dr who was great and said he'd sign me off no problem, start a treatment of anti-depressants etc. I said not right now and I carried on. I changed my job but did go back for anti-depressants.
I stopped the anti-depressants after a few months and things have been fine.
Now though, I'm suffering physically (but not mentally). I hurt all over (joints and muscles) all the time and quite frankly I am exhausted. I've had some bloods taken and should get the results tonight.
I'm also tired because I am woken constantly by my DC (last night I managed 2.5 hours sleep then I was woken every 45 minutes max by one or other of them and sometimes took up to 30 minutes to get them back to sleep). So I think that my physical pain is because my body just does not get to recuperate at night.
But is this something I can get signed off work for? I kind of feel like it's "my fault" that I'm so tired and drained because my DC don't sleep (they both suffer from frequent nightmares, they don't mess around at night) so I shouldn't be signed off from work.
On the other hand, my body is sending some strong signals that it's just not happy.
I'm seeing the Dr again tomorrow but I don't know if I can ask to be signed off.