Desperate to feel well again

[KitschBitch]

Due to cutbacks at work am having to work much harder to keep up. Before Christmas had to see GP due to dizziness and he diagnosed vertigo and gave me exercises to help it. Over the Christmas period I have had a terrible cough and cold, shingles (ongoing problem with breakouts for many years), nausea, stomach bug, dizziness, extreme tiredness and insomnia and generally feel utter crap. Still have runs and nausea after a week. Prior to all this was a gym regular and love exercise, however I have struggled lately with putting one foot in front of the other. Have had hardly any alcohol or rich food, usually also have a good appetite and eat healthily. Am now due to go back to work and was hoping that the Christmas break would have left me feeling refreshed and better, I just feel physically very low. To make things worse, in two weeks I am booked for major surgery which will mean I will be housebound for at least 6 weeks. Can anyone please give me any magical advice that will help me get back to health as soon as possible?

sounds like you need more time off, can you get signed off sick for the next couple of weeks?

also sounds like a stress response to a difficult job. can you leave your job / move sideways into something easier??

Oh no poor you, work related stress is a terrible thing. I don't have a solution I am afraid and don't want to speculate, but I can tell you this - I almost always fall ill with one bug or another as soon as I go on holiday, if I have previously been very busy, tired or stressed by work (or something else - although my main cause of stress has always been work). It's like when my body realises it can slow down, it really collapses and I get all sorts of feelings of being unwell. A bit like depressurising too fast somehow? It gets back to normal once I am back to my regular rhythm, with regular workload (not excessive). Not sure if this would be the same for you but perhaps normal routines will help.

Have you spoken to a professional about it, your GP perhaps? Speaking to people also helps and they can give better advice.

I hope all goes well with your upcoming operation!

Thank you. I really love my job, just need to ride out the storm for the time being until funds are agreed for more staff, it will happen, just not for a while. Reluctant to go back to GP as I'm sure he will want to sign me off but feel that I should get as much done as poss before the op. Often come down with something when on leave, just not with such an onslaught of illnesses! Only in thurs and fri this week, then the weekend so not too bad. Not having op done locally, so am combining it with a client visit on Friday in same town as hospital where I am having pre-op assessment, so will need to get out and about anyway. Praying I will feel better soon.

don't go crazy and make yourself worse. Can you ask to work from home at all for the days you do have to work?

Also is it worth considering your longer term options in due course? Do you want to remain in post? is your body responding because it can't take it any more?

Good luck xx

Thanks treebuzz, you are probably right, I can work from home aside from client visits and will be as much as possible in the future. I think I am also approaching menopause which isn't helping. I have been able to get up today, tummy better but vertigo still there. Appreciate support. x

How are you doing op? Any better? Hope so :)

Hi Treebuzz, I am getting better, thank you. Managed to plough through at work, had op last week so recovering at present. I am hoping to be a new woman in a few weeks! Appreciate your support. x

glad to hear you are on the mend! I hope you do feel much better after you have healed from the op! onwards and upwards... :)

Absolutely! It's all about managing what you can do, not worrying about the things you can't. A positive attitude has helped me get through several years of operations but lately I think things all caught up with me and I just came down with so many ailments over Christmas. I am lucky to have wonderful, supportive friends and family and very grateful for your input x