any ideas?

[candy]

Hiya - am feeling dreadful and really don't know why - just wondered if anyone had any ideas. Basically I was signed off work for a week with laryngitis - no voice as a teacher is a bit of a prob! I did nothing for a week but rest in virtual silence and I returned to work on Thursday feeling exactly the same and still no voice! Basically I just feel absolutely exhausted and can't talk properly - it sounds stupid but it's really getting me down - should I go to work and teach by sign language, should I go back to the doc's, any ideas?

I would think your first order of business would be to go back to the doctors and say it hasn't cleared up. That's a given isn't it?

Thanks Kateandthegirls - i will go back to the doctor, it's more a case of wondering if anyboday a) has any ideas what it might be and b) if people think i should stay off work or toil on? Anybody got an opinion on this?

i think if you feel absolutely exhausted, no point you going in and getting more exhausted, as that will delay your recovery. no idea what this is tho. like KATG think you will have to go to the docs again.

not m.e is it?

"http://mehelpinfo.users.btopenworld.com/page4.html"
me

how long have you felt exhausted for?

Have had no voice for 2 weeks almost and have felt really really tired for about 10 days - i taught 3 lessons Thursday morning and came home and slept in the afternoon; Friday was a non teaching day and not so bad; Saturday I went round the shops for a few hours and was so tired i could hardly move when we got home and today i've just lounged around feeling knackered all day! My voice went for a week just before half term as well and that time I felt tired and tearful; this time I don't feel tearful just tired!

it could be flu? rest as much as you can hun as you'll only go backwards and feel worse IMO. You need to take care of yourself as no one else will (apart from MNers ) I'd go and see the GP though. How's your eating? Get plenty of vit c and zinc if you're not already.

There's definitely no point struggling back into work, not when you are feeling so bad.

glandular fever?

Thanks all - I don't think it's flu or glandular fever - no cold symptons, glands were up last week for a few days but are not now. I suppose it might be some kind of post viral thingy? Doc said when I saw her last week (and the time before) that it was probably a virus and therefore she couldn't give me anything for it other than the advice to rest. The really weird thing is although my speaking voice varies between virtually none and there but v quiet, if i try to sing or whisper i can do it no problem - maybe I'm just mad?!

Ok I'm an idiot - next time I ask you wise mumsnetters for advice I promise to follow it. I went in to work today, despite everything you all said (yes I'm stupid) and now feel absolutely wretched. My excuse for going in even when I felt awful is that the kids do NO work with supply teachers and Yr 11 have their mocks in 2 weeks. Am going for a hot bath, then to bed and am not going to work tomorrow - will go to the doctor's instead and beg for help. Wish me luck! My excuse for going in even when I felt awful is that the kids do NO work with supply teachers.

Oops how did that last sentence duplicate itself - told you I was tired!

Candy, I know how you must feel re. work - as a lecturer I also have this feeling that the students need me and feel bad whenever I even have to cancel office hour once to go to the docs or am too tired to get marking done - but you really must make your top priority to get better. Otherwise it will keep coming back and flaring up when you least need it. I used to tend to overstretch myself (in 'hero' style - 'I can manage that!') but now I'm pg I'm being extra careful. These things tend to strike when we're run down - you could see the voice going as a bit of a hint from your body that it needs a rest! Lecture over - get well soon.

Well, at least you now definitely know that you can't struggle in. Take care of yourself .

Thanks berolina and Puffthemagicdragon - I went back to the doctor's today and say my doctor rather than the woman I saw previously. He's signed me off for another fortnight and wanted to make it until after Christmas but I begged for a midpoint date at least to review. Basically the problem is something called dysphonia which is a problem with the vocal chords, often caused by muscular spasms or tension. I'm tired because I've been straining trying to teach without a proper voice. So one very guilty feeling but much less worried teacher here! Thanks for everybody's kind messages.